Trying to find a bipod for my gun. Really would like to avoid paying $300 plus for a bipod, could be talked into maybe $100. Does such a thing actually exist?
Is there a good, inexpensive bipod?
- Thread starter Saltlake58
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What makes a "good" bipod? Objective answers to subjective questions are impossible to give.
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I have two of these. Very sturdy, good bipod.
UTG Rubber Armored Full Metal QD Bipod, Height 6.0"- 8.5"
Bipod link
UTG Rubber Armored Full Metal QD Bipod, Height 6.0"- 8.5"
Bipod link
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I second the Harris Bi-pod mentioned. I hear they are used in the military and they are priced about where you want them. I have one and although it's not a $300 bi-pod it werqs just fine. Just be sure you pick the one you want as there are many options available. There are plenty of cheap Chinese knock offs of the spendy styles out there if you don't mind making alterations or repairs on your new unit they can be OK.
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I have two of these. Very sturdy, good bipod.
UTG Rubber Armored Full Metal QD Bipod, Height 6.0"- 8.5"
Bipod link
I have two of them also. they work just fine for me.
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I bought a Atlas clone. After doing a little work to it I love it. Like it better than my UTG Recon 360. Paid $40 for the clone.
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It's sad but I got mine for even less and you are right after a couple of mods it werqs fine. Some the Atlas clones are are priced at one tenth the price of the original. If the Atlas was half the price it is I would own one. Seems to me they are vastly overpriced. Still I really hate to buy the China made stuff.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/173954617224
https://thea.com/Bipods-Monopods-Rotating-Bipod/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/173954617224
https://thea.com/Bipods-Monopods-Rotating-Bipod/
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I'vv been using a Versa Pod pan and tilt but it is not light weight
the reason I bought it is you leave the mounts on the rifle and just add the bipod when needed
https://stores.versapod.com/all-bipods/
the reason I bought it is you leave the mounts on the rifle and just add the bipod when needed
https://stores.versapod.com/all-bipods/
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I have (2) of these. They pan, tilt etc.
https://smile.amazon.com/UTG-Heavy-Duty-Recon-Bipod/dp/B00Z9JTFJE/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=UTG+Heavy+Duty+Recon+360+Bipod&qid=1564310741&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-1
https://smile.amazon.com/UTG-Heavy-Duty-Recon-Bipod/dp/B00Z9JTFJE/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=UTG+Heavy+Duty+Recon+360+Bipod&qid=1564310741&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-1
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JimMN -What makes a good bipod? Something steady that when I set it up, holds its position. First recoil doesn't send the legs to one side or another.
I have an Atlas Clone, but modding it seems to make it worse for me. At the range yesterday, after every shot, the legs moved from side to side no matter what I did. Hence the questions. Time to replace.
What mods are people making to the Atlas clones? Perhaps, I can salvage the old bipod?
Thanks for all the info!
I have an Atlas Clone, but modding it seems to make it worse for me. At the range yesterday, after every shot, the legs moved from side to side no matter what I did. Hence the questions. Time to replace.
What mods are people making to the Atlas clones? Perhaps, I can salvage the old bipod?
Thanks for all the info!
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I'd mention 2 to you. The Caldwell Accumax and the Magpul bipod. They both have pan & tilt, are very light weight, and are right at that $100 mark. One has leg extension slots the other has infinitely adjustable legs.
The downsides to both of them (IMO) - Neither one has a 45 degree leg position. Neither one has a quick release option.
The clone modification, that I know of, is to add an O-ring to the center swivel knuckle. I'd say it "kinda" worked but, what does that really mean? It means it ultimately didn't work but it made it a lot better than it was. There was a link in my comparison video comments to another guys YT page that showed how to do the modification and had specs on the right size O-ring but, I can't find it now.
Tom
The downsides to both of them (IMO) - Neither one has a 45 degree leg position. Neither one has a quick release option.
The clone modification, that I know of, is to add an O-ring to the center swivel knuckle. I'd say it "kinda" worked but, what does that really mean? It means it ultimately didn't work but it made it a lot better than it was. There was a link in my comparison video comments to another guys YT page that showed how to do the modification and had specs on the right size O-ring but, I can't find it now.
