Atlas vs Clone Knockoffs

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Tominco

Tominco

Member
Apr 1, 2015
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Colorado, United States
Finally got the video machine up and running again! I hope to have more (and more exciting) videos coming out. 

Thanks goes out to @BigTinBoat for the modification instructions that might help with one of the Clone's short comings....
1) Get a nylon bolt from Hardware store. The one I used was 8-32, but it can be bigger as you will be "fitting" it to your drilled hole of 1/8"


2)Disassemble Bi-Pod by unscrewing the hand wheel completely.
3)Drill and 1/8" hole thru the bolt approx 1/8" from end


4)Chuck the nylon bolt in a drill press (or hand drill motor). Use a piece of sand paper, file or even a razor blade to reduced the diameter until the bolt will just go into the hole with a bit of force. You need to be able to push the nylon bolt completely thru the bolt.



5) Cut off the nylon bolt with a sharp knife or razor even with the threads on each side of the bolt.


6) Reassemble the Bi-Pod. You may need to use pliers on the hand wheel as it will be tight. This works similar to a NyLoc nut so imaging putting one of those on by hand.7) Re-assemble the Bi-Pod and you will notice that when you swivel/tilt the Bi-Pod the nut does not loosen.If you disassemble or tighten/loosen a few times the nut will begin turning. This will wear just as a NyLoc nut will wear. If this happens you just need to replace the Nylon insert.

Please be kind and give some accuracy points to BigTinBoat and myself if you found this useful!

Happy Shooting,
Tom
 
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Great video!

I am an Atlas advocate, but on a tight budget the clone can be modified to do cant and swivel. The issue is the ball joint compression and hieght after it is tightened.

There is a spring bellow the ball joint that under compression causes the ball to recess into the socket, on the atlas, one can see the gap between the QD and the base of the bipod, this gap is non existent on the clone.

The fix is a washer in the socket of the ball. This washer needs to fit over the main bolt but inside the second step of the socket. This mod puts more compression on the spring as well as raising the ball joint so that under hand tightening the ball does not recess into the socket and allows for cant, in this configuration tightening the knob can also lock the can't and swivel position.

couple this with the plastic washer and the main bolt will stay put as well! One could swap the main spring for something more compressive, but the issue is the ball joint recessing too far into the socket, this washer mod prevents that from happening as well as putting more compression on the ball to lock desired cant.
 
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iride,
Thanks for the compliments! Toss me some accuracy, if you don't mind. :)
I use Atlas bipods on my rifles that have a picatinny rail on them (or that I decide to mount a picatinny rail on). 
I use Harris bipods on my rifles hat have a sling stud... "End of line". (Tron reference)

Really though, that's where it ends for me. Harris is very well known because they make a quality bipod for the sling stud mount. I'd highly recommend a Harris to anyone. I like the way you can lock the legs in place to level the rifle. They give you the ability to "pinch" the legs to just the right place and lock them. I haven't used the swivel versions. 
Obviously, I like the Atlas for Picatinny rail applications. The worst thing about Atlas is the tilt. I almost wish it was less restrictive when loosened up. That way you can get the perfect level and then lock it in place. I find myself chasing that perfect spot from right to left a few times before finding it and locking it down. 
I actually did do a comparison video with Atlas, Harris, and a few others, showing how they work and the benefits of the designs. I think it got lost in my recent computer issues. 
Tom
 
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Tom, I think the Harris are easier to use, springs, Legs down and legs extended. Atlas press the button on each leg, Press the slip things and the legs extend,
The Atlas is a little more compact, Anyone that can not decide I say order both and check them out < knock off of course, Crazy to spend 500 to check them out , Not so bad to spend 70 to take a look , Easy to sell to. I like both of them, On my new gun for the lightness and compactness I will go with the Atlas , easy to use I will go with Harris.
Not sure what they are talking about but my knock off would do every thing my 300 dollar atlas would do, I am talking everything, I got mine from DH gate maybe a difference
Not sure,

