Using bipod legs on barricades

[glockdan78]

Running my first couple of matches this yr and have been wondering if anybody uses their undeployed bipod when shooting off barriers/barricades? With the atlas stowed in the legs rearward position it would seem like a perfect barricade rest. Trying to decide if the skid plate is a warranted purchase. The Harris also has a lip at the back that would seem to work well too. Has anybody had any success running their bipod this way?

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Lots of people do it with the Harris, myself included. You can even place a small bag over the undeployed legs and let it rest on that as well on the barricade. As for the Atlas, I don't use one in comps. They are slow....and im sorry if anyone gets butt hurt over this, but its just a fact. They are slow and will cost you time on stages where you have to deploy and fold.

 

[R.Walters]

Go shoot off a barricade to determine what suits you best...

 

[Rob01]

Depends on the type of barricade. Not all are the same. A large 2x4 style you can lay the flat portion of the Harris on it and it's steady as a bench. If it's a simple plywood then you can put it on the legs but you should hold the forend down as you can get some hop.

Sometimes it's easier and more stable to throw it on the forend and C clamp with your hand pushing it into the side of the barricade.

 

[glockdan78]

Lots of people do it with the Harris, myself included. You can even place a small bag over the undeployed legs and let it rest on that as well on the barricade. As for the Atlas, I don't use one in comps. They are slow....and im sorry if anyone gets butt hurt over this, but its just a fact. They are slow and will cost you time on stages where you have to deploy and fold.

Yep, I love my atlas but they are slow. Been training mainly with the harris because of that

 

[Genius.]

I usually use my rifle with the legs deployed. That way I'm able to preload the bipod while at the same time giving me something to hold onto to help steady the rifle.

I also use Harris, I shot with a guy who had a Atlas, and I wasn't impressed. They look like rock solid bipod's, but they aren't my thing.

 

[Genhawk]

Looks like I just got talked into buying another bipod...

Harris here I come!

 

[Kasey]

"Depends on the type of barricade. Not all are the same. A large 2x4 style you can lay the flat portion of the Harris on it and it's steady as a bench. If it's a simple plywood then you can put it on the legs but you should hold the forend down as you can get some hop.

Sometimes it's easier and more stable to throw it on the forend and C clamp with your hand pushing it into the side of the barricade."

Please read this over and over!

I have never shot a competition but if time ever allows I'll run a Atlas bipod and use it ONLY when needed to engage the shot. I cant begin to tell how many people have told me stories of shooting stages and how "X" didn't work because of this reason or that. And when asked why they were using "X" in the first place they have no answer.

I would respectfully suggest that target orientation and distance should dictate how the rifle is supported to engage it.

And as far as butt hurt about the Atlas being slow to deploy, no butt hurt here, THIS IS A FACT. In any bipod leg deployment race the Atlas will never finish first. BUT if you run the clock past deployment to target engagement, its a closer race.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

Running my first couple of matches this yr and have been wondering if anybody uses their undeployed bipod when shooting off barriers/barricades? With the atlas stowed in the legs rearward position it would seem like a perfect barricade rest. Trying to decide if the skid plate is a warranted purchase. The Harris also has a lip at the back that would seem to work well too. Has anybody had any success running their bipod this way?

I agree with another poster that you should try it out yourself. You can use the bipod to support the shot, but you have to ask yourself: How many times are you shooting from a really nice barricade? A lot of the shooting might not allow the use of a bipod, so you need a skid plate.

I just purchased a skid plate and it is almost invaluable now. I had to actually use one to understand how important it was. I can now shoot off hard surfaces such as rocks and boulders.

As for speed. How much speed are we talking about? I like the Atlas because it is so much more versatile than the Harris. I have used my Atlas in several different ways with the legs at all angles and this is VERY important when you have a big boulder to shoot from and nothing else. If the angle of the top of the boulder is sloped in any way, forget about using the Harris. The length of the boulder might preclude the use of the skid plate.

I have seen guys use big huge pillows for these stages. I would recommend you watch the 2013 and 2014 GAP Grind videos. They can tell you a lot about equipment choice needs. Good luck!!