Thread: Shooting without a bipod

I've been moving away from using a bipod when hunting, and going back to shooting off a backpack. Made a film about it.

Also another thing that won't catch on branches as you push through scrub

I dumped my bipod years ago and now only use it for teaching the kids, been using the backpack as a rest since and have gone back to supporting the fore end with my non master hand ,using a sling as a brace also helps if one has time. The sling was taught to steady your aim in the military not for carrying the rifle on your shoulder, don't know if it is taught anymore though.

It's interesting to watch the hunting rifle trends over the decades. Due to the power of advertising it seems many new hunters (and some experienced ones too) have convinced themselves that you have to have a Hubble type scope weighing half a kilo or more, a suppressor and a bipod plus numerous other pieces of superfluous kit. Whatever happened to the KISS principle?

Cause depends on the hunting you doing. No bipods bushstalking or huge scopes . Notice with some of the newbies even bush stalking they all want a rest of some sort. Tree to lend against, lie down and sort a rest with the back pack etc etc. Prob the best way to lose a animal in the bush. Often the deer have already seen you and shooting off hand is the only way to go keeping your movement as small as possible. More people have to practice off hand shooting more, esp close quarters stuff in the bush as looking at moving to the nearest tree is sure to end in no animal many times.

Yes, I've found a bipod has very limited hunting use, especially in steep country.

Part of the reason I now take my shooting sticks with me everywhere I go - so much more versatile.

I liked my 25" Harris when shooting wallaby and looking down gullies waiting for movement. They very comfortable shooting in that situation

Not hunting here but back in the UK, I used sticks either primos or bog, even in dense woods, own two bi pods but only use them if zero in. The bog Tri pod was great on open ground or bunny bashing, but the primos worked best overall.

Originally Posted by 308

Also another thing that won't catch on branches as you push through scrub

I never have that problem with a bipod anyway since I use the Atlas with a QD mount, and keep it in my backpack - having a bipod attached to the rifle when carrying is hopeless.

Notice with some of the newbies even bush stalking they all want a rest of some sort. Tree to lend against, lie down and sort a rest with the back pack etc etc. Prob the best way to lose a animal in the bush. Often the deer have already seen you and shooting off hand is the only way to go keeping your movement as small as possible. More people have to practice off hand shooting more, esp close quarters stuff in the bush as looking at moving to the nearest tree is sure to end in no animal many times.

On the other hand, its good to see newbies using a rest to get a good shot away rather than taking a shot they are not comfortable or confident with...
If the deer hasn't seen me, I often spend some time to find a suitable rest to shoot from even if it means moving back a few metres...
On the other, other hand, sometimes when time is not on your side it is not possible and the best course of action is to drop them where they (and you) stand!!

Pretty sure I arrived during the making of this video😆

I like to zero with my bipod but could count on my hand how many animals I have shot using one.
I will always carry one in my bag especially in country that could provide a longish shot though.

To be fair I don't think I have ever tried shooting one of my hunting rifles at say 500 and beyond without one.

Practical shooting at medium range I agree there is no major benifit using a bipod but it would be interesting to test the confidence factor at longer ranges for interest sake.


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Off hand on rabbits up to 100 metres using sling to pull against, shooting sticks are great and longer shots bipod makes it easy, Rabbits offer a smaller target.

Nathan Foster has already covered this on his web site terminal ballistics. The artical is Hold that forend,
I've never shot game with a bipod. Always free hand or off of a rest.
Also never use that free recoil stance.
I have best results with using single rap sling off of my day bag.
Will have better I'm hoping once my rifle build is complete and bedded

Nathan Foster's a bit of a chump & his website is a dreadful compilation of copy&pasted from wikipedia calibre articles and articles about how bedding is the cause of all accuracy problems and ~*by the way*~ he offers the service of bedding your rifle for a fee


My sling isn't set up as a shooting sling and I can find no quantitative advantage to my shooting with wrapping it as-is, I would have to change to a proper shooting sling for any advantage I think. Which I have been considering.

I've gone back to using a shooting sling with great results. Really enjoying it, it's been years