Looking for advise for my AR-15 I recently purchased a S&W 15 and gradually doing modifications. Within a budget, I added a Troy 7” free floating rail and I purchased a pistol grip now I want to get a bi-pod. I have also noticed some pistol grips with bi-pod (grip-pod) inside but are they practical?
The Grip Pod would eliminate having to attach two seperate devices on the rail and it would make the Carbine a litttle lighter as well.
What would you do…?
Why do you want a Bi-pod on a Carbine???
I was thinking when I go to the range and trying to sight in my scope, instead of carrying out the sand bags or a rest, I can have it all on my carbine, I’m really new to the Ar-15 world so is this not a good idea?
I find zeroing my gun to be a one time shot… after that, A BiPod is not good to me… just extra weight up front that throws off it’s balance.
Carbines are suppose to be well balanced and devoid of extra crap hanging off them. That’s just my preference.
What kind of scope are you using ??
My scope Bushnell Elite 3200 5-15x40 Tactical scope) is probably a little to much magnification for close range.
I am looking for a 1-4x scope for CQC but what I’m liking so far will have to wait until my finances are there. I like the Aimpoint Comp M3 with 3x. Or EOTech 552 Holographic with 3x or a Trijicon Acog but they are all out of my price right now. I am waiting until march, Bushnell is coming out with a new Holographic which is made by EOTech. I get a 60% off any Bushnell product.
it might not be the best but I think Bushnell makes a fair product especially at Employee pricing
It sounds like you have more of a precision rig then you do a General Purpose Carbine.
What is the role that you want this AR to fill.??
Is it for shooting paper targets at 100yds?
Is it Home defense?
Hunting?
Me personally … I don’t need magnification… My AR is set up for Home defense. So I run a Red dot sight for fast target acquisition under all light conditions.
In order to find out what equipment is right for you… you need to define what it is you want to do with it.
They are not cheap, but I have personally seen a coworker with a S&W M&P15T fitted with a Tango Down bi-pod and a 4x ACOG make some very impressive shots with a carbine…
I have never been a big fan of a bi-pod on a carbine, but they do have their place, and of all of them that I have seen deployed, I like the Tango Down the best…
Just my .02
Buck
The main purpose, I just enjoy target shooting, mainly paper targets or jugs of water. I would love to be able shoot a 1 gallon jug of water at 100 yards just for the fun of it. I have plenty of hand guns for home defense but the AR-15 is different. There are so many accessories that I want.
But I want to go about it the correct way, I just spent $1500.00 over the past 60 days for my S&W 15, a scope that I’m not happy with because it’s so big, $260 for a Troy 7” hand guard, 56.00 for a pistol grip, $45 for magpul rail covers, next I would like to get a single pull sling and a sling connector. maybe a bi-pod? a Bushnell Holographic sight. But in reality I would rather have a aim point or EOTech or Trijicon Acog
I think I’m becoming a AR-15oholic. It’s addictive
“Hi, my name is Bob and I’m a AR-15oholic”!
Maybe it’s time for a 12 Step Program?
My BOBRO bipod on my midlength rail
I don’t like to use bipods much and I only use them when I zero my carbines at the range.
I got the GG&G-BOBRO standard bipod it’s aluminum, simple to use and mounts directly on the handguard rail without any adapters needed.
They’re also available in swivel model and the heavier duty Gen 2 model.
I carried a SAM-R as a secondary weapon a few years ago. It had a great Harris Bipod on it that I wound up taking off because it was just not conducive to the role I needed the rifle to fill. Too heavy, infrequently needed. When used, could have substituted a pack with no degredation of performance. It just wasn’t worth the weight.
The only bipods I am considering at this point for a SAM/DM type AR is the Tango Down two-piece. Low weight, low footprint on the rail.
The Grip-Pod is just too big. Too big as a VFG, and non-adjustable when deployed. I prefer to use the magazine as a monopod over the Grip-Pod.
If you like shooting for accuracy, bags or a pack are the best.
On a “fighting” carbine, bipods have many negatives that outweigh whatever potential positives you think they may have. These negatives are magnified if you have a non-FF rail as opposed to a FF rail. If you are only ever going to shoot from the bench and only ever on the static range, then by all means have at it with a bipod and a 10x optic on a carbine. I would, however, argue that the M4 barrel profile, light, vert grip, etc. that many people have mounted are counter-intuitive to this purpose.
