Is a sling still helpful with a bipod?

I am not new to guns at all, but I am new to hunting and havent gotten to shoot much in the last 15 years (ex-wife, loong story)....

Well, this is my first deer season, and I am going to be hunting with my SKS. It is scoped with a Bushnell 3-9x32 and I made a bipod to use when prone...

My question is about slings. Many people talk about how they cant shoot without them, and I always assumed they were talking about off-hand shots. But would a nice, tight sling be helpful when shooting prone from a bipod?

I also have a shooting stick that is just the right length for me to sit on my butt and lean against a post or tree. I can see the sling being even more useful in this situation...

If your using a bipod I don't think the sling matters, but when shooting from other positions like standing or kneeling it is extremely helpful

I dont use a sling with a pod... I have never tried but have seen others at the range try. I cannot see where it would help me. You may want to try it both ways and see what works for you.

A good read on pod shooting:

Bugholes from Bipod

GREAT article about shooting and reloading!

what 'scares' me about my homemade bipod is that Froggy says something about shooting from a high-quality bipod... I am hoping that he is talking about repeatability of long range shots, and not about putting 1 round in 'minute-of-vitals' like I will be doing...

You should be fine for what you are wanting to do.... Can you put a forward "load" on your bipod? A little forward pressure may help with MIV (Minute of Vitals).

I don't hunt without a sling. Shooting prone with a bipod I don't think a sling would help too much, but for offhand shots yes. Wouldn't hurt to have both. I break slings down two ways.. The military style and the shorter and wide shouldered slings for carrying. My everyday deer rifles all use the military style and they become force of habit in use. My mountain rifles have the other style as they are carried long distance. To me a sling is a neccessary tool on a hunting rifle.

Originally Posted by MikeW

You should be fine for what you are wanting to do.... Can you put a forward "load" on your bipod? A little forward pressure may help with MIV (Minute of Vitals).

yeah, its strong enough that I can lean forward on it a bit... the legs are wooden dowels and the "frame" is aluminum... the legs are simply held by the tight roll of aluminum I made... so it will all flex a bit without getting weak.

My goal was really just to have SOMEthing to help steady me... I'm not looking for repeat shot accuracy at 500yds...

Originally Posted by KarlS

I don't hunt without a sling. Shooting prone with a bipod I don't think a sling would help too much, but for offhand shots yes. Wouldn't hurt to have both. I break slings down two ways.. The military style and the shorter and wide shouldered slings for carrying. My everyday deer rifles all use the military style and they become force of habit in use. My mountain rifles have the other style as they are carried long distance. To me a sling is a neccessary tool on a hunting rifle.

Not to sound like a total cheap-o... but I have 2 brown cotton belts with the doubleD ring style buckles, and right now I have them as a "sling" on my Swede. It works great, and I can go from carrying, to shoulder and just pull one of the tag-ends of the belt to tighten it all up... +1 for ingenuity!

I like to use the sling along with a bipod or rest of some kind, especially for long range shooting. The Corps taught that a long time ago, and I've never changed. There is less shoulder & upper body movement, and you are more "welded" to the weapon. I'd define long range, for me anyway, as anything over 400-500 yards.
Cherokee Slim

"long range" for me with the sks is looking to be about 150ish...