Swiss Arms Free Floating Barrel
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I feel your pain! I don't have that many rounds through mine (a very early Blue Star), maybe around 1500 rounds, and I get shift of around 1.5" between the bipod and the support underneath the place where the upper attaches to the lower, in front of the mag. This has not changed for me over the years but I do avoid using the bipod, it's too far forward and exerts a torque on the barrel for a rifle that is not exactly light. However, I am surprised at the 8" POI shift you mention and that looks excessive to me. It's perhaps a good idea to have a gunsmith who knows the rifle (at TSE perhaps) look at the barrel-frame area and/or the gas port and piston alignment when the rifle is supported at the bipod. I always support the rifle as close to the mag as possible but it's not always practical to do this but something does not sound right in your case.
I think this might be the best course of action. It seems to group best when firing from the supported magazine, as opposed to off the bi-pod. I agree that the 8" POI shift is excessive, and it doesnt always shift this much. Typically it shifts 3-4 inches, but often it will shift far enough to fly right off my 8x11 paper target, very frustrating. I've struggled with this thing for too long now, ready to give up and just accept it for what it is.
If all you get is a 1" shift, then you have a special rifle. All of mine have been a consistent 6" shift. I do find that if you exclusively use only the bipod it is very consistent. No matter for me as in Service Rifle you can't use the bipod so most of the shooting is done off of the mag.
These guns are rugged combat rifles. They are so good and accurate that shooters try to press them into a pure target / sniper rifle role. Might not be what they are really intended for.
Free-float would be nice, but it has been tried in various ways by many on the board here unsuccessfully. It is much more difficult than it appears. It may require a complete redesign of the gun / upper receiver.
Rich
These guns are rugged combat rifles. They are so good and accurate that shooters try to press them into a pure target / sniper rifle role. Might not be what they are really intended for.
Free-float would be nice, but it has been tried in various ways by many on the board here unsuccessfully. It is much more difficult than it appears. It may require a complete redesign of the gun / upper receiver.
Rich
I'm surprised that this exists for such a fine (pronounced expensive) rifle. Since this rifle is supposed to be the "finest" example of a "black rifle" in the world, I'm highly disappointed. I think it's unacceptable for a soldier to worry about a 6 MOA point of shift while using a bipod (I know we're not soldiers in the forest or in the field, but the SIG 550 has the same issue).
Sell the SA, buy an AR with a free float barrel, then forget about it. Either that, or spend the time testing it over and over again to see how consistent the POI shift is, then you can make the adjustments as necessary.
Sell the SA, buy an AR with a free float barrel, then forget about it. Either that, or spend the time testing it over and over again to see how consistent the POI shift is, then you can make the adjustments as necessary.
Much like the M1 or M14, if that system of components are separated from the shooter's application of force, then there is greater chance that the system will be more consistant in operation. It doesn't eliminate it, but does dratically reduce it.
The op rod is attached to the bolt carrier and just sits in the tube.
The tube connects the barrel and upper receiver, but this is a fairly 'soft' connection; I don't think there is any real force at play that affects poi shift that much.
I think the majority of inconsistancy comes from the forces imparted on the lower handguard, either via a hand-hold or through the bi-pod.
If you grab the handguard near the take-down pin, the majority of that force is transfered back to the lower receiver and when on the bi-pod, most of that force goes into the gas block at 3/5 down the length of the barrel.
Can you float the barrel and gas system - I think it is possible, but would take some work. Would it help? That's a good question. I think it would - It likely won't hurt.
The Swiss train to shoot off of the bipod - so that type of shooting is relatively consistant, assuming the shooter's hold and application of force (or lack thereof) on the bipod is uniform.
F22_RaptoR
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I think that would be the only REAL way to do it (and you would have to use a flat-top model, i doubt the swiss iron sight model's dovetail thing is strong enough to support a handguard as WELL), unless the swiss made mounting points on the front trunnion, OR you drilled into it *shudder*
The problem with shooting off the bipod or the handguard is also the variability of downward force you apply. Some shooters like to press (or pull) down the rifle against the bipod or a bench rest for more stability, others (like me) just rest it and use the supporting hand under the take forward bolt to support the gun. This may play a role why one person gets more of a POI than others. So, yes, if one shoots off the bipod and applies consistent force on the grip, one would get a minimal variation of POI. Ironically, shooting from a solid rest - and off the handguard area or the bipod - ends up being the worst situation being the most variable on where you place your supporting hand, if you use it, or the downward force due to body geometry.
Way She Goes
Regular
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