Which Harris Bipod?

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Shivdaddy

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I am looking at Harris's website and it seems there are about 4 different sets each for the 6-9 inches, 9-13 inches, and 13-25 inches tall. I dont know which size would best fit me? I plan on using it while prone and maybe bench rest as they call it. (What other way could use use one of these?) I am guessing I want the 9-13?

Next question which of the models below should I get? I know I want swivel so that narrows it to two of them. So one has notches the other does not? What are advantages/disadvantages between those 2?


HBL - Adjustable legs extend from 9" to 13" Standard Legs

HBLS - Adjustable legs extend from 9" to 13" Standard Legs.
"S" Series - (Swivels)

HBLM - Adjustable legs extend from 9" to 13" with Leg Notches.

HBLMS - Adjustable legs extend from 9" to 13" with Leg Notches.
"S" Series - (Swivels)


Thanks guys,
Shiv
 
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You do want the 9-13" model. The model(s) with notched legs make for faster adjustments, IMO. If you are going to be shooting on unlevel (side to side) ground, you'll want the swivel version.

I like the Harris line, but if your budget is tight, take a look at the Caldwell bipods. They have virtually the same models at a somewhat cheaper price.
 
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the higher ones up to 25"-27" i believe are used if you want to shoot from a sitting position.

the advantage of the notches. you push a button and it springs out to the full length. you can easily adjust it by pushing the leg in and it locks into any of the detents along the leg. the detent lock is very strong. i have that one, and i love it.

the one with the smooth leg, you have to pull the legs out manually... it is under spring tension. it only has a detent at the full extend position. anything in between, you have to manually lock it in place at the height you want. sounds too fiddly.

to me, the swivel was a useless feature and expense since i don't plan on shooting on uneven ground. still, it is great for those that can make use it... like hunters and stuff. i forget what the swivel angle is. the legs can adjust somewhat for uneven ground, but the swivel allows for fine adjustments.

the advantage of the smooth leg i guess is that it has infinite height adjustment between it's range since you choose exactly the height and lock it in. i still thing the notched legs are better, because it is easier to use and sturdier imo.

i use the 6-9" for bench shooting. as far as which height is good for YOU? i don't know. try holding the rifle at the height you would normally shoot supported at and have someone measure the height from the ground/table to the bottom of your rifle. that should give you a good idea which height to get.
 
oh... another junk thing about the smooth legs is that it is harder to get each leg equal since you manually adjust each one. the one with the detents makes it easy since there are only so many detents for it to adjust at. definitely get the one with the detents imo.
 
The notched leg models are nice. Mine doesn't have them, but my next one will.

sound wave said:
aha.... i found a pretty good video describing the differences between the smooth and notched harris legs:
Harris Bipods - YouTube
Click to expand...

good vid

It's funny though. At 2:30 he makes it look so damn difficult to extend the legs on the smooth model. He even says you have to push the button to extend them, which isn't true. Then at 3:00 he shows himself do it easily without pushing the button. It kind of reminds me of a cheesy infomercial.
 
Another thought, buy a cheap utg and see what length works for you then spemd the money on a harris. Amazon $20.
 
Last question. The website from that video, Triad Tactical has the bipod for $97.20 after shipping. Does it ever get cheaper than that for the 9-13 HBLS ?
 
I found that when shooting my AR in a tactical precision match prone that the 9-13" ones are too long to be comfortable (at least when shooting down a hill at 270+ yards. . I ended up using one of the Winchester ones from Walmart in 6-9" w/20 rd mags and that was much easier to shoot. And since the 10-13" I had was used at 10" the 6-9" works good in level situations when unsprung to 9". Arching my back to get the proper angle on a 10" bipod setting was straining my back.
 
I've been debating what height to get myself. I've heard varying reports of whether the 6-9" models will work w/ the S&W banana mags from a bench. Is this just due to variation in bench height and body geometry and posture of the shooter?

I'd like to do a little prone shooting as well, but most of the bipod's use scenarios will be from a bench at the outdoor range or kneeling using the low-ish ledge at my indoor range to plant it. I've been using the long edge of the mag as a rest to take up around 1/4 of the weight so far.

Best to try 6-9" first or the 9-13"? I'm 6' 2" if that makes any difference.
 
Some people seem to have no problem with the 6-9" models from the bench but I prefer the 9-13". I use the same bipod on all my rifles, except my M1.

Using the mag itself as a rest can sometimes cause feeding problems. Just a caution ...
 
Another question! I was thinking these things just attach to the rail, but I need to buy an adapter? I want to be able to swivel/rotate my rifle and was thinking the bipod below will be able to do that, is that right? I ask because I see they have a "rota-pod" for an additional $80. I thought that was what the Swivel did in the model below.


HBLMS - Adjustable legs extend from 9" to 13" with Leg Notches. "S" Series - (Swivels)


Thanks guys,
David
 
No, the Harris do not attach directly to the rail. You will need an adaptor. Here are several:

Amazon.com: bipod adaptor

There are many more if you look for them.

As for "rotating", the bipods don't allow that. There is some limited movement to allow the rifle to stay level on un-level ground, but not to rotate about a point.
 
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the swivel feature and the rota-pod are different.

as majorlk said, the swivel only allows for for correction of horizontal leveling. as when you are on un-level ground.

the rota-pod allows you to turn the rifle to the left or right....like a turret. like if you were trying to follow a moving target.... or shoot at different targets without having to move the bipods feet.
 
I'd like to be able to easily swap between supported and unsupported shooting w/o having the additional weight and clutter hanging off of the rail when the bipod's not in use.

Will I need to go for a QD swivel adapter to achieve this or is it easy enough to remove/reinstall the bipod that I can go w/ a more fixed option?
 
Sid Nitzerglobin said:
Will I need to go for a QD swivel adapter to achieve this or is it easy enough to remove/reinstall the bipod that I can go w/ a more fixed option?
Click to expand...

i only have experience with the QD bipod mount. for my purposes, i think it is worth the extra money. put the mount against the rail, flip the switch. done. exact same tension every time. no chance of working itself loose.

if you don't want to spend the extra cash, then i would say go for the one with the knob. that would probably be good enough... you can still put it on and remove it pretty quickly.

they also make a type of mount that you attach to your rail semi-permanently using an allen screw. the harris bipod (the one brand i can speak for) is designed so that you can attach it to that type of mount as well. when you remove the bipod, the mount stays on the rifle (or you can remove the mount with an allen wrench) . to me, it is fiddly and it doesn't fit my needs. maybe that isn't a big deal to you, but i would avoid it.

just my 2 cents.
 
sound wave said:
i only have experience with the QD bipod mount. for my purposes, i think it is worth the extra money. put the mount against the rail, flip the switch. done. exact same tension every time. no chance of working itself loose.
Click to expand...

Is it the GG&G 1406? That's the one I was considering but would love to find another reliable, more cost effective cam style option if one exists.
 
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