Bipods

Casey_H

Casey_H

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Apr 24, 2019
    129
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    San Marcos TX
    #1
    @Lowlight and Marc have talked a lot recently about the importance of a good bipod. Not knowing any better I kinda scoffed at it, thinking it couldn't possibly make a HUGE difference.

    Well this past week I ditched my $30 Amazon (Harris style) bipod and got an Atlas BT10. Turns out they were right lol.

    My groups shrunk by almost half on paper at 100 and 200 yards. So thanks guys.
    7085453
     
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    #3
    I totally agree. I took @Lowlight review of the Elite Iron to heart and moved from the ATLAS 5H to that and was amazed at the stability improvement on my AI AT. Elite Iron's spigot mount is rock solid along with the improvement when placing the Bipod's fulcrum point above the barrel.
     
    #5
    I completely understand the mindset to scuff at this, I did a bit of it as well, while using a better bipod. (I basically retired the Harris once the Atlas arrived)

    But moving from an Atlas or Harris to a wider more stable bipod like the Elite Iron is very noticeable in your groups. We use it now to demonstrate during class.


    You will notice a difference going from an Atlas to a CAL or now the Thunderbeast, we are using that bipod too and the Podloc on either of these makes a noticeable difference in stability and preventing CANT.
     
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    #7
    Frank what are your thoughts on being able to slide an Atlas on a dovetail, vs the fixed spigot position of the elite iron or others of similar configs?
     
    Last edited:
    #9
    I really was blown away by the difference. Now at this point I don't think I have the setup to really make the most of an Elite Iron shooting a factory 20" 308 Rem700. Especially since my range only goes to 200 yards. But when I start shooting farther I definitely want to look at going in that direction.
     
    #10
    There's also something to be said about the confidence boost for a new shooter like me. I was starting to think I couldn't do better than 1moa groups with my gun, so I've declined opportunities to shoot further distances so as not to make a fool of myself. Now I feel like I could try stretching my skills out a little further.
     
    #12
    My recommendation,

    If size matters,

    Atlas CAL
    TBAC Bipod

    If size is not the issue, Elite Iron, you can do the AL one for less and it's not super heavy just wide stance wise.


    This is not new, look at the Elite Iron Bipod and the TRG 22 Bipod

    TRG
    0A25F2DF7DEE472F53D97D5557C39084F04BB5A4.jpg


    Almost the same as the EL and the TRG goes back a lot of years ago. They were $450 originally.

    A_72DPI_Elite_Iron_Panning_Bipod_Callouts_RGB_IMG_2358.jpg
     
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    #14
    Can anyone comment on the pluses, minuses of Atlas vs. Thunderbeast? I'm looking at stepping up my bipod game, but now there's several premium choices and I have no idea what matters on these.
     
    #15
    Bipods definitely matter. I tried to the Elite Iron after listening to the podcast. Great for what it is, but too big for my style of shooting. I've switched to the Atlas CAL and I'm not looking back. Shot some of the best groups of my life with that Elite Iron though. Great info Frank!
     
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    #16
    Of the Atlas Cal and the TBAC does anyone have the two together?
    If so a few pics side by side?
    I am curious as to the width of each bipod at the leg pivots.
    Love to see a pic of each just like the EI and TRG above that Frank posted! Of course mounting options and placement will have an effect on where the triangle ends up.
     
    #17
    Triangle vs Concave Pentagon. Simple architectural integrity and geometry is all it takes. Also, giggling at F-Class didn't help. These paper weights are starting to add up these last 10-15 years.
     
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    #18
    #27
    Rover31 said:
    No love for the Ckye Pod? Or not stable for what is discussed here?
    It is more of a gaming bipod. That said I do find it very stable with the legs set wide.
    Click to expand...

    It's another great bipod. I find the Ckye-pod to be very stable, in fact I shot my best 5 shot group ever with it, shooting off of concrete:

    qXkCUmL.jpg


    The Ckye-pod can be setup to have a very wide footprint, stability is not an issue.
     
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    #31
    kthomas said:
    @PracticalTactical there's some good bipod talk in here. Thought I would bring this to your attention as I know in the past you haven't seen the value in high dollar/quality bipods.
    Click to expand...

    You mistake my views KT.

    It's not that I don't see value in high end products. I just don't see value in them for everybody.

    So often guys flat out criticize anything Chinese on the basis that its Chinese... but that in no way detracts from its function in a practical sense.

    My problem is that I have not yet seen a bipod made at any price that does what I think a bipod should be able to do, and do it well.... And I'll leave it at that to avoid ruffling feathers and starting an argument with status quo fan boys.

    So in my view I don't see what makes cheap unacceptable when expensive is not good enough (yet) either.

    And I wont be played by the patriotism card and pay a premium just because it's made in the USA... since I'm Canadian.
     
    #32
    PracticalTactical said:
    You mistake my views KT.

    It's not that I don't see value in high end products. I just don't see value in them for everybody.

    So often guys flat out criticize anything Chinese on the basis that its Chinese... but that in no way detracts from its function in a practical sense.

    My problem is that I have not yet seen a bipod made at any price that does what I think a bipod should be able to do, and do it well.... And I'll leave it at that to avoid ruffling feathers and starting an argument with status quo fan boys.

    So in my view I don't see what makes cheap unacceptable when expensive is not good enough (yet) either.

    And I wont be played by the patriotism card and pay a premium just because it's made in the USA... since I'm Canadian.
    Click to expand...


