Bipod Recommendations for PRS - Your opinions please

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Safeside

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Hey Guys,
I am an F-Class shooter, who wants to shoot PRS as well.
I am having a ton of fun, putting my rig together, but am not sure what to do with bipods.
I have been getting very mixed messages from my reading. Everything from Harris, with addition can't leaver to the Atlas bipods.
CanI ask you guys to weight in with what you use and why, and what you would recommend and why.
Thanks
 
Budget?

I don't have any PRS experience, but for the cost, Harris is hard to beat. Are there better? Maybe. Do they all cost more? Absolutely.
 
I am like Shibby and have no PRS experience but on the Precision Rifle Blog a lot of the shooters were using a Harris. I assume this is because it is quicker to deploy than a Atlas, LRA, etc. I do like my Atlas Bipod more than my Harris but I like my TRG bipod more than both.

The PRS match that I am currently writing the COF for (as we speak) has probably less than half of the rounds actually shot off of a bipod so it probably isn't the biggest consideration.
 
The Atlas has swagger but the Harris is a workhorse!

For practical shooting, where you move from position to position, the Harris rules. I recommend the HBRM-S in 6-9" unless you're a bigger guy (>250 lbs) then you may prefer the 9-13"

My reasoning: you will need to flip legs up quickly to poke through ports, drop one to brace on an object, etc., so having to depress the button on the Atlas really slows you down. Especially the leg on your weak side...

The leg notches on the HBRM aren't necessary but they are sure convenient for a little extra cost.
 
I own both the Harris SBMR and the Atlas, The Atlas is a much more refined product.

But the LRA is even better
 
I like the Harris. After shooting the CORE AI match this weekend, I invested in some Primary Adaptive Solutions adapters and 18" leg extensions. I could see the advantage some guys had on some stages being able to switch between the Harris legs and the 18" legs. The clamp on adapters let you switch between them just by folding them up and down.
 
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I noticed a guy using those in the 2015 finals at Tehachapi! Are they easy enough to pull off between stages?

Edit: took a couple snapshots!

Screenshot_2016-03-09-18-40-06_zpszkuhh28j.png


Screenshot_2016-03-09-18-39-30_zpsdexxsrlg.png
 
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Yup. In the gen 1 adapters, you jut need to push a release with a bullet tip or something. With the gen 2, you just twist and pull. They're compatible with Atlas accessories. I got both adapters. The ones that replace the Harris feed and the 90 degree clamp on ones. You don't have time to switch them during a stage, so the 90 degree ones are good. They also make good barricade stops when you aren't using the extended legs.

I bought the adapters and feet the second day of the competition, but they were out of 18" legs. Managed to get a set off the prize table, but it was too late for the match at that point. One stage had us shooting at 840 yards on a simulated rooftop that was sloping down in the direction of the target. Shooter above was there using those extensions, so were others. The rest of us were trying to use our packs and legs for support. You can guess who did better...
 
I have used both in PRS comps, if you have both pack the other as a spare, I usually favour the Harris due to fast deployment, as well as I do have the spiked feet and extensions for it that can be custom length to 24" and are a screw in system, but usually I have a second Harris that has the longer legs on it, and for more stability when needed and more hight I always have my Hogg saddle and tripod, you will know when you will need the longer legs when you get to the stage and plan your strategy. More often than not you will be shooting with a friend so you can always share your kit so that can keep costs down to a point as well, and most everyone in your squad will share kit, as mine is up for use to everyone in my squad, saves time and keeps a nice flow of the stage in some cases.
 
I wish I had my tripod on the prarie dog stage. Didn't bring it because I was flying. We had to shoot life size prairie dog silhouettes at 308, 332 and 368 yards off different levels of a wooden fence. The squad in front of us had a tripod and were using it for rear support. They did well on that stage.

I find the Harris deploys faster, it adjusts faster and it has more utility when folded up. I often use the angled part that catches the legs as a barricade stop and load the rifle into the barricade. Helps with stability and for spotting my shots.
 
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Thank you guys...great discussion. Sounds very safe starting with a Harris, and looking at some extra upgrades for it.
Thank...great discussion, I had no idea of many of the operates mentioned.
 
I guess it all depends on what you're shooting. My experience with a Harris on a PGW Coyote was disappointing. Because of the weight of the rifle, the Harris would loosen after every shot. An LRA light tactical replaced it. But the Harris is great for my .17HMR CZ455. Can't complain there. I also have an Atlas, and while not as heavy and robust as the LRA, it does hold it's own on lighter calibre rifles (read: weight). Atlas, IMHO, are over priced. But that's just me.

