Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Going to try a Bi-pod

I have never used an attached Bi-pod before, for all my hunting the past 35 yrs it has been done out of whitetail stands or if I was "spot & stalking" out West I have used mainly tri-pods over the years going back to the collapsible stoney point sticks up to the Bog Pods I have been using the past 10 years or so...

Not sure where to start...over the years the name brand that always came up was "Haris" but it appears "Atlas" seems to be the brand now. Not sure if what I want is realistic or not but would like an attached Bi-pod that obviously I can lay prone to take hunting shoots at a distance but when vegetation and terrain prevent laying prone I can extend the bi-pod legs to take a sitting shot.. For hunting purposes what is everyone using???

For what you’re describing a Harris swivel 12-25 would be what I’d consider since you mentioned shooting from seated position.

I don't know if any of the newer bipods on the market can handle both prone and sitting, but it's not a realistic goal with a Harris bipod in my experience. I do have one for each (prone and sitting) and they are very different in size. The 6"-9" Harris works well for prone, and I almost always use it in the collapsed 6" position. For sitting on the other hand, a much taller model is needed (if you use a bipod for that); I forget what size mine is, something like 25" comes to mind, but regardless it's much longer than the model that works for prone.

Good luck with your search. Personally I mostly use my short bipod for prone shooting and sticks or some other rest for sitting or other positions. Honestly most of the time for sitting I don't use anything but a sling and solid positioning.

I've got one of the Harris 12-25 swivel. I can use it prone, but just barely, and I'm not petite. It also just barely works for me sitting.

Here's a pic using it sitting,




Same bipod, at it's shortest setting,

That 12-25" may be what I have for a sitting bipod as well. I don't use it much anymore but sorta remember it being a little short, but way too tall for me to use prone with good form.

In comparison, here is the 6-9" model, collapsed at 6". (To be fair, there is a QD adapter and a rail between the handguard and bipod. Directly mounted, this model would be about half way extended to get to that height.)

I grabbed a Thunder Beast Arms Co. bipod this year and there simply is no going back.

Atlas makes great stuff as well and I might try this mod.

https://forum.snipershide.com/threads/cheap-and-easy-diy-atlas-bipod-leg-extensions.6792436/

Harris? Well, the Mazda Miata makes some fellas happy, so.......

Nothing wrong with the Harris. IF you have a 15# rifle, the Atlas makes more sense. There is no model that works for both prone and sitting. I use prone model for longer range and Stoney point shooting sticks for sitting shots. I have several Harris bipods. I would like to get one that pans, too.

There is ABSOLUTELY something wrong with Harris.

Jumpy MFers and the swivel don't stay put!

For hunting, the Snipepod is my top choice. Folded up, it can be used from prone, and fully extended it is great from sitting.

Atlas hands down for all my bipods. Harris is absolute junk....

For “out West” (which includes broken terrain, mountainous W Tx) I’m more apt to shoot of a tripod with a good head. More versatile than a bipod and I’m already packing it to glass off of so it’s not an unnecessary addition. Takes 5 seconds to go from glassing to supporting a rifle and you can shoot off of it from prone to standing. If I don’t need the additional support of the tripod for extended shots, I’m a fan of shooting off the Kifaru pack either laying flat or on end rather than fighting a bipod on uneven ground.

This......

Although I do have a Harris which I prone shoot off of for killing, tripod shooting sitting Indian style, using my pack as an elbow rest or a tree/bush while resting the rifle in a saddle of some sort on a tripod is just as steady long range as is prone over a bipod IME....

Javelin for me. Newer "Pro" model w/long legs for sitting/kneeling shots. Short-legged original for shooting prone. The short one is on my pack's waist-belt. The long one runs on the side of my pack. The pair weighs just under 13oz. They attach in seconds and detach just as fast. No need to have something out on the forend getting in the way and creating an ill-balanced rifle for off-hand shooting. It's also very simple to set up any/all rifles to accept them assuming you have 1 front sling swivel. It's a sub-5min swap to the adapter for the Javelin Bipod that sill allows you to also use your regular sling.

Simple, light, solid, and very unobtrusive. The pair weigh about the same as a 9-13 Harris and less than most of the Atlas products yet give me a lot more options for shooting position than any single other product.

Over the years I've purchased ~10 Harris bipods and have spent more on them than I have one the 2 Javelin's that I can use on 8 different rifles.

My Dad is in his 70s - we used a trigger stick type tripod for him, as a bipod for him to sit behind wasn't practical, and he's not able to go prone any more.

Like my Snipepod!

A tripod with saddle works very well, but the Snipepod is a perfect bipod for backpack type hunts where ounces count. Of course, using a pack or a set of trekking poles looped around each other works great as an improvised front rest, also.

and trek poles with the Wiser connector beats the hell outta looped wrist staps.....

My favorite for prone is the Harris 9-13 swivel, notched leg. I find the 6-9" too short for my body type.





Bipods have come a long way in the last few years. I don't have any of the newer stuff to compare with the old school Harris. I'd have to say the newer styles with pic-rail attachment, or M-LOK, would be a lot tougher than the sling-stud mount I'm still using. Probably a significant improvement for especially the big boomers.

That said, I haven't broken a Harris. I shoot 223, 308, 30-06. Nothing too fierce. When I started, Harris was really the only game in town for a decent bipod.

I’m a fan of the with spiked feet, but generally don’t use it for hunting. If carrying a pack, I’ll build a position incorporating the pack.

The short Harris makes a good portable gun cleaning cradle.

I have half a dozen Harris bipods in various configurations. The 13-25 Swivel was a favorite for woodchuck hunting, but there are lots of alternatives for shooting from a seated position including a lightweight tripod and saddle, sticks, a monopod with wrist strap, etc.

Wiser connector

I’ve got to look this one up.

Interesting.

https://www.wiserprecision.com/products/quick-

If you’re gonna have trekking poles this looks like a winner.