I have used a Harris bipod with standard legs before. I think it performed as well as I could expect. However, I have never used a Harris swivel model. Is there enough difference between the two to justify a 50% price increase on the swivel over the standard?
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Harris standard or swivel bipod
- Thread starter RichAggie
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Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
Yes, the swivel model with notched legs is very field friendly and worth the cost increase IMO. Since there aren't many places that are completely level the swivel feature allows the rifle to be canted to maintain level without having to mess with the bipod legs.
In regards to the bipod legs themselves it's been my experience the standard legs that have the tension knob always required me to use two hands to get things right. The height adjustments might be a little coarse on the notched leg version but I've always been able to do it with one hand, which saves a lot of time and frustration. A highly recommend the Harris 6"-9" and/or 9"-13" bipod with swivel feature and notched legs for field shooting.
Yes, the swivel model with notched legs is very field friendly and worth the cost increase IMO. Since there aren't many places that are completely level the swivel feature allows the rifle to be canted to maintain level without having to mess with the bipod legs.
In regards to the bipod legs themselves it's been my experience the standard legs that have the tension knob always required me to use two hands to get things right. The height adjustments might be a little coarse on the notched leg version but I've always been able to do it with one hand, which saves a lot of time and frustration. A highly recommend the Harris 6"-9" and/or 9"-13" bipod with swivel feature and notched legs for field shooting.
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
Definitely worth the extra money if you're going to be shooting from anything other than a bench
Definitely worth the extra money if you're going to be shooting from anything other than a bench
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
I found the fixed ones to be very frustrating. Triad does not even carry the fixed ones any longer. Notched leg, swivel base is the only way to go.
I found the fixed ones to be very frustrating. Triad does not even carry the fixed ones any longer. Notched leg, swivel base is the only way to go.
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
from a previous post, but is somewhat applicable (harris and harris knockoffs)mentions swivel model:
i have the harris, the caldwell, the wally world winchester and a shooter's ridge.
although none of them seem to match the quality of the harris (spring tension, possibly the metal composition the knobs and hardware along with the finish), for "trainer" purposes any of them will do fine. for a heavier rifle the harris seems more solid. i think the biggest factor to select is the height.
the 6-9" harris is great for the bench as you can get lower on the bench and get a good solid stance and eye alignment.
the 9-13" winchester is a nice height for prone, as it gives you a few more inches the get a good prone position / eye alignment (at least for me) where the 6-9" comes up just a little short.
the 13-27" i have is nice for kneeling / sitting positions while hunting but tends to be too high for bench and prone shooting, as it gets the platform over the high grass. usually i'll attach this one to my field rifles and have the 9-13" along if i get into lower stuff.
swivel or non swivel? for bench and dedicated prone target shooting, i like the non swivel type, but for hunting i like the swivel (swings like a pendelum, so you can get even on uneven ground quickly). there is a tension knob on the rear of the bipod to tighten it is you should choose to when in place. there are also locking levers available to add on to make this quicker and easier. when there's time to set up even (like at a bench) the swivel is really not so much of a needed feature as you have time to adjust the legs.
smooth or notched? for bench i like the smooth as you can get the rifle dead nuts even and for comfort, adjusting the legs in small graduations. the notched is ok for those hurry up and shoot type of shots. if you deploy the legs too high, you can almost immediately collapse the legs in around 3/4" increments. but if not paying attention the legs can cmopletely collapse and having an "oops, oh sh*t" moment.
the way the legs deploy / collapse in the different manufacturer's varies too.
the harris 6-9" smooth leg - legs are pullouts. no need to press a button to deploy. press button to collapse, or if micro adjusted, just loosen knob and leg goes back in. quick and easy on both counts, can be micro adjusted to find that sweet spot for getting the rifle even and for comfort.
the caldwell swivel 9-13" notched leg - you have to press the button, they shoot out, hard to control the where it will stop. to retract, you have to press the button, and physically push them in until you hear a click. no immediate retraction or adjusting knobs to lock in between the notches to get to the sweet spot height between the notches, but is nice for quick shots. just have to make a minor elevation change in rear support to get proper sweet spot height. again you have to physically push in the legs for retraction.
the winchester smooth leg - you have to unloosen the round adjustment knob, then pull out the legs, then tighten the round knob again to have them lock into place at whatever height. to keep them collapsed, you have to have those round knobs tightened or gravity just sucks them out. if having to deploy the legs quickly, is a bit of a hassle. they are not spring loaded in any sense - retracting or deploying. but for $40.00 serves the purpose well, and unlike the notched, can be micro adjusted.
the shooters ridge 13-27" smooth leg - all the spring loaded features of the 6-9" harris mentioned above, along with the ability to micro adjust. gets you above the ground clutter, but the base height of 13" is a bit too high for me in the prone position.
i do like the round mounting knob found on some of the models for tightening / switching in the field as you can get more leverage with that design over the sloted mounting screw. no need for a screw driver or coin to tighten.
so IMHO, for my shooting/ hunting style:
6-9" harris non swivel smooth leg for dedicated bench
9-13" non swivel smooth leg for dedicated prone.
