Bipod on SWS - Hot or Not?
 

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

Bipod vs Ruck/buttpack
 

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

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...

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Here is a good diagram of a tripod lashing.

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

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.......

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

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.

Rick,

PH's are free...