Remple plate adaptor now available.
Pic rail adaptor now available.
T slot ready - will fit two most common rail sizes - Choate and Anschutz.
As with all things, compromise vs a set of goals. The biggest goal for me was weight. The red pod pictured scales in at a feathery 14oz making it the lightest F class suitable pod that I am aware of.
Less weight in the pod, more weight in barrels, stocks and scopes.
I did test various hardware including the alloy and cast variants. Way heavier. The OEM type polymer used in the included hardware is unlikely to fail under normal use. It is strong.
The design features I feel make it unique in the market are the INCREASED foot print the taller you raise the pod/rifle. Every other pod on the market requires their feet to narrow to raise the rifle. So the taller you go, the more wobbly the set up can become.
The raised roll centers on each leg. Taking some hints from Euro sniper rifles, I wanted to SUSPEND the rifle from the pod. This meant raising the roll center of the legs.
With the roll points equal to the boreline and the mass of the rifle UNDER these points, the rifle isn't tippy and doesnt torque under recoil. I am designing a new stock that will lower the CG of the rifle even more.
Most pods have the rifle ON TOP making the balance more like a top balancing on a point. Increased hardware is needed to keep the rifle from torquing over. That increases bulk and weight.
With the rifle slung below, the rifle acts more like a keel on a boat and wants to return to center. This self correcting feature reduces the need for the pod to "muscle" the rifle's torque. Simple but very effective.
Putting the roll centers wide apart also reduces the chances of torquing during recoil. The pod does track very nicely.
Even though the pod is light, it will easily support a 50lbs rifle. The orig supported over 200lbs so we figured we could lighten things up a notch. By design, the legs will not slide under load (with the knob tightened of course). The harder you push, the tighter the legs stay - until failure. But are easily moved when needed - loosen knob, move the leg.
On and off with a 1/2 twist of the new lever knob.
Legs remove very quickly so the whole unit can lie flat for easier storage. In fact, I put my pod in my rifle case. Try that with any other pod.
The new version will have a Type 3 milspec anodised finish and modern design for the plate cutouts.
So strong, stable, light, easy to use, durable. Would work great for those into LR hunting and varminting. We are using this pod on heavy 338LM's to shoot out beyond 1 mile.
Spotting our own hits is easy.
The compromises - to keep weight at a min, the central elevation adjustment on many pods was not added. The legs are manually raised and lowered independently. Height and cant are easily adjusted for. Small adjustments when shooting are handled by the rear bag as most of us do now.
It takes about the same time to set up and once on center, the rear bag handles the rest. We are working on a central elevation unit AND a rear adjustable stock.
I offer a simple guarantee with my pods. Buy it, try it. If you dont like it, return it and get a full refund PLUS the cost of return postage.
Like all things, it has compromises BUT what it does, it does very well.
Enjoy...
Jerry
