Bi-pod....valued accessory or heavy gadget?

j-bird

Moderator
I have a new rifle coming and I am trying to determine if I need/want a bi-pod for it. I have never used one before. I will be mostly deer hunting from a tree stand or elevated box blind. I try to use some sort of a rest when I shoot as it is. I will be doing some recreational target shooting, but that will be from a shooting bench/table.

Is a bi-pod a valued accessory or just a look-cool, heavy, gadget?
 
I had one that attaches to the front swivel stud and it was neat to play with, but that's about it. I do nearly always take a bipod, or even tripod with me in a ground blind, but not the type that connects to the gun.
 
Dad, bro, and I all have bipods and absolutely love'em. My farm has lots of flat/wide open tillable ground where long shots are common. With the exception of 1 rifle, all our irons could be classified as "beanfield" rifles so aren't exactly light to begin with. I can't recall the number of times I've eased up to the edge of cut corn or bean field and decided to add a little more meat to the freezer. Flop down on my belly, extend the bipod legs, and even the longest shots are easy (of course we practice long a lot too). There's no way I'd attempt those without the solid rest a good bipod adds. If most of your hunting doesn't require a bipod though, might not need one.
 
Deer hunting out of a hard side blind not necessary,

Coyote calling from the ground a must.

I use the primos trigger sticks, and for the average shot I am taking they suffice. Usually under 300

Long distance shooting is a whole other ball of wax.
 
I have quick detachable bipods on most of my tactical rifles like HK91s, M1As, and AR-15s. They are also on my long range and varmint rifles. When I deer hunt from an enclosed blind that has hard sides I use shooting bags to build my rifles firing position. So my answer is it depends on the rifle and the situation. I have no trouble removing a bipod on these rifles in a very short amount of time if the situation calls for that action. I run Harris, Bobro, Parker Hale, HK factory and other bipods. They cost from $50 to over $200.
You do not mention the model of your new rifle. If it is a dedicated deer hunting rifle and used in the stands you describe, I don't see the need for one.
 
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Bi-pods, shooting bags, gun rests, etc are for shooting, not hunting. Leave the "cool" toys home when you go hunting for deer.
 
I have quick detachable bipods on most of my tactical rifles like HK91s, M1As, and AR-15s. They are also on my long range and varmint rifles. When I deer hunt from an enclosed blind that has hard sides I use shooting bags to build my rifles firing position. So my answer is it depends on the rifle and the situation. I have no trouble removing a bipod on these rifles in a very short amount of time if the situation calls for that action. I run Caldwell, Parker Hale, HK factory and other bipods. They cost from $50 to over $200.
You do not mention the model of your new rifle. If it is a dedicated deer hunting rifle and used in the stands you describe, I don't see the need for one.
I have a new Howa 1500 in 308 ordered. I like the idea of a quick detach.....I could use it for bench shooting and the like, but leave it at home when it's hunting time.
 
For open country under the right conditions with low ground vegetation that you can see over they can work well as long as the bipod has swivel capability to adapt to uneven ground. There are also techniques to using a bipod at longer range to ensure bullet impact does not wander. Bags give better more consistent accuracy if possible to use. A trigger stick seems to adapt to more hunting conditions.
 
I have to disagree with bueller about shooting bags in deer stands. I have several stands that offer legitimate 200+ yard shots. I take a few shooting bags to the stand with me. I set them up in the opening that I am watching. Any accessory that will help your confidence in taking a long shot is a plus in my mind. As most of my hunters are older, everyone gets dropped off at their stands by my Suburban. That makes it easy enough to take this equipment to the field.
 
It all depends on how far you might be shooting. I don’t need one and don’t want extra hardware to slow down my shots in thick cover.

I foggy gave me one of the original Stoney Point shooting sticks and I did kill a deer off of it on an open field. It worked great.

99% of the time I don’t need them. At present my longest shot is about 130 yards from a box blind where I put a piece of foam pipe insulation over the window sill.


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Seems like opinions will vary greatly depending on the situation. From a box blind where you're hunkered down all day overlooking a wide open ag field I can't see why not. Spot and stalk hunting out west...again, I can't see why not. Hunting in the mountains of the Northeast Larry Benoit style...not a chance in hell.
 
Have several Harris swivel bipods 11-25”. Love the for shooting prone sighting in at prairie dogs or long range shooting in general. One of those things you will be glad you have ...or wont know what you are missing if you dont have one
 
Sounds like shooting sticks would better fit my needs/uses.
 
If hunting from a box stand or ground blind with plenty of room - the caldwell field pods are hard to beat - if your windows are low enough.
 
If hunting from a box stand or ground blind with plenty of room - the caldwell field pods are hard to beat - if your windows are low enough.
Those look interesting.....I doubt I will have the room for something like that on most occasions......but certainly would help provide the support for a quality shot.
 
Those look interesting.....I doubt I will have the room for something like that on most occasions......but certainly would help provide the support for a quality shot.
My son did a leopard hunt in Zimbabwe a couple years ago - on bait. Professional hunter required the use of the field pods as insurance against hunting a wounded leopard in thick brush.
 
Trigger sticks bipod. Or literally two wooden sticks.
 
My son did a leopard hunt in Zimbabwe a couple years ago - on bait. Professional hunter required the use of the field pods as insurance against hunting a wounded leopard in thick brush.
I can see the thinking behind that. Looking for an injured large predator in the bush isn't my idea of a good time!
 
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