i have been using a bipod for a few years now and i have yet to rip a sling swivel out, but i dont a bit of damage to the stock of a weatherby vanguard but it was totaly my fault. i had a clean shot on a crow but was on un level ground so i inadvertently twisted the stock. the sling swivel never fit right after that but the vanguard has a cheap stock with no swivel bedding. i still use non pivoting bi pods but thats only because i use bipods on my "on the move" crow rifles and long range deer rifles. i find that if im on un level ground it is fastest to just put my hand under one leg and adjust my hand accordingly. ive thought about going to swivel types but i dont like the extra bulk. also, if you are mechanically inclined you should make swivel bedding studs for all your rifles that you plan to use a bipod on, especially if your rifles have cheap plasic stocks or wood stocks like most my rifles