There are guys keeping the 223 supersonic out to 1000 yards with 70 and 80 grain bullets. These are handloads, usually in 26" barrels with 1:7 twist. You need your starting velocity to be over 3000 fps to keep it supersonic the whole way. The drop is in the same ballpark as a 308. So it can be done.
Meh, you'll leave it on max power anyway shooting 1k. No reason to spend the money on FFP.
If it's not at least 18-24" or more, bare minimum, it's as useless as teats on a boar hog in reality, in Oklahoma, "in the flora" (i.e. when not on a mowed range), to get yourself above the weeds/grass -- Since I believe that everything should have an actual use, and you should 'practice like you play'.
Well, a 24+ is way too heavy and cumbersome on a rifle, folding, collapsible, or otherwise. Not to mention expensive to dedicate a different one to each rifle. Therefore a QD setup or just a separate bipod or tripod like Stoney Point Polecats and such are the way to go.
If you're shooting from a bench only, and that's the purpose/use of it, then why handicap yourself instead of getting a more solid bench rest, like real sandbags and such?
I suppose if you do all your shooting from the hood of 'the pickup', then a 4, 6, 8, 10 -ish could prove useful. But if hunting, that doesn't work except for prairie dogs (not legal), and if training / practicing for SHTF, I should think you'd want to be 'trained on' and ready for other shots besides just from the hood of a vehicle or a portable bench you have to tote around on your back to be ready for a solid rest shot. Practice like you play - get some polecats.
In Nevada, it would be a different story. I could see a 9 - 12 getting you above the flora in most instances/places there and other deserts. I suppose if your SHTF bugout plan is to head for you ranch in the desert somewhere, one of these l'il ones would make sense.
IMO.
Or who makes posts like this (regarding advice on which bipod to use):
NF is accurate at max power on the NXS 3.5-15x and 5.5-22x.
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