Bipods, are we over reliant on them?

[Thunderbird]

Absolutely. Good point. All about time and place I guess.

[Dunkield]

Always used on the hill, never used for woodland stalking I prefer sitting or kneeling shooting off sticks if the undergrowth allows it.

 

Like others have said, it is interesting to see people go completely to pieces shooting without them like the standard stalkers test where bipods aren't allowed.

[al4x]

thats the main point a lot depends what you shoot, stalking i'll hardly ever fit one. Think I've had one on once and that was because it was head shots only. Foxes on the other hand I will usually have one on and the same on rabbits but both of those a fair bit will be lamping from on top of a vehicle.

[kyska]

I have a very short bipod for shooting from the pickup roof, could use bags but it just works. If the lay of the land works then I will use it in preference to sticks. Otherwise sitting in the truck or from a high seat it doesn't get used

 

Exactly the same as me, I must admit I am totally reliant on the bipod, my free standing shooting is abysmal!

[Dunkield]

my free standing shooting is abysmal!

And therein lies the problem, if you only ever practice and shoot off one you are fine, the issue is when you only ever practice off one and have to take another type of shot in the field and pull it.

I know [of] someone who made the decision not to use one again at the range or in the field and with lots of practice became of of the most impressive offhand or off stick shooters I have ever see. He doesn't bother with any support for a shot under 100 yards.

The continentals are good at this too, as you can see when you watch them shoot most stuff running offhand.

[al4x]

though they do spend an awful lot of time training dogs on exceptionally long trails, I'm sure there is a correlation there between the differences in shooting techniques

[Gimlet]

I do take a Bogpod tripod with me pretty much everywhere I go, so maybe I'm too reliant on that. But on the other hand it isn't attached to the rifle and doesn't 'demand' to be used. It will go low enough to be used sitting on the ground like a high level bipod, which is very useful, but the legs won't splay out flat so it can't be used prone. There isn't room to fit a bipod and use the tripod sticks so when I do need to take a prone shot therefore, I have to take it unaided, and having got used to doing so it often surprises me how well I shoot prone without support. I do sometimes loop the sling around my supporting elbow and steady the shot with tension but otherwise I just have to get on with it and I find I'm unfazed by 150 yd rabbit shots with the HMR off my elbows. I honestly don't miss the bipod.

I have shot foxes at well over 200 yds off the sticks and I actually prefer sticks to a bipod for stability. I guess you train yourself to get used to something.

I did once have a bipod on my stalking rifle for a while but it never got used as too often it compromised the back-stop so it became dead weight and I took it off.

[Thunderbird]

I think there is a big difference between bi and tripod sticks too. Not having to build minute adjustments for bipod stick movement makes a huge difference IME.

[kent]

One of the first things I first noticed when I came back to shooting after a long lay off, was that everyone now uses a bipod on their rifle. It was rare, almost unheard of when I started. I do it too now and there is no getting away from the fact, that prone off a bipod is absolutely rock steady. The thing is, I think it's a little too easy sometimes, a mechanical exercise, almost devoid of any marksmanship skill. I've started taking it off every now and then and using it prone unsupported, kneeling or standing off sticks so I don't forget how! I just reduce the ranges I shoot at a little to compensate and to ensure I can still ensure a humane kill. The biggest joy is how much lighter, better balanced and pointable the rifle is without. Don't get me wrong, they definitely have their place and I'm not about to bin mine, I just reckon going without a bit more often will make me a better shot. Anyone else go without sometimes?

 

I practice a lot without them and shoot 90% of quarry without deploying one. I wouln't be without one though if i dont think i can use one on the ground or i need to save weight its removed. its less easy to use a pod well than you make out in this post though.

[Gimlet]

I practice a lot without them and shoot 90% of quarry without deploying one. I wouln't be without one though if i dont think i can use one on the ground or i need to save weight its removed. its less easy to use a pod well than you make out in this post though.

 

I'm glad you said that Kent, I thought it was just me. I'd rather use a bag than a pod if I'm zeroing off a bench. My 14" barrel rimfires or much less stable off a bipod than my 24" heavy barrelled .222. I get an oscillating movement. I find it harder to control breathing and pulse movements off a bipod with these small rifles than I do off the tripod sticks [sitting] or off a bag.

Could that be partly due, as I said earlier to their stocks not really being designed for prone shooting?

[Scully]

As has been mentioned,it's 'horses for courses' really.Both my rf and cf rifles have bipods attached,but it doesn't prevent me from using anything else which comes to hand.I wont throw myself in the mud for a rabbit just so I can use the bipod,but will either use a tree,fence post,gate or shoot off-hand.Terrain plays a big decider also,as folds in the ground,vegetation etc tend to cover smaller prey.To become proficient in any given situation with any given technique is wholly desirable,and achievable if you're prepared to put in the time,but it's also nice to know the bipod is there if the opportunity presents itself;it even makes a solid 'stop' when shooting from sticks at times.

There have been instances when out lamping that my 'scope has been a disadvantage at close range,but I'm not about to remove it.Practising as many methods as possible makes for a well rounded shot,and I agree,over reliance on any 'add-on' isn't really a good thing.

[kent]

I'm glad you said that Kent, I thought it was just me. I'd rather use a bag than a pod if I'm zeroing off a bench. My 14" barrel rimfires or much less stable off a bipod than my 24" heavy barrelled .222. I get an oscillating movement. I find it harder to control breathing and pulse movements off a bipod with these small rifles than I do off the tripod sticks [sitting] or off a bag.

Could that be partly due, as I said earlier to their stocks not really being designed for prone shooting?

 

try consentrating on control of the heel of the stock with your non trigger hand and loosening up on the shoulder contact. most who suffer from this are holding the stock forearm and getting poor control at the back end as a result. that said on lightweight harder recoiling guns you need some control up front to get the recoil back into you rather than flipping this way and that. Its realy not easy shooting from a pod though "akin to cheating" even shooting a full adjustable bench rest and back bag takes tecnique and practice time. I am not sure this is the issue but it sure sounds that way Hard shoulder contact picks up lots of chest movements from breathing and heart rate and hard shoulder contact goes with the teritory when you apply a forward hold. I use a daysack or rolled up coat etc a lot hunting also