Bipod or bag

Justin 454

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Minuteman
Feb 4, 2024
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Hate my current bipod not very steady /sturdy paid about 90 bucks for it looking to ugrade shoot from bench or prone trying to get something quality but not over the top
 

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This is a better bipod in my opinion!


Just add this clamp and your good to go!

Atlas have any play In it bc that's what drove me crazy
So what exactly are you working with? Pictures might help.
 

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I’ve used everything from a Harris 6-9 S-BRM with pod lock to Atlas, ckye pod, and Accu-Tac.
The most solid of all is the Accu-Tac.

The ckye pod is the most adjustable and most expensive.
What I dislike about the Atlas is that it can’t be locked 100% and tilts.

I’ve converted mostly to the Accu-Tac but all my rimfire rifles use Harris S-BRM.
 
I’ve used everything from a Harris 6-9 S-BRM with pod lock to Atlas, ckye pod, and Accu-Tac.
The most solid of all is the Accu-Tac.

The ckye pod is the most adjustable and most expensive.
What I dislike about the Atlas is that it can’t be locked 100% and tilts.

I’ve converted mostly to the Accu-Tac but all my rimfire rifles use Harris S-BRM
Harris Caldwell utg all shit lol tried to got budget and wasted money
A Harris S-BRM (notched legs) is not shit.
It has been used by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I just add a pod lock to lock out the tilt and it is good to go.
Are there better options? Yes for 2-4 times the price.
 
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For the price, you can’t beat a Harris 6-9 BRM. I still have 2 of them and one is in my match bag every time. There have been more PRS matches won since 2012 using a Harris than any other bipod. I know some top shooters that still use them. A Harris with a 419 ARCA clamp is more than good enough.
 
I use an ATLAS BT72 Super CAL and a rear bag. The feet don't rotate inside of the legs so it doesn't roll forward on you when you push forward on the rifle to put load on it.

Zero wobble or play. Just keep in mind it only has cant and no pan which I prefer. Also this bipod has wide-ass legs and also puts the rifle "inside" the imaginary triangle drawn from the angle of the legs instead of on top of it. This makes it super stable.

They cost a bit of money, but if you're doing bench rest or long range stuff, it's well worth it. It's around $350 I think.
 
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I use an ATLAS BT72 Super CAL and a rear bag. The feet don't rotate inside of the legs so it doesn't roll forward on you when you push forward on the rifle to put load on it.

Zero wobble or play. Just keep in mind it only has cant and no pan which I prefer. Also this bipod has wide-ass legs and also puts the rifle "inside" the imaginary triangle drawn from the angle of the legs instead of on top of it. This makes it super stable.

They cost a bit of money, but if you're doing bench rest or long range stuff, it's well worth it. It's around $350 I think.

I use an ATLAS BT72 Super CAL and a rear bag. The feet don't rotate inside of the legs so it doesn't roll forward on you when you push forward on the rifle to put load on it.

Zero wobble or play. Just keep in mind it only has cant and no pan which I prefer. Also this bipod has wide-ass legs and also puts the rifle "inside" the imaginary triangle drawn from the angle of the legs instead of on top of it. This makes it super stable.

They cost a bit of money, but if you're doing bench rest or long range stuff, it's well worth it. It's around $350 I think.
You recommend a arca mount for it
 
They make Atlas bipods


You might look at the Gen 2 Tall CAL no clamp that’s “blemished” and an RRS BTC-Pro clamp or SC-ARC clamp.
 
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Do you already have a bag, do you have something you could use as a rear bag. I have a feeling you do. Give it a try.

I don't do your game, but I do shoot off a bag, generally because the old things I shoot that is the only choice you have. I have been pretty happy with it.
 
Good timing. I had my eyes opened yesterday.

I grew up shooting off Harris bipods, long legged ones, shooting while sitting down as the grass in the fields was always too tall for prone. Man I hated them, bobbing and weaving around. In my early 20's a bought a short legged one to try bench shooting, still didn't like it. So I pretty much swore off bipods and I always used sandbags at the range and other means of rest in the field.

Skip ahead 30+ years, a couple months ago I got froggy and bought an Accu-Tac FC-4 G2. I was convinced this would be a huge mistake, that it wouldn't be steady and that I'd end up selling it at a loss. This one clamps to Arca rail, which I have on a grand total of two guns, so that also made it seem like a silly idea. You know, plus the fact that I have a couple safe's full of rifles, shotguns and pistols that cost less than this bipod. :oops:

Anyway... I FINALLY got to use it yesterday and I was shocked! Much much more steady than my usual sandbag setup. Off the bench with a rear bag, the rifle (a 16-17 lb gun) was like it was clamped in a vice. I couldn't believe it. It was almost boring doing what I was doing with it. I can't wait to get back to doing load development with it.
 
