Rifle mounted Bipod or Carry a Tripod?

[Chris in TN]

There's not a one-sentence answer to this. I've killed a bunch of stuff with a Harris Bipod and still use them and will continue to do so. In scenarios where I can get prone behind a bipod and see clearly to shoot, the bipod can be incredibly fast and accurate. But it's useless in taller brush.

Get both. Learn both. Use whichever works best for circumstances.

 

[Wrench]

If you're planning to hunt/shoot from a tripod, practice a bunch and learn the recoil management. It's not as simple as tossing a rig on it and hammering.

 

[BluMtn]

The funniest thing I have ever seen, I was helping 3 gentleman on a late whitetail hunt, none of them had ever been whitetail hunting. I took them out in the wheat fields to a place I knew there would be some whitetail bucks. I parked the pickup in a draw and we crawled up to the top of a small rise and I looked over the other side and sure enough there were two legal bucks feeding in the next draw.

I told them to get setup. They were on their bellies and got their rifles in front of them. They had bipods and got them unfolded and setup. I told them that once spooked whitetails would not stop running full speed for 3 days so make sure you hit them the first time.

So they are all ready and it was decided that the gentleman that was to my right would shoot first then the middle would shoot and finally the left would clean up. I told them that was not a good idea, but if that was their plan go for it.

The first shooter says he is ready and told the others to get ready. He fires and misses by about a foot, as I predicted those bucks took off at 100mph and the other two shooters are trying to swing on those bipods and catch up to those running bucks, which they never did.

I though I was going to pee my pants laughing so hard. Those guys looked at me and they all made the comment about not knowing deer could run that fast. I will say though, by the end of the day they had all filled their tags. Most fun I have ever had was watching them shooting at deer.

 

[AlaskaRed]

I have made many attempts to make friends with a spartan precision bipod. Time after time I've found it causing issues in my shooting. All bipods are just unreliable and have too many moving pieces in them to ever be a part of my hunting shooting system. A range rifle go for it. So NO on a bipod for me.

A tripod is something that often makes it into my pack regardless of using it for shooting. So, may be worth trying it out for you and I would take it over a bipod any day.

Third option is there are plenty of simple adapters for trekking poles. Also take a look into some decent shooting sticks if you need them. The spartan precisions springboks have had some pretty good reports.

My rule of thumb is unless you absolutely need something in your terrain shooting off my backpack is the go-to. Too much uncertainty and unreliability when you start adding extra pieces in your your shooting sytem.

 

[Ajsomp]

No bipod anymore - used to have them on the gun and never got used. I carry a tripod for glassing first, shooting rest/support second. But if I’m not doing any glassing, I’m not bringing the tripod.

Shooting off my pack, shooting off trekking poles with the handles crossed over (no need for the wiser quick stix), finding natural positions etc. is my go to. Use a bag from @Unknown Munitions or @hereinaz on the pack itself. For prone shots they come in handy on weird uphill or downhill shots.

If I think I’m going to need something, it stays home. Only what I actually need comes along with me.

 

[wpeach1912]

The answer is pretty much it depends. Mainly on hunting style and terrain. I always have either a double pull ckye pod or gunwerks elevate on my rifles when doing western hunting. I always have a glassing/shooting tripod as well (Leofoto 324CLX with MA40L). I want to be able to take a long shot from the best possible position and potential significant angles, so I don’t mind the weight penalty. If I was forced to choose, I would take the tripod over the bipod since it is more versatile. My hunting style is frequently spot and stalk and the terrain I’m in frequently has opportunities for 3-800 yard shots. This last weekend I killed a bear. Was standing on a ridge glassing with my binos on the Leofoto, saw the bear come out, ranged it at 385, dialed my rifle, moved the tripod to a seated position, clipped in, and killed it. Took maybe 1-2 minutes. Could I have made the shot with trekking poles or my backpack? Probably. Was I glad to have my tripod. Certainly

 

[hoooogan]

Third option. Rifle mounted tripod. Best of both worlds.

 

[hereinaz]

Third option. Rifle mounted tripod. Best of both worlds.

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Done that!!!

Makes sense sitting on a glassing knob at last light.