    You clealry have not been exposed to enough CHEAP to see how often tney actually break

    On top of that, the knock off stuff is stealing from US companies that design it

    but I get your point, you dont see value in spending quality money you would rather do it more often for less money each time vs doing it right the first time

    When you see a chinese bipod break on the line, you'll get it

    high end don't break, you may need more than one to suit the situation, but they dont break
     
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    #33
    Harris-broke a few, nothing special as they’re totally useable but not optimal.
    Once you try something better you quickly see how lackluster they are.

    Magpul-actually like it on my AR coyote rifle
    but it sucks on bigger rifles.
    If the pivot was lower it could be a lot better

    Atlas B-10, PSR and CAL-Cal is my favorite of the bunch, it’s stable, simple and not overly bulky.

    Elite iron-pretty damn awesome.
    loads of stability and extension
    I was really surprised at how wide the footprint was and it’s compactness when folded up.

    The CAL and elite iron cover everything for me at this point.
     
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    #34
    lowlight said:
    You clealry have not been exposed to enough CHEAP to see how often tney actually break

    On top of that, the knock off stuff is stealing from US companies that design it

    but I get your point, you dont see value in spending quality money you would rather do it more often for less money each time vs doing it right the first time

    When you see a chinese bipod break on the line, you'll get it

    high end don't break, you may need more than one to suit the situation, but they dont break
    Click to expand...

    Any mechanical thing can break, but you also seem to miss my point.

    Not everyone can justify spending upwards of $300 on a bipod for every rifle they own.

    Aside from that, the mere act of spending more does not make it more appropriate.

    A simple example is a Harris with the fast flip legs compared to an Atlas. You could argue the Atlas is "better" but is it well suited to every situation given the time it takes to depress the button to retract the legs?

    For you, maybe, but it's not fair to project that onto everyone for every application.

    I have at least a dozen bipods from Harris to Atlas and even a bunch of cheap Chinese versions (not to mention the ones I've made LOL) and not one has failed me in 40 + years of shooting.

    If some guy has a bipod fail, the whole internet will hear about it, but that doesn't mean we should all throw away every "cheap" bipod.

    Scopes are another favorite... Guys love their high end scopes but at the world F Class match in Ottawa a couple years ago, there was hardly a brand there that didn't have a scope fail. Including Nightforce and Schmidt & Bender.
     
    #36
    All that writing to describe a lacl of experience and to say, "I am one person who has not seen it in 40 years" so it must not happen then cause you never seen it

    Now you have seen it

    SH_Image_-7.jpg


    Happened in the middle of a SHC match in Colville

    Same with this one, different year, same match

    SH_Image_-8.jpg


    I can show you move, I might have my Broken TRG bipiod here still, those are $460 and it broke, so yes more money can be just as bad, but that is more about SAKO charging more for their accessories than people actually using that bipod aftermarket.
     
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    #37
    There's plenty of Harris's that have failed.

    My friend snapped his right at the mount in the middle of a stage at a PRS match in Meaford. He didn't score very well in that stage, at least it was the last one of the match...
     
    #44
    lowlight said:
    Regard: LRA Bipods

    I had seen they are still around,

    it was said they stopped commercial sales, etc, but I have no idea, they were always hard to get,

    their smaller models are great, but finding one is the issue

    Not sure where they are now
    Click to expand...

    From what I have heard they had a big internal re-org and are now taking pre-orders to ship "soon". No real product catalog or website though as of yet.
     
    #46
    It’s pathetic how guys insist on twisting my point? I never said Chinese bipods can’t break… I said any bipod can break just as any scope can break.

    Lowlight posts pictures of broken bipods, like that is somehow relevant. It only supports the point that any bipod can break.

    Any mechanical devise can break regardless of brand if subjected to enough abuse and sometimes even without abuse.

    I’m sure somewhere out there are pictures where someone broke your favorite bipod…. Probably doing something stupid.

    I can post pictures of a broken 40 ton overhead crane that I had fixed a few months ago… So what.

    If you don’t abuse your stuff it tends to last. If you neglect it and beat on it and use it in ways you shouldn’t, you can break anything.
     
    #48
    The cheap Chinese made bipods will break much more often then their counterparts that they are knocking off. Harris' break more then other bipods, they are made of stamped metal so that's not a surprise.

    .mil somehow got their hands on counterfeit Atlas bipods, and broke EVERY SINGLE one of them. Just ask @Kasey

    If you think a quality bipod is not much more durable and better built then the cheap Chinese knock-offs, then you don't understand quality.

    The Chinese stuff is junk.
     
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    #49
    Your $, so you choose your experience.

    For higher dollar, travel, etc. ventures... you have redundancy in rifles, glass, accessories. Stupid to drive a day, pay for hotel, and end up with a situation where your equipment is damaged/fails and your day is done (sometimes can borrow gear). Better to start with quality gear and have some kind of backup.

    Not going cheap again as it just isn't worth it. Best case scenario, your cheap stuff fails on an easy range day. Sadly, you don't get to choose the time or place of the failure.

    In terms of bipods, if Frank is correct in groups shrinking significantly in comparison, $300+ for something you'll own/use for years is a great ROI for what you get in terms of increase accuracy.

    If I guaranteed to shrink your groups by 25% by using a $400 product that added nothing in weight to your setup, most guys would probably buy it. Frank is just saying it's your bipod that's the product.
     
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