Bipod on SWS - Hot or Not?

[QuietShootr]

I confess...I've been a Harris junkie my entire life - or at least since the age of 12 or so. More recently, I've noticed when carrying a SWS in the field, the 'pod tends to be a PITA in terms of getting hung up on shit, also it falls at the balance point on my rifle when the sound suppressor is mounted (which is most of the time.)

I noticed last year that I get my best accuracy when shooting off my ruck, also. I'm thinking about leaving the pod off for a while and seeing if it makes much difference in how I shoot and handle the weapon in the field.

Any of you sniper BTDTs have any thoughts on this?

TIA
QS

[longrange1947]

That is a can of worms. I prefer the bipod as it gives me more consistency. I have found the buttpack to shift and collapse at the most inoportune times.

I heard of pre-packing with non-shifting stuff but now you have a butt pack that is not good for anything else. The ruck can also get yo up high enough to become unstable. If I need to be up that high I would prefer a tripod of sticks or even a camera tripod.

My two cents on the subject.

Waiting for the Mairne contingent to voice their opinion. :munchin

[Footmobile]

Better to have than to not, I say.

I agree that buttpacks shift at the most in opportune time. Also one doesn't and shouldn't take off your 2nd line kit for a rifle support everytime you want to take a shot in the prone.

We have existed in the USMC for so long without Bipods (until the A3) that we alway just made due. Sometimes to the detriment to good consistent accuracy.

After coming back from Iraq, and moving from rural to urban settings on a daily basis, I would always want the option.

Edit to add:

Relying on a buttpack for a shooting support defeats the purpose of having a buttpack for odds and ends, it's just not a stable platform when you use it as intended. What happens when you pull out your poncho, gortex or an MRE from your buttpack? Your shooting support has gone to shit that's what...

[The Reaper]

I like the bipod for prone/over objects field shooting as well.

You just have to be sure to check the muzzle is clear before firing.

TR

[bikewrench8541]

We used to always use our buttpacks while I was in.
Sometimes on the range we would use sandbags, but it was generally considered to be 'cheating'. That is, unrealistic.
For stalking , esp during school we used home made mini-tripods, made out of sticks and para cord. (Seriously janky looking!)

Now, and for years, I use a Harris. They are awesome, however, on a stalk I can see it getting in the way (without a drag bag). Footy says that it's dealable on the M40a3, and he knows his shit.

The Harris seems to be as consistent as a sandbag.
Better shooters can comment here!
Plus side, moving onto other targets rapidly, observing, no sandbag to drag around.
A

[Footmobile]

The dowel tripod is still the way to go on a stalk. Camera tripods blow for firing live ammo, they can't handle the recoil. A wooden dowel tripod can spread out and give you a wider and more stable base to work with. They are less prone to break, and they are lighter than camera tripods. Thought they are more cumbersome to pack and carry. The Brits are very good at using them, taught us jarheads a thing or two.

The Bipods on the A3 are less prone to snag if you fold them towards the shooter.

IMO they are a must have in an urban fast paced fight like our guys are in right now.

[bikewrench8541]

So maybe a nice 12-15mm pine dowel? (Painted, duh)
What's the longest that you would use? Ours were about a foot at the most, I think that the Brits use em even longer.
Any 'Sailors' got a cool knot for this app?
A.

[Footmobile]

I have brought both the long and short types on stalks.

I had one that was as long enough to shoot in the high kneeling, must have been almost 4 feet long. Kept it in the drag bag or lashed to the side of my stalking pack when I was observing.

Left it in a locker at the Quantico school house so some PIG from the next basic course could put it to good use and learn the right way to use a real tripod.

Paint'em and wrap 'em in burlap and they are GTG. Also keep some boot bands attached for veg.

I don't want to even try to explain how to wrap the 550 cord to keep the thing together. But there is a way to make it work real well.

[QuietShootr]

Originally posted by Footmobile
The dowel tripod is still the way to go on a stalk. Camera tripods blow for firing live ammo, they can't handle the recoil. A wooden dowel tripod can spread out and give you a wider and more stable base to work with. They are less prone to break, and they are lighter than camera tripods. Thought they are more cumbersome to pack and carry. The Brits are very good at using them, taught us jarheads a thing or two.

The Bipods on the A3 are less prone to snag if you fold them towards the shooter.

IMO they are a must have in an urban fast paced fight like our guys are in right now.

