Hello,
I definately advocate for a brass catcher, the one I use has a mount that remains on your pic rail and makes for quick set up, it's made by Caldwell. I leave it unzipped at the bench and the brass just drops in a nice neat litte pile.
I am running an NXS 5.5-22x56 Nightforce on my hunter, and originally mounted with our X-tra high rings, and ultimately had to go up to the Ultra Highs, it wasn't that the scope doesn't fit, it's that I couldn't get behind it properly, these are running a straight line from bore to buffer tube. For bipods, I prefer
Versa-Pod , and use a pic rail adapter to attach it. I also have a few heights available that all use the same spigot adapter mount so they switch out very easily.
Haven't used a sling yet, but we are currently developing a backpack style sling, very comfortable I might add, so I will likely be putting that on for hikes. Can't say I've added any blood... well, not since making mine it anyway.
Gorgeous rifle, that LRA bipod is nice. We offer low (0.885"), medium (1.00"), high (1.20"), Xtra high (1.375") and Ultra high (1.50") as measured from the top of the pic rail, to the center line of the scope. Those look more like our Xtra highs or Ultras. Low and medium are pretty much reserved for bolt action rifles.