In the process of finishing off a rifle for my son, I contended with the need to buy yet another bipod system. The choice fell between two regular favorites and a new possibility. The two favorites were Harris and Atlas and the new possibility was working with the accessory rail system that comes with a Badger EFR. The upshot is, as this is truly a heavy rifle, I ended up with a new Harris bipod system modified by Phoenix Tactical (PT). What I got was a rock solid bipod with swappable feet, a new tension system and their fully adjustable “notch” system that allows for intermediate adjustments (and no rotation!) between the factory notches. That’s right, the speed of a notched system and the flexibility and adjustability of slip rod. What I did not get was the preload forward 30 degree settings, nor cant/tilt of the Atlas. You can find them like I did, on the web here. http://www.phoenixtactical.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1. Don't know them, never met them, paid full price and this is not cheap.
Why not the Atlas? I own the V8, like it for light rifles. I’ll say it, looser under heavy loads and perhaps more general movement than I grew up shooting with. No matter how hard I go to lock-up it up, it moves more than I like. I won’t knock it here as many love the new units, a good system in all other regards and perfect for gas guns and a majority of rifles. The EFR project (CAA single point QD legs) worked but I need to mill the rail base to lower the distance off bore. I’ll throw some shots up at the end of this for those interested.
The Harris S BRM and the Phoenix Tactical Pod Claw system is as nice as it gets for materials, thoughtful design and construction. Add to that the Big Knob intermediate lock-up and “rotation killer” and the Harris is reborn. The SARG bipod tension knob solves the “fall off” and odd lock-up feature of the typical lever swing. For those that use the Harris “S” it is all the goodness, less of the bad and some real improvement. Everything arrived completely assembled, in great shape and under a week.
The SARG is an all metal, properly finished and wholly accessible knob system. Low drag and excellent clearance and cannot fall off. Nothing mysterious, just good solid purchase and high torque.
This is where it starts to get interesting. Here we see essentially three new PT Harris capabilities. The first is to be seen at the top of the shaft. The large knobs provide for intermediate lock-up between notches. The notch release button can be seen just under the knob. Any position can be held and, when locked down, the lower leg shaft cannot rotate. The second is two of the feet PT offers. Their medium claw is mounted on speed couplings that, if one wants to buy the whole coupling assembly again, can swap out in seconds. Lastly is the non slip sled feet seen to the side. Either works well in sand, loose soil…both will work on a cruiser trunk/hood but only one will make others happy.
It should be noted that PT goes to some length insure that the medium claws cannot reach the barrel. The claws will pick up just about anything that it is dragged through so PT provides a nicely designed and well made bag that anchors to the Harris sling stud, etc.
A couple of the EFR rail mounting pics. Nice “at bore axis level” and allowed for keeping the belly of the forearm open (bag shooter). I need to shave the rail bases down to get the legs closed to the forearm at the closed position. Solid, fast decoupling (2 seconds) and the new heads allow for rear and forward 30 degree pitch. No intermediate lock-up and no pan/tilt. These are all steel units, nicely made. It was dependant on the robust mounting of the EFR to the stock to account for the additional forces of bipod use. It requires the purchase of an additional EFR rail (they have to be rotated as they are not drilled to center) and a set of single point rail legs. The use of CAA legs made it all come together nicely. Very stable, but did not have the intermediate adjustment of the PT system nor the 30 cant of the Atlas. It also did not allow for cant or pan. Maybe next time round.
Why not the Atlas? I own the V8, like it for light rifles. I’ll say it, looser under heavy loads and perhaps more general movement than I grew up shooting with. No matter how hard I go to lock-up it up, it moves more than I like. I won’t knock it here as many love the new units, a good system in all other regards and perfect for gas guns and a majority of rifles. The EFR project (CAA single point QD legs) worked but I need to mill the rail base to lower the distance off bore. I’ll throw some shots up at the end of this for those interested.
The Harris S BRM and the Phoenix Tactical Pod Claw system is as nice as it gets for materials, thoughtful design and construction. Add to that the Big Knob intermediate lock-up and “rotation killer” and the Harris is reborn. The SARG bipod tension knob solves the “fall off” and odd lock-up feature of the typical lever swing. For those that use the Harris “S” it is all the goodness, less of the bad and some real improvement. Everything arrived completely assembled, in great shape and under a week.
The SARG is an all metal, properly finished and wholly accessible knob system. Low drag and excellent clearance and cannot fall off. Nothing mysterious, just good solid purchase and high torque.
This is where it starts to get interesting. Here we see essentially three new PT Harris capabilities. The first is to be seen at the top of the shaft. The large knobs provide for intermediate lock-up between notches. The notch release button can be seen just under the knob. Any position can be held and, when locked down, the lower leg shaft cannot rotate. The second is two of the feet PT offers. Their medium claw is mounted on speed couplings that, if one wants to buy the whole coupling assembly again, can swap out in seconds. Lastly is the non slip sled feet seen to the side. Either works well in sand, loose soil…both will work on a cruiser trunk/hood but only one will make others happy.
It should be noted that PT goes to some length insure that the medium claws cannot reach the barrel. The claws will pick up just about anything that it is dragged through so PT provides a nicely designed and well made bag that anchors to the Harris sling stud, etc.
A couple of the EFR rail mounting pics. Nice “at bore axis level” and allowed for keeping the belly of the forearm open (bag shooter). I need to shave the rail bases down to get the legs closed to the forearm at the closed position. Solid, fast decoupling (2 seconds) and the new heads allow for rear and forward 30 degree pitch. No intermediate lock-up and no pan/tilt. These are all steel units, nicely made. It was dependant on the robust mounting of the EFR to the stock to account for the additional forces of bipod use. It requires the purchase of an additional EFR rail (they have to be rotated as they are not drilled to center) and a set of single point rail legs. The use of CAA legs made it all come together nicely. Very stable, but did not have the intermediate adjustment of the PT system nor the 30 cant of the Atlas. It also did not allow for cant or pan. Maybe next time round.
