Bipods - what advantage

[Sako308]

Not a bipod fan but have struggled recently with some longer shots on the hill. I realise there is a place for them, took delivery of a Javelin bipod this morning, looks like the ideal solution, easily attached when required only, plus very light (can't deal with the weight or bulk of a Harris style bipod). Look forward to trying it out, have adaptors installed on three rifles.

 

[Totsy]

I have found that when zeroing off bags, my synthetic Styer is very temperamental. It needs to be held under the forend with the left hand. I'm going to experiment with the sling.

 

[tarponhead]

Very interesting set of responses. I'll have a good look around at the Shooting Show, but in the round, I'll stick to Harris style bipods or none at all in the field.

I must admit that I haven't noticed any degradation of groups from my Sako A7 .308 at Bisley with a Harris clone. The worse change I found was after I added a neoprene cover to the barrel and fore end, which changed the POI and opened groups up to 3"! Since then I have left the barrel well alone - IanF's good advice.

I like the idea of a Javelin or Spartan on my Sako M695 6.5x55, but can't bring myself to spend more on a bipod than my favourite veteran Mossberg 500 cost me!

 

[ChesterP]

I zero with what I intend to shoot off normally, so for range work, that's always a bipod. For field work, I don't find a use for one and shoot of sticks instead, re-checking and altering zero if necessary due to the harmonics being a little different. I've re-stocked both my rifles to straighter recoiling stocks, and find there's less difference, if any at all, between shooting off sticks, bipod or bag. Changing the stock made the biggest difference to my shooting, not the rest that I use. I dislike shooting the 308 in sporting stock guise as recoil has far more of a pronounced effect on how it shoots depending on the steady used. Far less so with my GRS or Boyds stocks.

For range work, I'd prefer a Javelin type bipod but too rich for me so I sick with Harris clones of no more than 9 to 13 inch legs. For field work, a Vanguard T62.

 

[old man]

I've heard about PHs being fussy about bipod quite a few times. I think they have quite slender fore-end that don't react well to the stress imposed.

My .308 was too, i put it down rightly or wrongly to torsion from the bipod affecting the pressure point at forend between barrel and stock?

I then found out they were made that way.

 

[VSS]

My .308 was too, i put it down rightly or wrongly to torsion from the bipod affecting the pressure point at forend between barrel and stock?

I then found out they were made that way.

Maybe they weren't made with bipods in mind?
Certainly made a big difference when I opened up the channel a bit.
The forend didn't touch the barrel quite where it should have I don't think - at about 7.30 rather than 6-o'clock. As you can imagine, increased pressure at that point really wasn't helping.

 

[old man]

Pretty sure they were not?

My action now in a Boyd thumbhole stock was again improved to.5 MOA by being glass bedded by welshwarrior.
Not bad for a 1986 vintage?

In fairness when I first bought it from Ian Coley with original tiny Nikko scope it was capable when I did my bit, of V bulls at 300yds.

Thanks Daf.

 

[weejohn]

I had exclusively used Harris bipods on my rifle up untill last year.

I always fancied an atlas bipod so purchased one and the Harris bipods have never been out the house since.
It is £££ but worth every penny .