Looking for a quality bipod for use in the mountains. Nothing like dedicating a whole off season on a high country hunt and then missing a 180" buck. Don't ask but the third time isn't gonna happen.. So far best I've found locally is a Harris which I might buy.

So band and lenght suggestions and I'm all ears. Anyone use a bipod that pivots?

Thanks

I like the Spartan for hunting.

I have a couple Harris S models mostlty for prone or sitting behind flat surfaces

I've used the same Harris for close to 3 decades, 5 states and Africa

Trekking poles crossed or my pack.

I want to try the Spartan lightweight for those 600 yd crawl-stalks across wheat stubble going after pronghorns.

Harris is hard to beat for the money, I have several and like them a lot. I do find it interesting that the bipods they make for pic rails come in swivel only which is not my preference. Have both types, I prefer the simplicity of the non-swivel, fixed type.

What length does your bipod extend to?

Have a bunch of S series Harris Bipods and love em. If you do end up with a Harris S series make sure to get a locking lever similar to this one.

https://www.amazon.com/POD-LOC-by-KMW/dp/B00GPSJF84/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=2MN995WZLY6JJ&keywords=harris+bipod+locking+lever&qid=1676569848&sprefix=harris+bipod+loc%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-5

For lightweight mountain hunting I would consider these options, as well as the SnipePod.

Spartan for me. Swivels, tilts, easy on/off. Lightweight. Not cheap. Especially the ones with adjustable height.

I bought the Wiser Precision Quick-StiX last year, but haven't used them yet.

Same here. I like ability to pop it on and off.

I got lucky though, bought a super discounted Leupold branded one from midway for around $50-$60 a few years ago.

13-23 or close to that.....two sections rotor head

I really like my Atlas.

Yeah, that's one of the nice features of the SnipePod, as well.

Another vote for the SnipePod.

+1 I’ve had mine for over 25 years and have never found the need for anything else.

Another Spartan vote here. High quality

I use my pack, a set of shooting stix and all my rifles have harris style pivoting bipods on them. I practice regularly with all of them. Funny thing about the chinese copies of harris bipod is that the pivoting models come with a large locking handle( harris do not) and with a little check over and tightening up they are just as good.

The shortest Harris, for me....non-swivel with leg notches. Seems like I've had it for over 30 years? (I used it to shoot groundhogs, in Virginia, in the early 80s)

I use it and/or my day pack for prone, and my shooting sticks for sitting or standing.

Mostly, the bipod gets used for a safe way to set my gun down, in open country. On hillsides, I point the muzzle up hill. With the swivel bipod, my rifle would tip over, doing that.

Once.

Andy3

Why didn't you just tighten the swivel if that had something to do with it?

The first swivel ones didn't have the locking/tension feature on them.....to tell the truth, I didn't know that feature was offered, until now (had to look it up).

Andy3

Harris or Atlas. for me, I like Harris better than an atlas in most cases, I think it's quicker to deploy, and faster to adjust.

A real shooting sling. I can use my pack to shoot off of otherwise. Field positional shooting practice has changed my outlook and opportunities.

Does the Spartan extend far enough for shooting sitting down shots?

The standard and long bipods are too short, but they sell longer accessory legs.

Thank you.

Same here or single trek pole with practice its a great rest.

I've shot a lot of animals using a single trek pole. For a bit more support, these shooting Stix work very well. They fold up and are carried on your belt and are very fast to set up.

Atlas is the most stable bipod I've ever used. I don't even like using the Harris on 22s anymore. I've put mounting plates on all my guns for it now.

Picked up the Hatch Outwest https://www.hatchoutwest.com/ bipod last year and love it. Lot's of adjustability. Very stable. Not light but not heavy either. Prone to sitting. Needs a picatinny rail to attach though an Arca rail attachment option is or about to be available. Went 2 for 2 this past Fall on deer and elk at just under and just over 600 yds. Prone off a big rock and prone on a sidehill shot where I had to extend the left leg further down the slope to level up the rifle.

Alan

Look nice but holy smokes, they are spendy! I'm personally over bipods since I put arca rails on my rifles and got a carbon fiber tripod with a ball head. For me personally, a bipod works on a belt fed machinegun but between a pack and the tripod, I just don't have much use for them.

