Battle of the Bipods

Frew

Frew

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Im currently looking into getting a new bipod to go with my new Benchrest/F class/Service gun. Its a .300WinMag, heavy gun with a picatinny rail on the forend of a McMillan stock. I have a Harris BRMS on my .308, and at the risk of causing a debacle, I'm not too impressed with it. I want something thats more sturdy, more versatile, has more range, but most importantly is solid as a rock.

Obviously Iv looked into the Atlas. Iv seen the Sinclair models, and iv heard the varmint model is sturdy but it falls apart. The Sinclair F Class one is a bit more than i want. iv also seriously looked into the Accu Tac LR 10 and 5. The LR 10 looks great but i haven't heard any reviews or opinions v.s. some of these other top of the line bipods.

Anyone have any experience with any combination of Harris vs Atlas vs Sinclair vs LR 10/5?
 
I have the atlas and star shooter. Both are better than the Harris IMO. I haven't tried a Sinclair. If rock solid is a must, I go with the star shooter. If you need to compromise a little stability for portability, Ill use the atlas. Tomochan's write up is a good place to start.

One side note, if you want to load up the atlas, you'll need to modify the rubber feet or buy the claw feet.
 
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If you are going to shoot Benchrest/F-Class you would want one of the specific front rests such as the Remple or Mpod. IMHO those are not bipods.......

For Field or Tactical rifle type shooting the LRA or Atlas are the top two bipods on the market.I have an Atlas with the QD mount. It is solid,very well made, and easy to adjust. Niether are cheap though.........they run $350.00 to $450.00............
 
I'm pretty happy with my Sinclair Tactical bipod. For me it works quite well. The nice thing about the Sinclair is its massive height adjustment. It covers the height range for 2 or 3 standard bipods. The only downside is that it doesn't swivel, it only cants. But for a guy who has time to set his gun up that shouldn't matter too much. The Sinclair is also fairly cheap at $229 US and they go on sale for $200 from time to time.

I've seen a few guys using the Atlas bipod's and I'm not sold on them. My favorite part is how the legs turn and act as a little wheel so if you try to load your bipod on a hard surface it just rolls away from you. (I think the newest model fixes this issue tho.)

The LRA's look really cool but the price is pretty crazy.
 
just replaced my versa-pod bipod with an LRA light tactical model although a little pricey they are well worth the investment
 
I think I'm leaning towards the LRA. It seems to be the best all around. Does anyone know the differences between the LRA F class and Light Tactical? the price is the same...

Im leaning more for a bipod that i can use for everything not just a specialized (not to mention awkward) large bench rest pod. Still no word on the Accu Tac LR10? Its still pretty new but it looks as solid if not more so than an Atlas/Sinclair. Hard to tell though without using one.
 
Regardless of the manufacturer, you should be closely scrutinizing how much play is in the bipod system and how wide is the stance. Wider is better.

Most bipods have some sort of adjustment, so look to see if that adjustment locks and how well it locks. Pivots are a pet peeve as that is where the wiggle begins with retractable legs. Harris has a spring that effectively negates the pivot wiggle, but it is not very wide and therefore not really stable for a string of shots.

That brings me to this next point...

Do you just want to shoot one shot accurately or a string of shots accurately? This is very important because you need to consider how hard it will be to reposition the bipod from shot to shot. Each time you do that you will induce tilt/cant and that's very difficult to keep consistent and that will make you shoot left to right and not really know why. You can get caught thinking the left to right impact is some mysterious wind that you haven't identified and that can attack your confidence in a match. Some guys (like yours truly BadAsMo) use spiked feet so the bipod cannot move from shot to shot - assuming the rifle is shouldered properly. BUT that doesn't work well if you have rocky terrain in your shooting area.

Anyway, sorry for not recommending a specific model, but I hope the above will help keep you from buying some sloppy wiggle wobble tacticool looking whatever model that doesn't really cut it.
 
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I have the LRA on my 338 LM weight 18,5#
Its very strong and stable but swivel must be thighten before firing
Down point, once folded, its still so wide that it wont fit most rifle case. So if I don't want to remove it, I use the drag bag
 
Skullboy said:
If you are going to shoot Benchrest/F-Class you would want one of the specific front rests such as the Remple or Mpod. IMHO those are not bipods.......

For Field or Tactical rifle type shooting the LRA or Atlas are the top two bipods on the market.I have an Atlas with the QD mount. It is solid,very well made, and easy to adjust. Niether are cheap though.........they run $350.00 to $450.00............
Click to expand...

A very interesting statement and given the level of performance you can extract from these, they are more akin to pedestal front rests then "bipods".