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Good timing. I had my eyes opened yesterday.

I grew up shooting off Harris bipods, long legged ones, while sitting down, as the grass in the fields was always too tall for prone. Man I hated them, bobbing and weaving around. In my early 20's a bought a short legged one to try bench shooting, still didn't like it. So pretty much swore off bipods and I always used sandbags at the range and other means of rest in the field.

Skip ahead 30+ years, a couple months ago I got froggy and bought an Accu-Tac FC-4 G2. I was convinced this would be a huge mistake, that it wouldn't be steady and that I'd end up selling it at a loss. This one clamps to Arca rail, which I have on a grand total of two guns, so that also made it seem like a silly idea. You know, plus the fact that I have a couple safe's full of rifles, shotguns and pistols that cost less than this bipod. :oops:

Anyway... I FINALLY got to use it yesterday and I was shocked! Much much more steady than my usual sandbag setup. Off the bench with a rear bag, the rifle (a 16-17 lb gun) was like it was clamped in a vice. I couldn't believe it. It was almost boring doing what I was doing with it. I can't wait to get back to doing load development with it.
I was pretty much a just bags guy myself for years and years and years. A quality bipod is a game changer. I almost missed out on discovering this because my first bipod was a Magpul that was looser than a whore at a sailor's convention. Thankfully, some gentleman at the range next to me was rocking an Atlas BT-72 and let me give it a whirl. I ordered one as soon as I got home.
 
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I got a "Blem" Atlas BT65 Gen2 Cal around black friday. It was like $199 delivered. (Yes, made my B&T, since OP asked)
There is no Blem that I could find on it.
Only $70 more than the best Harris sale price I could find.
$70 isnt nothing, but ive had a Harris and wanted to try something else.

I know its a long time to wait, but if you are still on a budget, Black Friday through Christmas is the time to get quality stuff at a steep discount.
Even July 4th, Veterans Day etc.... will offer some sales vs right now.
 
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Harris is plenty usable. I use the shit out of the notched leg cant ones. Even on my 20lb rifle it's been just fine.

I generally use the ckye pod at matches because it can do more things.


I still use the Harris and a back bag for load development. It's about the shooter. If you can't drive the rifle nothing will feel very solid.
 
I’ll take a Gucci’d-up Harris (RRS Picatinny/ARCA clamp, Hawk Hill Talons, etc) over any sloppy-ass feeling Atlas/Ckye-Pod or clunky/slow Accu-Tac.

..and my choice has nothing to do with cost/money, maybe they can do more tricks, but IMHO, performance-wise, as far as shooting off of them, the expensive ones are mostly worse, not better.

If spending more makes you believe it’s better, you can buy a TBAC.
 
They make Atlas bipods


You might look at the Gen 2 Tall CAL no clamp that’s “blemished” and an RRS BTC-Pro clamp or SC-ARC clamp.

Thats pretty much the combo I added recently. Blem atlas cal gen 2, and and RRS-SOAR clamping dual purpose mount.

The pod loc on the Cal Gen 2 is probably my favorite upgrade. If the Atlas PSR came with the ability to add that, I would have never gotten rid of it.
 
They make Atlas bipods


You might look at the Gen 2 Tall CAL no clamp that’s “blemished” and an RRS BTC-Pro clamp or SC-ARC clamp.
Atlas CAL's are a great option for high quality simple bipod. I probably use mine more than any other bipod. Those pic / arca clams are also nice as you can use the same bipod for multiple rifles in different configurations that way. My motto is never buy the same bipod twice. That way every new bipod is new capability for all your rifles. It is important to get something with a throw lever or big thumb nut if this is also your thinking. It should not take tools to swap your bipod from rifle to rifle.

Blem CAL's are a good option to save some dough. I think mine might have been one. I don't remeber.

One other note. Be careful if you shop around to try to save money by picking up Atlas stuff off of the big e-commerce sites. There is a big counterfeit problem with in general on those sites and it is particularly bad when it comes to Atlas products. It is best to try to buy it from someone reputable and if your getting used do so from someone you trust. 50% off is not a good deal if your getting a fake product made to low standards.
 
I’ll take a Gucci’d-up Harris (RRS Picatinny/ARCA clamp, Hawk Hill Talons, etc) over any sloppy-ass feeling Atlas/Ckye-Pod or clunky/slow Accu-Tac.

..and my choice has nothing to do with cost/money, maybe they can do more tricks, but IMHO, performance-wise, as far as shooting off of them, the expensive ones are mostly worse, not better.