I hope my experience helps out.
 
kombayotch said:
I wish I had my tripod on the prarie dog stage. Didn't bring it because I was flying. We had to shoot life size prairie dog silhouettes at 308, 332 and 368 yards off different levels of a wooden fence. The squad in front of us had a tripod and were using it for rear support. They did well on that stage.

I find the Harris deploys faster, it adjusts faster and it has more utility when folded up. I often use the angled part that catches the legs as a barricade stop and load the rifle into the barricade. Helps with stability and for spotting my shots.
Click to expand...

I like the Harris for the exact same reasons....the tripod for the rear support is really nice we usually do it as well and on the lower stuff I since I pack such a big ruck I just use it a lot of the time.......and when it comes to the Pig saddle vs the Hogg Saddle bother work great if you are using it all the time spend the money on the Hogg but if it's just a PRS thing the pig will work just fine and is less than half the cost, you can always upgrade when the time comes and pass the other stuff down to new shooters to recover cost......figured I would bring that up as I am sure some one will ask about it LOL
 
This was the fence we shot off:



Here is a video of Scott Satterlee giving some tips.

[youtube]3z9q4tTtd54[/youtube]

It was his squad that was using the tripod, doing the trick he shows at the 2:45 mark.

He then goes on to show shooting off the rocks and you can see his Harris has the adapters. What he is showing is definitely the best way to tackle those rocks, but you have to be able to adjust the feet quickly. On some positions, you have to put the bag under the mag or trigger guard. We had to shoot 2 shots from 5 different positions in 2 min. I heard that only one or two people get off all 10 shots. I managed to get off 9 shots.
 
kombayotch said:
This was the fence we shot off:



Here is a video of Scott Satterlee giving some tips.

[youtube]3z9q4tTtd54[/youtube]

It was his squad that was using the tripod, doing the trick he shows at the 2:45 mark.

He then goes on to show shooting off the rocks and you can see his Harris has the adapters. What he is showing is definitely the best way to tackle those rocks, but you have to be able to adjust the feet quickly. On some positions, you have to put the bag under the mag or trigger guard. We had to shoot 2 shots from 5 different positions in 2 min. I heard that only one or two people get off all 10 shots. I managed to get off 9 shots.
Click to expand...

I don't know about all those gizmos/gadgets they're using. They should limit to what's attached to the rifles or bags attached to the shooters. All those tripods and lengthy bipods, it look dunkey. What is next? automated hexapods? They are heading away from a "purist" sport imo. But it sells (equipment wise).
 
Not about how it looks, it's about how it works. It's about pushing practical field marksmanship forward. If you don't allow people to experiment with different equipment and techniques, you will remain stagnant like the CMP matches and our matches.

The conversation about those things and bags came up several times. Several of the CORE owners and instructors are active duty or recently retired SOF snipers. The first place shooter was Shannon Kay (owner of K&M - active duty army sniper who shot the match in his Ranger uniform). They said they ARE indeed bringing this stuff into the field on missions, including the big pillows.
 
I wonder if a ski pole or something similar would aid in other barricade stages. It would not be as stable as the tripod but it would reduce the movement along one axis.
 
Kosmic said:
I don't know about all those gizmos/gadgets they're using. They should limit to what's attached to the rifles or bags attached to the shooters. All those tripods and lengthy bipods, it look dunkey. What is next? automated hexapods? They are heading away from a "purist" sport imo. But it sells (equipment wise).
Click to expand...

I agree. This sport seems to be evolving into a carnival of over the top cheesy stages that get decided upon how steady a position you can get using 40#'s of additional $hit you have to carry with you to be competitive. Its actually getting to be borderline laughable.
I've know guys (hunters) that would tune up half these guys in real world "improvised positions" if pillows, bags, barricades and bipods with 14 sets of legs Etc. weren't available as a crutch.

IMO U.S. PRS is moving too rapidly in a direction similar to IDPA, IPSC etc.
 
Gotta remember one thing men, it a gaming style of shooting and not all PRS shoots are geared the same it is based on what the match director will allow in his COF, some limit you to the basic gear and some are a free for all....I agree for the most part that there should be a basic limitation to what you would be able to use, and nobody said you have to use any of it, use what will benefit you in the environment you will be shooting in and use the PRS matches as a training tool and not a game. but like everything else that is new it will have to go full circle before or has a set rule on it. There is a lot more corse based real life simulated shooting disaplines that don't allow the gaming end and focuses more on the situations you may encounter when on the hunting trip or similar activity you are doing, they are slowly popping up and will become more popular without a doubt but are still in the early stages of development to see how big and how many people and shoots per year can be taken part in. I still think everyone should shoot at least one year of PRS to meet some people and have some fun and I will GAURENTEE you will leave a better shooter, and anyone on here that has shot them will agree.
 
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