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Best $100-ish bipod
- Thread starter Overkillphil
- Start date
Spife I didn't know that either. Must have missed it in the directions that I didn't read lol Now if the legs could just tilt at different degrees it be awesome!
Thank you Jake for taking the time to post those pics. That is helpful and I understand now.
I've seen that 'out-of-square' term mentioned before with the Harris bipods but I was unsure exactly which angles were the cause of the issue.
Ditto..
I've tried several others and just go back to my Harris.
I run the Harris, notched legs, swivel head on my primary PRS rifle. I put an arca mount on it so its quick detach and slides/adjusts the entire length of my handguard. I have quite simply never needed anything else.
Cripes, I really paid a premium for the no dye cal I guess... I thought I read on here that they were the same price as the normals... guess not and my dumb ass didnt check it before mashing the buy button. Oh well, pissed off but no one to blame but myself.
So 280 for a gross v8 -170 for harris plus rrs=110 in savings.
A psr from 419 would be 320-170=150 in savings.
A cal from 419 would be 300-170=130 in savings.
A harris with 419 is 200.
Personally though I like the rrs adaptor so I can use it on both mounting systems.
CAL from atlas is 240 plus 70 for rrs adaptor=310
I dont really see a difference in results with the cal and the harris. I have both and use both and like both. I like my atlas less now knowing that I overpaid for vanity alone.
So 280 for a gross v8 -170 for harris plus rrs=110 in savings.
A psr from 419 would be 320-170=150 in savings.
A cal from 419 would be 300-170=130 in savings.
A harris with 419 is 200.
Personally though I like the rrs adaptor so I can use it on both mounting systems.
CAL from atlas is 240 plus 70 for rrs adaptor=310
I dont really see a difference in results with the cal and the harris. I have both and use both and like both. I like my atlas less now knowing that I overpaid for vanity alone.
My Harris is going on 20 years old at this point. I've upgraded it over the years and it has an ARMS picatini adapter, Hawk Hill spiked feed, and a T Nuts lever. I think I shot with it for five years at least before upgrading to the ARMS mount. I put the T Nuts lever on it in 2006 or 2007. Atlad bipods weren't around when I originally bought the Harris. I still use it frequently despite owning other bipods.
You guys are lying. Didn't you read this thread? No one can shoot accurately with a Harris. It's better to shoot off a dead dog if you can't afford an Atlas! Lol
I disliked the original Atlas and stuck with the Harris. I shot off a friend's a few weeks ago and was reminded why I never bought one. I have a TBAC bipod and don't like it that much either (still better than the Atlas). I have been assured that I don't know anything about anything as a result. Do you know how much it hurts knowing what a terrible person I am?
So next week I'll take a rifle or two to the range, pan a Harris bipod so its legs aren't "square" to the bore, and let it free-recoil a few inches. Then repeat with "squared" legs. Then repeat with an Atlas. Will be interesting to see whether the rifle jumps to one side or the other.
O, the permutations this could take... maybe add a few ounces of weight to one leg of a "squared" bipod and see whether the rifle jumps to one side.... o, naw, no need because there is ALWAYS the EXACT same amount of pressure on both legs of a bipod at each shot on a timed stage....
O, the permutations this could take... maybe add a few ounces of weight to one leg of a "squared" bipod and see whether the rifle jumps to one side.... o, naw, no need because there is ALWAYS the EXACT same amount of pressure on both legs of a bipod at each shot on a timed stage....
Haha.. maybe?
Nah, my last name's Hymer.. the whole hymen thing did come up once or twice in Jr. High School once we all learned about it in biology.
If that question is for me, I'm into my arca adapter for about peanuts.
I own a lot of rifles with the sling stud adapters for the Harris, and didnt want to make a permanent head swap. So I got on Ebay and bought a couple little sling stud adapters and a couple arca clamps and made a pair of arca adapters. I drilled and tapped the arca clamp and attached the stud adapter to the bottom. I spent less than $20 for the pair of them.
Which goes to the point of this whole thread. You dont have to spend a metric crap ton of money for top of the line everything to get stuff that works.
Here it is on my 223 trainer if you want to zoom in on it.
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Just a reminder to get the thread back on track. This is what the OP and his friend are looking for. Not $300+ options. Harris and Magpul are his best two choices in this price range. Now it's up to him to decide.
Take a look at Leapers UTG. I have one of the 2 piece mlok bipods, and one of the TL-BP99Q with the qd mount. The TL-BP99Q comes with an adapter to adapt your swivel stud to a pic rail. It also has legs that don’t spin, unlike the harris.
Not popular on this site and not made in USA, but for $65 they’re all metal and very stable. No tilt/cant though.
I’m much happier with these than the Magpul. The bipod is the only product of theirs I’ve been disappointed in. I used a friend’s and it felt like the gun was wobbling all over the place.
The harris knockoffs from caldwell, etc. are junk build quality. The Harris itself is hard to lock down as it comes. I’ve had the bipod stud screw, and the cant screw both loosen up on me while shooting.
My Atlas CAL is a marvel of modern manufacturing, but under $300 I’ve had the best luck with the Leapers UTG bipods.