If you are considering any type of competition using a bipod, remember that shooters are not going to compromise in our gear so that we might be able to use it for some other purpose. With that level of focus, the gear evolves to provide the best possible result given the rules and the compromise of each sport.

I compete in FTR and the MPOD is my baby. It has evolved over time to provide competitors with the most stable and accurate bipod for the FTR sport at the same weight as a Harris bipod.

There really is no comparison to typical folding bipods to those used in F TR... our demands are way way higher so our gear is honed to meet that goal.

The MPOD has been used to set a number of NRA records and podiums finishes in the US over the last few years... even helped a US shooter become the current World Champ.

Continues to be used by several top shooters around the world and just found out, will be under a few shooters on the new 2017 US FTR team.

It does what it does very well... A new version will likely be offered in the late summer/fall to include a cant feature. This is the biggest complaint from those shooting off the range and we have been working hard to find a solution that will work properly AND NOT MOVE under recoil.... even with a boomer.

Something that can't be said for many bipods and FTR bipods.

The solution is currently in production and the simplicity gives me a giggle given how hard it was to monkey brain it to work as it does. The parts will retrofit into every MPOD made and spare kits will be offered.

IMG_0592_zpsrv4kwrye.jpg


Testing with another F Open competitor... so this was a witnessed group at a lasered 840yds shot from my current FTR rifle and MPOD. The winds were bubbly and twitchy so most certainly not a calm day. I have since shot other similarly sized groups so this is no fluke.

Am I bragging... absolutely not. I am simply trying to illustrate the type of performance you can meet when coming to a larger F class match. The goals is to hit a 1/2 min target as far as 1000yds as many times as possible. That means our rifles have to shoot BETTER then that.

I know of only a handful of shooters that can rock with a Harris. The vast majority of shooters will simply be at a disadvantage vs shooters using proper FTR style bipods.

Field bipods like the Harris, LRA and others can be learnt and can do very well but if the goals is to hit that 1/2 min target, you will see their performance as lacking pretty darn quick.

Considering the cost of the MPOD, you can buy 1 and have a harris to cover all the possibilities.

YMMV.

Jerry

DSC_0259_zpss0xbvxix.jpeg


DSC_0247_zpsim9wqimd.jpeg


Customer PGW Timberwolf and group shot at 300m's. Handles a 338LM, just fine. See my site for articles from shooters around the world and their results.
 
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Mystic Precision said:
A very interesting statement and given the level of performance you can extract from these, they are more akin to pedestal front rests then "bipods".

If you are considering any type of competition using a bipod, remember that shooters are not going to compromise in our gear so that we might be able to use it for some other purpose. With that level of focus, the gear evolves to provide the best possible result given the rules and the compromise of each sport.

I compete in FTR and the MPOD is my baby. It has evolved over time to provide competitors with the most stable and accurate bipod for the FTR sport at the same weight as a Harris bipod.

There really is no comparison to typical folding bipods to those used in F TR... our demands are way way higher so our gear is honed to meet that goal.

The MPOD has been used to set a number of NRA records and podiums finishes in the US over the last few years... even helped a US shooter become the current World Champ.

Continues to be used by several top shooters around the world and just found out, will be under a few shooters on the new 2017 US FTR team.

It does what it does very well... A new version will likely be offered in the late summer/fall to include a cant feature. This is the biggest complaint from those shooting off the range and we have been working hard to find a solution that will work properly AND NOT MOVE under recoil.... even with a boomer.

Something that can't be said for many bipods and FTR bipods.

The solution is currently in production and the simplicity gives me a giggle given how hard it was to monkey brain it to work as it does. The parts will retrofit into every MPOD made and spare kits will be offered.

IMG_0592_zpsrv4kwrye.jpg


Testing with another F Open competitor... so this was a witnessed group at a lasered 840yds shot from my current FTR rifle and MPOD. The winds were bubbly and twitchy so most certainly not a calm day. I have since shot other similarly sized groups so this is no fluke.

Am I bragging... absolutely not. I am simply trying to illustrate the type of performance you can meet when coming to a larger F class match. The goals is to hit a 1/2 min target as far as 1000yds as many times as possible. That means our rifles have to shoot BETTER then that.

I know of only a handful of shooters that can rock with a Harris. The vast majority of shooters will simply be at a disadvantage vs shooters using proper FTR style bipods.

Field bipods like the Harris, LRA and others can be learnt and can do very well but if the goals is to hit that 1/2 min target, you will see their performance as lacking pretty darn quick.

Considering the cost of the MPOD, you can buy 1 and have a harris to cover all the possibilities.

YMMV.

