bipod help

A

AMMASHOOTA

Gary Gruber
i am trying to learn to shoot from the bench with a bipod. i am shooting a (9.5 lb) .308 with a muzzle break so recoil is not an issue. i have a nicely balanced rifle with a Jewel trigger set at 12 oz.

the problem is that i can't maintain a consistent grip / position on the rifle shot to shot. i'm shooting 1/2 MOA at 100 yards but the rifle is capable of much more -- i have proved that several times during load development so far.

i have been using a Protektor bag under the stock but would like to transition away from that -- eventually i will be shooting prone with the rifle. Typically i will set the bag so the scope is slightly above the target so i can use light downward pressure to keep the crosshairs on the dot.

Between trying to maintain light foreward pressure on the bipod legs and a firm grip on the forearm of the stock, i invariably alter my grip and/or pressure and push one shot of the group out. these are not flyers. i am calling these shots and they are definitely moving because of me.

any advice on how to get relaxed and consistent on the bipod would be appreciated.
 
Do a google search on "bugholes from bipod". It's an excellent article which will get you on the right track.

Ken
 
Bipod woes

About 5 years ago I tried shooting my hunter class bench rest aka field rifle chambered in .25/06 from a bipod. At the time it was shooting well agging in the high two's to low threes at 100yds. Still under the inch at 200yds.

Ataching that bipod to it was like attaching a de-tuning fork to it. I don't know what it did to the vibration patterns but it wouldn't do the same thing twice. I went back to bagging it in the field and everything returned to normal.
Andy.
 
Delaware_Ken said:
Do a google search on "bugholes from bipod". It's an excellent article which will get you on the right track.

Ken
Click to expand...

excellent article. thanks for the heads up. still need to figure out here to apply pressure to the forearm and which bag works best in the back.
 
A piece of flat, smooth 3/8" masonite on the bench top covered by a piece of ordinary waxed paper will reduce the 'skip' as the gun recoils. -Al
 
Good advise from Al. You need something very smooth under the bipod legs to assure the same recoil pattern for each shot.
 
Smooth surface

Al Nyhus said:
A piece of flat, smooth 3/8" masonite on the bench top covered by a piece of ordinary waxed paper will reduce the 'skip' as the gun recoils. -Al
Click to expand...

Interesting. It wasn't too long ago I caught crap on the forum for saying I use a piece of countertop with formica over a concrete bench so my Harris bipod could track. I started doing that after I found I shot better off the varnished plywood top of my portable bench. I also use a piece of carpet (car floor mat) under the bipod on the ground when I'm prone so the bipod doesn't dig in and can slid over gravel. - nhk
 
Get off the bench and get on the ground ( isn't that what bipods were designed for ? ) .No bags required. Cradle the butt stock against your shoulder in the web(between thumb and forefinger)of your left hand pressed against your chest. If you have to shoot off a bench(ridiculous gun club rules),throw a folded up towel under the bipod feet to try and eliminate bounce, shot will still hit higher than if you were shooting prone. If you want to work a rear bag into the equation, get it under your left wrist, supporting the rifle.
This ain't Bench Rest,this is field shootin'.
Joel
 
Nader said:
Get off the bench and get on the ground ( isn't that what bipods were designed for ? ) .No bags required. Cradle the butt stock against your shoulder in the web(between thumb and forefinger)of your left hand pressed against your chest. If you have to shoot off a bench(ridiculous gun club rules),throw a folded up towel under the bipod feet to try and eliminate bounce, shot will still hit higher than if you were shooting prone. If you want to work a rear bag into the equation, get it under your left wrist, supporting the rifle.
This ain't Bench Rest,this is field shootin'.
Joel
Click to expand...

i'll get off the bench and get on the ground. only problem is: who is going to help me get back up?
 
Rustystud said:
Look at CenterShot bi pods. They have a web site.
Nat Lambeth
Click to expand...

that is one pretty looking bipod. thanks for the tip. i'll just have to see if they will post it to my credit card as porn or something so my wife doesn't catch me spending more money on guns.
 
Bench use

AMMASHOOTA said:
i'll get off the bench and get on the ground. only problem is: who is going to help me get back up?
Click to expand...

You aint the only one! Sure beats laying in sand burrs and other prickly stuff and trying to shoot varmints through vegetation, not to mention a bipod attached to a rifle is easier to carry than a heavy rest. - nhk
 
Bag on Ground

I know there is a forum for F-Class, but this is germain/pertinent - before any MOD jumps in to blast away. :cool:

If one is on the ground, why or why not use the rear bag ? Why use the rear hand to cup/cradle ?

