I’m considering getting a bipod for general use. The other day, I was able to stretch my Noveske out to 600m and hopefully that will become a more common occurrence. I also want something more stable to zero/diagnose issues off of - usually I just use an ammo can or range bag. That being said,is Harris the only decent option for under $150? Im not convinced I need a $200+ Atlas because it will likely see seldom use. General order of priorities for me: quality/durability, price, mounting system (ideally be able to interface w/ keymod and MLOK without a pic rail, weight.
I have a couple Harris and a Harris knockoff. The Harris is most definitely better made than the knockoff–which turned out to be pretty much a waste of 20 dollars.
I use mine on an precision LR-308 and on my MK12. Works well. There are Harris adapters that mount directly to KM and MLOK.
While the Atlas seem nice, I get what I need out of the Harris and cannot justify double the price for my uses.
I find the Harris w/ cant adjustability to be ideal for my use and frankly - budget. Best advise you setup w/ samdbags as you will primarily use the bilod, then measure height of your rig and go from there for the bipod height. Many work, but one should never fight their setup.
Establishing a repeated, solid setup with a consistent Natural Point of Aim (NPA) is key. Anyone can ‘make do’ for a few shots …
Harris with the swivel base will be just fine for general, and especially, limited use. The terrain here is very brushy so I often find that my 6-9" models are a little too low for prone shooting. I find myself using the 9-27" model more often, which is helpful for sitting positions as well. The Pod-lock accessory is very useful as well if you get a swivel model.
I own two Harris bipods. One with and one without can’t.
I would go with the Harris with the can’t and not look back. They are the Toyota Tacoma’s of bipods.
Yeah you could do better, but not for that kind of money.
Awesome, thank you guys. I’ve seen the Harris around but just wanted to make sure there wasn’t another option out there that I was missing since I’ve never once even considered a bipod. Shooting out that far was pretty fun though, hence the interest.
I have an Atlas on my DMR and I do understand the price after using it, but I use it almost every time I fire that rifle. I have had a TipTop bipod now for about a year and a half on my SPR. It’s proven itself to be a reliable bipod. The company is based out of CO, but I believe they outsource manufacturing. If you think you might be interested in it, shoot me a PM. I have an extra I can loan you to try out. You can send it back when your done. They run about $79-90 bucks for the one I bought. It has pan and swivel and it locks up nicely. I’m almost positive they offer a military discount so you could potentially save yourself a few bucks. It does have a a picatinny mount, but I may have an extra mlok laying around.
I have an Atlas and a cheapie i cannot remember the name of. Anyway, I’m no bipod expert, but when I was doing research I found that a lot of precision shooters still use Harris, but they modify them. The modifications can be expensive and can add up to nearly the cost of the standard Atlas.
My requirements include a picatinny QD and there are ways to do that with both.
The Atlas legs lock in place while the Harris has springs that hold it in place. The Harris is very quick to deploy and fold. The Atlas allows unconventional leg placement. The Harris is less expensive. The Atlas is very light, not sure about the Harris with extras. The Altlas comes with some swivel, I can’t remember what the Harris will do out of the box. For me the Atlas hit the deployed height sweet spot too.
My memory is not what it used to be. But look at: Weight, height, features, add-ons, total cost, leg deployment, etc. And match against your requirements.
With that said, I will be buying a Harris in the future as a secondary bipod.
The ONLY time I use a bipod is if the position will not allow for something soft to be used. Then I prefer the Atlas. It is sleeker and more user friendly to me. More adjustable in my view, given that the legs can be used at angles from the bore other than 90. When you consider that the Atlas comes ready to mount on a gun made in the 21st century (not sling stud), it’s not much more than some Harris models after adapters are added. Prob lighter too at that point. The Harris has one strong point: rapid folding.
I was actually going to suggest the same. I tried one out on a Remington 700 and have been quite pleased. I purchased directly from the mfg (Peleton Technology) because I found a good discount code. I have the non-notched pivot and pan version. The legs are still adjustable, and actually offer a wider range of adjustment compared to notches. It’s not super easy to adjust the legs quickly on the fly; outside of fully collapsed or deployed. It’s not difficult. Just not as quick as notches.
The pivot and pan features work great, and it locks up very tight. Altogether, it was a good purchase and has held up well on a 308. There are quite a few different options to choose from, so you can definitely find one with the features you’re wanting.
I especially like the 40* pan and the lock. Functions from noodle loose to a locked totally down lock. I was pleasantly surprised how stout it’s built. Quite weighty but so what. Not running and dropping with it. Walking it from my truck to the bench while the wife carries my coffee.
I’ve been happy with my Harris 9"-13" with swivel. The area where I shoot is always too grown up to use anything less than a 9" bipod. If I’m shooting off a bench while sighting in I’ll use a pack.