If spending more makes you believe it’s better, you can buy a TB
Well that goes without saying. I can take a Chinese bipod and make a functional clapper out of it with bailing wire and duct tape.

Harris makes a good rig. I just personally don't prefer them. I think the point of the post was that the author was looking for a solution right out of the box that's going to lock up solid without having to monkey around with buying accessories and other bullshit to make it work.

An Atlas BT-72 does exactly that.
 
I use an ATLAS BT72 Super CAL and a rear bag. The feet don't rotate inside of the legs so it doesn't roll forward on you when you push forward on the rifle to put load on it.

Zero wobble or play. Just keep in mind it only has cant and no pan which I prefer. Also this bipod has wide-ass legs and also puts the rifle "inside" the imaginary triangle drawn from the angle of the legs instead of on top of it. This makes it super stable.

Would you post a picture of your set up or send it to my email? I'm trying to decide between an Atlas or a Sinclair. Thanks for your time.
 
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It depends what your end use is going to be. For LRShooting, I tried Atlas, TBAC, Harris and they were less than adequate. As others have noted, Atlas was the worst performer for me. Flex all over the place. In the end I went with ACCUTAC w/sled feet, Protektor rear bag, a vertical rifle grip and adjustable rear bag rider from Long Shot Precision. A heavy rifle will require a substantial bipod.
I know expense is a consideration, but when you consider things like ammo costs and missed shots due to poor equipment and technique, I think it will even out. You'll also be less frustrated.
So the short answer is you need both and then some.
 
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I use an ATLAS BT72 Super CAL and a rear bag. The feet don't rotate inside of the legs so it doesn't roll forward on you when you push forward on the rifle to put load on it.

Zero wobble or play. Just keep in mind it only has cant and no pan which I prefer. Also this bipod has wide-ass legs and also puts the rifle "inside" the imaginary triangle drawn from the angle of the legs instead of on top of it. This makes it super stable.

They cost a bit of money, but if you're doing bench rest or long range stuff, it's well worth it. It's around $350 I think.

That sounds like a very stable bipod.

Have you ever encountered a bench that wasn't wide enough for the legs at their full position ?

The benches at the range I mostly use have rear cutouts on each side at rear to accommodate left handed shooters one side & right handed shooters on the other.
Fixed position seats.
The net result making it hard to make use of the middle area of the bench and your bipod feet can be cramped somewhat close to the edge.


I have the basic Atlas BT-10 on three guns and the Magpul on three guns.

I want a better bipod to use for the CDG/Xylo/26" MTU-contour that is in the works.

I like the Area419 ARCA-Lock QD head as it'll work great on my chassis.

It'll be nice having a bipod that can be easily swapped from rifle to rifle.
 
That sounds like a very stable bipod.

Have you ever encountered a bench that wasn't wide enough for the legs at their full position ?

The benches at the range I mostly use have rear cutouts on each side at rear to accommodate left handed shooters one side & right handed shooters on the other.
Fixed position seats.
The net result making it hard to make use of the middle area of the bench and your bipod feet can be cramped somewhat close to the edge.


I have the basic Atlas BT-10 on three guns and the Magpul on three guns.

I want a better bipod to use for the CDG/Xylo/26" MTU-contour that is in the works.

I like the Area419 ARCA-Lock QD head as it'll work great on my chassis.

It'll be nice having a bipod that can be easily swapped from rifle to rifle.
For a heavy rig, I have both a SCAL and (deep breath) LRA F-Class Lite-Tactical. Man, what a name!

They’re both nice. The leg design for both is largely immune to dirt. Not that I would know…I’m a bench shooter haha.

The Atlas has really nice ski feet available. The LRA dude says their ski feet are coming.

I’d go with the LRA as the cradle is deeper, the cant adjustment has both a wider adjustment range and has a super-solid lock off, and the carbon fiber legs are friendlier to grab when it’s winter in MN.

A downside of the LRA is it doesn’t use the ADM 17s mount standard, so you choose between their basic pic rail bolt-on, pay $77 more for a QR pic rail (worth it), or use their Arca mount.

I find their QR pic mount, in particular, easier to attach than Arca when the rifle is level, as I am sometimes forced to do at my range. People shooting holes in the roof begat regs, you see.

A hack to use both Arca and pic with their QR pic clamp is to bolt a 17s Arca mount upon a 17s pic rail segment, and place that in the QR clamp. Raises it up a bit, but hey.

