Bipod? Tripod? Shooting stick?

[MeetchMcKeef]

I absolutely love my field optics research ProMAX FT-6229C with a spartan precision ball head. Ive got it set up so I can quickly switch from glassing to shooting from it. For the price I think the tripod is a great option.

 

[Silviuswolf]

I do like my Spartan javelin lite bipod a lot. Eventually, I may get sitting/kneeling length legs for it.

Don’t get the Springbok! It has horrible reviews around here.

I got a Trigger Sticks one because it was on sale, but I don’t love it. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I’m not really used to it yet.

Buy Trigger Stick Gun Mounted Bipods with Spartan Technology - Medium - Primos Hunting

Trigger Stick Gun Mounted Bipods with Spartan Technology - Medium | Primos Hunting

www.primos.com

Tell me more about the attachment please. Is it just a magnet that doesn’t come undone? I can’t find any good review videos.

 

[nm.otter]

The magnetic connection is strong enough to prevent unintentional disconnections, but can be pulled loose with one hand (light bipod from rifle, or rifle from tripod) using a bit of leverage.

Some attachments (e.g. the HD Optics Adapter) include a mechanical locking function which prevents removal until that is released.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Tell me more about the attachment please. Is it just a magnet that doesn’t come undone? I can’t find any good review videos.

The magnet is strong enough to hold it in place while you maneuver it. I would not carry it a great distance with the bipod inserted. A good firm pull is all it takes to remove it.

Edit - you can put it the other way to allow for horizontal movement if desired.

 

[satchamo]

Depending on where you’re going- sage can be a real bipod inhibitor. Sometimes you can get where you shoot down or where the sage is shorter or non existent. That said a tripod will get you over the sage. I run trekking poles as a rear rest behind a tripod and I can shoot that combo out to 500 accurately.

As far as model goes - look at leofotos offerings. I don’t own one but if I did it would be one of their inverted leg models.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

The bipod is easily carried in a coat pocket, dump pouch, or a small dedicated pouch (this one is called the Aspis) that mounts on a load-bearing vest or binocular harness.

Edit - the longer legged ones can be strapped to the outside of an assault pack or main pack or stuck inside a camelback pouch.

 

[TaperPin]

In antelope country a tallish bipod is popular. You have to be able to get up over sagebrush, either extra high prone way up on your elbows, or sitting.

The tall Harris bipod that goes from 13” to 27” has worked well. Not extended it’s tall, but usable prone. I’ve taken inexperienced shooters who’ve never shot past 100 yards and without a rear bag had them shooting good enough the first afternoon way up on their elbows for 400 yard shots. My first wife took her first antelope with it at a full 450 yards with little shooting background. There was a game warden watching us from a mile away at the 50 yard line and he complimented her on a very fine shot.

Everything has a downside. The Harris is ugly and heavy, but on a 270 or 7 mag taking a hand off the forend and shooting it at this extra high prone position also causes the point of impact to go right a little and up 1/2 MOA ish. For the most part I ignore it until pushing past 450 yards.

 

[Fowl Play]

I actually just purchased the Tricer bipod for my upcoming pronghorn hunt. Area I’m hunting my shot will likely be from sitting or even kneeling due to the high sage. Been doing allot of indoor training just getting into different positions quickly (while it’s raining here). Should get some trigger time behind it this week out to 600 yards. Allot of complaints about pan and tilt being on the same throw lever (ball head). Although I do wish the pan could be locked out independently from the tilt, I do not think it is going to be a problem. The throw lever was not tight enough for me right out of the box and yes the pan was super annoying. I removed the one screw retaining the throw lever, buttoned that thing down, and re-attached it. Way less play in that joint now. So far I really like this thing. We’ll see if my opinion changes after this week and ~ 100 rounds.

 

[nm.otter]

The MagnaSwitch system makes a ball head entirely workable -- you get panning ability regardless of the underlying support.

 

[TaperPin]

I suspect we’ll see a big increase in shooting off tripods seated and kneeling, especially in the areas with thicker taller sage. When sneaking over a rise on hands and knees or duck walking you’re only going far enough to see them over the sage and that can be prone or seated. Many times I could raise my head up seated and see the goats, but the tall bipod wasn’t tall enough by a long shot. Extra tall bipods are also able to be extra high, but a big tripod your hunting buddy is carrying for you could be a game changer in height and stability.

 

[hereinaz]

Once i went to a tripod , never looked back


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Same here. Tripod all the way. For new guys, I recommend shooting off a bag on top. The right tripod is both light and versatile. Once set up with a bag, you can make adjustments to your position with the rifle if game moves. It is faster and easier than with a bipod or shooting sticks where you have to pick it up and move the legs. I do not recommend pivoting bipods because if legs are not perpendicular to the barrel, recoil gets wonky fast. I can adjust faster with a tripod and bag to stay on game. Easier to keep focus on the animal than lifting the legs and putting them down again with bipod. Not a huge thing, but it’s a pro.

Ultimately, its philosophy of use and what you practice with. And, how far you want to shoot.

If you are shooting inside 350, most any will do as long as you practice. I don’t think you would be hamstrung. Past that, and groups open up and recoil management also starts to matter more.

Once you clip into a tripod or attach a bipod or rest on shooting sticks, your position and angles of the gear matters. Making micro adjustments sometimes slows shooters down when you take into consideration all the planes and angles.

