Be curious to hear opinions on ground to center of bore height preferences when shooting over level ground with a bipod from the prone position.
- Thread starter ZiaHunter
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It's not a "one size fits all" recipe. Body types and how each individual mounts said rifle dictates elevation. Of course, around my a.o., there is no such thing as flat, unobstructed ground, and I rarely shoot from an optimum prone position, so, in a long winded answer to the question, a 9"-13" is as low as I'll go.
Anything lower and I'll shoot unsupported with a sling...
Anything lower and I'll shoot unsupported with a sling...
whatever is comfortable for you on your rifle and for your body type.
As low as you can get and still be comfortable and not strained.
Everyone is different, every shooting situation requires a unique solution, so it really depends on you, the individual shooter.
you're shoulders should be level as well as the bore should be as level as possible.
The idea of "as low as possible" is a miscommunication of the thought that the "lower you are to the ground the better". Well that was used to described the difference between positions, Kneeling is lower than Standing, so Kneeling is more stable then Standing. Sitting is lower than Kneeling, so Sitting is better than Kneeling. Prone is lower than Sitting so Prone is better than Sitting, it's about contact with the ground. Here is the mis-communication, once you are prone, getting lower doesn't make you more stable. You already have maximum contact with the ground. So mistakenly some people think, even in the prone you need to get as low as possible. This is false. It creates more problems than it might fix.
You need to comfortable, which is determined by our body type. You need to eliminate angles, and dipping one shoulder lower than the other is an angle. If your bipod hops or moves after the shot it is probably because of an angle which is usually because of a poorly adjusted bipod for your body type. Neck strain is a result of a poorly adjusted bipod, usually because someone is trying to get too low. The rifle on your collar bone in an uncomfortable way, try raising the bipod, you're probably too low which rolls the shoulder pocket down.
Get level, get square, get straight, which has nothing to do with low... you already have max contact with the ground, you cannot increase it. Find the best position for you, not because someone else incorrectly says lower is better.
you're shoulders should be level as well as the bore should be as level as possible.
The idea of "as low as possible" is a miscommunication of the thought that the "lower you are to the ground the better". Well that was used to described the difference between positions, Kneeling is lower than Standing, so Kneeling is more stable then Standing. Sitting is lower than Kneeling, so Sitting is better than Kneeling. Prone is lower than Sitting so Prone is better than Sitting, it's about contact with the ground. Here is the mis-communication, once you are prone, getting lower doesn't make you more stable. You already have maximum contact with the ground. So mistakenly some people think, even in the prone you need to get as low as possible. This is false. It creates more problems than it might fix.
You need to comfortable, which is determined by our body type. You need to eliminate angles, and dipping one shoulder lower than the other is an angle. If your bipod hops or moves after the shot it is probably because of an angle which is usually because of a poorly adjusted bipod for your body type. Neck strain is a result of a poorly adjusted bipod, usually because someone is trying to get too low. The rifle on your collar bone in an uncomfortable way, try raising the bipod, you're probably too low which rolls the shoulder pocket down.
Get level, get square, get straight, which has nothing to do with low... you already have max contact with the ground, you cannot increase it. Find the best position for you, not because someone else incorrectly says lower is better.
From my very limited experience I've found everything L.L said above to be absolutely true.
I'm 6' and 220lbs, with my body type anything shorter than 9-13 would be extremely difficult and uncomfortable for me to get behind from a prone position.
I'm 6' and 220lbs, with my body type anything shorter than 9-13 would be extremely difficult and uncomfortable for me to get behind from a prone position.
I also have to agree with Lowlight. I used to be a "lower is better" guy and shot a 6-9" Harris on the lowest setting regularly. Then I bought an Atlas, which sits a fair amount higher than that on the lowest setting. I immediately found that it was easier to keep my shoulders level, the buttstock into the pocket of my shoulder, etc. On a perfectly level surface, the lowest height of the Atlas is about perfect for me. The lowest setting of the 6-9" Harris now feels uncomfortable to me, so lower is not always better. FYI, the bore to ground distance on an Atlas is ~8.5" and on a Harris 6-9 is ~7.75", both on the lowest setting. Amazing the difference .75" can make.
Great info and thanks for all the replies. Heading to the range tomorrow and will try different heights.
