I can't shoot as well off a bipod

[Zipper]

I know that's weird. I shoot better prone with a pack or bag. The bipod makes me tense up or something and my groups are actually worse with it, does anyone else struggle with bipods?

 

[Alan]

Not weird at all, some bipods feel rigid while bags let you relax naturally

 

[Mandy]

Hey, you're not the only one. I used to load the bipod incorrectly and struggle with it the whole time. Once I chilled out and let the rifle settle naturally, my groupings got way better.

 

[MisterEd]

Not weird at all, some bipods feel rigid while bags let you relax naturally

Ditto this!

The few guns with bipods I have shot I did NOT like them at all.

 

[Trigger_joy]

I know that's weird. I shoot better prone with a pack or bag. The bipod makes me tense up or something and my groups are actually worse with it, does anyone else struggle with bipods?

Same here. Give me a crusty backpack over fancy legs any day of the week

 

[MisterEd]

Reality being what it is Bi Pods are just another 'Tacticool' device with minimal practicality in the 'real world'.

Kinda adds a little 'bulk' to a rifle as well.

 

[SuperTrooper]

I whole heartedly believe that the Marines wouldn't have trained me in the use of bipods, if bipods were not an absolute necessity. What do you mean useless in the real world? What real world use? For defensive use there is no great substitute for a bipod for grazing fire, suppressive fire, and area denial. My kids learned to pick off targets from a bipod mounted weapon way before they were big enough to carry it around much less shoulder the weapon. They are also indispensable in situations where the operator has wounds restricting the effectiveness of their limbs. Put my mark in the 'Don't Leave Home Without a Bipod' column.

 

[MisterEd]

What do you mean useless in the real world?

As in that of the 'average' shooter, hunter, plinker etc. While I have seen a few people with bipods they seemed to stay folded up more than get used.

For defensive use there is no great substitute for a bipod for grazing fire, suppressive fire, and area denial. They are also indispensable in situations where the operator has wounds restricting the effectiveness of their limbs.

I do not consider these to be 'real world' situations except in maybe military, combat and possibly some law enforcement however they are NOT something the average person (even a dedicated defensive firearm carrier) is likely to experience.

My kids learned to pick off targets from a bipod mounted weapon way before they were big enough to carry it around much less shoulder the weapon.

And this is great! Good on them however a lot of us grew up shooting supported rifles as well - but we used portable rifle supports, stands and even rolled up towels.

I simply see the bipod as a device that has 'emerged' as a 'tactical' device (along with all the others) that while possibly having some limited 'practical' use with some shooters I do NOT see them on the majority of rifles I see being carried or shot.

 

[SuperTrooper]

As in that of the 'average' shooter, hunter, plinker etc. While I have seen a few people with bipods they seemed to stay folded up more than get used.


I do not consider these to be 'real world' situations except in maybe military, combat and possibly some law enforcement however they are NOT something the average person (even a dedicated defensive firearm carrier) is likely to experience.


And this is great! Good on them however a lot of us grew up shooting supported rifles as well - but we used portable rifle supports, stands and even rolled up towels.

I simply see the bipod as a device that has 'emerged' as a 'tactical' device (along with all the others) that while possibly having some limited 'practical' use with some shooters I do NOT see them on the majority of rifles I see being carried or shot.

Bizarre, I seldom see a military pattern rifle (modern sporting rifle) without a bipod. If grazing fire, suppressive fire, and area denial aren't in your bailiwick then yes indeed we're in different 'real world' scenarios. Do we also have a 'hunting' rifle without a bipod? Sure we do, but our ARs are definitely not for hunting, and aren't legal for (most) hunting anyway. Shotguns and .22s are what we use for hunting, but that's the great thing about this country - you can be you, and I can be me - we can both be firearm aficionados even if our usage, or perceived purposes are 180⁰ apart

 

[SuperTrooper]

PS: a rifle is for keeping someone out of pistol range, and I accept after nearly 50 years of being hunted by the criminal organization I helped to bring down (ok we tried), and by recently released felons wanting to settle their beef, or otherwise take revenge that I'm not your average gun owner. I've been retired a long time, but the worst of what I put away has been recently released after 25-30 years, and has sent me back into hiding after a peaceful (almost) decade or more of retirement.
ST

 

[MisterEd]

but our ARs are definitely not for hunting, and aren't legal for (most) hunting anyway.