Not popular on this site and not made in USA, but for $65 they’re all metal and very stable. No tilt/cant though.
I’m much happier with these than the Magpul. The bipod is the only product of theirs I’ve been disappointed in. I used a friend’s and it felt like the gun was wobbling all over the place.
The harris knockoffs from caldwell, etc. are junk build quality. The Harris itself is hard to lock down as it comes. I’ve had the bipod stud screw, and the cant screw both loosen up on me while shooting.
My Atlas CAL is a marvel of modern manufacturing, but under $300 I’ve had the best luck with the Leapers UTG bipods.
If just one of the people dogging on Harris would simply send him theirs... that they have gathering dust on a shelf... that they wouldn't been seen in public with....the problem would be solved. No need to post a return address in fear of people knowing you got a Harris...just send the man a Bipod.
Now...back to the discussion of why you gotta have a ZCO 4-27 or better on a 22lr squirrel gun.
Man I wish I would have seen this post three days ago. I just bought the $90 Harris arca clamp from MPA and installed it today. It nice but I’m stealing your idea for my next one!
So it's still $180... it's not exactly cheap and at that price I'd rather have a Atlas.
Currently on Midway for $70.
Is it an Atlas? Nope.
Is it the same quality as an Atlas? Nope.
Will it do 70% of the things an Atlas does? Maybe. 80%? I dunno.
Will it work as a reasonably stable and reasonably durable rest for someone shooting in their free time and just getting into the hobby to learn what they need, what they want and how things work? Maybe so... then in a few months or a year or two, maybe they decide they need something a bit more durable/solid/flexible, etc. Everyone's definition of reasonable is different. Instead, may here just want to ridicule someone not willing to jump in and commit their kids' college funds to building the ultimate rifle before they even know if they have the ability to learn, the time and energy to get better etc.
For God's sake... if you don't want to participate in the community for any reason other than to mock people who aren't 'operators' like you, then there's something seriously wrong - and not with them.
Just sayin'.
If you want the shooting community to fade into obscurity and eventually be legislated out of existence or into nothing more than .177 caliber air rifle paper punching in the Olympics... this is how you go about it. Running off new shooters instead of supporting them and helping them learn as they go.
Good luck.
^^^^ THIS.
About ten years ago, a club where I shot a lot of skeet did a little weekly IDPA-style competition on a weekday evening. I took my teenage son to one of the matches, telling him hey, this is something new to both of us so we can learn together. I had a Sig 226 in a nylon holster, a couple of magazines, and a few hundred handloads (and eyes&ears of course).
Short version, the MD and the 15-20 people at this match were hemorrhoidal assholes. Perfect fucktards who made it very clear that neither I nor my son were up to their "standards" and the MD had no interest whatsoever in talking to us, let alone bringing a couple of new shooters into the fold.
It wasn't long after that... well, there was an "issue..." and the whole lot of their sorry asses were booted off the range and the competition ended forever. If I hadn't already had competition experience in another discipline, I would have assumed that everyone who shot competitively was like that.
Thankfully, the vast majority aren't.
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I recall an experience from a number of years ago where a young man went to an event to meet some of his 'idols' in the hobby he was interested in. The people he was looking up to blew him off and treated him like absolute shit. So he went home devastated. He lived with his grandmother who owned a successful business and she got awfully pissed about the whole situation. Next thing the world knew, they had invested over $100k over the next several years and erupted onto the scene in this field of competition and replaced a bunch of those previous 'champions', setting a number of world records and changing the face of the competition field for many years to come, with significant influence with multiple manufacturers with billions of dollars worth of sales every year.
They were quite an inspiring and down to earth pair, and I was very lucky to have met them and learned a little from them about the field, but a lot MORE about life and the 'little' people and so-called 'newbies'.
'Granny' is gone now, but the grandson is still out there, and the field has never been the same.
They were quite an inspiring and down to earth pair, and I was very lucky to have met them and learned a little from them about the field, but a lot MORE about life and the 'little' people and so-called 'newbies'.
'Granny' is gone now, but the grandson is still out there, and the field has never been the same.
I guess I am looking at it from the perspective of this sport I’d expensive and frustrating as a beginner.
Bad equipment makes it even more so. If I am spending $100 I’d rather spend $175-$200 on
an Atlas an not worry about it.
ive had some budget gear and it was bad news, Ioff brand Harris list a foot in the field and I broke a leg on an evolution bipod. Both of these cost me my afternoon at a match so I didn’t actually save any money after lost entertainment fees and the hassle of sent them back.
plus you’re support a company supporting us. I am not trying to be an elite operator or budget shame any one. I like to know when i miss it’s on me and sit out a match bc of failed equipment.
Bad equipment makes it even more so. If I am spending $100 I’d rather spend $175-$200 on
an Atlas an not worry about it.
ive had some budget gear and it was bad news, Ioff brand Harris list a foot in the field and I broke a leg on an evolution bipod. Both of these cost me my afternoon at a match so I didn’t actually save any money after lost entertainment fees and the hassle of sent them back.
plus you’re support a company supporting us. I am not trying to be an elite operator or budget shame any one. I like to know when i miss it’s on me and sit out a match bc of failed equipment.
