Since you asked specifically about the Impact and what we would suggest, I will offer my $0.02 as I have tried several on my Impacts.
When I first decided to move beyond the standard Harris bipod I’ve always used on hunting rigs, and move to some thing more suited for tactical and bench purposes, I also saw the clone videos and thought they must be the same. I didn’t want to purchase one and support the clone trade, but when my first used Impact came with one, it was the perfect opportunity to try it.
On the Impact, I think the clones are not good. The Impact has the pic rail in the middle of the gun instead of out front, like you would normally want, so that isn’t the best for balance. Add to that the height of the Impact and if you have a heavy scope (I usually do) and again balance is important. With the cheap Chinese knockoffs, you will also hear about the fixes you need to make inside to keep the knob from coming loose. I tried every fix I could find online, and it always came loose making the Impact wobble around and the Impact was never as stable as it should be and made shooting difficult. It was very sloppy, and too many times I saw the Impact start leaning or almost fall over because the bipod wouldn’t lock up. I knew then that I didn’t want a $2000 rifle plus scope falling over because I cheaped out on the foundation.
Enter the Atlas BT10. It is completely different aside from looks. It locks right up and the Impact doesn’t move unless I want it to. The knob does screw off by itself when I pan my rifle like the clone. I take it off and use it on other rifles when I want. It has pan and cant, which for my uses is necessary. The ability to actually lock the real Atlas and not have it coming loose is a huge reason to avoid the knockoffs. Never has my rifle almost fallen over on a bench because the weight of my Impact was too much for the real Atlas.
I still have that Atlas and will continue to use it on other rifles when I need small and light, but the one thing that I still didn’t like when paired with the Impact is the narrow base. Something wider would have been just a bit better for balance. I just picked up the Accu-Tac F2G2, and I couldn’t be happier. Has pan and cant, locks up even better than the Atlas, and has a very nice wide base which I absolutely love. The balance on the Impact is amazing and this will probably become the bipod I move to all my bench guns.
There are many people with their mind set on the clones, and to each their own. It does have pan and cant and some people are happy with it and it works for them, and maybe you will as well. I would prefer something more stable and not sloppy, and something wider. That would be my suggestion for you.