13-27" and a 9-13" swivel smooth leg for hunting.
in a nutshell, swivel for hunting - non swivel for target.
in all of the different heights, them i'd like the pull out deployment, press a button retraction with the micro adjusting smooth leg feature, but the "less than harris" models don't incorporate all of that. the notched will suffice, but keep in mind no sweet spot height can be obtained with out adjusting the rear support, and you have to pay more attention to your adjustments in a hurry up type of shot, and i don't believe thaey are as nice for dedicated bench / prone target shooting as the smooth leg.
from a previous post, but is somewhat applicable (harris and harris knockoffs)mentions swivel model:
i have the harris, the caldwell, the wally world winchester and a shooter's ridge.
although none of them seem to match the quality of the harris (spring tension, possibly the metal composition the knobs and hardware along with the finish), for "trainer" purposes any of them will do fine. for a heavier rifle the harris seems more solid. i think the biggest factor to select is the height.
the 6-9" harris is great for the bench as you can get lower on the bench and get a good solid stance and eye alignment.
the 9-13" winchester is a nice height for prone, as it gives you a few more inches the get a good prone position / eye alignment (at least for me) where the 6-9" comes up just a little short.
the 13-27" i have is nice for kneeling / sitting positions while hunting but tends to be too high for bench and prone shooting, as it gets the platform over the high grass. usually i'll attach this one to my field rifles and have the 9-13" along if i get into lower stuff.
swivel or non swivel? for bench and dedicated prone target shooting, i like the non swivel type, but for hunting i like the swivel (swings like a pendelum, so you can get even on uneven ground quickly). there is a tension knob on the rear of the bipod to tighten it is you should choose to when in place. there are also locking levers available to add on to make this quicker and easier. when there's time to set up even (like at a bench) the swivel is really not so much of a needed feature as you have time to adjust the legs.
smooth or notched? for bench i like the smooth as you can get the rifle dead nuts even and for comfort, adjusting the legs in small graduations. the notched is ok for those hurry up and shoot type of shots. if you deploy the legs too high, you can almost immediately collapse the legs in around 3/4" increments. but if not paying attention the legs can cmopletely collapse and having an "oops, oh sh*t" moment.
the way the legs deploy / collapse in the different manufacturer's varies too.
the harris 6-9" smooth leg - legs are pullouts. no need to press a button to deploy. press button to collapse, or if micro adjusted, just loosen knob and leg goes back in. quick and easy on both counts, can be micro adjusted to find that sweet spot for getting the rifle even and for comfort.
the caldwell swivel 9-13" notched leg - you have to press the button, they shoot out, hard to control the where it will stop. to retract, you have to press the button, and physically push them in until you hear a click. no immediate retraction or adjusting knobs to lock in between the notches to get to the sweet spot height between the notches, but is nice for quick shots. just have to make a minor elevation change in rear support to get proper sweet spot height. again you have to physically push in the legs for retraction.
the winchester smooth leg - you have to unloosen the round adjustment knob, then pull out the legs, then tighten the round knob again to have them lock into place at whatever height. to keep them collapsed, you have to have those round knobs tightened or gravity just sucks them out. if having to deploy the legs quickly, is a bit of a hassle. they are not spring loaded in any sense - retracting or deploying. but for $40.00 serves the purpose well, and unlike the notched, can be micro adjusted.
the shooters ridge 13-27" smooth leg - all the spring loaded features of the 6-9" harris mentioned above, along with the ability to micro adjust. gets you above the ground clutter, but the base height of 13" is a bit too high for me in the prone position.
i do like the round mounting knob found on some of the models for tightening / switching in the field as you can get more leverage with that design over the sloted mounting screw. no need for a screw driver or coin to tighten.
so IMHO, for my shooting/ hunting style:
6-9" harris non swivel smooth leg for dedicated bench
9-13" non swivel smooth leg for dedicated prone.
