I've been moving away from using a bipod when hunting, and going back to shooting off a backpack. Made a film about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybt1mLrRLwo
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I've been moving away from using a bipod when hunting, and going back to shooting off a backpack. Made a film about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybt1mLrRLwo
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 308
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...Quote:
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.
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 :thumbsup:
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
Nice, is that a standard Miklat? Appears to be bigger??
It's a standard Miklat that I've had modified by Twinneedle, I had a pocket fitted on one side under the compression straps, crampon pad & ice axe loop on the backQuote:
Originally Posted by Dreamer
I have to admit he lost all credibility with me when he said most blasers had to be bedded to be accurate.Quote:
Originally Posted by gimp
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ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by gimp
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Good thread. As someone returning to the sport and contemplating 70 metre plus rabbit head shots, interested to hear what others think. I'm not keen to put a bipod on my rifle, but feel that I do need a support of some kind. I've put a plastic bin in my day pack and filled the front pocket with some polyester padding material which my wife had spare. Makes a very nice rest when laying prone.
Good and well thought thought out vid.
Hunting isn't a game of absolutes. Sometimes I take and use a bipod, sometimes I don't. A bipod is good on my .223 when shooting bunnies - quick and easy and means I don't have to cart around a pack. I also like a bipod when hunting Tahr in the rocks for all sorts of reasons, but mainly because getting a pack off while I'm off balance and then pushing it ahead of me to use as rest is a pain.
If I'm manly in the trees I leave the bipod at home, and use my pack as a rest if I need one.
I think that an important point that Gimp makes is that no one hunting tool that I can think of offers complete utility. Flexibility and lots of stuff in the cupboard to choose from is the name of the game.
Completely agree with what has been said about Fosters' web site. It would be far better and a lot more credible if all of it was his own original material. Or if at least he credited the materials that are not his own (which is the majority of it).
Something I've been aiming to do this year when I get some time behind the trigger
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I have never used one in big game hunting. It's true that you can't shoot long range accuratly without a bipod but it's also true that they are annoying heavy pains in the arse. Long story short I just don't shoot over 200m with deer and my preferred shooting position is off my knees.
Varmiting is a little different as you are normally trying to stretch the range and the targets are smaller. A bipod is still a huge pain in the arse but I used one last trip because shooting accuratly is important...
I have never used one in big game hunting. It's true that you can't shoot long range accuratly without a bipod but it's also true that they are annoying heavy pains in the arse. Long story short I just don't shoot over 200m with deer and my preferred shooting position is off my knees.
Varmiting is a little different as you are normally trying to stretch the range and the targets are smaller. A bipod is still a huge pain in the arse but I used one last trip because shooting accuratly is important...
Nice vid.
I always carry a bipod, personally wouldn't be without one for long shots. Anything under 300yds, bipod stays in pack, anything over, plenty of time to take it out and put it on.
It is definatly possible to shoot long without a bipod. I've been getting some decent groups at 700 without one. Just depends on technique I think. The do lake thongs very stable and quick to set up. Always have one on the .22 and 223 fir bennies and wallies.Quote:
Originally Posted by MassiveAttack
What's wrong with earning a living from shooting... Wish I could if he's don't alright why knock him?Quote:
Originally Posted by gimp
Handy to have all that info in one spot you can take what you need.
I've bedded two rifles now with his compound. No complaints here and accuracy has inproved:thumbsup:
What more can you ask for.
I'm not convinced really. I've shot steel over 500m resting on my pack. Just never shoot long range much anymore cos there isn't one near HokiQuote:
Originally Posted by MassiveAttack
You can head out the farm and shoot all you want when I go.
I have safe lines out to 1200 but don't shoot much till winter as mirage is a pain unless I can be bothered shooting early morning or dusk.
There are plenty of other places to stretch the barrel 10mins form town as well.
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Now Gimp looking at the position of your legs shooting prone, your could improve your shooting with a little study!:)
The restless foot, the angle, or the spread?
Just by bending a knee and drawing a leg up will work as a brace to take the roll out of your body,
A comfortable prone position for me on a down slope is to lie with my feet forward pointing at a slight angle to the rifle barrel and body slightly bent to shoulder the rifle. Shoot a lot of rabbits like this as I walk down a steep centre race that falls away on both sides into valleys
Ah the old fashioned cocked leg prone. I've tried most shooting positions & settled on the straight leg prone for me, I experience no discomfort lying flat and find it better for consistently finding npoa & for recoil control, it's also more practical off a flat range imo & I have no more instability in that position than cocked leg. It's a more relaxed position and muscle tension = bad when shooting. imo. Anyone else have thoughts/experience on leg position when prone?
I tend to spread a little wide though & occasionally get a restless foot....
I shoot very similar to you Pete.
I adopt a machine gunners prone position allowing the recoil to travel a sort of straight line thru my whole body.
I was trained to shoot a modified Hawkins position in the Army and it has worked well for me so I have never changed it.
You could run a straight line from the muzzle down to my right heel.
It also gives me room to elevate or depress my muzzle for steep shots with the rear of the stock supported.
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What Maca was describing is the Estonian position. Takes the pressure off the diaphram.
This Smallbore Business by Brooksie January 2014 | Target Shooter Magazine
Which lead to a version as modified by the Yanks where the right leg is bent and drawn up which raises the diaphragm off the ground and is overall more steady than the older prone positions.Quote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
The thing I find annoying is that I seldom have a pack that is completely full so end up just packing it with stuff I don't really need.
Do most people have a framed pack or just pack it out with a jacket or other bulky item?
Shooting off a bipod certainly isn't perfect though, it can be a huge pain in the ass when shooting in tall grass, or on uneven ground (like in the mountains).
I found that a bipod was useful for long range shots were time to find a suitable position was available, and practice prone with a sling or sitting.
I don't think I have shot any large game off a bipod, most have been prone without one or standing. But with rabbits and magpies and the like I use one almost exclusively.
Would definitely agree that practice shooting from multiple positions (especially standing/off hand) is your best bet and just use whatever fits the situation.
Shooting offhand sucks when you aren't use to it, but it's amazing how good you get after a brick of 22lr ammo.
dry bag packed up tight with your gear (first aid kit, jacket, warm layers etc) in the bottom of the pack makes a solid rest even with a half empty pack.