• HideTV Updates Coming Monday

    HideTV will be down on Monday for updates. We'll let you all know as soon as it's back up and message @alexj-12 with any questions!

  • Win an RIX Storm S3 Thermal Imaging Scope!

    To enter, all you need to do is add an image of yourself at the range below! Subscribers get more entries, check out the plans below for a better chance of winning!

    Join the contest Subscribe

Load Development: Bench or Prone, Bipod, rest, or Bag

Prone, bipod, rear bag. I use the wiebad tac pad? (i think its called, been years since i bought it) early on I wasnt as steady with it, but over time its improved a bunch and is good practice for field shooting prone.
 
Jcam, do you get similar results from the atlas and the Harris? I feel a ton more stable on the atlas, but not the Harris. Harris is super quit, though.
I originally had the Harris on the AI. I use the Atlas on the AI now. It seems like the results are similar if I kept the fundamentals. I do prefer the Atlas at this time. The Harris can be deployed quickly. The Atlas has more positions and maneuverability.
 
Jcam, do you get similar results from the atlas and the Harris? I feel a ton more stable on the atlas, but not the Harris. Harris is super quit, though.

FWIW, I had an Atlas BT10 and the Harris BRM-S. I sold my Atlas as I like the Harris better. It wasn't that the one was more stable, but the Harris easier and faster to deploy.
 
I shoot bench, bipod, rear bag for load development. This because that's how I shoot normally. I try to gt my load development process down so it duplicates, as much as possible, the way the load will be used in actual practice. Develop at 100yd, confirm at 200yd/300yd; compute drops at each distance.

Greg
 
Bipod up front seems the pervasive solution everywhere I look, for short or long distance.

I thought using a sandbag both front and read was more stable. Why is everyone using a bipod on their stock for accuracy?
 
I’m considering getting an F class type front and rear setup for load development.

Load development is typically for finding the best load for the rifle. After that, I can work on making that rifle/load work properly with me (the weak link) behind it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: supercorndogs
Bipod up front seems the pervasive solution everywhere I look, for short or long distance.

I thought using a sandbag both front and read was more stable. Why is everyone using a bipod on their stock for accuracy?

Mainly because it’s what everyone has and is easily able to be precise enough to get the job done.

It’s also a way to get in some practice at the same time. Which depending on how you look at it could be a good or bad thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PinesAndProjectiles
I think many here would agree that you should do load development in whichever position/setup you consider to be your "best" or most consistent shooting position. In this way you remove as much shooter error as possible from your testing.

I used to do my development from a bench with front and rear bags, but that was a mistake. My absolute most stable and consistent position is prone, with a properly loaded bipod, and a quality rear bag. I do all my development like this now, and its really just a very fundamentally stable position once you have practiced it and become comfortable in it.
 
If I am doing down and dirty Initial Load Development, I don't set a target. Just shoot into the berm, because the data is the MV.
Once I have done Initial Development, I still chrono, but set a target at 100 with 1" dots or stars to check the groups. I chrono with a Labradar, so there is no POI shift from the Magnetospeed bayonet.
Once I have a load determined, I prepare 30 rounds. 10 shot over chrono. 10 shot over chrono. 5 shot for precision. 5 shot for zero. Use front bag and rear mini bag, prone.