Thread: Is leaning into your bipod a myth?

What bipod?

I've tried both loaded and unloaded using just a Harris on various lighter rifles, not my target rigs, and I can't see any benefit in loading them.
Here's a 600yd result with my lightish 6.5x47 shot unloaded just pinching the rear bag. This rifle is basically too light for its intended use but it's seriously accurate if you can drive it well. As you can see, the waterline was pretty reasonable

I've found that having to apply force to get the rifle to point at the target affects POI significantly more than getting into a position where the rifle can more or less point at it naturally.

More loading on the bipod = more force telling the rifle to recoil a certain way. If this becomes normal then when a positional shot (where loading in the same way isn't possible) presents itself, my POI might be off. Not enough to miss, generally, but enough for a perfectionist to get annoyed with themself.

No loading, rifle pointing at the target = utter consistency. Standing, kneeling, sitting, prone, doesn't matter. I can tighten up my grip and pull the rifle in (or load up the bipod a bit) simply to manage recoil a bit better AFTER I've gotten rested and lined up, assuming it doesn't affect my point of aim. Pushing/pulling/twisting the rifle onto the target is what causes a shift for me.

I had this conversation with tod hodnett and they are now advocating and training unloaded bipod.
The reason is that if you are on a slippery surface you will be subject to sliding and buggering up the shot.
I never have loaded but only because under pressure I would forget!
Shooting directly behind your rifle is a good thing for recoil management and spotting your fall of shot.


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There is some interesting info in this video re the theory behind loading a bipod.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cg0KxIzgS4

but Ryan Cleckner, who wrote an excellent book on Long Range Shooting and presents the NSSF shooting video series, is not a big fan of bipods and prefers to shoot off a bag.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQmfHG8mPY0

Originally Posted by Tussock

What bipod?

Funny you should ask but it is one of those Atlas bi-pods with a fair bit of movement. Im thinking it just hates preload as it might cause a bit of jump? Or variation at the very least

There's some great input here fellas i gotta say. Quite valid too because i've probably tried to settle for a "one approach to suit all" situations.

Originally Posted by Dead is better

Funny you should ask but it is one of those Atlas bi-pods

I don’t know for sure but I suspect when Tussock asked the question, he was implying that he does not use a bipod. I could be wrong. My advice is don’t over think shit.

This guy leans into his bipod https://www.accurateshooter.com/shoo...es-from-bipod/

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Use my bipod only on paddock surface and resting on my backpack when sighting in, will try the bipod on the concrete bench next time on the range to test the theory. ( talking 22 rimfire here)

I use a styrene block to support the fore end on the 222 and 7.62x39, don’t hold the rifle tight when sighting in. (But that’s got nowt to do with the topic!)

Can confirm bipods on concrete produce bad results. I've seen many trying having troubles sighting in at the range doing bipods on concrete, I tell them to put something soft underneath and it always helps.

I personally find free recoil(or close to it) to be easier in term of consistency, its fucking hopeless on any sort of lightweight hunting rifle. The recoil on my 284 is by no mean stiff or uncomfortable but without a gentle load it is plenty to hop the rifle a mile off target. This means resetting position between shots which inevitably leads to poor consistency. So on that rifle, far better consistency and results with a lightly loaded bipod.

My groups with my standard Tikka, groups go from 1" with unloaded bipod to 1/3-1/4" with loaded bipod. Can't explain it, but that's just how it is. That's 300 wsm and 178 gr pill, unless you're recoil management is spot on it jumps a plenty with no loading

I have found that it is mostly dependent on the stock. I definitely notice group size increases and point of impact changes going from shooting on grass with a bipod to shooting on bare concrete. Even just a shooting mat under the legs helps a lot.

Got my first Harris more than 30 years ago. Thought it was the bees until climbing through the sub alpine monkey scrub.
Those legs just caught on every goddam thing they could. Light bulb moment, turned the thing around. Legs never went forward again after that day. I use single shots largest being 243, then amongst others,222 and 204. Never had a problem with them backwards, but some might say thats the way i am ? When quickly kneeling or getting prone the legs are just there near magazine area quick to deploy.
Works for me.