There seem to be so many variations on the bipod theme that I'm a bit confused and so I thought to turn to AR for some advice.

When it comes to shooting prone I would guess that 6ish inches is about a good height and any more than that starts to get a bit wobbly. I've never shot sitting but does anyone have any recommendation for a bipod suitable for sitting? What sort of height do you find works best? Is it worth using a bipod for sitting at all?

My thinking was that I can just shoot of my backpack/rolled up coat etc. for the prone shots and then maybe use the bipod for the sitting shots. Does this make sense or have those with experience found that it doesn't work like that in the real world? All advice gratefully received.

Caorach,

I use the Harris 3 section 13 1/2" - 27" as I like to quickly get into the sitting / kneeling position although getting the bipods legs extended quickly is a knack you will need to get used to. I keep the top sections locked about half way so I just need to extend the bottom legs.

You are right about using the long bipods in the prone position. I can just about get away using it prone on ground sloping away but at 13 1/2" its not comfortable by any means so I do as you suggest by keeping the bipod folded up and rest on my pack / binos or whatever.

I havent used any other brand of bipod but recommend the Harris ones. My only regret is that I did,nt get the swivel type (levels on uneven ground) and I wish I had done now.

Nige.

caorach,

What sort of shooting are you thinking of using it for?

For woodland stalking I find a pair of telescopic sticks are far more useful than a bipod..They can be used standing or sitting..

Sitting supported by sticks has got to be one of the most useful shooting positions for stalking Its very stable and gets you above the ground level vegetation...If you haven't tried it, you're really handicapping yourself..

Most of my prone shooting is now confined to the range or fox shooting..I think that its only for stalking on the open hill that prone really comes into its own and then in a lot of places its still not practical due to the heather..

For fox shooting I use the "standard" Harris version with the swivel action which suits a variety of prone positions. In the right circumstances its great to shoot with, but it makes the rifle very unwieldy/unbalanced when you carry it..I tried one of the taller bipods that extend to the sitting position and thats even worse...I also found it took too long to extend or shorten the legs and get into position for it to be very practical for stalking..

Regards,

Pete

I'm with Pete on this one.

Prone static position shooting - foxing for example - 6-9" Harris (Swivel with notched legs).

Stalking, prone shots are taken off the Binos or daypack - quite rare. This, after losing the largest Red I have ever seen - due to mucking around with a bipod rather than taking the shot!

For me, 95% of shots when after deer, are taken sitting with the short steady stix. They live in the wellie until needed, weigh nothing and work very well. Allow steady shooting at all ranges, vision over cover and foliage, more lateral pan than any bipod and most importantly - are quiet and swift to use.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0005830222262a.shtml

For woodland stalking - the tall extendable bipod sticks come out. Normally, fully extended to aid clear scanning with the binos, they can be collapsed if I decide to stop moving and wait in a sitting position.

Works for me!

Rgds Ian

Thanks for your comments Nige, that sort of fits with my thinking so it is good to know that someone else finds that a similar approach works.

I will mostly be shooting on the hill Pete so the ground looks like this:

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=358109197#358109197

I am very new to this and don't have a lot of openings to get on the hill and my problem is that I can only shoot prone at the range. As you can see this creates rather a "practise vacumn" for positions other than prone. I'm doing the DSC1 on August and want to make it as easy as possible on myself in view of the fact that I will have to shoot in positions I've never tried before. So my question is genuinely asked from a position of knowing absolutely nothing.

I can meet the DSC1 prone requirements off a backpack and if I can get something to steady up my sitting that only leaves the standing off sticks to worry about, at least that is the plan anyhow. Then I'm off for stags in September and something long enough to see over the heather seems like a good idea so I'd guess a longer bipod, as Nige suggests, would cover that.

caorach,

Take a look at the picture in the Cabela's link Ian has just posted...

While the sticks are very good, thats a dreadful example of shooting from the sitting position..The guys elbows are waving about unsupported which is not a good stable position.

