Most common mistake I see shooters make.

Senior Member

Join Date: January 10, 2012
Posts: 3,381

what is pre loading the bipod ?


Putting a consistent forward pressure on the stock with the shoulder by leaning into the rifle to take the slack out of both the deployed bipod and the human body. This ensures a more consistent recoil since the slack in the shooter firearm system will otherwise change shot to shot.
 
It is amazing the differences that small changes in a rifle system can make. I changed the butt stock on my AR-15 from the stock single pin adjustable "baby rattle" to a Magpul CTR with the friction lock. I hoped it would help eliminate the occasional fliers I was seeing out of the rifle. It did that, but it also did something I never expected it to do; it changed my zero 2 full mils to the left. I was almost shooting off the paper with the new butt stock. Evidently I was having to pre load the old butt stock to the side so much that the rifle was recoiling significantly out of line. I never expected that much difference from a simple butt stock change.
 
HoustonBob, Thanks for sharing that with other shooters. I learned that and how to handle the rear bag from Mike Thompson at his shooting range yeeears ago, and have stuck with it. Major improvement. Thanks again for pointing this out.
 
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Thanks for sharing that with other shooters. I learned that and how to handle the rear bag from Mike Thompson at his shooting range years ago, and have stuck with it. Major improvement. Thanks again for pointing this out.
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can you elaborate more on handling the rear bag ?
 
rebs,
I'll try. With the butt-stock on the rear bag[if one is used],you gently squeeze the bag with your free hand and hold while the cross hairs stay steady on target. Between that and sand bags up front, you should be pretty steady at this point. Watch your breathing also.
 
rebs,
I'll try. With the butt-stock on the rear bag[if one is used],you gently squeeze the bag with your free hand and hold while the cross hairs stay steady on target. Between that and sand bags up front, you should be pretty steady at this point. Watch your breathing also.
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I have a rear bag that I put rubber bands around the ears to hold them tighter to the stock, is that an acceptable method ? I am shooting and AR. Your method of squeezing the bag seems like it would be a better way to go.
 
I don't think the rubber bands will hold steady enough. Try the method I mentioned and see how that works. By lightly squeezing the rear bag and getting a good, steady hold, I believe you'll see a positive difference.
Just take your time, and get used to it.
 
+1 Rifletom. I made my own lead sled/gun vise whatchamacallit but it won't accommodate AR's so I've been using the sandbag squeeze method and it works great. And thanks to the OP I will definitely be placing something under my bipod from now on.
 
Do military snipers rest bipods on sandbags?

I'm reading a book by Brandon Webb, who took over training for the SEAL Sniper School. Am only part way through this excellent narration.
 
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