Big assumptions that you can't hit something or do well with a $100 bipod. About half the PRS and NRL would probably disagree.
And bipods breaking is not a common occurrence.
And bipods breaking is not a common occurrence.
Rob,
I am not saying you can't make hits. I think I shot a match with you at Mayberry and you seem like a nice enough guy. I am not looking to pick a fight with you on this...
Can you make hits = Absolutely, in fact you do even need a bipod most of the time to do so in PRS.
Can you break a cheap on = Absolutely, I've done it twice.
To answer OP's question the best 100 $ bipod is probably a plain jane Harris or Magpul. Personally, I would not buy either.
I am not saying you can't make hits. I think I shot a match with you at Mayberry and you seem like a nice enough guy. I am not looking to pick a fight with you on this...
Can you make hits = Absolutely, in fact you do even need a bipod most of the time to do so in PRS.
Can you break a cheap on = Absolutely, I've done it twice.
To answer OP's question the best 100 $ bipod is probably a plain jane Harris or Magpul. Personally, I would not buy either.
Isnt an Evolution bipod more expensive than most of the Atlas flavors? Not giving you shit, but anything can and will break regardless of price.
One thing I was looking into or aiming to ask on this here forumb was what bipod I outta save my pennies to buy. I've got my father's 40 year old Harris on my M21 until I decide to possibly upgrade (free hand me downs are the best price), and have been leaning towards an Atlas for general work. The more I read on them both, the more uncertain I am about spending big money on something new.
Are Harris THAT bad? I like mine. Is Atlas going to provide THAT much performance for the big increase in price? If so, which model is best for me?
Are Harris THAT bad? I like mine. Is Atlas going to provide THAT much performance for the big increase in price? If so, which model is best for me?
NO. THEY ARE NOT "THAT BAD."
Then for crying out loud USE IT.
You're new to SH. Welcome. There is an incredible wealth of information here. There is also a wealth of strong opinion here. Do not let those opinions dominate your thought process. I'd recommend you do a lot of reading and come to your own conclusions taking into due consideration your own experience and preferences - which will change over time.
There's no doubt that an Atlas will be more solid than a Harris if the Harris is hung off a sling swivel and the Harris cant knob isn't tightened with a freaking pair of pliers. I have both Harris and Atlas bipods. Both are equipped with Pod-Loc and RRS ARCA rail clamps. Total price for the Harris was $100 less than the Atlas, both equipped the same way. I'd argue that the Atlas is not $100 better than the Harris; in fact, I'd say they are remarkably close when configured the same way.
I'm old & slow, arguably too puny - and dang sure too cheap - to punish my gear the way some younger, stronger competitors might. I can't say whether an Atlas will take more abuse than a Harris before it actually fails, but Harris has been fine for me. I like both brands and have use cases for each.
What was the name of that tripod mount from around 05 or 06 that had the levers or whatever and looked like a suspension bridge?
I appreciate everyone that's actually answering my question instead of trying to flame or gear shame. Let me clarify who my friend is, and what he'll be doing. He's a disabled combat veteran that's on a fixed income, and has two young kids. He's trying to get into hunting and long range shooting for the first time since his disabling injury occurred (Desert Storm). He walks with the assistance of canes, so competitions that involve running and/or standing to shoot aren't in his realm do "doable". His budget is tight, and he'll never spend $200+ on a bipod, even if he saved up. He'd rather spend the money on his kids... ***This is not to draw pity for him, just to simply explain his situation***
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PM me his address, have a spare Harris bipod he can have.
I was sitting at my desk (home office) on a work conference call and dicking around with one of my Harris bipods (BRM-S in a Larue QD). Just opening and closing the legs...basically just screwing around because I was bored. Went to close the leg and caught the tip of my index finger in the mechanism. That SOB closed up and bit right into the fingertip. Thats about the exact moment when somebody decides to ask me a question. So there I am, bleeding all over my desk and trying very hard to answer this question coherently and not sound like I have my finger trapped in a bipod. Not my finest moment...
Fence post adapters with ball heads are all the rage now. About 10 years ago my 308 went from shooting 8" plates at 1000 yards to not being able to hit anything...and not even seeing the splash. I thought it was time for a barrel change and then I was educated on the fact that a 308 simply can't hit anything any more. It's like I never received the recall notice or something. Oh well...it was fun while it lasted.
Can't give me an Atlas, been down that rabbit hole multiple times and every time I find more I don't like about them. At first it was just the stiffness of the tilt/pan on my originals and then noodle like bendy legs and slow deployment and adjustments. I gave it another go in 2018 and ordered a few and all the RRS and Hawk Hill goodies and then found out I hate the panning feature entirely because it works against you and tries to tilt the rifle in the opposite direction when you're panned around and loading into it at all. I've been tempted to try a CAL but I already know the slow deploying bendy legs are still going to drive me nuts even if it doesn't have a stupid panning feature to fight.
IMO the first bipod that I like everything about besides the Harris is the new TBAC. There are a lot that are better than an Atlas though IMO.
