Joypod....is it essential.

[Razer]

Guys, it's very possible that I'm over thinking this whole process, but it's seemed to have worked with 2 rifles so far. I don't even bore sight the scope until I get the rifle on the mound and as level as possible with the target visible through the barrel.

You have really lost me now!
The first thing that I teach new shooters is not to sight on the target and then adjust the body, etc. to suit.
Watch good TR shooters, as they get the body into position first and then adjust the alignment of the rifle.
Every mound is different, even your numbered position along the same mound will differ, so, you can never duplicate the same rifle elevation regardless of what you do.
If the range is downhill, uphill or level also changes your rifles elevation. Malabar has two very different levels at the 800 metre range with at a guess, an abrupt 4 metre drop about midway from the west end to the east end.
First thing is to get comfortable on the mound, rifle butt on shoulder in correct place, and then, without even looking through the scope, align rifle to point at the target, make sure your position is not compromised and that you are still comfortable.
Now is the only time to look through your scope and raise or lower your bi-pod.
Get all that right and recoil and muzzle flip will not be a problem.
Shooting off a bi-pod is basically mimicking TR except you are not using your elbows but the bi-pod.
I have yet to see anyone shooting free recoil while using a bi-pod(though some possible do) so correct shoulder position is paramount to repeatability and elevation consistency.
Ray.

[scott/r]

Ray, I was talking about the very first time the rifle was used with a particular scope. As in the initial setting of your zero. Not each time you shoot.
Sorry, we are way off topic now. Maybe a title for another thread.

[Razer]

Ok, now I am with you.
I set up my scopes in the rifle cleaning cradle, making sure the action is level crosswise with a line level.(the rifle is pointing down roughly 20 degrees here).
Already have fitted rings so lower scope into rings, check for eye relief and tighten rings ensuring that the crosshairs are also level by sighting on a brickies level, then I use a Leupold boresighter.
I set up for a 300yd zero so, I set the scope crosshairs on the 8in position (for 308W) on the graph in the boresighter.
At the range I will be within a quarter Moa off at the most in elevation.
Windage will be within 1 Moa as it varies between barrels.
The Leupold magnetic boresighter, that I have had since they first came out, is a godsend when shooters are recording misses with their sighters as it only takes a minute to stick it to the end of the barrel to resolve the issue (usually a full rotation on the turret if they have gone from 1000yds back to 300).
Bore sighting on the mound as you do is just a matter of setting the rifle up on the bipod and some rear packing and adjust from there. Fore and aft levelling prior to bore sighting is virtually unobtainable for reasons mentioned in last post. To have the crosshairs parallel with the action is vital to avoid cant.
You can also do it at home by setting up the rifle on a table, bore sighting onto a black spotter on a convenient wall, place another 8 inches below that one and set up your scope to sight on the lower one. Worked for me before I got boresighter.

[scott/r]

That leupold boresighter sounds like the go. Yeh, I set the cross hairs and eye relief at home as well. Saves a lot of stuffing around in the grass and just leaves me with a bit of windage and elevation to set.

[SunnyCoast 5r]

Tried a little experiment on Saturday and relaxed my shoulder contact with the stock... allowing a fair bit of travel. Groups tighter straight away.
Then I didn't read the wind drop off and stuffed my string anyway!

But I noticed that my Sinclair bipod (1st model I think) which has the radiused feet did slide back quite nicely using the 'semi-free' recoil approach. As I am shooting from a Rem 700 with a 24" barrel the muzzle usually kicks up a fair bit with my usual grip. I still end up with my sight picture being exactly one target to the right once the smoke clears!

Does the Seb move nicely on the mound...if so that could be an advantage.

PS he should do a tactical model: shiny chrome finish is not for everyone.

[SunnyCoast 5r]

Thought I might as well show the target I was talking about...goes without saying I am a looooonnnnggg way from the pointy end! But I am happy with the first 8 shots @ 400y with factory ammo.

Maybe a Seb would help but I doubt it could compensate for my inexperience with wind reading.

[ShaneG]

Been shooting off a bipod for 5 years plus now!
Still can't master it!
Depends on mound - some days I see dust either side of target at 1000 yards.
Others the rifle jumps 3 targets at 600 yards?!

Used Sinclair 1st generation modified for 3 plus years with good effect.
Tried 2nd gen - didn't like the slop with adjuster.
Been using a Seb for 18 months or so - haven't mastered it!?

Tracks best with his sand filled front bags.

[SunnyCoast 5r]

Update...maybe we should be asking which joypod as I noticed a very successful FTR shooter has a very wide version which is used to good effect!
And my tongue in cheek comment about a tactical finish might be a good thing as many shooters at North Arm / Lilley Dist PM found the bright chrome a bit ostentatious, particularly in sunny conditions.

Wind reading skills (or lack of!) dictated the scores though....