Rifle support and group size?

[obx22]

When shooting/coaching 3 & 4 positions, it’s easy to understand that from prone, to sitting, kneeling, then standing, groups can open up, and tight ones with less support require more training.
When going from say, a mechanical benchrest, to bags, to bipod and rear bag, are your groups expected to be the same?

 

[DFOOSKING]

more like hoping

 

[justin amateur]

The less contact I have with a rifle, the better the results.
Sad, but true.
Offhand, full contact and supporting the rifle or pistol,
I'm fully to blame for trajectory spread. Lots of spread.
Braced on a shooting stick, tree, fence post, I can control accuracy
to where even small critters end up in the stewpot.
With the firearm fully supported on a bench with heavy bag, bipod
or in a barrel block Fuglie, where I am only minimally in contact,
wind and ammunition quality become the limiting factors.
Results on paper are substantially improved, much more predictable trajectories.

 

[obx22]

The less contact I have with a rifle, the better the results.
Sad, but true.
Offhand, full contact and supporting the rifle or pistol,
I'm fully to blame for trajectory spread. Lots of spread.
Braced on a shooting stick, tree, fence post, I can control accuracy
to where even small critters end up in the stewpot.
With the firearm fully supported on a bench with heavy bag, bipod
or in a barrel block Fuglie, where I am only minimally in contact,
wind and ammunition quality become the limiting factors.
Results on paper are substantially improved, much more predictable trajectories.

I’ve been very frustrated in my inconsistency with bipod vs sandbag or even sling/coat/mitt shooting. I’ve questioned Harris spring vibrations, loose and tight tolerance bipods, loose holds, death gripping, etc. but haven’t developed a hold I have confidence in.

 

[justin amateur]

I hear ya' obx.
My problem with bipods turned out to be stock caused.
Too much flex from the inletting forward.
Instead of a stable support system, I was producing a springboard effect.
Many lightweight wood stocks just aren't rigid enough to use the forward sling stud
as a mounting point. Add in those soft rubber feet, there's just too many moving parts.
Cheap tupperware stocks are even worse. Have to support those stocks back at the
receiver barrel tenon joint to minimize bounce. Or, epoxy shim that barrel just forward
of the receiver and above the bipod mounting point. No more boooiiiinnnnggggg.
Even the 22lr can generate enough recoil energy to cause barrel lift.
Add some flexible support structures, ya' get some nasty strays.

 

[DFOOSKING]

I know on my 6-9 Harris you can easily see movement from the slop/spongey-ness in the legs when fully collapsed versus being just one or more notches off the bottom.