Change Point of Impact

[Rudyl]

I had my .257 Wby sighted in perfectly and decided to put a Harris Bi-Pod on it before going out on a management doe hunt.
Long story short I had a nice mature doe in front of me at 135 yards perfectly broadside. At the shot she dropped immediately and when I went to get her I had broken her neck. I had been aiming at her shoulder so the shot was easily 4 inches high and to the right.
My question is......did adding that bi-pod to the rifle change my point of impact that drastically? Now I have doubts and need to go shoot to again to ease my doubts.
Will removing the bi-pod do the same thing also?

[randal]

i wouldn't think so.. I've added and removed bi pods and never had an issue..

[Coach W]

If you where resting it on it and it made the stock touch the barrel it will definitely affect poi.

Also if you just ran a new sling swivel screw into the stock and the screw touched the barrel it will affect poi.

[dclifton]

Free floating barrel? CoachW is right if the stock or screw Is hitting the barrel it can. Even if it freefloats if the stock has enough flex the weight of the barrel will push down into the stock with the support only being out on the end of the stock

[Ecoboost]

You need to shoot the gun again. Only that will answer your question... What the last two guys posted above is true!

[canny]

Even with a free float floated barrel the pressure resulting from the bipod could make the forend tough the barel. My howa 308 with boyds synthetic does the same thing. I need to stiffen up the forend.

[bboswell]

Coach and Canny are spot on

[Artos]

4" loss of harmonics is not out of the question for a hunting rig....shoot some groups with & without the pod & make sure your scope is holding as well.

[mgbuff]

prop the butt up on something with the bipod open and run a dollar bill down the barrel and see if its touching.