And if using a bag, as allowed in F-Class, how should this grip pressure set up differ from those described above ??

From DeBug - I use a classic wrap-around grip on the stock, similar to that of most profesional tactical shooters. The rifle is pulled hard back into my shoulder and the tip of the pad of my right index finger on the lower part of the trigger.

Any comments on that ?

Sounds like he is completely stopping any free play in rearward stock recoil.

One reason I ask is that it doesn't seem to work well when shooting off a bench

The gun jumps wildly, the target picture is never seen, and shots group openly.
 
Rear bag

I use a rear bag or a rice sock under the stock and squeeze the bag just like I do on the bench and I let the rifle recoil (slide), but then I've been told I do it all wrong. I'm self taught, no one was around to enligthen me and advise me of the error of my ways when I started shooting bipod.... and frankly I don't care. It works for me. - nhk
 
Flouncer said:
I know there is a forum for F-Class, but this is germain/pertinent - before any MOD jumps in to blast away. :cool:

If one is on the ground, why or why not use the rear bag ? Why use the rear hand to cup/cradle ?

And if using a bag, as allowed in F-Class, how should this grip pressure set up differ from those described above ??

From DeBug - I use a classic wrap-around grip on the stock, similar to that of most profesional tactical shooters. The rifle is pulled hard back into my shoulder and the tip of the pad of my right index finger on the lower part of the trigger.

Any comments on that ?

Sounds like he is completely stopping any free play in rearward stock recoil.

One reason I ask is that it doesn't seem to work well when shooting off a bench

The gun jumps wildly, the target picture is never seen, and shots group openly.
Click to expand...

this is precisely why i am using a firm grip on the stock. it prevents most of the hop. the problem is in maintaining a consistent grip shot to shot.

i can put two shots into one hole and then slightly alter either my grip or position and put the third shot high and left by about 1/2 - 1 inch. seems to be consistent placement.

that is why i am looking for suggestions to simplify the variables i must be injecting into the setup.
 
Grip/Hop/Jump

AMA, I have shot great groups from bags off a bench. Great for a Mil Surp Mauser. I even shot some decent 600 and 1,000 yard matches. Not winning scores, but a sense of accomplishment. With a new stock and a Harris Bipod of course. Without really recognizing that I was changing things drastically, I shot off a bench with the bipod.

My POI changed drastically and my groups opened up to over an inch at 100 yards. The rangemaster notcied my shooting and suggested that the gun was jumping pretty well. He suggested the loose, let er' slide grip, no bag, cup with left hand hold.

In your case, like I was, you are trying to shoot a bipod off a bench. It can be done, but there is no inherent reason to justify this. Other than convenience of set up. And, from what I can tell, the grip, hold and certainly the body alignment along with the cheek weld will all change when you go to the ground.

So, you have to ask yourself, do want to plink at the range off a bench, or practice to get better in a position that has some competitive or hunting application. At least that's the way I see it.

So, you are in the same boat as I. And I found the tight pull back grip worked OK for me when I shot off the bipod at 1,000 yards in F-Class.

We could both really benefit from a true competitor who shoots F-class offer some insight.
 
Flouncer said:
AMA, I have shot great groups from bags off a bench. Great for a Mil Surp Mauser. I even shot some decent 600 and 1,000 yard matches. Not winning scores, but a sense of accomplishment. With a new stock and a Harris Bipod of course. Without really recognizing that I was changing things drastically, I shot off a bench with the bipod.

My POI changed drastically and my groups opened up to over an inch at 100 yards. The rangemaster notcied my shooting and suggested that the gun was jumping pretty well. He suggested the loose, let er' slide grip, no bag, cup with left hand hold.

In your case, like I was, you are trying to shoot a bipod off a bench. It can be done, but there is no inherent reason to justify this. Other than convenience of set up. And, from what I can tell, the grip, hold and certainly the body alignment along with the cheek weld will all change when you go to the ground.

So, you have to ask yourself, do want to plink at the range off a bench, or practice to get better in a position that has some competitive or hunting application. At least that's the way I see it.

So, you are in the same boat as I. And I found the tight pull back grip worked OK for me when I shot off the bipod at 1,000 yards in F-Class.

We could both really benefit from a true competitor who shoots F-class offer some insight.
Click to expand...

my problems with shooting prone are somehwat practical. i live in the so cal desert. we have very hungry army ants down here. lay down on the sand and you get bitten real fast.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top