While we are on the topic of Bipods.
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 12:43 pm
Having had a close look at the conventional style of bipods currently being used on my CAD program i have come to the following conclusions about certain aspects of their use and placement.
Most bipods are set at a perpendicular to the barrel line. The closer that this perpendicular placement is to the overall balance point of the rifle, the more potential of a radial moment being induced in the vertical plane during recoil of the firearm. The only way to reduce the radial movement of the muzzle seems to be by shifting the pivot point forward of the balance point increasing the overall radius to the point where the rearward portion ot the rifles weight has an overiding aspect on the tendancy of rotation upward or sideways. Ideally the bipod should be placed level with the muzzle much like the MG42 (the Germans were very smart) which in turn places the point of rotation at this point making vertical climb negligible. Angling the bipod feet forward as in a conventional placement of a bipod midway on a rifle forend has some positive effect but is not clearly an alternate to the placement at or near the muzzle. Forward angled feet with the bipod location point level at the muzzle has its advantages but may be not worth the bother. A bipod placed at the balance point of the rifle is a recipe for disaster as you create a situation that has as much horizontal movement as it does vertically. In simple terms the further you get the frontal pivot point and the rearward anchor point apart, within reason, the easier the rifle will be to control on all planes and induces the rifle to recoil in a straighter line reducing the barrel moment during a bullets in barrel time whilst the rifle is recoiling. Very important as all Heavy Class rifles in IBS are built around this concept. Reducing the moment may not be the right way of saying it as what you are effectively doing is removing the angle and keeping things under control. There will always be some element of barrel moment during recoil no matter what you do.
Tony Z.
ps. Lengthening or shortening the bipod legs also has an effect on the pivot point, but also changes the way the firearm recoils. The longer the legs the more potential for upward movement. There appears to be some advantage to having the butt level or indeed in a slight reverse angle pattern which seems to counteract the upward lift (rotation) from the muzzle. During this model there has been no considerarion of forend bounce which may be something that could alter the final outcome, but i would assume that the use of a flexion joint like those used in Archery dampeners could illiminate this problem.
Most bipods are set at a perpendicular to the barrel line. The closer that this perpendicular placement is to the overall balance point of the rifle, the more potential of a radial moment being induced in the vertical plane during recoil of the firearm. The only way to reduce the radial movement of the muzzle seems to be by shifting the pivot point forward of the balance point increasing the overall radius to the point where the rearward portion ot the rifles weight has an overiding aspect on the tendancy of rotation upward or sideways. Ideally the bipod should be placed level with the muzzle much like the MG42 (the Germans were very smart) which in turn places the point of rotation at this point making vertical climb negligible. Angling the bipod feet forward as in a conventional placement of a bipod midway on a rifle forend has some positive effect but is not clearly an alternate to the placement at or near the muzzle. Forward angled feet with the bipod location point level at the muzzle has its advantages but may be not worth the bother. A bipod placed at the balance point of the rifle is a recipe for disaster as you create a situation that has as much horizontal movement as it does vertically. In simple terms the further you get the frontal pivot point and the rearward anchor point apart, within reason, the easier the rifle will be to control on all planes and induces the rifle to recoil in a straighter line reducing the barrel moment during a bullets in barrel time whilst the rifle is recoiling. Very important as all Heavy Class rifles in IBS are built around this concept. Reducing the moment may not be the right way of saying it as what you are effectively doing is removing the angle and keeping things under control. There will always be some element of barrel moment during recoil no matter what you do.
Tony Z.
ps. Lengthening or shortening the bipod legs also has an effect on the pivot point, but also changes the way the firearm recoils. The longer the legs the more potential for upward movement. There appears to be some advantage to having the butt level or indeed in a slight reverse angle pattern which seems to counteract the upward lift (rotation) from the muzzle. During this model there has been no considerarion of forend bounce which may be something that could alter the final outcome, but i would assume that the use of a flexion joint like those used in Archery dampeners could illiminate this problem.
