Noticeable affect is better accuracy due to consistent rearward motion. It is easier to duplicate a light touch to the shoulder than pulling the gun in hard with your bicep. You will never be able to duplicate the amount of force you apply each time with a strong pull. Also, front loading a bipod with one that has ANY give at all will also introduce effects that keep the barrel from recoiling directly back in a straight line. Think about it... with the bipod legs pushed back hard, the height of the barrel is reduced. When fired, as the rife moves rearward, the barrel will actually increase in height as the bipod legs hit their full height through recoil. There is also the benefit of getting your sight picture back quickly to witness impacts.My 26" 300WM and 26" 300NM are showing 0.9" OD at the shoulder. Threads should be 5/8-24.
ETA - Still need to snap some better pics but I finished shooting session #2 with the A419 Mk22 Arcalok rail. I'm a fan overall but the Arcalok adapter has been reassigned to Garmin Xero duty. Went to the ADM adapter and I'm much happier with it. @Swatdude1 I was just working through the skis thing myself! My Atlas CAL soft, super sticky rubber feet are already noticeably worn after only 122 rounds. My range doesn't have anything to really load the bipod into so recoil control really comes down to me. Just moving the rifle around the table has it jumping and bouncing on the soft sticky rubber feet... Skis rolled in earlier this week and I finally installed them today. I'll be curious if allowing the rifle slide smoothly back has any noticeable effect, besides more felt recoil.
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The proof was in the pudding when this extreme newb to even bolt guns in general hit two consecutive shots at 2 miles in 13-20mph winds. And at that time I was using a crappy bipod without skis (not loading it though). Note: the weight of your rifle will have a big effect on how free recoiling feels to you. My MRAD all decked out with ATACR and AccuTac bipod weighs 27 lbs with the 33XC barrel and after shooting almost a hundred 33XC rounds that day with Chase, I had minimal shoulder discomfort.
Mike, get those bipods pushed out to the front of your ARCA rail.