Sighting in with a bipod?

[johnnyblues]

Thanks all for your opinions. I ve used a led sled many times in the past to sight in. Just don't think its really needed at this point. When the gun gets back from Hill Country rifles it should be dead on as they will test fire with my scope attached. ( sent it with the gun). I ve instructed them to zero dead on at 100 as my leopard blind will be 60-80 yds from the bait. They will also use the same ammo I m using. Nothing leaves that shop before it shoots sub moa. Except the cannons..lol

 

[Alistair]

I've found with my .270 that sighting with a bipod is ok, as long as you control the forend.

This is specifically in relation to concrete shooting benches at the range. If I do a 'standard' hold on the rifle, holding the fore end with the left hand and applying firm rearward pressure (whilst also loading the bipod), it shoots to the same point of aim as off a bag or prone off bipod in a hunting situation. If I try and be clever and do the 'left hand tucked under the buttstock to control the elevation' thing like I can with my heavier practical or target rifles, I get the most almighty bounce and groups which are both large and high in comaprison to shooting off say grass or dirt.

My preference these days is to zero prone off my shooting rucksack or a thick coat and if I'm being really anal, with a back bag as well. This both much more comfortable, doesn't present issues with bounce and honestly, is an easier postion to get good groups, especially if your bipod is a relatively tall model.

 

[Nyati]

For zeroing, sandbags.

 

[Hank2211]

The purpose of sighting in a rifle is to make sure that the bullet hits where the crosshairs are. So you need to make sure - as best you can - that the only variable involved in the sighting-in is the scope setting. That means making sure you are not a variable in the equation, which translates into the most stable rest you can find.

Having said that, you may need to check or adjust in the field where a sled or other solid rest isn't readily available, so second best will have to do. In that case, bipods are a good bet, and are likely better than shooting sticks, a tree branch, or a knapsack on the hood of a vehicle (although all could work in a pinch).

 

[Hogpatrol]

When I hunted a rocky and hilly area around the Orange River, my PH had one of these and I used it to take a waterbuck.

 

[Hogpatrol]

When I hunted a rocky and hilly area around the Orange River, my PH had one of these and I used it to take a waterbuck.

Similar to the Caldwell version I previously posted and edited out.

 

[johnnyblues]

Don't get me wrong guys, I sighted in dozens of rifles/scopes. I was wondering if bipods were not a good bet. Interesting thread though. Thanks.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Don't get me wrong guys, I sighted in dozens of rifles/scopes. I was wondering if bipods were not a good bet. Interesting thread though. Thanks.

Bipods work well. The key is like anything else. One needs to practice off of them ALOT. Not sure I can post the link but if you google Froggy Bipod, and go to the first link you can see what is possible shooting with one.

 

[TTundra]

Little off your main topic, but this is one reason I like a V-block bedding with a truly free floated barrel. The dynamic between the barrel and stock wont ever change and thus pressure from shooting off a sand bag or bipod should not see a change in POI.

To your point, you have more contact with a long flat sandbag, and sand bag to bench, so in theory you have a more stable distributed platform than a bipod with minimal contact.

 

[Rimbaud]

I've checked my zero shooting prone w sandbags atop ammo cans. Thereafter, every shot was all set for the kill zone, unless of course there was shooter error. I've zeroed off a bipod and sandbags from the bench too. I think the key is just taking the time to find your natural point of aim and then taking one perfect shot five times. The kill zone is reasonably sized on most game so no need for shots to touch each other, but it's nice when they do, especially with handholds.

 

[Divernhunter]

I sight in on the bench using sand bags. Then shoot off sticks to see if any different. If different then adjust the sights. The 4 rifles we have used on 2 trips were just fine off sticks after using a bench to zero the rifles. To me it makes sense to be as stable as possible when zeroing in. If for some reason I find a difference NOT caused by poor shooting off the sticks then I would adjust the sights. AGAIN that did not happen for any of our Africa trip rifles and I might add it has never happened for any other of our rifles/pistols that have been used in the USA over several stated for Bear/Deer/Pronghorn/Pigs/Squirrels/Yotes/Bobcat and such using sticks or gun mounted bi-pods. I will do the same for my Elk hunt and a Texas Exotic hunt as well as a Calif exotic hunt this year

Maybe we are just lucky since the 1960's

 

[Tra3]

Don't get me wrong guys, I sighted in dozens of rifles/scopes. I was wondering if bipods were not a good bet. Interesting thread though. Thanks.

I don’t think anyone doubts your sight in skills. I appreciate that you asked the question because I often wonder what is true zero with sighting in a rifle, and how others do it. Because of so many variables it can be maddening.
I am reminded that in my teens, 20’s and most of my 30’s, if I put 5 rounds in a 6” circle at 100 yards the gun was good to go and it would (and did) kill what I hunted.
Then in the last 5 years I read about 10,000 pages of gun writing and now I’m chasing a significantly higher standard. That MOA standard is really pushed by advertising but doesn’t apply in real hunting situations. If I ever manage to 100% control buck fever, then hunting won’t be as exciting. So I pray that buck fever never goes away.
I will say, the significant amount of shooting I did in 2018 made for a much more reflexive, instinctive and accurate shooting for my safari last summer.

 

[Scott CWO]

One of my guides is a long range instructor and worked at Best of the West for six years. He now has his own business building rifles and conducting shooting schools. He has also worked with Special Forces.

We shoot our 6.5 GAPP SAUM rifles with loaded (slight forward pressure) bipods from the prone position on the ground. We never touch the rifle with our left hands and all barrels are free floating. Your left arm is in a V position with your elbow pointed down range and your hand holding a small roll-up sandbag underneath the butt stock to adjust for elevation. Your shooting hand thumb is never placed over the rifle stock - it is placed alongside the stock, not over it. This reduces tension in your hand and allows the rifle to recoil straight back with no torquing to one side or the other. We can hit gongs at 2000 yards regularly using this position. We use this method to sight-in also. We never use lead sleds as they will make your rifle shoot differently at long ranges as they alter recoil.

 

[Tra3]

@Scott CWO what bipod do you use for sight in? What leg length? Do you use the same bipod for hunting?
Are your shot groupings at 100 yards better using that method or shooting off a bench?
I’m doing a long range class here in MN this spring, I’m super curious to learn more.

 

[Scott CWO]

@Scott CWO what bipod do you use for sight in? What leg length? Do you use the same bipod for hunting?
Are your shot groupings at 100 yards better using that method or shooting off a bench?
I’m doing a long range class here in MN this spring, I’m super curious to learn more.

The bipod is an Atlas 6-9" I believe. Brandon Davis and I also use it for hunting when we can. It attaches to a small rail that is attached to the rifle stock. We get way better accuracy from a prone position with the bipod than sitting at a bench with sandbags. Obviously, a small bipod only works in the field while hunting if the vegetation isn't too tall. Brandon is researching a taller version for sitting shots.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’ve found lightweight bbls that are not free floated may have a different POI off a bipod than prone with a sling or off sandbags. I assume that this is because the bipod is carrying the rifle weight out near the tip of the forend. I have never seen this with a free floated bbl.

@WAB
I have similar issues with my 25 and a free floated barrel. I sighted it in using a Caldwell shooting rest of the bench. Out in the field with a bipod I found I was missing shots that should have been easy. Back at the bench to check and I had a different poi than the rest. Now I leave the bipod at home.
Bob

 

[Scott CWO]

We only shoot free floated barrels and prone with bipod from the ground, not sitting with a wooden or concrete bench. We have found this to be the most accurate and POI doesn’t change when adapted into the field using backpacks or other rests that are not as hard as a concrete bench.