I too shoot on those blasted short T-benches with cutouts for fudds. Always almost pushing certain guns off the front of the bench. Sometimes shoot at the back of the T, but then brass falls on the floor, vs. bouncing off my rifle case and onto the bench. First world probs.

P.S. never found a commercial range bench too narrow for either bipods. But fixed position seats ewwwww
 
That sounds like a very stable bipod.

Have you ever encountered a bench that wasn't wide enough for the legs at their full position ?

The benches at the range I mostly use have rear cutouts on each side at rear to accommodate left handed shooters one side & right handed shooters on the other.
Fixed position seats.
The net result making it hard to make use of the middle area of the bench and your bipod feet can be cramped somewhat close to the edge.


I have the basic Atlas BT-10 on three guns and the Magpul on three guns.

I want a better bipod to use for the CDG/Xylo/26" MTU-contour that is in the works.

I like the Area419 ARCA-Lock QD head as it'll work great on my chassis.

It'll be nice having a bipod that can be easily swapped from rifle to rifle.
I don't have this issue with the benches here fortunately. They have the cutouts as well, but I can move our seats to and froe freely if I please.

Some of the invaders here in Florida from NYC prefer to turn them upside down and sit on the legs. They also like to push in each other's stools.

I'm quite certain they were the ones shooting the holes in the roof at the range that @carbonbased shoots at.

Ok, I'll get back on topic buddy. LOL I can measure the spread of my bipod with the legs fully extended and let ya know, then you could measure the bench at your range and see if it would work for ya. I don't need to extend the legs more than one click here, so it's not a problem for me.

You can also get feet such as spikes or skis for it. Here's a couple of pictures to give you an idea of how wide it is. I don't have any with the legs fully extended.

The fact that the rifle is mounted to the bipod below the apex of the legs is a game changer for stability.
Blast Diverter.jpg
7RM.jpg
 
For a heavy rig, I have both a SCAL and (deep breath) LRA F-Class Lite-Tactical. Man, what a name!

They’re both nice. The leg design for both is largely immune to dirt. Not that I would know…I’m a bench shooter haha.

The Atlas has really nice ski feet available. The LRA dude says their ski feet are coming.

I’d go with the LRA as the cradle is deeper, the cant adjustment has both a wider adjustment range and has a super-solid lock off, and the carbon fiber legs are friendlier to grab when it’s winter in MN.

A downside of the LRA is it doesn’t use the ADM 17s mount standard, so you choose between their basic pic rail bolt-on, pay $77 more for a QR pic rail (worth it), or use their Arca mount.

I find their QR pic mount, in particular, easier to attach than Arca when the rifle is level, as I am sometimes forced to do at my range. People shooting holes in the roof begat regs, you see.

A hack to use both Arca and pic with their QR pic clamp is to bolt a 17s Arca mount upon a 17s pic rail segment, and place that in the QR clamp. Raises it up a bit, but hey.

I too shoot on those blasted short T-benches with cutouts for fudds. Always almost pushing certain guns off the front of the bench. Sometimes shoot at the back of the T, but then brass falls on the floor, vs. bouncing off my rifle case and onto the bench. First world probs.

P.S. never found a commercial range bench too narrow for either bipods. But fixed position seats ewwwww


Great insight.

Thank you.


Yeah.....fixed position seats suck outright......especially if you are a 3 sammich eating fatboy like me. :ROFLMAO:



55 years old and both my knees and right shoulder are overdue for replacement. Trimming down slowly....getting ready for the first joint replacement surgery to occur at some point....maybe next year.


I'll be using only those friggin benches for a while yet.


Skeert that if I got down on a mat for prone shooting.....I'd need the help of 7 stout RSO's to get my arse up on my feet again. :giggle:

They already give me the stank eye if I take too long trekking back from hanging my targets.
Slow and careful steps.

Can't afford an injury that'll screw me up from working the 13+ hours shifts at work.







I don't have this issue with the benches here fortunately. They have the cutouts as well, but I can move our seats to and froe freely if I please.

Some of the invaders here in Florida from NYC prefer to turn them upside down and sit on the legs. They also like to push in each other's stools.

I'm quite certain they were the ones shooting the holes in the roof at the range that @carbonbased shoots at.

Ok, I'll get back on topic buddy. LOL I can measure the spread of my bipod with the legs fully extended and let ya know, then you could measure the bench at your range and see if it would work for ya. I don't need to extend the legs more than one click here, so it's not a problem for me.

You can also get feet such as spikes or skis for it. Here's a couple of pictures to give you an idea of how wide it is. I don't have any with the legs fully extended.

The fact that the rifle is mounted to the bipod below the apex of the legs is a game changer for stability.
View attachment 8372301View attachment 8372302


Bigtime thank you.

