Harris bipod issue?

[m1ajunkie]

I made it to the range today to test some loads through my lmt mws.

First group of the day was from my 5.56 sdm, exactly 1" for 10 rounds. Then I moved on to the lmt.

I've posted this in some other threads, but I have been having issues with fliers that come out of no where on both rifles I use the bipod on. 8 or 9 of 10 shots go under an inch and then one or two shots put the group to 1.5"

First group was my handloads at 43grs of varget with 175gr smk that grouped nicely. 7 shots went into about 3/4", but then a fliers were at 12, 2 and 5 o clock about an inch out. I thought that to be very odd. I fired a second group of my handloads that ended up being about 2" with the majority of the group being in a line about 1" to the right of aim about 2" tall, Getting wierder. Next up I decided to try ten rounds of fgmm 168's. The first 5 rounds ended up about 2" high in a line that was 2" horizantal. At this point I decide something is wrong, and quit firing.

I had set the zero stop in my NF after the first group, I thought that could be an issue so I backed it off. Then fired 10 rounds of xm118lr pd, which ended up having 7 shots being 2-4" and then the other three off the target (these were the top right target). Not the zero stop. At this point I thought something was loose and checked screws in the barrel, scope mount and removed and replaced the larue mount. Then fired 5 rounds of privi 175gr match. POI was close but the group was 2". During this group I found what I think was the issue.

My harris bipod basically fell apart on the fifth round. The screw that the left leg pivots around backed out and the nut fell off. I feel like this whole time my bipod was loose and caused these bad groups. I didn't have the tools to fix it so I packed up and headed home.

Does it sound plausible that the issue with my bipod could have caused these issues? I'm shooting off the bipod and a rear bag and loading the bipod pretty heavily. The shots felt really good, but then I'd see impacts way off poa. I feel the bipod was causing the fliers mentioned in the previous post.

I ended up wasting several rounds of good ammo, but I did get to chrono the loads, and was pleased with those results.

Just to be clear I checked the mount at the range and again tonight at the house.

Pics:

Group one of the day with the sdm:

Bipod:

A group shot last sat using fgmm 175. Without the two fliers, they were not called and suprised me it is exactly 1". Include those two it's about 1.5" .

 

[scotharr]

Re: Harris bipod issue?

Couple of thoughts.

Did you try shooting your rifle from a rest without a bipod? Basic scientific method: change one thing and see what results occur. In this case shoot at least 20 rounds each with and without a bipod in similar conditions. This would be the bare minimum required to answer your question....which nobody can do better than you.

Regarding your "fliers," your target at the bottom looks pretty normal to me: especially for an AR-10 platform. Not sure what the distance is or the group size and # of shots, or what the wind was doing at the time...but looks ok.

Un-explained shots outside of the group, aka fliers, can come from many sources: ammunition, rifle, technique, wind, eyesight,scope, bipod, etc. The process of becoming a better shooter involves figuring out the sources of "fliers" and addressing them. So, don't get frustrated, consider it part of getting better. So, go "waste" a few thousand more rounds and I bet you'll have solved a whole bunch of mysteries.

PS. Do you reload? That is a huge area where improvements can be had.

 

[JHenckel]

Re: Harris bipod issue?

my two cents, in my experience bipods can give you a false sense of accuracy, and this can lead to some complacency with your fundamentals, causing a flier here and there, i dont think it was your bipod causing them cuz even when the screws come loose the spring holds the leg in pretty freakin tight.

with the bipod coming apart, i learned quick that you MUST use locktite or this will ALWAYS happen

end state, remember your basics, always...hope this helped!