Atlas Bipod on concrete

[lennyo3034]

I just switched to an atlas bipod and could use tips on using it on concrete. I can't seem to get as much pre-load as I prefer. The issue seems to be the legs rotating as I apply forward pressure. This rifle in particular is a semi-auto that requires more preload for best accuracy. Is there any way to lock the legs from spinning? I'm not against some sort of pad underneath the bipod either.

 

[LawnMM]

You just need to apply a bit of forward pressure and take the slack out, any harder and I don't think you will see any benefit. That said look into the optional spike and ski feet for the atlas, they may help with what you are trying to accomplish.

Rich

 

[nickforney]

Sounds like maybe you are trying to load too much? I don't like shooting on concrete because I get my bipod to slip on occasion when I am loading. I have a friend who has a piece of rubber type stuff that is intended for old ladies to open jars with ease. I pops it down on the ground and puts the bipod legs down on it and walla concrete and legs have an awesome connection. Have to look around and see if I can find it in multicam.

 

[lennyo3034]

I have to put more load on this rifle than most, it helps with follow through. I've tested the rifle and with free recoil, it shoots about twice the size groups as when I have a good amount of pressure. It did best when I put a sticky rubber pad on top of my benchrest and was able to get a good amount of pressure there. I may try the same with rubber underneath the bipod legs.

 

[Bradu]

I use a Midway mat and use the straps on it to stop the bipod from sliding.

 

[jdr724]

try the legs at 45 degrees toward the muzzle and extend the legs a bit.

 

[msmith64]

I would have thought angling the legs rearward a bit might help

 

[lennyo3034]

I didn't try angling the legs, will give that a shot next. I may also try the midway pro shooting mat with the bipod webbing sewn in. The other one I found was the crosstac. Anyone use both of these? The price difference isn't a factor if one is better than the other.

 

[Bradu]

I haven't used the crosstac but I have been happy with the Midway pro mat, I have used it quite a bit and it's holding up pretty well. If you catch it on sale it isn't too bad of price even though they tend to gouge you on the shipping.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

If you are "loading" it to the point the legs are rolling out, you have gone too far. Use less pressure.

You are not trying to push the rifle down range.

 

[bh-ltr]

If you are "loading" it to the point the legs are rolling out, you have gone too far. Use less pressure.

You are not trying to push the rifle down range.

Yea the bitch is when you really get the bipod loaded you have to re-range the target.

 

[pmclaine]

I didn't try angling the legs, will give that a shot next. I may also try the midway pro shooting mat with the bipod webbing sewn in. The other one I found was the crosstac. Anyone use both of these? The price difference isn't a factor if one is better than the other.

I looked at the Crosstac when buying my mat. I like its made in USA feature. I ended up buying a US Peacekeepers version of it because I usually stuff my rifle in the folds of the mat to carry it - the fastex buckles on the Peacekeeper product looked mre secure for this mode of carry.

Now that I have a rifle with a bipod I wish I had gone Crosstac.

These folding mats are great if you are a shooter that likes lots of mat real estate. Downside is that they are not "compact".

 

[Bradu]

The concrete I shoot off of doesn't have much of a broom finish so it's pretty slick, I can't even take the play out of the atlas bipod before it slides.

 

[Temp9]

The concrete I shoot off of doesn't have much of a broom finish so it's pretty slick, I can't even take the play out of the atlas bipod before it slides.

With all due respect, I highly doubt that. I've shot my Atlases (2) off the hood of my car in rain and they didn't slip before taking the play out. It takes hardly any loading to take the play out of the Atlas legs. Maybe a picture of this crazy slick concrete would help.

 

[gstaylorg]

Unbrushed concrete can be extremely slick if it has some dust on it, which is not uncommon outdoors at a shooting range. Sweeping thoroughly before shooting MAY help; however, the easiest fix is to go to Target/Home Depot/etc. and buy yourself a $5.00 doormat. Specifically, one that has good grippy rubber on at least one side, it really doesn't matter which. I've been using one that is carpeted on one side. I place the carpet side down with only about 1/3 sticking out from underneath my shooting mat in the front. The 2/3 that is underneath the mat with me and the rifle/spotting scope/etc. on top of it is more than enough to keep it in place when loading the bipod. I have used this setup on dirt, gravel, grass, and very smooth concrete, and it seems to work pretty well on all of them.

 

[Bradu]

With all due respect, I highly doubt that. I've shot my Atlases (2) off the hood of my car in rain and they didn't slip before taking the play out. It takes hardly any loading to take the play out of the Atlas legs. Maybe a picture of this crazy slick concrete would help.

I guess I must be making it up since you have never had that issue.

 

[Temp9]

More that I'm curious as to how much pressure it takes for you to load the bipod. I don't doubt that you're on a low friction surface, but the Atlas legs generally can flop back and forth from little more than gravity. If that is too much of a load, than you most definitely need to be shooting on a large mat. Either that, or different feet.

 

[lennyo3034]

I ended up ordering the mat from midway while it was on sale. Concrete I shoot on is actually quite rough, but this rifle likes a LOT of pre-load. The atlas has plenty of traction for shooting off the ground.

 

[gstaylorg]

... but this rifle likes a LOT of pre-load...

I'm in the same boat; I like to load the bipod pretty hard and have had very good success in F-T/R competitions doing so. Everyone has their preferred method, but if you like to load the bipod pretty hard, the surface you're working with becomes an important consideration. The shooting mat I prefer doesn't have rubber grip pads that go all the way to the front edge, so if I put the bipod feet on those, I'm hanging halfway off the back of the mat. The doormat solution solved that issue very nicely.

 

[blair]

Unbrushed concrete can be extremely slick if it has some dust on it, which is not uncommon outdoors at a shooting range. Sweeping thoroughly before shooting MAY help; however, the easiest fix is to go to Target/Home Depot/etc. and buy yourself a $5.00 doormat. Specifically, one that has good grippy rubber on at least one side, it really doesn't matter which. I've been using one that is carpeted on one side. I place the carpet side down with only about 1/3 sticking out from underneath my shooting mat in the front. The 2/3 that is underneath the mat with me and the rifle/spotting scope/etc. on top of it is more than enough to keep it in place when loading the bipod. I have used this setup on dirt, gravel, grass, and very smooth concrete, and it seems to work pretty well on all of them.

Nice adjustments !

 

[KillShot]

If you keep having issues with the bipod legs rolling forward, get you a set of the spike feet.