Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: ivarhusa on July 20, 2009, 09:08:28 AM
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I sit and use sticks at all my stands, but watched a Predator Doctors video where they made their stands from prone position almost exclusively. They hunted some really barren ground with low grass cover (prairie dog towns.) Granted, there are many situations where prone doesn't work, but is it worth the weight and bother to have the bipod on there 24-7?
Many of you guys will have more than one coyote rifle, and some of your rifles may have bipods and others not. I am interested in your go-to rifle. If you were only taking one rifle in the field after coyotes (or other predators), would you want the bipod on there?
This brings up the subject of hunting from the prone position. I could imagine getting pretty damp from the snow or frost.
Post script- In reality, I am probably going to put the bipod on my rifle anyway. It is simply more fun to have "more", eh? But I was interested in what you guys think about bipods.
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I have a bipod on my "go to" predator rifle which happens to be my deer rifle as well, a 25-06. I like having it on there. If you're going to get one, I'd suggest one that swivels a bit. :twocents:
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i hunt with a bipod on all my rifles. i tried the shooting sticks last year but will probably go back to a bipod this year. the harris bipod i use is tall enough to sit behind and shoot. i don't think i'd want the little stubby prone only sized bipod though.
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I use sticks for deer hunting and on my AR but have a bipod on the .17HMR. The legs extend and are adjustable so I can sit on the ground and be shooting level rather than prone.
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Offhand all the way.
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I have a bipod on everything, (including my front-stuffer). Actually, I have a versapod, so I just have one set of legs, and mounts on all my guns.
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bipod, but I really only use it to set the gun down, which is handy.
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I had a bipod for a while and loved it for propping up while calling and for long shots when you were pointed in the right direction. I absolutely hated it when carrying it into the field because with my 50mm scope and bull barrel it would want to turn upside-down when it was slung over my shoulder. I hated trying to adjust that thing to get it pointed in teh right direction, and it was useless on running shots, or for tracking an animal that is moving perpindicular to you. I went to shooting sticks and loaned my bipod to a friend to try out.
I would only use a bipod again if I was routinely taking shots between 200-400 yards, and/or hunting bare flat ground from the prone position when you can't turn anyways. For what it's worth, I believe that being in a sitting position, even in those areas where prone may seem like a better option, is better 95% of the time. I would much rather have flexibility in getting into a proper shooting position in a 180 degree arc and have a slightly larger visual profile, rather than being limited to maybe 30 degrees of kill area, laying on cold hard ground, and having a lower visual profile.
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I have to go along with tlbradford on this one, I carry my rifle in a backscabard and a bipod won't fit. Sticks are so much handier for me, I hunt alot of close cover and a bipod is a pain. Plus I can use them for a walking stick, for knocking snow off limbs befor I go through them, poking dead coyotes befor I grab them, also for checking out water depth and balancing on a beaver dam crossing. Pretty handi items.
AWS
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i use shooting sticks bipods mess up the balance to much and add unnessary weight imho
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shooting stick's ruined to many stand's with bypod's. if i hunted open country all the time then a bypod some time's. when i'm in timber clear cut edge. if i have a bobcat to left or right. i lift gun with shooting stick's move slow left or right if i'm able. i dont like crouching down also and weight to much. Rick
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havent found a need for them yet.. more stuff to worry about or pack
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i hike to far to justify adding any unneccisary wieght. i shoot well free handed and theres always a stump or something to rest on where i hunt
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I have a bi-pod on my coyote gun but most of the time i use my shoting stick so i can sit while on stand.
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:)Sticks!!
Carl
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Works well for all diggers.
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Snipepod. Cant beat the versitility for coyotes. It swivels in every direction
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Wow Phool I like that......very nice..
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I think if u hunt more open area it wouldnt be a problem to have a bipod, but in the sage around here i have missed chances because the bipod kept me from turning an getting a shoot. I like sticks a lot better.02
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Have a Harris series S model 25C 13 1/2 to 27inches and weighs 19 oz fits my needs quite well. Easy to attach an disconnect.
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That's a versapod, right Phool? I love mine.
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That's a versapod, right Phool? I love mine.
Yes it is.
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Bipods have come a long way in the last 5 years or so. Just make sure that it can swivel and also able to lower when you pull back on the gun. Harris bipods does this and probably several others. I use Harris on my rifles. I don't like having to pick up sticks when you have to change positions.
