bipods do they make you lazy

[kanny 20,488]

ive always been a free hand shooter it suits the way i hunt dont get me wrong if i can use somthing like a tree or post i will but i notice that alot of air gunners are useing bipods now days. do you think theres a chance that these could make you abit lazy and reliant?

 

kanny

[paulk73 151]

no. i dont think so. we could say that about everything. scopes, pcps but the truth is things have progressed abit. im not saying the bi-pod is a new concept, but like you say a lot more people are using them now. when i first started airgunning all those years ago, we didnt have scopes. we couldnt afford them. we made do with open sights. nowadays people have more disposable income, so most people use them. what im saying is that its an evolution in airgunning thats all. natural progression.

[The Duncan 802]

Never use a bipod for anything at air rifle ranges, not worth it IMHO. Use one on my hmr if I'm expecting to shoot over 100 yards though.

[kanny 20,488]

no. i dont think so. we could say that about everything. scopes, pcps but the truth is things have progressed abit. im not saying the bi-pod is a new concept, but like you say a lot more people are using them now. when i first started airgunning all those years ago, we didnt have scopes. we couldnt afford them. we made do with open sights. nowadays people have more disposable income, so most people use them. what im saying is that its an evolution in airgunning thats all. natural progression.

 

i see your point there paul people dont realy have to put the hours in anymore perfecting there feild craft and i think thats a shame because i think there missing out on alot.. it was always competition between the lads that drove me to be a better shot.

 

kanny

Edited February 27, 2012 by kanny

[kanny 20,488]

Never use a bipod for anything at air rifle ranges, not worth it IMHO. Use one on my hmr if I'm expecting to shoot over 100 yards though.

 

i can quite understand using one on a 100yrd plus bullet rifle but not a airgun

[lighthunter 81]

hi kanny,[yes] i agree with you.a bypod can make your shooting dependable and lazy,but they do have thier place in air gun hunting.i now only use mine for a zero'in session,i found that if i was out hunting and a rabbit presented itself for a shot, i would go in to auto pilot, [down on the floor]pypod extended out,hft has given me much more confidence .ie,standing,kneelin,unsuported and suported.i think i have improved my shooting by not reliy'n on the bypod,some lads will always use one,so as to insure a perfect head shot,thus clean and humane kill.so thier are pro's and cons to use'in one. regards chaz.

[kanny 20,488]

hi kanny,[yes] i agree with you.a bypod can make your shooting dependable and lazy,but they do have thier place in air gun hunting.i now only use mine for a zero'in session,i found that if i was out hunting and a rabbit presented itself for a shot, i would go in to auto pilot, [down on the floor]pypod extended out,hft has given me much more confidence .ie,standing,kneelin,unsuported and suported.i think i have improved my shooting by not reliy'n on the bypod,some lads will always use one,so as to insure a perfect head shot,thus clean and humane kill.so thier are pro's and cons to use'in one. regards chaz.

 

glad to hear were thinking along the same lines here i take your point of the humane kill but they could have the humane kill just as good free shooting with a little pratice. i use to think nothing of putting 500 pellets through a gun on a plinking session and i never used targets it was always a can here a bottle top there a toothpast lid in the tree and the glory shot of a penny way out there.

 

 

kanny

[Buster321c 1,010]

They do make you lazy , mine does . It's always on , and ready . I know my shoots and where I can sit for a bit of 'static'

Edited February 27, 2012 by Buster321c

[kanny 20,488]

hi kanny,[yes] i agree with you.a bypod can make your shooting dependable and lazy,but they do have thier place in air gun hunting.i now only use mine for a zero'in session,i found that if i was out hunting and a rabbit presented itself for a shot, i would go in to auto pilot, [down on the floor]pypod extended out,hft has given me much more confidence .ie,standing,kneelin,unsuported and suported.i think i have improved my shooting by not reliy'n on the bypod,some lads will always use one,so as to insure a perfect head shot,thus clean and humane kill.so thier are pro's and cons to use'in one. regards chaz.

 

and i think another point to make is if you zero using your bibod then its less likley to be as accurate free shooting than if you did your zeroing without the bipod and it could be said visa versa

 

kanny

[kanny 20,488]

They do make you lazy , mine does . It's always on , and ready . I know my shoots and where I can sit for a bit of 'static'

 

i dont like coarse fishing but i do like piking coz im always on the move. i guess im the same with airgunning i enjoy variation of opportunity and the test of my skills.

