Okay, try to sell me a mountable bipod!

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Wylie1

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I've been shooting since I was young and I'm a fair off hand shot but just in case of a longer distance shot while hunting I have been carrying a home made stick style non-mounted mono pod.

In a lot of cases this mono pod is more hassle than good although it has been used once to take a deer. It makes for a lot of side to side movement if not positioned correctly, is a pain to carry all the time and I'm just torn on whether to get a mountable bi-pod or not.

My only real experience with a mounted bi-pod was this last year and even though I didn't carry the rifle very far at all the first sling over my shoulder had the bi-pod digging a hole in my back, this doesn't even mention the extra weight. I can put a lot of miles on a pair of boots in a day and have to justify the extra weight.

So sell me a bi-pod with your real world experiences if you might like to have a stab at it.
 
I have mixed feelings about bipods. I was trained to use a shooting sling whenever possible, and slinging up is a good option sometimes..... but I will have to concede the usefulness of a bipod in many situations.

I own a Harris 9"-13" with the swivel function, and it is pretty handy to have around sometimes. This particular model has the sling mounting stud on the rear of the bipod instead of the bottom which does help keep it from digging into my shoulder. If it really get obnoxious I have two solutions, one if terrain allows I carry the rifle muzzle down so it is a non issue, or if terrain doesn't allow I take the bipod off and stow it in a day pack until I get where I am intending to shoot, glass, or set up.

It is possible to make very very steady shots off of the bipod from prone, and with the legs extended all the way you can engage a target on a hill when at lower elevation much more easily than I could attempt in prone otherwise. Same for engaging a target at the bottom of a hill, I can easily use the sitting position with the legs on the deck to shoot downhill. In fact that is a really steady and comfortable position, and quite useful where I live.
 
Have you looked at the quick detach type bipods? Snap on and off in just a few seconds. Or you could just get use to carrying your rifle muzzle down.
 
Another alternative is to install another sling mounting stud so the bipod doesn't interfere with the sling at all. If you have access to a drill, a steady hand, and a couple of dollars for a stud, you're in business.
 
A bipod isnt necessary in the trees. However, in tall sagebrush, a bipod can come in handy for long shots where you cant shoot prone. The tallest swivel bipod would be the one for me. I have a 9-13 inch and it is pretty worthless as a hunting tool.
 
My advice is to learn how to hunt like a real man.Don't worry about using a bipod.Use whatever nature gives you at the right time.
 
cavemanforester,

The taller swivel model is another good option, and owning both a 9"-13' and a taller model wold be ideal. I have had good luck with shooting from a cross legged sitting with a shooting sling though. Really depends on how tall the grass is. It usually doesn't look too tall in the Newcastle area, but then again I see it out of the window of a locomotive so my perspective may be a bit.... off.
 
I have a Harris 13"-27" swivel model I can attache to any of my bolt rifles, I wouldn't be without it! There are times, say on a slanted hill, I can adjust the leg{s} to meet this slant, no problems. Long shots, I have it marked to pull out to a certain length, cross my legs and the same as shooting off of a bench.
 
Lots of sales persons in here!
Nature does not always supply a good steady rest although I have set up some mornings using sage brush as a rest after patterning animals.

When I did the work to my stock on my new rifle I left the bi-pod option open by installing a sling stud a short distance back from the OEM sling stud for my sling remembering the bi-pod that had dug into my back.

Detonics, the only adverse deal I see with a detachable bi-pod is pulling the rifle off my shoulder, finding a good place to set it down, pulling the pack off my back, opening the pack and pulling the bi-pod out, attaching the bi-pod, extending the bi-pod's legs. That is a bunch of steps and movement that both take time and could draw attention. It may sound funny to some but while hunting I try to imagine the deer or what ever game is the target has rifles too and I'd feel a lot more likely to be shot with a detachable bi-pod. Besides this is still packing the extra weight so why not leave it attached and not go through the extra time to set it up.

Might be I should practice the muzzle down carry as the 13.5 -27 models would just extend beyond the crown of the rifle and protect the crown some from rocks and such. If I do end up with a bi-pod I'm thinking the taller the better for some of the reasons mentioned. Thinking about it there is another good point, rifles muzzle down on the floor board of a pickup will mess up the crown over time and if the bi-pod extends just beyond the crown it serves as protection for the crown.

cavemanforster,
There is a lot of sage brush in the areas I hunt and the height of some of the sage brush in a lot of cases is the reasoning in me questioning a bi-pod. If I go bi-pod I think it better be a 27 inch model and swivel being I have the plastic molded sling stud the rifle came with for the bi-pod.

More good points Ham! Now you have me thinking I might have to add sling studs to my other rifles and go with a detachable.