Jerry

DSC_0259_zpss0xbvxix.jpeg


DSC_0247_zpsim9wqimd.jpeg


Customer PGW and group shot at 300m's. See my site for articles from shooters around the world and their results.
Click to expand...

Jerry definitely knows something about something. Ive seen the MPOD on the range several time. They seem very good.

Question regarding your MPOD. Have you experienced the legs sliding on their own during use? I hesitate on the MPOD due to the leg torquing mechanism to retain the elevation. One good thing about the BRM-S harris is the legs lock into notches. It seems like it could be a big deal when you change your environment. The tolerances on the MPOD look very tight, so when you go to places and the metal expands or contracts in reaction to temperature, me as a user could easily strip a screw thread or something and not having spare parts could end a match for me ricky tick.

I'm probably just being paranoid, but Murphy's law has embarrassed me enough times.
 
The MPOD was designed to survive FTR AND the FTR shooter :)

We are not very gentle on our gear and we shoot in some really cruddy locations.

The legs and their movement was specifically designed to work under the worst muck out there.... you can throw as much dirt at it and the legs will move when desired. Yes, there are grooves for dirt to escape. Tolerances are geared to function. There is simply no ambient condition that I can think of to stop the legs from moving. I certainly haven't found it and I have tried.

Each alum leg has a steel threaded insert so you would have to do a super gorilla to do any damage. Where you will apply loads, it is steel on steel. No aluminum, no brass, no plastic to wear or slip. I have been beating on one of my first MPODs and that is 5 yrs old... will be my backup for the Easterns in a couple of weeks.

As of today, no one around the world has reported stripping any part on the MPOD. I have only received 1 call for replacement leg part and 1 have experienced such an event ... on both cases, the MPOD was driven over.

I am sorry but we can't design it to survive being run over by large vehicles :)

As to the question of the inner leg moving during use, if you snug up the tightening knob, the answer is NO!!! First the geometry of the legs lock the inner with the outer when you apply a vertical load on it... Then the tightening knob makes darn sure it doesn't move.

I did test this when "dumb A$$" forgot to tighten the knobs when setting up. I shot most of the relay with it this way..... it did move a bit and given it doesn't move, I gave the legs a check... Oops... tightened the knobs and rock solid.

I have shot in minus 15C to +40C...Pouring rain, blowing sand blasting grit.... I never worry about my MPOD not working. It just does.... PERIOD

The one ongoing positive feedback I get from FTR competitors is that once the MPOD is set up, there is no more fiddling with it. Unless the ground or bags sag (not the fault of the MPOD), the shooter just resets to center and sends another shot. I come from alot of bench shooting and I wanted the MPOD to track and reset like a pedestal rest. If the shooter is in good position, many will see their own impacts so the lateral jump common with many bipods is reduced greatly.

For team or string shooting, speed to reset on target IS important. I usually wait for the target to get out of the pits with a rd in the chamber ready to go.

The MPOD has been put under a wide range of 338LM to 50BMG's with excellent results.

IMG_20140918_094213_686_zps350ba982.jpg


Owner of EGW doing push ups with a couple of MPODs... yes the legs are at full down. I have done push ups using 1 alone. There is no civilian rifle that is going to put a larger vertical load then what the MPOD can handle.

The design strips away alot of moving parts that will move under load. Like the Harris, it requires the legs to make big changes in elevation but unlike the Harris, once set, the LR potential is as good as anything that you can put under a rifle.

IMG_0562_zpsvvbrwnyx.jpg


If you, your rifle and ammo are up to it, the MPOD will give you a very good platform to shoot from. This was while sighting in my new FTR rig after taking apart for stock painting. shot the 3 rds to find POI, then adjusted scope for final shot on POA.

Jerry
 
I have the LRA on my 338 LM weight 18,5#
Its very strong and stable but swivel must be thighten before firing
Down point, once folded, its still so wide that it wont fit most rifle case. So if I don't want to remove it, I use the drag bag
Click to expand...

Clearly a great case has been made for the MPOD. But since mobility is always a concern... how wide does the LRA end up getting? Its going to be on a gun in an explorer case.. and id rather not have to take it on and off every time. if i do then i might as well go for the MPOD. and just make a spot for it in the case..

Again does anyone know the difference between the LRA F Class and Light Weight Tactical?
 
Frew said:
Clearly a great case has been made for the MPOD. But since mobility is always a concern... how wide does the LRA end up getting? Its going to be on a gun in an explorer case.. and id rather not have to take it on and off every time. if i do then i might as well go for the MPOD. and just make a spot for it in the case..

Again does anyone know the difference between the LRA F Class and Light Weight Tactical?
Click to expand...

If you want an LRA Fclass get ready for disapointment.
 
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