 

kanny

[RatSniper 19]

I personally only use the bipod if in laying on the ground and waiting for the quarry to come out, if im stalking them i either like to shoot with the gun over my knee or laided flat to the ground again and elbows dug in IF i can get to the ground with out spooking the quarry.

[Acuspell 329]

It isn't just the laziness aspect, but also the fact that 500gms of bipod stuck on the front of the rifle upsets the natural balance of the gun. It makes it much heavier, pushes the weight forward and makes a fast, offhand shot, more difficult. I have used bipods a lot. They have their place for precision shooting such as extreme range hunting (Yukon for Elk at 1200 yards, New Mexico for Pronghorn at 450 yards+, even in the hills for reds and sika I have taken deer at beyond 600 yards and foxes out at 300+). There are times to leave it off though. Mostly I stalked with the bipod in my rucksack, long range shots requiring a bipod were virtually NEVER rush jobs and there was time to put the bipod on - it is only 30 seconds after all. Leaving it off provides a naturally balanced rifle for close range shots, out to 150 yards or so.

 

Lying prone is a limitation in itslef. people who shoot off the ground for % of the time and really limiting their hunting opportunities. I took a rabbit on the hop (not the run, just a lope) with the air rifle the other day. We don't have may rabbits, so it was a rareity for me to get a shot at one. Proper fit and balance is just as important in a rifle as it is in a shotgun. Peole I have seen using an air rifle take far too long to shoot and seem to tend to dwell on each shot, instead of bringing the rifle to bear and getting the shot away. Just lift the gun to the shoulder and shoot. Try lying prone and shooting in grass more than a foot high - you can't see anything, so then other positions come into their own. the sitting position is probably the most useful of all, and is as steady as prone, but puts you over the top of the herbage. Folks who shoot off a bipod for confidence need to put in more practise at other positions - but they feel they have to post one hole groups to show their shooting prowess. RUBBISH. Practise getting the first shot off on target. I can't shoot groups for toffee, but am confident of putting meat in the bag. You don't even need a bipod for zeroing. A rolled up towel or coat is enough suport for that job. Provided the rifle is held steady, that is all that matters.

 

The other thing is, the number of people I see using a bipod totally incorrectly. Why do people hold the forend when it is supported on the bipod? Front end is supported, so put your non trigger hand under the toe of the stock as a support for the butt, your hand should act as a wedge for elevation. Just let the rifle sit on the bipod and your hand under he butt, thats it.

[silentshot1 206]

I've been thinking about getting a bi pod recently but rarely find myself shooting prone and wonder if the balance would throw me off when sitting. I use a sack full of decoys to zero off prone, but only PCPs, otherwise it's freehand, sitting, flesh to flesh with the HW 77.

 

That said, as my hunting write up suggests, most of my shooting involves very little cover so wonder if prone on a bi pod would be more productive.

 

I agree though, I think if you rely on a bi pod then you are possibly a bit lazy and maybe missing out on part of the buzz and skill of air rifle shooting over shot guns or rifles.

[The Duncan 802]

hi kanny,[yes] i agree with you.a bypod can make your shooting dependable and lazy,but they do have thier place in air gun hunting.i now only use mine for a zero'in session,i found that if i was out hunting and a rabbit presented itself for a shot, i would go in to auto pilot, [down on the floor]pypod extended out,hft has given me much more confidence .ie,standing,kneelin,unsuported and suported.i think i have improved my shooting by not reliy'n on the bypod,some lads will always use one,so as to insure a perfect head shot,thus clean and humane kill.so thier are pro's and cons to use'in one. regards chaz.

 

and i think another point to make is if you zero using your bibod then its less likley to be as accurate free shooting than if you did your zeroing without the bipod and it could be said visa versa

 

kanny

Totally agree, head/scope alignment is different prone compared to free-hand

[Extremetaz 15]

I have a bipod, but it spends most of its time in the bag.

 

Used it initally, and when I was testing ammo - basically just allowed me to keep the rifle as still as could be done so I could assess group sizes & ballistics over range.

 

Now that I have all that data, I do any target work sitting and kneeling, primarily because I like the challenge and I need the practice.

 

Any fieldwork then, I'll prop myself against a tree or some such and do the same as, as has been mentioned, we owe it to the quarry not to stuff the shot.

 

 

Am considering getting some shooting sticks though - few pals can't recommend them highly enough.