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CoryTDF bought a Versapod in 2003 when he got his new rifle. I borrowed the rig one time and was sold. It swivels around nicely, extends so that you can get above the CRP grass (a big deal down here where it is almost impossible to get a shot in the prone), and if you don't want the bipod, you can clip it off with one button and stash the legs in your pack.
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Hey, guys! I am really pleased with the quality of the comments on this thread. Thanks to all!
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Here is a pic of my gun purchased earlier this year. Its my brothers yote though...I let him borrow it and this is what happens.. ;)
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I have a Versa Pod on my deer rifle and i love it. I use shooting sticks for my Coyote rifle and love them as well. Not sure which is better. I may ad the mount to my coyote gun because the Versa Pod can be used on several rifles with additional mounting brackets. I also love how the Versa pod swivels it makes life simple while trying to track a moving target.
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I have a bipod for my go to coyote gun. Just make sure it is the model that swivels. Love it for the kids too.
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Used to use sticks, but changed to a bipod.
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Howa 223 with thumbhole and heavy barrel. With a gun this heavy, i don't know how anyone could not have some sort of sticks or bipod. Like i posted earlier, this one is a Snipepod and for coyotes it the the cream of the crop. They also come in camo but was to cheap to spend the extra $. The thing i love about this system is you only need to buy one set of sticks. You can buy as many adaptors that you need and put them on every gun you got and you can use the same set of sticks for every gun you have.
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I use bipods because I have a heavy 26" barrel on my 22-250, and I need help holding it up. I just started predator hunting, and have yet to spill blood with it, so I'm not sure how I'll like the setup.
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I have two bipods and swap them back and forth between rifles, they make a much more effective hunter out of anyone, especially in open country, grass and sage areas where there are not many other things to use for a rest and get you above the ground cover.
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I see that there is strong support for the VersaPod product line. I've decided to buy a 'prone' scaled bipod, but don't want to spend $150 for top of the line. What features could be compromised (absent in a cheaper model), to yield a useful, short bipod? Any other brands come to mind as cost-effective? Any brands to specifically avoid?
Ivar
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Just picked-up two 9"-13" Shooter's Ridge Rock Mount adjustable bipods at the Walmart in Airway Heights... on clearance, for $20.00 each!! :IBCOOL: They will be utilized for bench/prone shooting.
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I like the quality more expensive ones, but also a good pair of shooting sticks works very well.
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I see that there is strong support for the VersaPod product line. I've decided to buy a 'prone' scaled bipod, but don't want to spend $150 for top of the line. What features could be compromised (absent in a cheaper model), to yield a useful, short bipod? Any other brands come to mind as cost-effective? Any brands to specifically avoid?
Ivar
The only thing that really seems to fail on the cheaper models is the connections. Make sure everything is tight every once in a while (springs and bolts) and you will be fine. Since you are getting a short one, you won't have to worry about the legs not extending which is another item that fails. Google some tips on shooting with a bipod. Don't lean into the rifle, etc. That way you will get a consistent shot.
I found this web site to have the Harris Bi-pods for the best price.
http://www.oneclickshooting.com/categories.asp?cat=1016 (http://www.oneclickshooting.com/categories.asp?cat=1016)
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i have to say i like the sniper stick's the best. have two set's. my good friend Yellerdog bought predator sniper stick's a week ago. in the near future. my production call's will be sold at all the cabelas. sportsman warehouse jay's sporting good's on the east coast, sweden and canada. big thing's happening for my call bussiness. lee and me were the first callmaker's on predatormasters. he cnc's my toneboards and barrel's in michigan just below detroit. so i would say i really like predator sniper stick's.Rick :IBCOOL: :)
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I'd like to have a bi-pod on my varmint rifle, however I don't really want to have swivels put in on my stock. I like that versapod, it looks light weight and flexable.
Has anyone ever seen any clever ways to put a set of swivels on a stock in such a way that they are removable or concealed? I'm visualizing of some kind of a threaded insert that would go into the wood that sits flush with the lines of the stock, but will allow me to screw in a swivel stud should I want to add a sling or a bi-pod. Anyone seen such a thing?
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i use my elbows on my knees in open country, and use the tree's or sticks out in the woods. Tried using a shooting stick, and to me its just one more thing that i dont want to lug around.
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I wouldn't leave home wothout a bipod. I strictly use the Versapod in all calling situations, as it is the right height for me in the sitting position, and the swivel from side to side is great for those incoming dogs at close ranges. It takes me a bit longer to set it up than the Harris bipods though. All other applications is Harris all the way.