If he alters his foot/leg position so his knees are upright and turned his body slightly so its not so square on to the target, he could rest his elbows on the *inside* of each respective knee..along with the sticks, it makes a very steady shooting position..

Edited to add pics below:




These show one version of the sitting technique, but the important thing is the way the elbows are supported on the *insides* of the knee..

Regards,

Pete

I have to agree withe Pete and Ian, I packed up using a bipod years ago. I use sticks, they are my third leg and get me over rough ground and through burns. I use my binos as a rest if I have the need, and time, I can get them deployed easier and quicker than a bipod. Sticks are useful for resting your binos on to scan the area, you can't do that with a bipod, what you can do with a bipod is to get the bloody thing hooked up in branches and grass, all sorts of things, that you had not planned on.

Unless you have a real need for one, and could make a great deal of use of it, my advice would be go with sticks of some sort.

John

I have, but rarely use, a Caldwell 9-13" with tilt and pan, it is pretty good bi-pod for the money.

However, like the other guys, I agree it has a very limited application. The one place it is useful is on the open hill in Scotland or maybe Donegal. You can get benchrest steady from prone with a bi-pod and your backpack or bag tucked in under your shooting shoulder - acts like the rear bag on the bench. Made my longest ever shot that way in the highlands a few years ago.

Out side of this type of shot, I find bi-pods to be a total hindrance in any form of low land or woodland shooting. Get a pair of sticks, learn how to use them properly.

I have a pretty good Harris pod, which after a short stint on my 243 went onto my .22 magnum.
It makes the rifle more awkward to carry, esp if moderated as well, and is almost always of no real use. I shot one deer with it, and I had to put my Roe sack down first to stop the pod sinking into the heather. Unless you are on short grass all the time, a bipod is next to useless. I use tripod sticks,(not telescopic)and my Roe sack. I use the Roe sack on the range, so I"m shooting off the same support when hunting. I found that the bipod will change the mpi depending on the surface it is rested on(hard surface causes higher mpi)
Basically I don"t like them!
good shooting

Thanks for all the really good info on this. It looks like I will probably follow the general trend and shoot off my pack for prone and get myself some sticks suitable for sitting.

Then what I really need to do is find myself a bit of hill where, with permission etc, I can apply myself to some practise at least in the sitting position. It might be possible to do that in September when I'm away and hope to get a few days for stags. As you will all be aware the licensing situation doesn't make this easy for a beginner who has fairly limited scope on the range.

I recently purchased a Harris bipod to use with a Remington LVSF in .223. I use the gun and bipod on gophers and take most of my shots from a sitting position (I am well past the age where lying prone in a cowshit infested pasture holds any appeal). I purchased the 13 1/2 to 23 inch model.

This length seems to work well for the intended usage. As someone earlier noted, I fully extend the lower legs and partially extend the upper extensions. I also have the swivel feature which helps jiggle the rifle onto the target.

Caoroach,

I wouldn't bother with a Bipod if you are out on highland stags. Once deployed it makes moving the rifle in the heather a reall pain if your beast moves a few yards, and it is extra weight to lug about. Any shots I've seen taken on the Hill have been from a heather covered drop off and the heather itself can provide a decent rest especially if the ghillies bag or your jacket is rolled up and placed on top.

I use a bipod for stalking roe over arable in Suffolk, where 200yds+ is not unknown and I sometimes have it with me for Falow stalking at mine, but it rarely gets used as we don;t have the long woodland rides it is suited to.

Over all it is worth haveing one but I tend to take it off more than have it on. I have 2 Harris the really long one which swivels and I think it is too big and ungainly. The smaller one is far easier to handle and although I haven't shot anything with it on yet I have staqlked with it and it doesn;t make the rifle to uncomfortable to carry.

Rgds,
FB

Bipods are useful in spring wheat that's higher than a pack and stubbles just for ease of use. As you get to know your ground you may have places where you think - a bipod would be useful.

I do have the longer variety but it's too long to use prone and not as good sitting as crossed sticks.

Do make sure your rifle shoots the same with it on, a free floated barrel is no guarentee!