Tall bipods are not as stable as a tripod. Shooting sticks can be a little better, depending on the type. You should plan on being high enough to clear grass in front of you and to get up over the grass that might be on the hill in front of you.

But, they are obviously stable enough. If that’s what you want, there is good advice above.

Bipods and shooting sticks can be a bit faster on initial set up, but in my experience the added stability of a tripod makes up for it. You can see that I am pretty quick, and once in position very stable. And, if you do not practice with your bipod, I’d bet I could be faster…

@NSI has a pic of me shooting off a “tall” bipod I think. A lot of the stability is knowing how to build out the position. Most is the same between platforms.

Here is one video, I have a few others on the channel showing different ways to build positions for stability.

 

[280ai_alaska]

I have always used a tripod. If u have a spotting scope u have a tripod and one less thing to carry

 

[jzs0040]

Same here. Tripod all the way. For new guys, I recommend shooting off a bag on top. The right tripod is both light and versatile. Once set up with a bag, you can make adjustments to your position with the rifle if game moves. It is faster and easier than with a bipod or shooting sticks where you have to pick it up and move the legs. I do not recommend pivoting bipods because if legs are not perpendicular to the barrel, recoil gets wonky fast. I can adjust faster with a tripod and bag to stay on game. Easier to keep focus on the animal than lifting the legs and putting them down again with bipod. Not a huge thing, but it’s a pro.

Ultimately, its philosophy of use and what you practice with. And, how far you want to shoot.

If you are shooting inside 350, most any will do as long as you practice. I don’t think you would be hamstrung. Past that, and groups open up and recoil management also starts to matter more.

Once you clip into a tripod or attach a bipod or rest on shooting sticks, your position and angles of the gear matters. Making micro adjustments sometimes slows shooters down when you take into consideration all the planes and angles.

Tall bipods are not as stable as a tripod. Shooting sticks can be a little better, depending on the type. You should plan on being high enough to clear grass in front of you and to get up over the grass that might be on the hill in front of you.

But, they are obviously stable enough. If that’s what you want, there is good advice above.

Bipods and shooting sticks can be a bit faster on initial set up, but in my experience the added stability of a tripod makes up for it. You can see that I am pretty quick, and once in position very stable. And, if you do not practice with your bipod, I’d bet I could be faster…

@NSI has a pic of me shooting off a “tall” bipod I think. A lot of the stability is knowing how to build out the position. Most is the same between platforms.

Here is one video, I have a few others on the channel showing different ways to build positions for stability.

[/B]

"Ultimately, its philosophy of use and what you practice with. And, how far you want to shoot"

This entire quote is the best advice. Whatever you choose to do, I'd go spend some time at the range setting up and shooting from those setups to understand your capabilities from various positions (and the time involved to get set up). You don't need to bomb a bunch of stuff at distance if you don't have room but I'd at least shoot some groups on paper at 100 yards to see what your capabilities are relative to whatever your comfort zone is (prone, bench, etc.).

I'm a big tripod guy. Once you train to the tripod, the versatility options are endless, stable, and fast. I'd be hesitant to introduce a bunch of new stuff into your system this close to the hunt though. Bipod or bag/tripod is probably the shallowest learning curve.

 

[NSI]

Client shooting off Aziak’s new hotness. If only it was inverted…

Bonus 2-5 prone which he stole from me @hereinaz

-J

 

[Cant hit em]

Daughters gun didnt have a rail , So i mounted the spartan attachment in the useless tikka screw hole


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[Silviuswolf]

The bipod is easily carried in a coat pocket, dump pouch, or a small dedicated pouch (this one is called the Aspis) that mounts on a load-bearing vest or binocular harness.

Edit - the longer legged ones can be strapped to the outside of an assault pack or main pack or stuck inside a camelback pouch.

Thanks for all the photos, I think I’m going to take the middle road and use a bipod + a tripod. I’m thinking of getting the spartan lite bipod and an adapter to add the spartan attachment to my tripod I have. Is the pro really worth the extra $200? I can’t see a lot of difference in them.

 

[Silviuswolf]

Daughters gun didnt have a rail , So i mounted the spartan attachment in the useless tikka screw hole


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think I’m going to do this and have the bipod. Best of both worlds I guess.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Thanks for all the photos, I think I’m going to take the middle road and use a bipod + a tripod. I’m thinking of getting the spartan lite bipod and an adapter to add the spartan attachment to my tripod I have. Is the pro really worth the extra $200? I can’t see a lot of difference in them.

I cannot speak to whether the Pro is worth more than the Javelin Lite. I got the Javelin Lite TL because I could not see the increased value in the Pro. Someone else who has used both may be able to weigh in on that?

I think your plan is sound.

Edit - I don’t like tripods for anything other than the spot and shoot hunting that a lot of people do when hunting antelope. But I think a good tripod is an essential tool for spot and shoot situations. And since you will probably have it for the spotter, it makes sense to have a Spartan attachment for the rifle.

 

[nm.otter]

Is the pro really worth the extra $200? I can’t see a lot of difference in them.

This does a pretty good job of explaining them.

 

[eaglemountainman]

If vegetation is too tall to shoot off my pack, either prone or sitting, then I shoot off a pair of stix.