I would like to use one on my 7mm RM for steadier long range shots, but some people have told me they change POI by alot, and you could miss. You guys know alot more than some people at the range so I figured I would ask you.

Thanks for any replies.

i have used bipods much and i havent discovered any POI, but beware for putting it on concrete floor when youre using it at the range since it can change the poi as the recoil hits it in the floor.

But when looked over, the bipod is a valuable tool and i shoot better with it than without it, i wish i`d bought one earlier than i did.

Hello,
Personally do not like bi pods for they are always catching on brush, vines, limbs, etc. and you do need to be aware of the surface you are using to shoot from with a bi pod. As mentioned, hard surface, concrete, rocks etc. can give a bounce and scoot sideways and come off target for follow up shot unless you place rag, pack, padding, etc. to rest on while shooting. Normal earth is not that much of a problem, but I would highly advise use of the much forgotten rifle sling. It is your portable bench rest and serves many purposes as well as greatly aiding you in shooting. I see the shooting sticks as they are called being used with Safari hunters and realize they are an aid, but I also see videos of hunters actually missing or poorly placed shots on game when using sticks and these shots are not at what one would call extended ranges!! Basics are often overlooked in all manner of disciplines including marksmanship skills.

Just make sure that when the bi-pod is installed that none of the screws used to attach it, go thru the stock and contact the barrel.

Yes...I've seen it happen and it can disrupt groups badly.

If you have a stiff stock, a free floated barrel and the bipod is installed correctly it shouldn't.

Unless you shoot it off a solid surface where the gun recoils differently. On the shooting bench I make sure that I have a scrap of padding of some kind under it.

As you can see from the above replies, the answer is that a bipod will not change your point of impact, except when it does.

Which of course means that any advantage you gain in more accurate aiming is subject to being offset in a way that is impossible to anticipate.

Bipods will soon join PolyChokes, see-through mounts, and white line spacers in the parade of faded fads.

The only way to know if it will affect the point of impact on your rifle,is to buy or borrow one and try it for yourself.

You would be surprised at the number of bi-pod users that install the bi-pod backwards on their rifles. The legs of the bi-pod must give a little under recoil and thus having it mounted correctly is a vital part of the equation. The legs need to give in the forward position which means the legs fold forward. It also kills me at the number of shooters that put their front rest on the bench facing the wrong way. I see this more from the EXPERTS who write for the gun mags and it shows them setting at a bench with their front rest backwards. (dumbasses!)

I have a bipod currently on my 7mm. I never got to sight it in very good because the scope didn't hold zero. Now I have an old Redfield that is mounted. I'm gonna hopefully sight it in this weekend, then I can see.

Hey Tyler

A bipod is very useful when you are hunting in open country and walking. My last Elk and antelope were both shot with the bipod. The Elk across a drainage at 250 yards and the Antelope at 362 yards. On both those shots I had a very steady sight picture through the scope.

However, hunting from a stand and in country with thicker cover they are almost always in the way and unnecessary.

I will say that the standard Harris Bipod

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=442875

is the one I use and I have hunting friends that have the kind that are detachable and swivel.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=186109

I don't like those because they are bulkier and rattle around when walking. Drive you crazy.

I won't go Elk, Antelope or plains Mule Deer hunting without one. JMHO

I sent you a PM Woods. Sadly, my bipod is a removable one but I like it. It's the Versa-Pod outta the Cabelas Catalog. If I'm going into wooded brush, which is alot of the time I won't use the bipod, in fact I will hopefully have a 45-70 or other lever gun, but hopefully not a 30-30...the last one I shot wasn't very accurate at all, it might have been alright close ranges, but after I missed a nice buck at about 100 yards 3, yes 3 times, I don't trust it any more. I'm not the steadiest of shots, which is why I like bipods, but I think with 3 shots and a accurate rifle I can hit a 10 inch target at 100 yards every time. That same gun only hit the corner of a poster sized target at 100 yards at the range. At 50 yards the groups were around 5 inches. This was a Winchester 94.

Tyler
Try a different brands of ammo and bullet weights.
My iron sighted pre-war 94 has no problems holding 4" 100yd groups (off bags) with ammo it likes.

I've only tried a Harris bipod on my M700 hvy. .260ai. It doesn't show any POI while shooting off the hard bench or the ground. Your results may vary.

I would try different ammo, but it's not my gun, it's my great uncle's. I might borrow it for woods hunting this year again, but if I can't get very good groups I'll say heck with it and sit in the fields with my 7mm.

Tyler
Yes they do.
Anything you do dfferent when holding the rifle can/will change the zero.

Once upon a time I did a test that lasted several months.
Shooting a Steyr SSG 308 sniper rifle, I would fire two 5 shot groups. I fired one with a bipod, and one with a loop sling.
I would alternate shooting the bipod group first and next range session, the loop sling group first, all at 100 yards.
I did this over 25 times.
Results:
The Loop Sling group was ALWAYS tighter.
It was ALWAYS one inch lower than the bipod group.
One inch equals one MOA at 100 yards. This would equal a 6 inch difference at 600 yards.

I always sight in my rifles in the position I am most likely to be shooting them in when hunting.