Bipod?

[ABaker]

Anyone use a bipod on an Encore? Do you recommend it or not?

[KN]

I use one on a 26" heavy barrel 22-250 that I use for prairie dogs. Mounted forward of the front screw hole with a sling stud. Works great. The gun consistentently shoots 3/8" 100 meter groups.   KN

[jhalcott]

I use them on Contenders and reccommend them for the really long shots. I use them on 6.5JDj and 7TC/U and .223 mostly,but they will work on most calibers. The recoil of a 45-70 or 358JDJ shakes things up too much for a bipod in MY opinion. You will most likely have to resight your scope in as I get a POI shift when using a bipod. I used a Stoney Point Stick today with a rifle and got 3 chucks for 4 tries! Wonder if i'd got that other 1 if I had used both sticks??
  hope this helps,, jh

[whitfang]

I use a 'Hoosier bipod' when hunting deer with an Encore 209x50 pistol.  That is, I cut a forked stick to the right length and carry it around with me all day.  It's cheap, but effective.  You can stick it in your belt when you're not using it.

Encores are heavy enough without extra weight on the forearm, like with a metal bipod.  I guess if you always shoot from a prone or sitting position, they'd be nice.

I would like to try the Stoney Point hiking sticks, but Cabelas wants $90 for them.

[jhalcott]

whit,I am 6 foot 5inches tall and weigh over 270 pounds! I got a 2 piece Stoney point staff for CHRISTmas 2 years ago.The one that is about 3 feet long at it's shortest. I leaned all over that thing and it held me. I wrecked it riding thru the woods in Maine,got it caught between a tree and the 4 wheeler. I replaced it with the set that is 2 shafts that are only about 2 feet at the shortest. They come with a Y yolk on one and a ball on the other,there is also a large Y that both shafts can attach to plus other attachments. I have serious back and ankle problems so I need the help the sticks give me.
  Some times the grass is to high for even a tall harris bipod to work,if it gets over 5' even the Stoney point stick is too short!    jh

[Javelina]

Hello ABaker,

Personally, I never go afield without a bipod on my T/C's, whether Contenders or Encores.  They add a little weight, but not that much and I find that the increased stability of a bipod helps a lot when you have the time to get a steady rest.  Even if you can't place the bipod on the ground, a log or some other fairly flat surface, I often grasp the left leg of the bipod (I'm right-handed) with my left hand for a more steady two-handed shot while standing.  I don't recommend using the two-handed strategy when your forward hand is near a muzzle brake or when shooting heavy-kickers, but for the lighter calibers it works well - let common sense prevail and you'll be fine.

As jhalcott mentioned, point of impact shifts can be a problem if the forend is not properly secured.  To ensure that I don't have problems in that area, I only use pillar-bedding or hangar-bar mounting for my laminate forends, and if I'm using the hangar-bar method, I Marine-Tex the forend to get the last ounce of stability from the hangar-bar mount.  It's a little extra work, but well worth your time as far as accuracy is concerned.  I feel that the reduction in both vertical and horizontal sighting errors that the bipod provides is well worth the effort, as long as your forend is very secure and your barrel makes no contact with the forend whatsoever.

I have one of the most miserably-chambered, *!#&@! Encore factory .223's on the planet, but with a VV extra-length, pillar-bedded laminate forend, along with judicious handloading processes (that include indexing) and a bipod, it shoots less than half-inch groups all day long at a little over 3,000 fps.

Here's a picture of the gun and an average group:





Am I a believer in bipods?  You bet I am!

Safe and good shooting to you!  

Javelina