Depending on how much time a guy has, crossed treking poles, a pack, a rock, tree have all worked for me. Sitting or offhand has worked on close shots too.

Rifles are heavy enough so I prefer no bipod if hard walking.

Bipod on the 22-250 though.

For me I have usually have a tripod for glassing when hunting in the mountains even if I leave the spotter at home I can use it with binos and having an arca rail on the rifle stock serves double duty plus eliminates having to lug a bipod along as well.

nothing that attaches to the rifle

Trigger Sticks are nice.

I used the snipepod last year on three critters. Worked well and lightweight. I like it better than a bipod affixed to the rifle.

Snipepod for the last 25 years. Thousands of shots taken off the SP. Most of my shots on big game are sitting and the SP works great for that. When in open country and prone is possible, I have another sling stud added and will pack a short Harris on those trips.

You should also look into getting a salmon River solutions mounting plate. You can get them with picayinney and ARCA built in together. I can swap back and forth from bipod to tripod in seconds

Son in law uses the longest Harris very effectively. He extends the legs parallel if thinking of shooting, quickly moves them to perpendicular as he squats or sits & is ready to go very quickly- my concern on gadgets is slower speed, noise & movement & his method seems to work well.

In good to 200 off a knee, 500 seated off knees but best seated off my pack. The new Mystery Ranch frame is a terrific rest.

Leave the crutches at home and use the trekking pole or pack or rock.

Used Harris since the 80s. Just transitioning to the Spartan system.

Splurged on the Spartan ProHunt Tac. At our SCI dinner, I bid highest on the Spartan Springbok sitting/kneeling bipod.

Bought the FHF holster for the ProHunt Tac.

Looking forward to hunting with them, maybe for coyotes this week.

I have 3 Harris bipods in different models and a set of trigger sticks. It covers the bases for me depending on where I hunt. I've been using them for a long time. Never had a problem with any of them. May be old school, but if it aint broke don't fix it.

Please report back as I'm looking at going that route.

+10 on the trekking pole or back pack. I don’t want the extra bulk or weight on my rifle.

Harris attached.

Bog when vehicle is close to setup or stand.

Crossed trekking poles for Ruger Super Red Hawk with heavy loadings.

Offhand for charging baboons, etc.

Which is simplest to use in a hunt?

nice thing about a bi-pod is you have a way of setting your rifle down on the ground by using the bi-pod and even crawling and moving your rifle ahead while crawling on a stalk if you need to keep low. i will always use a bi-pod out west been using them for some 30 years. the bi-pod i prefer is a Harris swivel that can extend to 27 inches so with adjustments i can either sit or lay down to shoot.

Ditto.

However, the Harris bipods I found in the 80s were too short for me to easily use while sitting. My brother convinced me to use a shorter one that is easier to use while prone.

Once I had my injury, I found I could more easily walk on rough ground with trekking poles. I used them for shooting from sitting. They worked quite well.

Harris when usable sometimes x sticks. We go to alot of effort to lighten our rifles for carrying then turn the gun into a club with to heavy accessories. KISS principle still relevant..mb

I always use trekking poles. Add the Weiser quik stix attachment and you can be set up as fast as you can kneel or sit.


mike r

i have been using bi-pods mostly Harris swivel bi-pods for now over 30 some years ,bi-pods work great out west ,where i live and hunt in Minnesota not very well. i plan on taking a Harris swivel bi-pod with me to Africa this spring 2024 just in case it would work over in Africa. i have killed a lot of animals using a bi-pod including elk ,i also use a bi-pod when shooting prairie dogs always too. good luck ,Pete53

I keep one of these on my rifle at all times, incredibly handy for a multitude of applications, I also have the swivel model but it is heavier and only bring it along when I think I might need it.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015126826?pid=884179

Harris Bipods 1A2-BRM Bipod Sling Swivel Stud Mount 6-9 Inches Black

the other great thing about a bi-pod is when in open country like the picture above is you have a decent safe place to set you rifle down that keeps it from being on the ground. when sneaking up on game in open country and crawling slowly you can move the rifle along slowly in front of you and not have to hold it and rifle stays alot cleaning with debri on rifle.

Your daypack……..

its a free world use what you want but if your crawling a long ways and trying to move your pack and keep your rifle clean good luck