Tom
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The mods I did on my clone were. Stripped it down completely filed the pivot area so could get full tilt both ways. Light lubing of the pan and tilt pivot area with Krytox. Add 2 8mm washers between the spring and pivot washer so the tilt function still works after tightening the tension knob. Add a o-ring under the tension knob over the bolt. I did use Loctite on the tension knob. Once adjusted for desired resistance for pan and tilt and the Loctite sets up it wont come loose. Take the legs off and light lube on the brass washers then reassemble with Loctite on those screws, tighten down till the legs have no play but move with slight drag on them. Make sure the push buttons don't hang up when pushed in to change the leg position from 90 degree to 45 degree to 0, Use a dab of green penetrating Loctite on the push button threads. Once assembled attach to you gun and fine tune the pan and tilt tension to you licking. then let the Loctite set up for at least 24 hours you should be good to go. 30 minutes of work and Loctite on every threaded part and you will have great bipod. Also they make extension for the clone bipod just like the Atlas. I bought some and the fit is perfect, very snug, no play or wobble with the extensions added.
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I have both of the UTG bipods mentioned. Quite happy with them both. I mostly shoot off of a bench so the non tilting bipod is my preference. If I was taking it to rough terrain I would go with the tilting version (360 Recon).
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I'm with you here. Some of the bipods must be made from unobtainum. https://www.amazon.com/Rifle-Bipod-Tactical-Picatinny-Adjustable/dp/B01LWATDQG/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=atlas+bipod&qid=1564344870&s=gateway&sr=8-11 is what I have on my Brocock Commander and it works very well. Total cost is $39 and it's a Atlas BT-10 knock off.
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If you can afford $100, Harris is the way to go, IMHO. They have been made by the same small shop in Kentucky forever and have adapters for any application. They are the original, military tested/used/abused, brilliantly designed, butt ugly, utilitarian accessory that every rifleman needs!. Check out the short legged, varmint model. There are a lot of Chinese and other wanabees - but only one, good old boy, US made Harris!
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Tominco - You may very well be right. I've never been able to get most modifications to work well on the cheapies, but I'll try one more time. Went to the range Friday and the legs of my cheapie jumped all over the place, making my first day shooting 100 yards (long story, range didn't allow airguns on the 100 yard range till last week) less enjoyable then I'd have liked.
I'll probably do my normal schtick and buy a couple cheapies and call this a "Prototype" project. In the world of IT (that's Information Technology, not "IT"), we'll often do a really nice mock up of a system and call it a prototype. Once the customer says it's good enough, we throw away the prototype and build the real system that actually works. In this case, I'll probably buy a couple different inexpensive bipods while I decide what design I like, then spring for the good one. For now, the cheapies keep me shooting while I save my pennies for the authentic versions.
As for other bipods, I do need the 45 degree position for the legs so that kind of limits the choices.
It's just I'd rather spend my $$ on guns and keep the accessories under control. Maybe it's just not meant to be?
I'll probably do my normal schtick and buy a couple cheapies and call this a "Prototype" project. In the world of IT (that's Information Technology, not "IT"), we'll often do a really nice mock up of a system and call it a prototype. Once the customer says it's good enough, we throw away the prototype and build the real system that actually works. In this case, I'll probably buy a couple different inexpensive bipods while I decide what design I like, then spring for the good one. For now, the cheapies keep me shooting while I save my pennies for the authentic versions.
As for other bipods, I do need the 45 degree position for the legs so that kind of limits the choices.
It's just I'd rather spend my $$ on guns and keep the accessories under control. Maybe it's just not meant to be?
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I've got the same model and paid about the same for it. The cant adjustment on mine sucks big time. Not smooth at all. That's why I'm off looking for another bipod. Was hoping someone knew of one that worked better for a more reasonable price than the $300 to $500 for Accu-Tec's or Atlas brand names. Some really good suggestions here, I'll do more research.
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I think I know exactly what you mean -- the tension thumb screw is a joke -- but I've worked around it. I screw it just tight enough with the front of the bipod off-center to the barrel so that when I rotate the bipod counter-clockwise it tightens it down hard. If I need to adjust the ball and socket cant angle I just give it a little twist clockwise and rinse-repeat the above. Fooling with the thumb tension screw on the front is a joke. I wonder if the $300 version suffers from the same fate and if such a fate is easily solved with a nylon washer between the rail mount assembly and the thumb screw adjustment knob shaft.
I live in the sticks so my front yard is my range -- using the method above I've not had any issues with my 100 yard hanging pot and any recoil/leg jumping around from the portable shooting table I'm using. Hope this helped.
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