Bipod height setting - lower or higher?

[beanz2]

What is the best height to set my bipod if I am shooting prone on a flat terrain with no land feature obstruction? My bipod only goes from 5" to 9".

I find the higher it is, the more I rest on my supporting elbow. I keep my left hand under the stock (squeezing a sandbag), but the easier it is on my neck for longer shooting sessions. At the lowest position, I can keep my forearm almost flat on the ground and it feels much steadier, but it's hard on my neck.

Maybe it's my imagination, but at lower bipod heights, the rifle also seems to recoil less.

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[lastinline]

Do whatever is more comfortable.
Some stretching exercises prior to shooting may also help. Likely the best position is somewhere in the middle. If you are behind the glass for long periods, varying your position periodically will reduce muscle aches later.

[mtenenhaus]

Copied from Outdoor Life : "The key to achieving consistent accuracy with a bipod is to not place it on a hard surface; keep the legs set as low to the ground as possible to minimize their flex while the bullet is still in the barrel; lean slightly into the rifle to "pre-stress" the bipod legs and firm up their setting; and use a consistent grip on the rifle."

That said, comfort, safety and obtaining and maintaining a natural point of aim must factor in. Minimizing body tension is critical to precise accuracy.

A long range shooting book (by Mr. Frank Galli) i recently read discussed positioning in a straight line behind the bipod by laying prone with legs spread wide and flat on the ground. Lift up the butt and scoot forward just a bit dropping rifle back down into your shoulder.

Heavier, more barreled chest shooters will, by necessity, often need a higher bipod setting as compared to thinner chested shooters.

A good friend, a very proficient shooter with an old neck injury employs a folded up towel to help support /prop up his chest....be creative, use supports as needed. I for example use a thin bag to cushion my strong side elbow and find it helps.

[RideWest]

Butt stock height

You mentioned that raising the rifle affects the position of your support hand / elbow. If you need to raise the butt stock, you should use the right size rear bag. The position of your support arm shouldn't change, there is no reason to raise your support hand on the rear bag. Keep the bottom edge of your support hand near the base of the bag.

[beanz2]

Thanks for the suggestions, gentlemen. Very useful input.

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[FeuerFrei]

When shooting prone I have adjusted to a 45 deg body angle relative to the direction the rifle is pointed. Much more comfortable on the neck/legs/arms. Works with/with out bi-pd.
Hi or lo leg setting is always shooter's choice. Sometimes a back pack is better.

I don't mind getting old. it's the side effects that bother me.

[ar15barrels]

What is the best height to set my bipod if I am shooting prone on a flat terrain with no land feature obstruction? My bipod only goes from 5" to 9".

I find the higher it is, the more I rest on my supporting elbow. I keep my left hand under the stock (squeezing a sandbag), but the easier it is on my neck for longer shooting sessions. At the lowest position, I can keep my forearm almost flat on the ground and it feels much steadier, but it's hard on my neck.

Maybe it's my imagination, but at lower bipod heights, the rifle also seems to recoil less.

.

The closer you are to the ground, the more solid your position is.
If you can get a comfortable position at the lowest setting, that will be the most stable.

[ar15barrels]

When shooting prone I have adjusted to a 45 deg body angle relative to the direction the rifle is pointed.

That position causes the rifle to jump to the side because you are not straight behind it.
When you are straight behind a rifle, the rifle jumps up and lands in about the same place it was when you fired.
This allows you to self-spot your impacts.
When the rifle does NOT land or stay on target, you will not be able to spot your impacts in realtime.

HOW a rifle jumps and which way it lands off-target is actually how you can tell that you are NOT properly straight behind the rifle.

[Dirtlaw]

Do whatever is more comfortable.
Some stretching exercises prior to shooting may also help. Likely the best position is somewhere in the middle. If you are behind the glass for long periods, varying your position periodically will reduce muscle aches later.

Lots of great advice here. I sure wish I had done more stretching when I was young. Got to protect those joints.

[smoothy8500]

A pretty good video from Frank Galli discussing prone, but even he says it is possible to get "too low" where it impedes your ability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Bsp2eVM70

[seansmd]

Low, bladed(45) and head laid over is not the best practices being taught these days.

Highly recommend this one for setup, height, cheek weld,etc.

https://youtu.be/i5hvm1tbDyg

The science of the setup:

https://youtu.be/whVH-FaZyQs

https://youtu.be/fciKcjGKs84

https://youtu.be/fKSd31KSI88

[newbutold]

I prefer to sit using the bi-pod.

[FeuerFrei]

When I shoot prone from a bi-pod rest it's not on my flat range at home. It is usually while out hunting on uneven ground. Packing a bag of sand around is not my idea of comfort either.

My shooting angle dictates my body position. There is best practice vs real world expedient practice. I have no interest in shooting paper outside of sighting in.

If you can't get comfortable behind the rifle you're not going to shoot your best.
That's my default these days. A 45 may not be current dogma, but it enables me to get comfortable and maintain focus in my world.

[SouthCityShooter]

I've not seen the videos. What Randall & Smoothy8500 said. +1!

This is one of those seemingly simple things, that is really(!) important to get right. It makes a big difference. You can explain this all d*** day, but you won't know it until you get, you, your body alignment/NPOA, and your rifle and bipod set correctly and feel and see it.

Once you do, and you recognize what this is supposed to feel like, with your weapon(!) it won't take you long to figure out how to do it consistently. It's the gaining the awareness and thereafter being cognizant of how that is process supposed to happen. That's the hard part.

Some people also have physical limitations that make that hard to achieve.

Someone suggested stretching above. A good suggestion from someone who I'd bet is at least in their mid-forties.

[DueceMcGurk]

Sean,
Good videos. Didn't know Tiger Woods was a rifle shooter. lol