Loading the bipod with no foot grip

[SanPatHogger]

I have only recently started shooting from a bipod. So I find when shooting in a plowed field or on concrete or other places too that my bipod feet don't always grip the ground. I see these shooting mats with a loop built into them that harnesses the feet so you can load it. Does anybody use them? I was thinking of just using a piece of load binder tie down strap, maybe put a hose clamp or something like that on the legs down near the feet to keep the strap low. Then I could load the bipod when shooting off of anything. But I don't see anybody else doing it so there's probably a reason.

 

[Landon4]

What bipod are you using?
In the dirt or field situation you could use the spiked feet assuming your bipod will accept them. The shooting mat would work as it allows you to push into it more.

 

[SanPatHogger]

Its a $25 or $30 bootleg Harris.

I'm also reading a few other posts about loading the bipod and maybe I am doing it wrong.
Lost it, but watched a video posted here where a guy is shooting with claw feet on concrete. He talked about building a bridge and loaded the rifle into his shoulder with his bag hand, only slight pressure on the bipod legs, and when he shot there was almost no jump.

Maybe some type of a rubber claw foot would help and then not scratch the hell out of stuff, like if I shot across the hood of my truck or roof of my car.

 

[SanPatHogger]

This is the video.

 

[Steel head]

It doesn’t have to grip solidly, just a slight forward bias is all that’s needed.
with a stiff bipod like a Harris it’s minuscule.
With something like a elite iron it’s the same force but a bit more travel.

 

[seanh]

Get you a two by four about 2 or 3 feet long and put some long nails in it ( sticking out the bottom side several inches... now you have something you can push into.

 

[SanPatHogger]

T

Get you a two by four about 2 or 3 feet long and put some long nails in it ( sticking out the bottom side several inches... now you have something you can push into.

That's kind of what I was thinking a strap would do. But after watching that video I need to train more. I need to shoot more. I wont always have a board or strap with me.

 

[loveha]

Find what works for you.

Me, I have a Cole-Tac shooting mat and removed the loading straps. Find them unnecessary, and honestly a pain in the ass. You're only taking slack out. If you are trying to assist the earth in its rotation, your loading to hard.

 

[C.R. Adams]

. If you are trying to assist the earth in its rotation, your loading to hard.

funny shit right here!!!!

 

[Powder_Burns]

With the rubber feet on a harris, if it slides forward you are pushing too hard. Loading the bipod is just a matter of taking slack out of your position. Push the rifle buttstock forward with your index finger, when it slides forward thats too much pressure.

 

[ncr92]

I often shoot on a range that has loose, sandy soil. Using a harris bipod with standard rubber feet, I could not put any load on the bipod at all. Zero.
I got these puppies and and they solved all my problems. Highly recommended.

Replacement bipod feet for Harris style bipods

Precision cut rifled barrels and shooting accessories for hunting, tactical and competition shooting. Bipod replacement feet, data holders, muzzle brakes, bolt knobs.

www.hawkhillcustom.com

 

[LawnMM]

I'll pistol whip the next guy who says 'load the bipod'!

You're removing any slack, that's IT. You don't have to lean on it, load it, push it forward, any of it.

If you can pick up the buttstock, and the rifle has ANY play where it can wiggle front to back or vice versa, that's what you're removing.

If you're leaning on it hard enough to push the legs forward, even on a smooth surface, you're doing it wrong.

 

[ncr92]

I'll pistol whip the next guy who says 'load the bipod'!

You're removing any slack, that's IT. You don't have to lean on it, load it, push it forward, any of it.

If you can pick up the buttstock, and the rifle has ANY play where it can wiggle front to back or vice versa, that's what you're removing.

If you're leaning on it hard enough to push the legs forward, even on a smooth surface, you're doing it wrong.

Not looking to get whipped but I'm not sure there's universal agreement on that.

The video in post #4 above shows a respected instructor loading the bipod and describing his technique in those terms. Do you think he's doin' it wrong or are we just using different terminology to describe the same thing?

