[aglass1987]

Hello, I'm fairly new to this forum. I read on it everyday, but never post or comment. I have a xl7 in 270 that I have had for about a year now. My rifle shot factory federal 130 gr ammo real good, so I didn't bother free floating it. My stock is straight and it doesn't contact the stock but at the pressure pads. I have heard of rifles that are not free floated that you have to be careful where you place you shooting bags when shooting the rifle that it might change the POI. I sight my rifles in with a bi-pod up front and a rear bag. Last year, I sighted my rifle in with my bi-pod and I few days later my friend (who does my reloading) shot it with his bags, and I noticed it shot 1 1/2" or so to the right. I was wondering if anyone had a issue with POI changes between using a bi-pod and then going to shooting bags?

 

[Pard]

Mine shots from the pods, bag or sled all the same.
I am free floated & a laminate stock

 

[K31Scout]

There is a change for me with my .22 LR target rifle between the bi-pod and front bag. I've only shot my XL7 30-06 off bags though. For you the fact that your friend was shooting it rather than you can be a big deal and the reason alone. Or it could be it has something to do with barrel harmonics when the the bag is used vs the bipod.

Pard has a laminated stock so it's much stiffer than the factory stock.

 

[cancov]

Sight your gun for whatever application you will be using it in. If you hunt off the hood or toolbox of a truck and like the bipod, keep it sighted for the bipod. Barrell harmonics does play a role in accuracy, which is the reason for dampners, to better tone your accuracy. If you're shooting under an inch with your .270 at 100 yard with the bipod, keep shooting with the bipod. Like K31 said, your friend will shoot your rifle different than you. Get some more ammo and shoot, shoot, shoot. See where it leads you.

By the way, very good first post. I can tell you have been reading around on here. Welcome and enjoy your .270, great caliber.

 

[jbs04]

ditto what cancov said, if you're planning on hunting with the bipod then by all means sight in and practice with the bipod on. One other thing tho, when shooting off both front and rear bags, rifle canting can come into play more than with a fixed bipod and really affect your groups.
This article explains the effects of canting pretty well: http://www.riflescopelevel.com/cant_errors.html

 

[aglass1987]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[K31Scout]

This article explains the effects of canting pretty well:

It sure does!

 

[jwilson48]

if you free float it will make it stop changing poi from using bags or bipod. but do what u want