With all of that said, if you insist on having a bipod, the Harris is still the baseline that all others are measured against. A Harris on an ARMs QD lever (sorry, the LT version isn’t as nice in this case) is even better as you can remove it very easily.
Hijack…
Why do we keep seeing people buying M4 pattern carbines for “range use and plinking”? Were I interested primarily in “range use and plinking”, I can think of quite a few barrel profiles and handguard configurations I would prefer over an M4 profile and full-railed handguard. I think this is why so many people respond to threads like this with a “huh?” kind of response. No matter how you slice it, a 10x optic and a bipod just don’t match up well to a full-railed handguard, M4 profile barrel, and a light. Maybe this needs it’s own thread…
Of course, there are exceptions.
Secondary? Funny, not quite what I remember. You must have a different definition of secondary;)
IIRC it was actually Fish’s, that I stole. . .
Rob S-
Agree, if I was just going to plink with no serious use intended I would probably buy a Kel-Tec or a Mini-14, or a WASR in 7.62x39. Why spend so much money on such a good platform to relegate it to “plinker” status?
Failure2Stop
Why spend so much money on such a good platform to relegate it to “plinker” status?
That’s what always makes me go Huh…
Most shooters create a weapon out of a compilation of stuff based on looks and limited use needs and not really on a goal specific thought process.
That’s why you see big ass honking 10X scoped mounted on to the carry handle of AR’s.
If the Weapon was heavy to begin with… you would not see to many bipods… but if you start with a small /light platform, then adding more stuff does not seem so bad. I think thats the theory that started seeing bipods on M4’s in the sandbox.
Plus anytime you give someone a rail… it’s like PALS straps on a vest or rig… they just have to fill that open spot with something…they just can’t leave it open…
I used a Harris bipod on my full sized Colt using a Harris stud in the standard handguard. It made for a really nice steady platform. I have since moved the Harris to my M1A SOCOM/Troy MCS and there it will stay. I see no use for it on my coming M4 carbine build personally, but don;t think it will be a bad fit for your desired use. I picked up a Picatinny adapter from DSA, used some blue LocTite and mounted it on the lower forward rail of my MCS. It’s rock solid and would likely suit your purposes.
Unlike some, I find the Harris not to be cumbersome in the least. It stays folded up out of the way until I need to use it. I would go that road and by the way, I found the Harris knock-offs to be crap festival.
As to the “GripPod”, I’d pass. A buddy of mine found one lying on the side of the road in Kabul. I suspect he found it there for a reason. I mounted it on my MCS to try it out and though it seemed neat, that feeling quickly faded. Getting it to mount tightly was the first hurdle and once deployed, it felt wobbly, unstable and flimsy.
By the way, despite the detractors, yours would not be the first AR-15/M16 carbine with a bipod - some have found them to be quite handy. It’s just not a fit for what I want to do with my M4 build personally - I say go for it and enjoy!
Mark
The Gen 2 is a very nice bipod for when you want one. Bipods aren’t for everybody and everything, and most often a bag or pack does a better job.
Hey, he wants a bipod. Why can’t he have one?
Sure it’s a 16" carbine but maybe he’s at the level of shooting where a bipod wiill help him out.
There are a lot of guys that don’t “run and gun” but would rather take time with their ammo and try for a little more “precision” at the range.
Granted, he didn’t state his intended purposes but it’s no reason to give him advice on how he “should” be using his rifle, right?
He may do just fine with a 10/22 but he chose the AR.
I chose a Harris swivel 6"-9" when I bought one 4 or so years ago. Honestly, I don’t ever use it.
Why would one buy an M4 pattern rifle if the only intent was plinking? I can think of many better ways to spend your money on an AR if you’re only going to shoot on the static range and/or from a bench.
I have the Tango Down Advanced Combat Bipod on my LaRue 16" Stealth upper and I really like it. I have found it to be the most functional and well built bipod out there, and of course this is just my preference.
Like everyone else has mentioned, it truly depends on what you are using you carbine for.
Justin