Mike
 
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Iride - 500? They're pricey, but not quite that much. They're more like $260 and the knockoffs ~$60. Unless your talking the big Atlas like Ted uses. 
That's one thing I did not think to do, a weight comparison between Atlas, knockoff, and harris. Might have to look into that. I really dig my harris bipods as well. I would have probably only used those if the Atlas' hadn't got such good reviews by so many. I also just don't like the bipod stud - it's a personal preference thing. There's just something about that little nub of metal that rubs me wrong. But, I do like the picatinny rail. Go figure... :)
Tom
 
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I have learned quite a bit from this forum, my contribution is purely for the pleasure of the less fortunate or those who have come upon tough times...

its a sad reality that there is even a clone option in the first place, and I know how disappointed I was with my clone when I mounted it on my FX.

these mods make the clone usable, for me Toms' post addressed the shortcomings that still existed with it and I felt that he deserved the accuracy.

the return accuracy for me was an unexpected bonus, and I am very lucky as I rarely have anything of value to contribute as I have only been shooting PCP for about 5 months!

one day when I am gainfully employed again I will buy a chrony and post some more quantifiable data about gun, pellets, speed and hold from a newbie perspective, until then I remain a humble student!
 
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LOL, I am saying buy the knock offs and compare them, 80 bucks maybe, or you can buy the real deals and compare them, Maybe 500 bucks for the real Harris and the real Atlas That's the price for both,
If you can not decide what you want look around and test each one,
Be great if we could do that with air guns, Or maybe we can if we buy from the big dealers .
Mike
 
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I have a Harris and the Atlas. Personally I prefer the Atlas. 1st Atlas cost 260.00 plus tax. Then I bought a couple of the Atlas clones. 56.00. Had to do a little work on them with the nylon washer in the tilt and trimmed one so it went on and off smoothly. I'll do this mod next. Now when we have them out shooting nobody can tell which is the real deal without a good look. We shoot them on the AR-15's when not on my airguns. We ordered 4 more that should be in this week. I notice they always come in listed as camera parts. Thanks for the videos Tom. Now that takes a lot of work!
 
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"riazp"Great video!

I am an Atlas advocate, but on a tight budget the clone can be modified to do cant and swivel. The issue is the ball joint compression and hieght after it is tightened.

There is a spring bellow the ball joint that under compression causes the ball to recess into the socket, on the atlas, one can see the gap between the QD and the base of the bipod, this gap is non existent on the clone.

The fix is a washer in the socket of the ball. This washer needs to fit over the main bolt but inside the second step of the socket. This mod puts more compression on the spring as well as raising the ball joint so that under hand tightening the ball does not recess into the socket and allows for cant, in this configuration tightening the knob can also lock the can't and swivel position.

couple this with the plastic washer and the main bolt will stay put as well! One could swap the main spring for something more compressive, but the issue is the ball joint recessing too far into the socket, this washer mod prevents that from happening as well as putting more compression on the ball to lock desired cant.
Click to expand...
This seems like a much better fix than drilling the bolt....... I need a bipod, and there is no way I am dropping $250 smakkers for one. Also, a tad bit of loctite in the threads on the clone will add a nylok type holding power. For this I would coat the threads with loctite, let it set, then run a nut over it to knock off the excess. It fills the threads up enuff to provide resistance, yet still allow adjustment. I do this on my M Lok T Nuts as well
 
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regarding the tightness of the clone on the picatinny rail,
if you drive out the pin from the lever, do one full turn anti clockwise on the nut to make the bolt longer
the jaws will open up wider and the lever will be effortless and lockable too.

no need to spend silly money on the original. i would save the difference towards another pcp
 
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I’ve bought a few 39.00 Atlas knockoff bipods and the only thing I’ve done is take the screw out that fastens the legs to the body and put a couple drops of blue loc tite in the treads then re attach the Legs and snug up the screw on each side so they are firm and let it sit for 24 hours so the loc tite sets up so when you push the button to move the legs they are firm not loose and don’t come loose when moving them back and forth which does happen on the cheap ones, problem solved..could use red loc tite if ya wanted to just use heat if you ever what to take it apart, why you would I have no clue.
 
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