Turning it around..that might solve the snagging problem on a stalk. I'll experiment.

I wasn't thinking of packing a dedicated buttpack, I normally just use my assault pack or ruck - there's usually enough shit in there that it SHRINKING isn't a problem I've ever experienced:D

[KevinB]

QS,

I have a ARMS QD Harris on my AR10T and MRS rifles.
You can add them when needed in seconds and take them off when not in use.

I sold my Jerry Rice Rem 700 to finance my .338LM Timberwolf by PGW (Canadian) - but I think that on that gun (when it gets built)I will go with a Parker Hale on a QD spigot.

[Razor]

Here is a good diagram of a tripod lashing.

http://www.troop570.com/tripod_lashing.htm

[Psywar1-0]

The only shrinkage he has to worry about is from the Tornado that hit the house when the paperwork from a NC based company came in the mail.......

[Footmobile]

Razor...thats a great diagram on how to properly bulit a good tripod. Good find.

[longrange1947]

Originally posted by KevinB
QS,

I have a ARMS QD Harris on my AR10T and MRS rifles.
You can add them when needed in seconds and take them off when not in use.

I sold my Jerry Rice Rem 700 to finance my .338LM Timberwolf by PGW (Canadian) - but I think that on that gun (when it gets built)I will go with a Parker Hale on a QD spigot.

I would rethink the Parker Hale. Very expensive and very loose. The weapon has a tendency to flop around when shooting.

Our guys use the Harris and have no real problems during stalks. I have never ran into a problem with the Harris, either form "going bong" or catching during movement. Yes I point hte legs forward as they should be mounted. I also use the swivel model and tighten it up so that I can tilt the weapon but it says tilted to the angel I need so I can mil or do whatever is necessary without the weapon flopping.

The tripod is an excellent piece of kit and should be taken on all trips into the bush. We lash ours to the side of the weapon durign a stalk. Ours are a bit shorter then some discribed here, but the idea is the same.

[KevinB]

Rick,

PH's are free...

[QuietShootr]

Well, there is that.


I played with the reversed Harris today. I kinda like it that way.

[bikewrench8541]

Thanks Razor.
Now that I see it, I'm thinkin' duh. This was in my Boy Scout Handbook!
LOL.
Good points Longrange. Thanks.

[Sinister]

Why not just replace the Harris QD mounting screw with a Tank's Speed Knob out of the Brownell's catalog? You can stick the bipod in an old PRC-77 antenna bag when you're moving, and when you're laid up sorry in your OP and you decide you want it instead of laying the gun on your ruck or day-pack you can put it on.

[QuietShootr]

Excellent idea! /ambles off to check brownells.com

[longrange1947]

The new Harris Bipods have a larger knob now for attaching the bipod. It is easier to use but we ahve problems with it coming loose sometimes. Easy enough to retighten though when ready to shoot.

Stoney point and Harris have pouches for carrying th ebipods and Stony Points cross stix, and bipod, as well as another item I do not know the name to.

Hey Dave, long time no see. Ed should be in your area this weekend with Bull. Got to go to Mass with the wife for the next two weeks so will be competey out of the computer loop until then. :boohoo

[The Reaper]

Tank Knob is nice, as is the "Pod Lock" for quickly locking/unlocking the Harris swivel version.

TR

[EchoSixMike]

I don't care for the rear fold setup, it tempts having the legs collapse if you lean into the rifle, such as when shooting down hill or from a building. Or if you just shove into the rifle trying to get the proper position for the rest of your body, such as when you're laying on a bunch of jagged roof tiles trying to find something that hurts less :)

I second the opinion that the "pod lock" is useful accessory for the Harris. S/F....Ken M

[brianksain]

In the LE arena, you see them on almost every cop sniper rifle out there.

Many guys use them as a crutch and only shoot/practice prone bipod. Bad business. Some in the community have been teaching otherwise for years and it is finally catching on. Lots of run and gun courses out there now with no bipod sections and the guys are forced to make a rest out of whatever they can find.

Now and then you will see a guy shooting off his pack. Almost invariably he has been in the Corps or taught by someone like those here or someone like me who has learned from someone like those here.

The Harris has springs and bounces on concrete which is where we work a lot of the time. But at the distances we normally operate, it is manageable if you know the deal.

I feel it has it's place but like anything is not the end all be all. Like others have said. Quick on, quick off knob is the way to go.

Coulda used one of the longer ones on an incident once in the sitting for about 6 hours ...