School me on bipods...

[fire-4-effect]

I purchased a Harris 6-9 inch bi-pod for my GAP rifle. it has the notches in the legs. I really do not like how the rifle can "cant" or "swivel" in the bi pod. Is there another version that does not do this or a way to fix it?

Does the Atlas solve this? My understanding is that with the Atlas I need a rail. Since I have sling swivels I guess one of those is out of the question. I do not want to send the rifle out yet again to have a rail attached and quite frankly not sure I would want that anyways.

Thanks

Phil

 

[uracowman]

Re: School me on bipods...

I'm going to type this as sober as possible.



just buy an atlas and don't ever look back.

 

[Willyz_54]

Re: School me on bipods...

I'll not comment on Atlas vs Harris, there is plenty of info on that out there already. If you have the swivel bi-pod, there are 2 solutions:
Short term: there is a tensioner that allows you to control the amount of swivel, tighten the piss out of that with a leatherman.

Long term: Order yourself a Pod-Loc, it replaces the tensioner and allows you to loosen and tighten the bipod swivel without any tools.

 

[Kevlars]

Re: School me on bipods...

What exactly dont you like ... is it too loose? you can get a pod lock that replaces that thumb screw and then you can tighten things down.

As for Atlas you can get a rail that goes over your swivles and then you can get an atlas.

Atlas in my opinion is a better bipod .. but you do have choices.

-K

 

[UIUCPPQ]

Re: School me on bipods...

I have a similar bipod, but the one I have does not have the swivel or the notched legs, I think you can just get different options on your Harris. However I also think the grass is greener on the other side, because I wish I had bought the Harris with the options you have on it.

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: School me on bipods...

Hmmm...

I will look at the pod-lock device. I have tried tightening the snot out of the tensioner but it just gets loose again. I was not aware that there is a rail section that goes over the sling stud. How reliable / secure is it? Worth bothering with?

Thanks

Phil

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: School me on bipods...

Kevlars,

I shoot mostly off of a bench that is level. I think I would rather have a bipod that cannot cant so it is one less thing to adjust for when shooting. I guess as I type this I realize that practice makes perfect and in a real tactical / hunting situation I would not have a flat surface for a bipod or even a bi-pod and would still need to adjust. Maybe adapting to it will make me a better shooter?

Still, I am starting to see that the Harris bi-pod may not be the right answer... Are the Atlas bi-pods really that much better?

Phil

 

[PRScustom]

Re: School me on bipods...

A buddy of mine put the rail over the sling stud on his Remington 700 and it worked just fine. He mounted an atlas to it to replace his harris. You should know that the atlas swivels and cants too and there is no way to tighten it down, although it does come tight from the factory and takes some effort to adjust.

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: School me on bipods...

OK, so is it that the Atlas is just constructed better? Why is it better than Harris? What makes it superior? They both do the same thing and if it is simply constructed better and of higher quality materials but at the end of the day still only provides a stand for your stock then what am I getting that makes it worth the extra $$$ from a shooting stand point?

Thanks

Phil

 

[Rob01]

Re: School me on bipods...

You don't need a rail.

Get a Pod Loc and you can tighten it down so it won't move and then easily loosen it when you need to level the rifle. Problem solved.

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: School me on bipods...

Rob01,

Thanks for this. I am all about buying quality products that will make my gun shoot better, more reliable and easier to operate but the whole Atlas bi-pod thing leaves me scratching my head... I just do not see what the atlas does for shooting that the Harris does not do? Again, I know the Atlas is probably built better but is that it?

Phil

 

[Kevlars]

Re: School me on bipods...

ok first off you are correct that not all surfaces are going to be level so the ability to cant is importaint. the pod loc is a great as you can really tighten it down.

As to the Atlas .. it can be a little difficut to get tight and does not offer (to my knowledge) a pod loc solution. why is it better well there are trade offs. the harris is much quicker to deploy. However the Atlas has a lot more configurable positions. I think it is far more stable... but that is my opinion and there are others that say completley the oppisite.

If I were you ... I would get the pod loc and see if that resolves your issues. and while you are at the range find someone that has an atlas and take a look. If you dont care about the leg configurations that the Atlas offers then it may not be for you.

