Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Bi-pod For A Newbie To Western Hunting

Gentleman,

Please excuse my ignorance on a subject so common to you Westerners but I am from the very flat (and wet) lands of coastal SC so therein lies the basis of my questions. It is on my bucket list to do several western/mountain hunts for mulies and elk hopefully before my health and age run out. For now I would like to become accustomed to shooting with a bi-pod. We literally have no need for them here given the topography (or lack of).

My first question is what is the best all around bi-pod length (extendable) for prone shooting on flat ground such as at a range and yet still be suitable for most mountainous hunting applications. I guess another way to ask would be if you had but one extendable bi-pod for hunting out west in mountainous states, what length range would you pick?

Second, would it be swivel or rigid mount?

Thanks for your advice,

P-Man

I don't use bipods but I have guided many friends, family and guests who did bring rifles equipped with bipods. I can remember only a couple of times that the bipods were used to take an animal. Most of the time, the vegetation was too high or the terrain required finding a higher rest.

The two exceptions were with pronghorns. Even then, one young man had to rest his fully extended bipod on my back and butt, as I lay prone, to get a clear shot at the buck that he wanted.

I just don't think that the return for the cost and the weight is great enough to justify carrying them on a rifle for mountain hunting. At our shoot over in the Tonto Basin a few weeks ago, a couple of the guys had to use a weed eater to clear the range so that they could use their bipods in the turkey rim shoot. The ground cover there is what I would call sparse and certainly shortgrass.

YMMV.

Bipods where I live are generally not doable. Ground cover in most areas is too tall. I use an extendable walking stick with a V on top. Most bipods simply aren't tall enough. I've never taken a prone shot here in 30 years. Prone is nice when plinking in a designated spot, but our sage is generally too tall.

Used a bipod three times on a lope hunt, worked great in that country.

Forgive me for going off-topic. I've hunted for decades in NC and since 2003 in Arizona. I have never shot, nor seen any one else shoot, in either state, a game animal that could have been taken with a bipod. I have not hunted pronghorn.

I use this:
http://www.huntsinc.com/m-5-gun-claw-rifle-vise.aspx

Out here a tripod is a must anyway. My last big game shot with a decent tripod and this device resulted in a turret-steady hold at 613 yards. I was seated using the tripod adjusted accordingly. The shot went as planned. Terrain would not have allowed a bipod.

However, for practice and fun a bipod may be a hoot.

Regardless of gear, I wish you the very best in western hunting.

I would go with the 12-25"(or the 13.5-27"), either way get a swivel model.


http://www.midwayusa.com/product/572600/harris-s-25-bipod-sling-swivel-stud-mount-12-to-25-black


I really like a bipod for some of the country I hunt, been using them since I was a little kid. Shot several pronghorn and mule deer using one.


Use the shorter version for all my load workup and prone target practice.

Offshoreman,

My bipod is a B-square because they are very light and work. Last year I used one that was 13"-27" but was too high for easy prone. That one is the one the guide thought was best. Now I have one that starts at about 11" and goes to 15". Because the ends are threaded I can add as many 6" tube as I wish.

It stays in the backpack most of the time.

P-Man,

I know you specifically asked about bipods, but you might take a serious look at shooting sticks such as these;

[color:#FF0000][b]Bog-Pod[/b][/color]

In the last couple of years I have learned to appreciate the steadiness of these sticks and they can double as a walking staff.

Ed

I know many hunters around Tucson that use a Harris bi-pod. While some use the 9-12", more use the 25S as mentioned earlier.

We all hunt coues wt and shoot them at long distances. I also like to use the bi-pod buddy instead of a small bag. http://www.bipodbuddy.com/index.html I use the big buddy.

I often carry the bi-pod when elk hunting unless I know I will be stalking the wooded north facing slopes.

We practice with bi-pods all the time shooting rock rats, jackrabbits and the occasional coyote as well as long range steel. When calling coyotes I have found the bi-pod to be a handicap.

This guy has a great tutorial on how to he uses a bi-pod.

http://www.6mmbr.com/TacticalFroggyA1.html

9-13 Champion pivot lock bipod for about $79 at Sportsmans.

Agree with you Sam....

I like Harris swivel model the best. I also use cross sticks quite a bit...

I like the Harris swivel.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014VQ0RG/ref=pe_385040_30332190_pe_175190_21431760_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

I told Amazon that is wrong pick and they said I was wrong.
Harris can get the pic right.
I have lots, and I like the 9-13" S model
http://www.harrisbipods.com/

I have a number of aftermarket "pod lock" handles. They are all good.


Harris S:
Better than the non swivel Harris.
Much better than the imitation Harris bipods.
Barely better than the much more expensive Atlas bipod

Exactly. Hard to beat a Harris swivel, add a pod lock and you're good to go. Sticks for the tall stuff, bi-pod for most of the rest.

Btw, there is a big difference between the cheap Harris knock off bi-pods and the real thing. Spend right the first time, a top of the line one is a great investment.

Generally, for mountain hunting, the bipod will add quite a bit of weight. That being said, if you do have one, it can be a great help at certain times.

I have a Harris and it works well, when it is indeed usable. I have used my backpack for a rest on elk hunts and had good results.

If I had the money to throw at it, I would be tempted to buy the bipod that Bob Beck sells in his Long Range Hunting Store. It is versatile and light.

Thanks Guys - you all gave me alot to think about

I have a caldwell swivel style , that came with a lock on it and all I did was tighten up some of the nuts and loctited them in place. They don't have notches like some Harris models but other wise perfectly serviceable.
I really only use Bipods east of town(Prairie, antelope jacks, pds and such) west of town(mountains., mostly elk ) I take them off.....
I can only remember one antelope I have shot without a bipod, but the grass here is short and sparse and the rolling terrain perfect to use a 9-13" model. And I have used 6-9' models successfully.

I've been practicing lately for next month's hog and sheep hunt. On level ground I discovered 13" is about right for me.

I really haven't found much mountain mule deer and elk country where they were actually necessary,despite a lot of hunting for both. The terrain is frequently uneven,vegetated, and they are slow to set up so I never use them. I don't use sticks either but consider them faster and more versatile and I'd be mrelikely to carry those rather than a bipod,

In some country they can be useful. I am looking for a good lightweight model as most are ridiculously heavy and awkward attachments to a rifle. I have been using one at the range for 500-600 yard shooting. 400 yards on in I can't see a use for them on any BG animal the size of mule deer and elk. But I don't shoot much game at 600 yards anyway and my 500 yard elk have been killed prone over a pack or a pair of bins stuffed onto the ground.

For most el and mule deer hunting any decent field rest or a pack should suffice. I'd spend the money on a good stick like a Stoney Brook and get used to that instead. Can be used from the sit and gets above vegetation.

Another thing I don't like about bipods is depending on the things.You can't always use them and I'd rather find ways to hit effectively without them, like field positions or a sling, which I can use under more conditions than a bipod.

We use bipods quite a bit in eastern Montana hunting but when we head to the mountains the bipods come off and the shooting sticks come with. Can't remember a time when I could have used a bipod while in the mountains. Either there's to much vegetation or the snow is to deep. At least if you throw your pack down and use it for a rest it will sit up on the snow better than the legs of your bipod.

look no further than Snipe-Pod......