Your reply is timely....very timely.


I've got all my scopes, rails, bipods, triggers & springs, rails, mounts, rings and such to go ahead and set up my Bergara HMR 6.5CM & Tikka TAC A1 .308. Hoping to do so by the weekend.

Son is coming by later on to help me move some furniture out of the spare bedroom that I'm converting into my man-cave & reloading room.

Probably going to take up most of my day today and tomorrow.


Emails have been received informing me that my new action is en route to my FFL and the barrel maker has moved my order into "production". Already have the chassis, trigger, scope, mounts, etc for it. I may have my first "custom" rifle assembled next week.

Gonna be be fun.



Your pics were golden.

THANK YOU.


Here are some recent pics of my son at the range with me.



IMG_2328.jpeg
IMG_2327.jpeg
IMG_2325.jpeg
IMG_2323.jpeg







He's shooting my Bergara B14R (Area419 rail and basic Atlas) and WC Super Sniper 6.5 Grendel (direct M-Lock Magpul).


I think I'll be more than safe with the miserly bench real estate using a wider based bipod like yours.

One thing is for certain....this new "custom" rifle will be the heaviest rifle I own...by a good margin. I want to be able to completely lock out unwanted twisting (pan, tilt, cant, etc) and the stability is evident from your pics of that wide base.


I'm 6'4" and my son is 6'9".....so we will appreciate the capabilities of taller bipods.....from these cramped benches and prone as well.

I joked above about prone shooting being verboten for me.....but I'm gonna get there at some point....
Having ability to raise up higher will be a must.


I do believe you have me ready to add that BT72 Super CAL. I'm gonna get the "no-clamp" model and add the Area419 Arcalock adapter for it. It'll work with my ARC Xylo chassis (integral Arcalock) and the TAC A1 (with Area419 M-Lock Arcalock rail).


Appreciated your help.
(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)
 
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Great insight.

Thank you.


Yeah.....fixed position seats suck outright......especially if you are a 3 sammich eating fatboy like me. :ROFLMAO:



55 years old and both my knees and right shoulder are overdue for replacement. Trimming down slowly....getting ready for the first joint replacement surgery to occur at some point....maybe next year.


I'll be using only those friggin benches for a while yet.


Skeert that if I got down on a mat for prone shooting.....I'd need the help of 7 stout RSO's to get my arse up on my feet again. :giggle:

They already give me the stank eye if I take too long trekking back from hanging my targets.
Slow and careful steps.

Can't afford an injury that'll screw me up from working the 13+ hours shifts at work.










Bigtime thank you.

Your reply is timely....very timely.


I've got all my scopes, rails, bipods, triggers & springs, rails, mounts, rings and such to go ahead and set up my Bergara HMR 6.5CM & Tikka TAC A1 .308. Hoping to do so by the weekend.

Son is coming by later on to help me move some furniture out of the spare bedroom that I'm converting into my man-cave & reloading room.

Probably going to take up most of my day today and tomorrow.


Emails have been received informing me that my new action is en route to my FFL and the barrel maker has moved my order into "production". Already have the chassis, trigger, scope, mounts, etc for it. I may have my first "custom" rifle assembled next week.

Gonna be be fun.



Your pics were golden.

THANK YOU.


Here are some recent pics of my son at the range with me.



View attachment 8372320View attachment 8372321View attachment 8372322View attachment 8372323






He's shooting my Bergara B14R (Area419 rail and basic Atlas) and WC Super Sniper 6.5 Grendel (direct M-Lock Magpul).


I think I'll be more than safe with the miserly bench real estate using a wider based bipod like yours.

One thing is for certain....this new "custom" rifle will be the heaviest rifle I own...by a good margin. I want to be able to completely lock out unwanted twisting (pan, tilt, cant, etc) and the stability is evident from your pics of that wide base.


I'm 6'4" and my son is 6'9".....so we will appreciate the capabilities of taller bipods.....from these cramped benches and prone as well.

I joked above about prone shooting being verboten for me.....but I'm gonna get there at some point....
Having ability to raise up higher will be a must.


I do believe you have me ready to add that BT72 Super CAL. I'm gonna get the "no-clamp" model and add the Area419 Arcalock adapter for it. It'll work with my ARC Xylo chassis (integral Arcalock) and the TAC A1 (with Area419 M-Lock Arcalock rail).


Appreciated your help.
(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)
Man, those benches are shorter than even my club’s are. If you try to shoot behind the base of the T your knees will prob hit the fixed position seat.

That’s the worst bench design I’ve seen.

I have neck injury that makes prone murder in about 2 sec lol