Bipod, sled or sand bags?

[Cyberness]

What is your favorite setup and why? I can see next pros and cons:

1. Bipod apparently more mobile, smaller, so more versatile and convenient.
2. Sled is more stable, precise and probably better to sight in new scope, but bulkier. Plus, airguns have almost no recoil comparing to firearm, so probably overkill.
3. Sand bags are cheaper.

What are your thoughts?

 

[JEFFPPC]

To me a sled is not shooting. Those who can't shoot use them as a crutch, and a huge scope killer. From an accuracy standpoint sandbags. To be mobile in the field a bipod.

 

[delooper]

I use monopods, bipods and tripods. And I rest the gun against anything else I can, like trees, if available.

Bipods are about the most I'll casually pack around. Usually it's just the gun. Tripods are only for intentional big hunting trips, or range days.

 

[seanfrev]

I can't shoot... So my vote goes for the sled.

 

[Struckat]

Favorite set up for what kind of shooting? Your post isn’t specific.

 

[JimBianchi]

Sandbag, bipod or tripod. Depends on what and where I am shooting.

 

[Gerry52]

I only hunt. Can't do prone because it kills my back. I use a 13-27" bipod that allows me to sit cross legged (my favorite sitting position). For zeroing I use either a Caldwell dead shot tripod or a tripod with a saddle clamp.

 

[dizzums]

i like the caldwell turret rest about the best ..just about anything works in it, its solid but allows movement ... its not ultimate in solid but enough to eliminate the 'heartbeat shakes' ..i can sight in pretty good with it and cover a wide area without adjusting anything .. drawback is its short and has a fairly big footprint, it wont replace a tripod or a bag setup in some situations, but if i can use it, its my first choice ..

 

[Ranchibi]

I mostly use a bipod, but also use a tripod with y-yoke for ratting duty.

 

[Struckat]

When at my chipmunk hunting grounds I will have one set in a death grip tripod or on a bench with one bag, and another for walking around.

I have a bipod trigger stick, but I have not adapted well to it and end up leaving it behind.

 

[WorriedMan]

For hunting, lean against a tree or something sturdy. Sitting on porch, BOG Havoc Tripod set up, gun on rack, within reach. Target work, depends on the PCP. Caldwell Stinger rest mainly, Anjoite UUQ bipod for M3 and Snowpeak M60B. M3 has rear monopod, M60B uses sandbags. WM

 

[rcs9250]

At the range, if my rifle has a pic mount under the forearm I’ll use a Accutac bipod. I don’t think you can beat that for steady. Then on the buttstock I use sandbags that I squeeze for precise elevation.
When hunting I use Primos Monopod, Bipod or Tripod depending on the situation.

 

[jg21]

When I go to the range I like to use bags because I feel like I’m still aiming the gun. My pcp is rather bulky so offhand is painfully shaky but the sandbag really stabilizes. However it just makes the smaller movements more dominant (breathing, movement in shoulder/body/hip etc) so that is kind of a cool difference.

I’ve personally never gotten to try off a bipod though maybe I should get one.

 

[maxtrouble]

Sand bags on the bench or deck rail. I have a set of trigger sticks i got on sale during Christmas. I keep forgetting them.

Shameless plug for Protektor bags - https://protektormodel.com/

 

[BlackICE]

No one is using a front rest with rear bag?

 

[Peskådot671]

Bipod with a rear bag for me.

 

[ThomasT]

To me a sled is not shooting. Those who can't shoot use them as a crutch, and a huge scope killer. From an accuracy standpoint sandbags. To be mobile in the field a bipod.

The above statement makes absolutely NO sense at all!

All three methods, ( bipod, sled/rifle rest, bags ) are each a way to support and stabilize the gun while shooting from some sort of a bench rest position. These are not used when shooting offhand.

“Sled” is one form of a rifle rest which generally is considered to be a “one piece” unit. Where using a bipod with a rear bag is a “two piece” combination. And the same holds true for front and rear use of bags.

As already very well stated by @Cyberness, each method offers some advantages and or disadvantages. In my opinion the sled / rifle rest offers the most stable position and therefore offers the best in accuracy. One piece rifle rest are used all over the world in class benchrest competition.

I personally use all three methods, but prefer bipod and rear bag jack for pistol shooting and a rifle rest when shooting with a rifle.

ThomasT

 

[rcs9250]

When ammo manufactuers test ammo in controlled environment in an indoor range they more or less use an extreme sled to remove all human variables. . The commercially available spled is as close as recreational shooters can come for shooting groups.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I will stick with no sleds, not shooting in my mind. A huge crutch for those not willng to put in the necessary work.

 

[Dairyboy]

Tripods for me. Big one for hunting, small one with rear bag for sight in and certain shooting situations. Then bag for front shooting out of my truck