 

[Powder_Burns]

You are overthinking it. When people talk about loading the bipod, it just means you are in a proper shooting position and theres no void between your shoulder and the buttstock. You want the same fit between your shoulder and stock as if you were shooting offhand or any other position. They want to ensure you have taken any movement out of the equation prior to breaking a shot so the rifle isn’t going to move back into your shoulder once the recoil impulse begins. You aren’t pushing into the gun, you aren’t pulling the gun back, just laying into the stock so theres a solid connection between shooter and rifle.

 

[LawnMM]

Not looking to get whipped but I'm not sure there's universal agreement on that.

The video in post #4 above shows a respected instructor loading the bipod and describing his technique in those terms. Do you think he's doin' it wrong or are we just using different terminology to describe the same thing?

The term has been around forever, the problem is that it's constantly misunderstood.

When Phil shoots on the slick surface with no traction, do you see him frustrated because he keeps pushing forward and the bipod sliding away?

No. Because he slides into position and holds it. He takes the slack out, that's it. That's not at all what you described yourself doing and you're asking about mats with loops to keep the feet from moving because you aren't grasping the concept.

Think of it like hugging the rifle. You want even and consistent contact, you're not pushing forward enough to move it forward and if you have it shouldered correctly it shouldn't be able to move backward.

Savvy?

 

[SanPatHogger]

I often shoot on a range that has loose, sandy soil. Using a harris bipod with standard rubber feet, I could not put any load on the bipod at all. Zero.
I got these puppies and and they solved all my problems. Highly recommended.

Replacement bipod feet for Harris style bipods

Precision cut rifled barrels and shooting accessories for hunting, tactical and competition shooting. Bipod replacement feet, data holders, muzzle brakes, bolt knobs.

www.hawkhillcustom.com

If i could find this shape foot, but made of rubber. That might be the best. Maybe that style foot dipped in a rubber coating like flex seal.

 

[1moaoff]

 

[Powder_Burns]

I give up.

 

[ncr92]

The term has been around forever, the problem is that it's constantly misunderstood.

When Phil shoots on the slick surface with no traction, do you see him frustrated because he keeps pushing forward and the bipod sliding away?

No. Because he slides into position and holds it. He takes the slack out, that's it. That's not at all what you described yourself doing and you're asking about mats with loops to keep the feet from moving because you aren't grasping the concept.

Think of it like hugging the rifle. You want even and consistent contact, you're not pushing forward enough to move it forward and if you have it shouldered correctly it shouldn't be able to move backward.

Savvy?

Thanks. I think you're getting me confused with the OP. I don't use mats, loops or any sort of artificial aids to stop my bipod feet from slipping. I find such solutions impractical and don't want to practice that way.

I use the technique that Phil demonstrates in the video. I bring the rile to my shoulder whilst propped up on my elbows and then slide down into position. For me this definitely puts a moderate amount of load on the bipod and, if I'm on a loose or slippery surface, that load is sufficient to make the bipod feet slip. It's not the end of the world and you can adapt your technique to slippery surfaces but I find that, if I can put a small amount of load on the bipod, it helps my recoil management.

 

[LawnMM]

I am getting you confused, it's hard to keep all the questions straight sometimes.

They're sliding forward when you start out propped up because they have to, right? The gun isn't going to shrink like an accordion and unless the feet are wedged against a rock it won't support the weight of your torso.

The problem with saying "load the bipod" is people think it means you need some 'load' of force or weight against it.

They'll get prone, and start pushing the bipod forward on it's feet, then they go shit that didn't work, scoot up, do it again, damn I must need spikes the feet keep sliding...

I think telling people "just take the slack out of the bipod" is better terminology because it doesn't take much, at all.

 

[Steel head]

I'll pistol whip the next guy who says 'load the bipod'!

You're removing any slack, that's IT. You don't have to lean on it, load it, push it forward, any of it.

If you can pick up the buttstock, and the rifle has ANY play where it can wiggle front to back or vice versa, that's what you're removing.

