First, we’ll start with the bipod itself and how I have mine setup.
I have a swiveling bipod with the legs tied together. On the start signal, you can grab either leg, and it brings the bipod right into the locked position. It can also swivel.
This one has a tension on it so I can lock it down, should I need to. Usually what I do is put a little bit of friction on it, and that gives the shooter more flexibility when he’s in position to hit the target.
Also, you’ll notice the location of the bipod. I don’t have it all the way forward on the rifle. The reason for that is I want to use my left hand when I’m driving that bipod on the ground.
One thing you need to understand, before you get into a shooting position at a competition, is the magazine. How it affects the relationship of the bipod to the ground and the shooter to the target.
Coupled magazines are pretty popular, but they can get you in trouble. We'll start with the short side of the magazine inserted and ready in the firing position. You’ll notice I’ve got about an inch off the ground with my muzzle parallel.
If I was to reload and go back to that position, all of a sudden my magazine would hit the ground, and the bipod would be useless.
So if I had an unknown position, that was relatively flat to the ground, I would use the coupled magazine. Therefore, extending the bipod out two-inches would probably cover most scenarios. If I was in doubt about the bipod height, I would go ahead and bring it out a little bit further. What this affects though is how you mount behind the rifle. Now, I have a very high prone that’s kind of unstable.
However, if you need to get an angle deflection to and from a target, you might have to extend your bipod out even more. If I’ve got a precision shot on a flat surface, I will just use a standard 30 round mag. So, just be aware, the higher the rifle, the shakier it is.
Also there are two weak hand, or my non-firing hand, placement options for the shooter. First, I can grab the bipod and use it to transition left or right to the rifle. But if the shot is long and difficult, I might place my weak hand under my dominant arm for support, which makes the platform a lot more stable.
If I am going to an extreme angle position like a roof top, using a Beta Mag is a perfect option. It’s about as short as a 20 round magazine and gives you the flexibility of a hundred rounds. And also, if I choose the Beta mag, I can put the butt on the ground.
Those are just a few of the bipod and magazine choices for competition. The idea is to understand the stage, understand the angle, how long your magazine is in relationship to your bipod, and what level of accuracy you’re trying to get out of the shot.
