Bipod

[dadrew]

I'm looking at getting a bipod for my rimfire, but I'm seeing that they come in different heights. What an deal height for one please guys. Don't want anything massively expensive.

[Dekers]

It will depend on Target/field shooting, the time of year, land/crop type you are shooting over, quarry size, even possibly calibre of rifle, etc etc.

 

Many people have more than one size of bipod (and sticks sometimes).

 

There is no single size for every type of shooting, the 9-13, and 11-25 (or there abouts) are common!

 

Swivel is also very important for virtually every field application.

 

[weejase]

I bought a harris bipod a few years back and tbh it only get`s used for sighting in new scopes.

 

With british weather there`s rarely a day with nice dry ground to lay down shooting.

 

Make yourself a set of sticks.....I use mine all the time.

[DaveK]

In a nutshell you should consider the lowest one that you feel comfortable shooting off if you intend shooting prone. You need to be as low to the ground as comfort allows. I need a 9-13 whereas Lorraine needs the smaller one (6-9?). Shooting off a vehicle or sitting/kneeling you need longer ones naturally.

 

As Dekers says, there is no single size and alternatively sticks.

 

For a .22rf you don't need to go to the expense of a harris and there are several viable alternatives at a fraction of the price. As always you get what you pay for but some cheaper ones are still pretty robust.

[Gimlet]

I never use mine except for zeroing and a bit of range shooting now and again. 9-13 does the job. Much more use in the field is a pair of hazel sticks or my Bog-Pod tripod which can be used from sitting to standing. If you buy a Harris swivel bipod, tighten up the hexagonal lock nut behind the knurled nut on the pivot. It stiffens the swivel action and makes it more stable.

[dadrew]

Ok so if I started out with a 9 to 13 then and get others as and when!

[kent]

Firstly Harris is the one unless you want something very specific for a particular purpose. I should always get a swivel one if your not just shooting off a level bench, otherwise you will be forced into a cant and all your come ups will be out of vertical. I should also fit a pod lock as loose swivels can and will torque off POA during the first phase of recoil. Cheaper copies have been known to give up mine have seen abuse over many years all I have done is put a slight bend into one leg so it needs help retracting.

 

As for which I use that runs approx. 12-25" and carries marks at my usual sitting requirement, its also useful for prone in heather etc but too high for precision shooting over longer ranges, for that I have the smallest adjustable version they do again with swivel and pod lock. Back against a tree / wall waiting in the sitting position is very much more comfortable than laid on your belly for hours and sitting is the best way of shooting downhill IMO

 

Two very useful tips for bipod shooting with deer class rifles are allow the gun to freely recoil back with little hard shoulder contact or hold the forearm end down with the left hand (especially if shooting off harder surfaces), less important with air / rimfire by far though

[Dekers]

Probably the nature of most of my shooting these days, but a Bipod is virtually always attached to whatever rifle I am using.

 

I certainly don't use it for every shot, and leaning on gates/fences/trees/walls/whatever is available for support, is also common for me, but that still happens with the bipod attached. I rarely make, or attempt totally free standing shots, I very seldom find the need.

 

Views expressed by others above show various levels of acceptance or use for bipods, it's down to the individual/gun/quarry/land/etc.

 

For me it give an edge in many ways, and I take every advantage I can sensibly get.

 

[Scully]

As above, you'll only know once you've been out and about for a bit really. I have a Harris swivel which has lived on my RF for years, but the only times it is used nowadays is for checking zero or one specific piece of land we shoot on where we can lay on a relatively high concealed vantage point and snipe rabbits sunning themselves below.

My CF also has a swivel bipod (can't recall the make) and as this is my foxing kit it gets used more, but rarely for shooting deer as the options for getting down are few and far between, though I can't say it's never happened.

Handy things to have nevertheless.

[Paul T]

I've a Harris 9-13" with swivel and there's no doubt about the fact they are the market leader

 

I can't help thinking though, that the 6-9" might have been better for me? I have looked round for an alternative to the Harris and the only one that comes close is the Edgar Brothers one at around half the price of the Harris.

 

Treat swivel as a must, not an option

[Duckman91]

I have just fitted a 9 - 13 inch bipod on my air rifle. It's perfect for prone and a little higher for long grass.

 

It was only £22 delivered of eBay and for me it's spot on. It also has a tilt feature for uneven ground.

 

Here's a pic

 

[peek-at]

You buy a bipod to give you a steady & comfortable shooting position.

However, If you shoot land where there is long grass/scrub that you need a bit of height to get over, go for something like a Harris 12-25"

 

I find that its a bit of an all-rounder. I can shoot prone at its lowest setting quite comfortably, but it also extends so you can shoot sitting/kneeling

 

Sometimes its better to pay a bit more for the quality. I bought a cheaper version of this one by another maker and it just didnt hold up. started to fall to bits.

When I got a Harris in my hands I could feel the difference in build quality/materials.

Having said that I have previously bought a chinese made bipod which although simple, was well made and is still on one of my rifles & going strong. CLICK

[dadrew]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I'm of to the CLA today for the whole weekend so I will take a look and maybe get a deal. Many thanks.

[moorvale55]

+1 with peek-at, use it low at prone position or high for sitting/kneeling. I use a Harris btw.

[loriusgarrulus]

I usually sit or stand due to not being able to get back up when I get down due to creaky joints. If you want to spend a bit more and don't want it fixed to your rifle a primos trigger tripod are superb. Bit pricey arounf £100 though.

 

Or get a cheap camera tripod and put a Y telephoto support on it. It will go from a few inches to standing depending on the camera tripod. The Y is a standard camera mount at about £6 including P&P.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390640146974?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT.

Edited July 17, 2014 by loriusgarrulus