If you're leaning on it hard enough to push the legs forward, even on a smooth surface, you're doing it wrong.

Does this apply to the highly innovative recoil reducing bipod?

 

[LawnMM]

Negative, that's the most impressive invention of our time.

 

[Dthomas3523]

With light recoiling rifles, the most overlooked/ignored fundamental is pulling rearward with the bottom three fingers of your gripping hand.

The lack of utilizing this fundamental is the main culprit of these ever increasing threads with problems loading bipods.

 

[Steel head]

With light recoiling rifles, the most overlooked/ignored fundamental is pulling rearward with the bottom three fingers of your gripping hand.

The lack of utilizing this fundamental is the main culprit of these ever increasing threads with problems loading bipods.

I see that a lot.

 

[SanPatHogger]

With light recoiling rifles, the most overlooked/ignored fundamental is pulling rearward with the bottom three fingers of your gripping hand.

The lack of utilizing this fundamental is the main culprit of these ever increasing threads with problems loading bipods.

I do pull the rifle tighter to my shoulder with 3 fingers. I found that helps a lot. I dry fired a little the other night in the hallway and pulling in with my right hand helped. Also setting up the way the guy in the video did helped. I tried a strap around the bipod feet and that also helped. They all do the same thing, getting the butt tight into my shoulder. I'll just keep practicing the basics. I finished reading Frank Gallis book, tons of good info. But I watch that video again and he definitely has way more pressure on the bipod when shooting off the mat, so I'll use my left hand to help. It's better to be able to shoot without more "stuff"

 

[SanPatHogger]

And to 1moaoff and Powder_Burns, whats the matter? You never white trash engineered anything before?

 

[Powder_Burns]

Nah thats all good, just don’t want to see you trying to buy a gear solution to fix a fundamentals problem.

 

[Steel head]

Nah thats all good, just don’t want to see you trying to buy a gear solution to fix a fundamentals problem.

Wait?
So the recoil reducing bipod isn’t the way to go?

 

[Powder_Burns]

Wait?
So the recoil reducing bipod isn’t the way to go?

I’m a little old school, I’ll break out the dusty caldwell lead sled if it comes to that lol

 

[supercorndogs]

I have a 2x4 screwed down to my prairie dog bench. Top questions is always, "is that for loading your bipod." The answer is no, it is to keep my ammo boxes from sliding off, when I pick up my bench to turn it a different direction.

 

[308pirate]

after watching that video I need to train more. I need to shoot more. I wont always have a board or strap with me.

Now you're on the right path

 

[Lowlight]

You have to raise up, and then relax down into the position, it will slide forward a bit, but if you have it married to your shoulder and you maintain that, it will work

On a Slick Surface, the LOAD is more about knuckling the feet, vs pushing it, you do not push.

People think loading the bipod means pushing forward, that is not it. It's not a shoulder thing, it's from the core. your belt buckle. You are trying to stack your belt behind the rifle, not the shoulders. Your shoulders are neutral.

Come up high, marry the rifle to shoulder pocket, than relax down into position

 

[littlepod]

With light recoiling rifles, the most overlooked/ignored fundamental is pulling rearward with the bottom three fingers of your gripping hand.

The lack of utilizing this fundamental is the main culprit of these ever increasing threads with problems loading bipods.

I generally shoot with a mat that has hooks so I can really load into my bipod. When I shot my friend's rifle, it was shooting off of concrete so I couldn't load much at all. I ended up having to pull in with my gripping hand, properly support using my support hand, and keep things tight. Shot my best groups off his rifle.

 

[1moaoff]

And to 1moaoff and Powder_Burns, whats the matter? You never white trash engineered anything before?

No you didn't.....

 

[SanPatHogger]

No you didn't.....

I didn't say white trash? Or I didn't dip my spiked bipod feet in flexseal?
You are right about not dipping my bipod feet. And I'm not THAT white trash.

 

[Precision Underground]

Didn’t read the thread but I feel like this is needed here.