Why are bipods less accurate than sandbags?
- Thread starter VZsammy
- Start date
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
The way I look at it is mobility, must have mobility, and a bipod is pretty hard to beat...
Likely the biggest difference in this discussion is purpose ... bipods in competition are one thing (as opposed to the 3D tripods in F-O). Given all the time in the world, my bet is on sandbags. For F-Class or Precision rifle courses, bipods are the rule for F-R. After that, it gets down to the type of bipod.
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A Rempod is a two pronged sled. Calling it a bipod is a stretch IMO.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I have fired good groups from sandbags and from prone with a bipod, but until I worked out the proper technique for shooting with a bipod, my groups did not represent the accuracy potential of my rifle and were nowhere near as tight as the groups I fired from sandbags. If you are shooting from a bench or from hard ground or other hard surface, a bipod needs to be set on a soft intervening surface to prevent the rounds from being thrown wide. If you are shooting a rifle with a whippy barrel, you might do well to pull the forend down and rearward with your support hand rather than allowing the rifle to free recoil. You will see your groups tighten if you load up the bipod legs with forward pressure by leaning into the legs. If you are shooting on a loose surface like sand and one leg buries itself , it would be wise to reposition the legs or put some material like a jacket or something under the legs to keep them both on the surface. If one leg buries down, you might find that the groups open up when the rifle is held tightly against the limit of the cant.
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I shoot bipods at 1000yds.+ and like them very much! I agree that technique is everything. I have shot groups in the .1's (.165")three weeks ago on bipods. But that is the exception,not the rule. In general, the sand bags are exceptionally stable. But I am not sure 'how much' more consistant. At the end of the day, what do competitive shooters use for the all important matches? Sand bags. That pretty much sums it up. Bipods are just wayyyyy more convienient, and fun to use. Have fun guys, and straight shoot'in!
"...recoiling effect of the rifle being less consistent, right..." Nope. A sand bag or formal bench rest device is more solid. Has nothing to do with recoil.
"...a bipod to have both..." Bipods have no accuracy, longer range nor stopping power. They're a portable rest and nothing more.
"...a bipod to have both..." Bipods have no accuracy, longer range nor stopping power. They're a portable rest and nothing more.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
I started out shooting with a front rest, then later learned that my modified Harris will give me the same result. It's a lot less stuff to haul around on the range.
I've shot with many shooters using rests and our scores were always similar. Depends on shooter technique and practice.
I've shot with many shooters using rests and our scores were always similar. Depends on shooter technique and practice.
- Location
- central alberta
never had luck with bipods. Always shoot high for me
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Try placing some soft intervening material between the bipod's feet and the ground, a pair of gloves will work. Not only does this cushion the rifle from a hard surface as you would need to when shooting from a rested position on a hard surface, but on soft ground it prevents one or both legs from burying themselves and results in either a canted rifle or makes your cheek weld impossibly low. Shooting with a bipod does not preclude the use of a butt rest. While you can sometimes get away with using your fist under the butt, this is not as solid as a padded rest. When shooting with a bipod, you should "load up" the bipod's legs with forward pressure, and you'll find this improves consistency and tightens up your groups.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
This is one of Bill Wylde's design.
Some people think that the Harris is a flimsy bipod. I find it has a nice recoiling effect when the rifle fires. The Harris doesn't interfere with the rifle recoiling backwards and returning to zero. The spikes dug in the ground help it even better with F-Class.
If I could not shoot with it I would have something else in a heartbeat. I have an older hart pedestal rest, but anyone who knows me or Bill Wylde, Keith Cunningham, etc. can testify the Harris has done quite well in comps.
I'm always interested in better designs, but come to the matches and show me how it's done.
Cameron SS
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ground Zero
I prefer the bi-pod to front rest. Cost is one, and a big one. I prefer the versatility of a bipod for the full range of shooting that I like to do. Learning to shoot from a rest is nice, but does me no good when hunting.
In my opinion, as part of a system, any rest is capable of being steady. If a bi pod requires a level and adjustable cheek peice to make it work, then so be it. The question in my mind is how much effort and training does it take to become profficient. Rests may be inherently easier, but this is where practice comes in.
I use a Harris swivel bipod with a Pod-Lock and Pod Claws available from core tac solutions and elsewhere. On anything other than concrete I find the pod hop to be minimal, and by the time I reset my shoulder, I am exactly back on target. The feet don't move. Shooting on concrete or the bench, then my Girlfriends rubber yoga mat folded four or five times gives me the traction and squishy I need for the claws to dig in.
Its fast, convenient, it works for range and field. For all my excuses for shooting poorly, my Bi-pod has never been my limiting factor.
Just my $0.02
PS, to call a Remple a Bi-pod is to take liberties with the normal meaning of words.
In my opinion, as part of a system, any rest is capable of being steady. If a bi pod requires a level and adjustable cheek peice to make it work, then so be it. The question in my mind is how much effort and training does it take to become profficient. Rests may be inherently easier, but this is where practice comes in.
I use a Harris swivel bipod with a Pod-Lock and Pod Claws available from core tac solutions and elsewhere. On anything other than concrete I find the pod hop to be minimal, and by the time I reset my shoulder, I am exactly back on target. The feet don't move. Shooting on concrete or the bench, then my Girlfriends rubber yoga mat folded four or five times gives me the traction and squishy I need for the claws to dig in.
Its fast, convenient, it works for range and field. For all my excuses for shooting poorly, my Bi-pod has never been my limiting factor.
Just my $0.02
PS, to call a Remple a Bi-pod is to take liberties with the normal meaning of words.
Yup, that says it all right there, otherwise the best short range BR guys and the long range BR guys would be using them, I'm sure!
Don't get me wrong, I have seen some excellent shooting done with a bipod, but never sen any groups shot in the .1's with a bipod......
Cat
If you have never seen any groups shot in the .1's with a bi pod here are a couple shot from the bi pod with my CZ527 Varmint rifle. The first one is the bottom right hand target shot at 100 yards. The next one just makes it but was shot at 300 yards. Always wonder what I could do if I had a "Benchrest rifle" and called myself a BR shooter.