Well, technically they CAN be legal - provided they are of a legal caliber for the animal being hunted and a legal magazine is used (such as five rounds in Oregon) but typically ARs are not entirely 'practical' for hunting.

Shotguns and .22s are what we use for hunting,

For some hunting yes. Shotguns obviously for birds, small game and varmints and .22 (rimfire) as well for varmints and small game but .22 rimfire pretty much ends there.

Bizarre, I seldom see a military pattern rifle (modern sporting rifle) without a bipod.

Well, yes it seems a lot of owners of MSRs Today have bipods on them but it didn't start out this way. I owned an AR-15 (a 1979 Colt Sporter) long before they became a 'fad' and it did NOT have a bipod, nor would I have ever considered adding one. Same with many owners of 'early' MSRs. MOST had no bipods and like most of the 'add ons' and 'accessories' they didn't come along until later when the manufacturers of most of these things started to 'promote' and 'merchandise' them and slapped the word 'Tactical' on them.

 

[SuperTrooper]

Thick brush, short sight lines on this side of the Cascades, 12ga rifled slug is your best bet on Elk, and deer. I can't recall ever having an available shot at much over 75 yards. Yes, I have SEEN animals at great distances, usually on the next ridge, but I'm not about to wound or kill an animal that I'd never be able to reach on foot, or even find. No sir, I don't want to just kill for the sake of killing - if I don't think I can recover the animal I'm not about to shoot at it.

 

[SuperTrooper]

Well, technically they CAN be legal - provided they are of a legal caliber for the animal being hunted and a legal magazine is used (such as five rounds in Oregon) but typically ARs are not entirely 'practical' for hunting.


For some hunting yes. Shotguns obviously for birds, small game and varmints and .22 (rimfire) as well for varmints and small game but .22 rimfire pretty much ends there.

Well, yes it seems a lot of owners of MSRs Today have bipods on them but it didn't start out this way. I owned an AR-15 (a 1979 Colt Sporter) long before they became a 'fad' and it did NOT have a bipod, nor would I have ever considered adding one. Same with many owners of 'early' MSRs. MOST had no bipods and like most of the 'add ons' and 'accessories' they didn't come along until later when the manufacturers of most of these things started to 'promote' and 'merchandise' them and slapped the word 'Tactical' on them.

Well, in all fairness, in the 'back in the day' you speak of was before the MSR version on the AR. There was no easy cheap generic bipod, only a specialized piece that was nearly impossible to find. Today however with the cool Mlok type forgrips attaching accessories is a breeze, and you can buy a bipod for $20 (I recommend spending more) at your nearest big box store, and have it mounted, and in action within 10 minutes.

 

[MisterEd]

I can't recall ever having an available shot at much over 75 yards.

Heck even over here on the East side as a Muzzleloader hunter most of my shots have rarely been much longer than that - and sometimes a lot less!

I once shot a deer at about 10' away hiding behind a bush!

Even when having hunted with centerfire rifles I HAVE bypassed shots at distances that while ACCEPTABLE for the caliber were not acceptable for ME in that I didn't want to risk wounding it and potentially NOT finding it nor did I want to take of on a major hike/search for it.

I don't even get into convos with people who 'boast' about their massive 'magnum' caliber rifles and how far they are capable of shooting. I consider it much more practical and 'ethical' to try to get as close as one can before 'taking' the animal - and NOT to 'rely' on the capability of the rifle.