I find my bipod extremely useful.atb TimI am tired of rifle bling. I wanted to start a list of silly fashion accessories stalking rifles don't need.
I'm starting with bipods. 99.9% of the time there is absolutely no need for a bipod on a stalking rifle.
Tactical bolt 'knobs' on hunting rifles, thoroughly unnecessary and ugly. And if you're stalking in the UK I don't really see the need for those little stock sleeves that hold an additional 5-10 rounds?
Tom
Scope sock
There are times when bipods are useful, but they aren't often on a proper stalking rifle. I have used them for truck-based culling a fair bit. But on a stalking rifle i would argue the vast majority of the time they are more trouble than they are worth. The problem is that they largely limit you to shooting off the bipod. They make getting off a quick shot offhand almost impossible, or shooting resting against a tree truly impossible. They are heavy. I much rather a backpack and shooting sticks - it gives me more options and is far less cumbersome. I reckon i can get a shot off from my backpack faster than you can use your bipod.
I have scope covers. I like Limbsaver recoil pads. Muzzle brakes occasionally have their place.
"Tactical" bolt handles just seem a complete and utter w@nk. Can't see why anyone needs extended mags on a stalking rifle - if you need an extended magazine you need to spend more time practicing your shooting, rather than buying extended magazines. Ditto ammunition holders. I think stainless steel is largely bling, and it has significantly less strength than Cr-Mo and can do some pretty funky things in extreme cold - hence some well known blow-ups. Stainless is more prone to structural flaws. As a metallurgical engineer and shooting partner of mine once pointed out, stainless steel actually changes shape more than well aged walnut with temperature extremes, and nearly twice as much as much as Cr-Mo steel.
...do you really need the "Mall ninga" stuff?.....
I don't have any "mall-ninga" stuff, just a couple of rifles in synthetic stocks and a rather nice Blaser.
If a lad wants to jazz up a rifle with a few odds and sods - so what. If he is happy he is not hurting me. I don't see there is any reason to get worked up condemning people.
Wellllll.... On my T3 lite I found that the large tactical bolt knob I put on it made for much more stable, smooth and quick reload after taking a shot. I found the standard Tikka bolt a tad too small for my fat hands... As for the stock sleeve... My T3 lite had a predator 8 mod on it which made it stupidly front heavy and unballanced, I also needed to raise the comb so I used one of the Aim Stock covers with the pocket over a rubber comb raiser.. the pocket then had 10 rounds in it in an attempt to balance the rifle up... worked to a degree..
Now I have replaced the rifle with something more balanced to start with along with a mod that doesn't weigh almost 1kg I have done away with the ammo pouch for the stock... still have a Beartooth Comb raiser on it though..
I don't use a bipod on my stalking rifle but there have been plenty of occassions where I wished I did!!!