Harris bipod

Klemm

Online Training Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 23, 2013
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After listening to a couple podcasts and hearing on the hide how the Harris bipod is the lowest common denominator, I decided to check out my two Harris bi pods one is the 6 x 9 the other is the 9 x 13 believe. The 6 x 9 is .300 +\- to the right and the 9 x 13 is .700+ or minus to the left of center line for the rifle. I was kind of shocked I was kind of shocked. But I now realize why my Rifle bounces to the right when fired. Interestingly not my Percision heavy rifles, but my light weight hunting rifles.
 
The bipod‘s are square ( perpendicular )to the centerline of the rifle ,measured with a square. When I drop a plumbob down from the centerline of the barrel, plumbob is .700 to the left of the centerline with the tall bipod And .300 with the Short bipod. Tried this with a Remington hunting stock, and 2 McMillan a5, exact same discrepancy.
 
The bipod‘s are square ( perpendicular )to the centerline of the rifle ,measured with a square. When I drop a plumbob down from the centerline of the barrel, plumbob is .700 to the left of the centerline with the tall bipod And .300 to the right with the Short bipod. Tried this with a Remington hunting stock, and 2 McMillan a5, exact same discrepancy.
 
No Harris is square,

If you have a Harris that is actually square to the rifle, it was an accident

Harris suck and cause more problems than people realize,

The Bipod, when you look at how we shoot today, is an important piece of the puzzle, if you cut corners because you think it don’t matter, you have no idea

Look up a 20 MOA base, .11” of an inch gives you 20 Inches of elevation at 100 yards.
 
Not trying to be controversial but I honestly don't understand... why are we getting wrapped up over minute dimensions of Harris bipods????

If the Harris model cants what's the big deal? The only time you're shooting on a perfectly level surface is maybe a poured concrete floor at the range or off a bench.

I haven't listened to the podcast but will try to find it tonight to understand more. $400 bipods are out of budget and Harris is all I've ever used. I'm probably stuck in the past but trying to learn new technology. Shooting off of a ruck pack worked fine prior to the Harris, lol.
 
I noticed that with my nonswivel bipod when trying to level my scope on the table and then shooting it offhand and seeing a slightly always canted reticle. And I fixed it by getting the swivel model and now I can level it out myself. I use the nonswivel for the hunting rifles where I’ll never actually notice it beyond sitting at the bench.
 
Not trying to be controversial but I honestly don't understand... why are we getting wrapped up over minute dimensions of Harris bipods????

If the Harris model cants what's the big deal? The only time you're shooting on a perfectly level surface is maybe a poured concrete floor at the range or off a bench.

I haven't listened to the podcast but will try to find it tonight to understand more. $400 bipods are out of budget and Harris is all I've ever used. I'm probably stuck in the past but trying to learn new technology. Shooting off of a ruck pack worked fine prior to the Harris, lol.


Ignorance is bliss,

If you don't know, you don't know, the Bipod matters, the recoil pulse is impacted by the way the bipod forces the bipod to move, out of square is worse because it throws your rifle off, which means you have to zero it to this bad movement

If you don't understand try reading more and commenting less, because a bipod matters

Shooting off a ruck for limited shots, and it wasn't fine, it was field expedient, the more you shoot the more the pack moves and gets knocked out of shape. for important shots, we created a solid tripod with our tent poles, vs the ruck.

yes you are stuck in 1978 if you don't mind the rest of us would like to live in the present

We have $400 bipods that sell every day because they work.
 
Ignorance is bliss,

If you don't know, you don't know, the Bipod matters, the recoil pulse is impacted by the way the bipod forces the bipod to move, out of square is worse because it throws your rifle off, which means you have to zero it to this bad movement

If you don't understand try reading more and commenting less, because a bipod matters

Shooting off a ruck for limited shots, and it wasn't fine, it was field expedient, the more you shoot the more the pack moves and gets knocked out of shape. for important shots, we created a solid tripod with our tent poles, vs the ruck.

yes you are stuck in 1978 if you don't mind the rest of us would like to live in the present

We have $400 bipods that sell every day because they work.

What bipod(s), and which mount(s), do you like best? Thanks.
ETA: I saw the SH video, but it's from Oct. 2016.
 
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Watch a 10 lb rifle from the side being shot off a Harris and then an Atlas. The shot of the Harris will make the barrel look like a tuning fork feels compared to the Atlas. Get in the 15 lb range and the vibration is less, but still there.
 
Watch a 10 lb rifle from the side being shot off a Harris and then an Atlas. The shot of the Harris will make the barrel look like a tuning fork feels compared to the Atlas. Get in the 15 lb range and the vibration is less, but still there.

Would be interesting to see a video demonstrating this.

I'm an admitted "don't-know-any-better" Harris bipod user. For some context.... I'm still learning... My rifle is a RPR 6.5CM with a Vortex Viper HST scope. A budget rig. I've already done some upgrades, like a Timney trigger. I'll likely be rebarreling it in the foreseeable future (eyeballing a Krieger). I'm mostly a hobby shooter. I've done 2 F-class matches - for fun, really... and an opportunity to shoot at a 600 yard range.