HM2PAC,
Thanks I'll have a look at that one.
 
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Never needed one for deer sized animals. A good sling works wonders. If you can't make the shot without a crutch, spend the money you would fork out for a bipod for more practice ammo.
 
Detonics, the only adverse deal I see with a detachable bi-pod is pulling the rifle off my shoulder, finding a good place to set it down, pulling the pack off my back, opening the pack and pulling the bi-pod out, attaching the bi-pod, extending the bi-pod's legs. That is a bunch of steps and movement that both take time and could draw attention. It may sound funny to some but while hunting I try to imagine the deer or what ever game is the target has rifles too and I'd feel a lot more likely to be shot with a detachable bi-pod. Besides this is still packing the extra weight so why not leave it attached and not go through the extra time to set it up.
Click to expand...

I only suggested the detachable as you stated you didn't like the bipod digging into your back, same reason I also mentioned muzzle down carry. One other advantage to muzzle down, keeps water out when it is raining.
 
If the bipod is digging into your shoulder it suggests to me that you need to adjust your sling. I do a TON of varmint hunting with a mounted bipod and I even carry a .25-06 with a mounted bipod during deer season. As long as my sling is properly adjusted, I don't feel the bipod at all. Maybe its just the sling that I use, but that has been my experience.
 
BTW, the versapod does fold up under the barrel. I never detach it while on a hunt. Legs fold down quickly.
 
I prefer using the colt Ar-15 metal bipods with a separate mount that mounts to the forend. you get the benefits of a bipod when you need one, and you can remove it when necessary.
 
Get a Harris and be done with it. Mine opens to 27" which is the largest they have.

Digging into your back? Make sure you have 2 swivels, one for the bipod and one for the sling.
 
Okay, try to sell me a mountable bipod!
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No, but how about learning to shoot with a sling? I'd be glad to help with that.

Never needed one for deer sized animals. A good sling works wonders. If you can't make the shot without a crutch, spend the money you would fork out for a bipod for more practice ammo.
Click to expand...

Ditto what he said. A good sling (not a padded leather carrying strap with the image of a deer stamped into it) properly used will go a long ways to helping you make long shots.
35W
 
Man this thread got busy!

No worries 451 Detonics, I appreciate the input and that is a good point about the rain, I got my last deer in the rain.

If the bi-pod is digging into your shoulder it suggests to me that you need to adjust your sling.
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That wasn't my rifle and I guess I should have mentioned that, I've never owned a rifle with a bi-pod.

HM2PAC,
I took a look and I have to admit I'm a bit detoured. Reason being is the adapter that would be needed on each rifle the bi-pod would be mounted on, that is if I'm correct.

Andrew Wyatt,
Maybe I should have mentioned this is a hunting rifle. That Colt uses a pica-tinny type mount?

joed,
I've been contemplating that one with the swivel. Back in my other post I mentioned having two sling studs so I could leave the option open for a bi-pod.

adobewalls,
Safari carry? You mean the tall sticks?

35 Whelen,
Are you talking about a three position sling? Maybe my terminology is off but I never used one if I am picturing what you are referring to. I'm up for learning anything.

I really hope to not need anymore practice ammo by the time I get around to hunting, a little late for practice at that point.
 
Sold a Harris 13-27" 2 weeks ago, it worked great in the sitting position, but I just didn't like having it attached to the rifle .

I bought two fiberglass driveway reflector marker rods at Home Depot, wrapped them in cammo tape, and use them as shooting sticks, besides being very fast to deploy, they also double as a hiking staff.
 
Safari carry:

Sling the rifle over your off shoulder, stock up and barrel down.

You will find that you can transition from that carry position to a shooting position on your shoulder VERY quickly. The side benefit is it places the bipod well away from your shoulder.
 
35 Whelen,
Are you talking about a three position sling? Maybe my terminology is off but I never used one if I am picturing what you are referring to. I'm up for learning anything.
Click to expand...

I'm talking a good adjustable sling. Brownells sells what they call a Latigo Sling. It's a fine, fine leather sling for a hunting rifle. My Dad has been using them for years and got me hooked on them. They're extremely quick and easy to adjust. I've bought less expensive nylon versions of this sling at sporting goods stores such as Academy and they work just as well.
A properly employed sling will add an amazing amount of steadiness to a rifle. I never realized this until I began shooting High Power competition. Just last week I saw guys shoot sub 2" ten shot groups at 100 yds from the prone position using open sights and a tight sling for support.
Here's a really good video of how to use a hasty sling. The guy in the video doesn't demonstrate it in the prone position, but you can get the idea.

I've heard of the three position slings, but that's about it.

Oh, and by the way, the Safari Carry that adobewalls mentioned is also a very good method for field carry after you learne to use a sling.

35W
 
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