Area 419 Arca Lock or MPA RAT

[Cold_Bore_88]

I need some input from the community on which Arca system they like/run on their MPA.

I have an MPA chassis coming on my new 6.5 build. I want to get an Arca attachment for my bipod. MPA has the RAT system that I see a lot of people use with no issue. But the “inter web” is full of guys saying it can slide when you apply pressure to it against a bipod stop.

Area 419 has something called the Arca Lock that uses “teeth/notches” to grip onto the attachment with 2 screws. It looks like its a pretty good design. The down side is that you add weight and another attachment to the system.

The third option is to use the spigot mount as a pic rail and have a RAT with pic attachment that I can easily attach my bipod to in case I need to slide the bipod back and forth.

Anyone having issues with the RAT?

 

[tomcfc11]

Have you looked at the Really Right Stuff BTC-Pro clamp (atlas) or HC-Pro clamp (harris)? They will go on both picatinny and the dovetail. I run them on my MPA comp chassis and really like them. If I don't use a bag and bring the bipod back tight, wedging the barricade between the bipod and magwell, I will get about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of slip under recoil. So far that is the only instance where I have had my bipod slip. Granted I am shooting 6 creedmoor and 6 dasher in a 17 + lbs rifle.

 

[m1match]

Both MPA RAT, Arca Lock, and RRS clamps work on any "Arca rail" (or Really Right Stuff dovetail) or whatever you want to call them. I have bipods on both the MPA RAT clamp and the RRS BTC-Pro clamp and they both work fine. The thumbwheel clamp can come loose which allows the bipod to move or come off the rail. For that reason I use a zip tie through the holes at the end of my Area 419 rails (attached to my rifles that have Manners stocks) to keep a loose bipod clamp from completely coming off the rifle. Besides that, I check the thumbwheel tightness before every match stage to confirm that it's tight.

You should know that the Area 419 Arca Lock feature which locks the clamp into place only does so when using an Area 419 rail with the scalloped cuts along the rail. You can use the Arca Lock clamp on a regular rail but it will clamp into place and slide along the rail just like any other rail clamp.

Since you will be using an MPA chassis your chassis is already machined with the dovetail rail on the bottom of the forend. I use my MPA chassis with the dovetail and don't bother with a spigot.

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

Both MPA RAT, Arca Lock, and RRS clamps work on any "Arca rail" (or Really Right Stuff dovetail) or whatever you want to call them. I have bipods on both the MPA RAT clam and the RRS BTC-Pro clamp and they both work fine. The thumbwheel clamp can come loose which allows the bipod to move or come off the rail. For that reason I use a zip tie through the holes at the end of my Area 419 rails (attached to my rifles that have Manners stocks) to keep a loose bipod clamp from completely coming off the rifle. Besides that, I check the thumbwheel tightness before every match stage to confirm that it's tight.

You should know that the Area 419 Arca Lock feature which locks the clamp into place only does so when using an Area 419 rail with the scalloped cuts along the rail. You can use the Arca Lock clamp on a regular rail but it will clamp into place and slide along the rail just like any other rail clamp.

Since you will be using an MPA chassis your chassis is already machined with the dovetail rail on the bottom of the forend. I use my MPA chassis with the dovetail and don't bother with a spigot.

Appreciate the input. Will give it a look. I have used a standard pic rail and Atlas bipod on my Manners stock for years with no issue. I may stick with what has been working. Ha!