Now if you are finding that your bipod is hopping when you break the shot or that it is twisting due to the oppisite action of the twist of your barrel you may want to look at some topics call recoil management. I know that when I first started the bipod was hopping all over the place and twisting around ...

Anyway that is what comes to mind.

-K

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: School me on bipods...

Kevlars,

Thanks for the advice. I am taking it and have ordered the pod-loc. I do get hope when I squeeze off the shots. I assumed it was my skill versus anything else and it sounds like you may be confirming that. I have a lot to learn... I will read up on he posts here concerning that topic.

Thanks

Phil

 

[roggom]

Re: School me on bipods...

John did a great review of the pod-loc. The atlas may be a better pod, but that does not automatically make the Harris a piece of crap.


<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PpJlcyUlqjg"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PpJlcyUlqjg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

 

[jhelmuth]

Re: School me on bipods...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fire-4-effect</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Kevlars,

I shoot mostly off of a bench that is level. I think I would rather have a bipod that cannot cant so it is one less thing to adjust for when shooting. I guess as I type this I realize that practice makes perfect and in a real tactical / hunting situation I would not have a flat surface for a bipod or even a bi-pod and would still need to adjust. Maybe adapting to it will make me a better shooter?

Still, I am starting to see that the Harris bi-pod may not be the right answer... Are the Atlas bi-pods really that much better?

Phil </div></div>

Phil...

I think the Harris is actually a great bipod and IF you shoot off a level bench, then yo are correct - the swivelhead is just another "feature" that complicates it. IF you shoot prone however, the swivel head makes it easier to cant the hed so that you are shooting the rig from a level position (importnt for ele/wid adjustments as well as POI = POA).
I'm a fan of the Harris bipods - just get the right one for the job!

 

[Rob01]

Re: School me on bipods...

Been using the Harris for years and still do. Never felt the need for the Atlas. Is it built well? Yes but it's doing a simple job of holding the rifle up in the front. The legs on the Atlas deploy slower as you have to grab each one to turn it down. I like the speed of the Harris when shooting competitions.

Your Harris will work just fine for you. Throw the Pod Loc on and go shoot. Don't think you have to throw money at problems or buy the latest gear to do a simple job.

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: School me on bipods...

Great video! I learned a lot!

Thanks

Phil

 

[Kevlars]

Re: School me on bipods...

Fire-4-effect,

The online training section is a great place to get instruction.

Here is a sample vid that I pulled from youtube. video

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: School me on bipods...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kevlars</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Fire-4-effect,

The online training section is a great place to get instruction.

Here is a sample vid that I pulled from youtube. video </div></div>

Sounds like it is all about your position behind the rifle. Need to be directly behind it with stock planted flat and firm against shoulder. Great video... I am going to watch them all... ;-)

Phil

 

[Kevlars]

Re: School me on bipods...

the online area has some great instruction ... but it is a pay site.

 

[pinzmann]

Re: School me on bipods...

There is a version of the Harris bipod that does not cant or swivel. Model HBRM. Sounds like this is what you're looking for.

 

[Kasey]

Re: School me on bipods...

Phil,

The Harris is a great bipod and it will serve you well. The fact it does cant is a huge plus as few surfaces we shoot from outside (and few inside!) are level, this cant feature allows you to level your crosshairs.

Don't over think it.

Regarding the Atlas leg deployment....the Atlas is slower to deploy the legs. But the Atlas legs will do a lot more and will not collapse inadvertantly like any spring loaded bipod will do.

Regarding the Atlas Pan/Cant tension....it is adjustable that is what the knob under the bipod does, same exact principle as the "Pod-loc". Does it lock it tight? No. It adds tension.

If I may make a suggestion, go shoot. forget about gear, concentrate on your position, sight picture and trigger. When consistency becomes a reality, then look at your gear. (as you own a GAP I'm guessing you have good glass and rings).

 

[pure_mahem]

Re: School me on bipods...

I will solve your problems. You send me that Harris bi-pod and I will send you a nice Shooters Ridge that doesn't move. Problem solved, LOL!

 

[majohnson2]

Re: School me on bipods...

If you get the HBRM is the non swivel version, that comes with the notched legs. You can also get the same size with a friction lock