At my 2nd match ever, out of 8 in the F-Class Open category, I placed 6th. :) I beat two of them! Ha! One was classified "Expert" and the other a "Master." I was unclassified. And, they ALL had WAY nicer rigs than me. My RPR with a Harris and a rear squeeze bag! Scored a 578-21X.

But, I'm willing to learn. If there is any resource / thread here that explains the benefits of a high-end bipod, please link me! I'm also subscribed to the Online Training, but I don't recall seeing anything on this... I'll look again. Edit to add.... found the Online Training thread on bipods. I had seen it before. Just read it again.

Thanks!
 
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I used to be one of those dudes who was like “why the fuck would you ever spend $300 on a bipod when an HBRMS is $100 and works?!!!?!?” ...and then I used a PSR and now I own a CAL. I still have an HBRMS but it just sits on a spare rifle. I’ll eventually get a TBAC to try out but the CAL is where it’s at and worth the cash.
 
I moved from a Harris to a TBAC. Night and day difference in spotting shots, staying on target, having a stable base, etc. I don't even want to put a Harris on my hunting rifle now.

If a TBAC is out of your price range, save a few months and buy it when you can like I did. It's worth every penny.
 
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I have a Harris 6-9 BRM-S with Larue mount, it worked for me. I then decided I need another bipod instead of just switching the same bipod to different rifles. I tried out the Atlas with ADM mount and used that for my AI. I was initially disappointed since one of the rubber feet popped off during my first range trip with the Atlas. I called Atlas and they sent me a replacement right away. The Atlas has been solid so far. The Atlas is currently my preferred bipod and the Harris is the back up. Planning on trying TBAC in the future.
 
I have a Harris 6-9 BRM-S with Larue mount, it worked for me. I then decided I need another bipod instead of just switching the same bipod to different rifles. I tried out the Atlas with ADM mount and used that for my AI. I was initially disappointed since one of the rubber feet popped off during my first range trip with the Atlas. I called Atlas and they sent me a replacement right away. The Atlas has been solid so far. The Atlas is currently my preferred bipod and the Harris is the back up. Planning on trying TBAC in the future.

Changing can be tough, and I also think what the bipod is sitting on matters. Psychologically my wife has a hard time moving away from Harris when shooting off concrete (prone or bench), despite what is seen vibration wise and despite great hits when temporarily behind something with a Harris on it. In dirt she does not mind either way.

I picked up an Accu Tac FC-G2 not so long ago. Can't shoot it off a bench to save my life - I keep defaulting back to the Atlas. Prone, it is fantastic.
 
I actually talked to Mr. Harris at SHOT show so many years ago.... I wanted Harris to make the Atlas. He told me "you cant improve on the bipod" . I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to meet the guy that brought bipods to the civilian marketplace and has a couple of take aways that became foundational. One, our "always improving our products" mantra was born. I share this as everything we read/hear about the Harris good and bad, has been said for years, Mr. Harris's position of "you can't improve the bipod" lives on at Harris Mfg.
 
I actually talked to Mr. Harris at SHOT show so many years ago.... I wanted Harris to make the Atlas. He told me "you cant improve on the bipod" . I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to meet the guy that brought bipods to the civilian marketplace and has a couple of take aways that became foundational. One, our "always improving our products" mantra was born. I share this as everything we read/hear about the Harris good and bad, has been said for years, Mr. Harris's position of "you can't improve the bipod" lives on at Harris Mfg.

Maybe it's me, maybe it's the way that was written, but I am not tracking. I had a short conversation with a guy in his early 50's at a conference. He told me he did not have anything to put on a bucket list; said he had already done everything he wants to do. I took that as he is done learning and is just waiting for the clock to run out. Can't improve the Mona Lisa, sure I am down with that. Can't improve a tool? Going to take a lot of revs for me to get on-board with that idea.
 
Probably my writing, I'll try again. I could not afford to produce the Atlas, so I spoke to Mr. Harris at SHOT about doing this, he was not interested in the design as in HIS words; "you cannot improve the bipod". I did not ask him to clarify which bipod he was referring to as I had no reason to doubt that it was the bipod that bares his name, the Harris bipod. I could not get on-board with that idea either which is why we are constantly striving to improve our products.
 
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Probably my writing, I'll try again. I could not afford to produce the Atlas, so I spoke to Mr. Harris at SHOT about doing this, he was not interested in the design as in HIS words; "you cannot improve the bipod". I did not ask him to clarify which bipod he was referring to as I had no reason to doubt that it was the bipod that bares his name, the Harris bipod. I could not get on-board with that idea either which is why we are constantly striving to improve our products.
Got it. Well at least he is paying a price for his arrogance. Sadly, you probably are paying for his position as well. Name recognition coupled with a superior design would have made the Harris brand nearly impossible to challenge.