13-27" and a 9-13" swivel smooth leg for hunting.
in a nutshell, swivel for hunting - non swivel for target.
in all of the different heights, them i'd like the pull out deployment, press a button retraction with the micro adjusting smooth leg feature, but the "less than harris" models don't incorporate all of that. the notched will suffice, but keep in mind no sweet spot height can be obtained with out adjusting the rear support, and you have to pay more attention to your adjustments in a hurry up type of shot, and i don't believe thaey are as nice for dedicated bench / prone target shooting as the smooth leg.
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
In my experience, the swivel model with pod-loc seems to work the best. The pod-loc allows you to take out slack in the cant of the rifle once in position. The genuine Harris bipods and knock-offs without the swivel in my experience seem to be hit and miss with one leg sometimes being longer than the other, the notches along with the swivel eliminate this frustration.
In my experience, the swivel model with pod-loc seems to work the best. The pod-loc allows you to take out slack in the cant of the rifle once in position. The genuine Harris bipods and knock-offs without the swivel in my experience seem to be hit and miss with one leg sometimes being longer than the other, the notches along with the swivel eliminate this frustration.
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rebelbell24</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Definitely worth the extra money if you're going to be shooting from anything other than a bench </div></div>
2nd that!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rebelbell24</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Definitely worth the extra money if you're going to be shooting from anything other than a bench </div></div>
2nd that!
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
the swivel feature is worth the coin no matter from where/what you are shooting from. If the difference in costs is a consideration, just wait and save till you can get the "S" model.
the swivel feature is worth the coin no matter from where/what you are shooting from. If the difference in costs is a consideration, just wait and save till you can get the "S" model.
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
Theres a reason that EVERYONE uses the swivel model. (who havent switched to an atlas yet)
Theres a reason that EVERYONE uses the swivel model. (who havent switched to an atlas yet)
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
I use the swivel as well, so simple and BRILLIANT design. But I would get the 6-9" "benchrest" model, I find the 9-13 too high for most prone positions.
I use the swivel as well, so simple and BRILLIANT design. But I would get the 6-9" "benchrest" model, I find the 9-13 too high for most prone positions.
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
We have the swivel non-notched on the rifles at work. I have the notched, swivel on two of mine. You can easily see the difference in speed when setting up on rough ground.
We have the swivel non-notched on the rifles at work. I have the notched, swivel on two of mine. You can easily see the difference in speed when setting up on rough ground.
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
I was wondering the same thing my self. I have a non swivel 9-13, and have been thinking about replacing it with a 6-9. Thanks for the input, now I know to get a swivel notched 6-9. Thats the BRMS correct?
Who has the best prices on Harris bipods?
I was wondering the same thing my self. I have a non swivel 9-13, and have been thinking about replacing it with a 6-9. Thanks for the input, now I know to get a swivel notched 6-9. Thats the BRMS correct?
Who has the best prices on Harris bipods?
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Postal0311</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was wondering the same thing my self. I have a non swivel 9-13, and have been thinking about replacing it with a 6-9. Thanks for the input, now I know to get a swivel notched 6-9. Thats the BRMS correct?
Who has the best prices on Harris bipods? </div></div>
I dont know if its the "best", but feel free to check it out:
http://www.triadtactical.com/Harris-Bi-pod-6-9-Swivel-Notched-leg.html
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Postal0311</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was wondering the same thing my self. I have a non swivel 9-13, and have been thinking about replacing it with a 6-9. Thanks for the input, now I know to get a swivel notched 6-9. Thats the BRMS correct?
Who has the best prices on Harris bipods? </div></div>
I dont know if its the "best", but feel free to check it out:
http://www.triadtactical.com/Harris-Bi-pod-6-9-Swivel-Notched-leg.html
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
Don't forget to get a podlock for it. If you are cheap and don't want to spend it on a Harris Podlock. Here's the alternative T-nuts PodLock
Don't forget to get a podlock for it. If you are cheap and don't want to spend it on a Harris Podlock. Here's the alternative T-nuts PodLock
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
I just purchased a Harris bipod 6-9 with swivel and notched legs. I was slightly second guessing myself these past few days whether it was the right purchase or not, glad to see I probably made the correct choice. Guess we will find out next weekend when my 10 day waiting period is over and I get my first LR .308 rifle.
I just purchased a Harris bipod 6-9 with swivel and notched legs. I was slightly second guessing myself these past few days whether it was the right purchase or not, glad to see I probably made the correct choice. Guess we will find out next weekend when my 10 day waiting period is over and I get my first LR .308 rifle.
Re: Harris standard or swivel bipod
Yes the swivel is well worth it. You will also want to get a KMW Pod-Loc. The leg notches are nice for quick adjustment.
Yes the swivel is well worth it. You will also want to get a KMW Pod-Loc. The leg notches are nice for quick adjustment.
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