Rifle mounted Bipod or Carry a Tripod?

[Rayland]

Hey guys!

I’m a newer hunter, and I’m currently kitting out my rifle. Before I pull the trigger on a bipod, I’ve noticed some guys just carry a tripod (like a BOG) on their packs instead.

I’m looking to ask some of the more experienced hunters what your preference is! I know they each have their own applications, but I was leaning more toward a tripod, thinking that if time is an issue, I could just shoot off my pack.

Any advice or input is very much appreciated!

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I don’t carry a tripod, but I do carry a Spartan javelin lite on my binocular harness and a modified Springbok/javelin lite combination on my pack. I don’t like the flexible head on the Springbok, but the long legs are great for seated shots in high grass or similar conditions.

Usually for prone, I use the backpack as my rest, but I keep the short Spartan option around for when I don’t have the pack.

I’m probably just prejudiced against them, but I don’t like tripods. They have very limited utility with the mobile way I hunt.

Edit - and I probably won’t ever use a rifle mounted bipod again. Too much weight on the rifle for something I only use if I really need it.

 

[Ramem7mm]

I would personally never go on a hunt without a bipod. I shoot and practice from them all the time so I am very proficient with them. I do also have tripods and I do shoot and practice with them as well and they definitely fill a gap that bipods cant fill. I do also practice not shooting off bipods and shooting off a pack as well though. If the opportunity presents itself for me to lay down and get prone to shoot to make a good shot then that's how I prefer to do it.

I have several bipods ranging from Hatch Out West, MDT triple pull, Old-school Harris, Atlas and they all are different and I use them at different times. I mainly hunt with the Hatch Out west.

 

[Caseknife]

Really depends on how you plan on hunting. Still hunting through timber and brush, bare rifle carried in your hand. Wide open country where you need support over grass or sage, if can't go prone or sitting. Have been hunting for 50 years and have killed one animal with a bipod on my rifle and that was an antelope at 280 yards sitting over low sage.

 

[hereinaz]

It all depends on the circumstances and hunting style.

I run a tripod everywhere cause it fits my location and style. It’s a mobile platform that I can adjust for anything.

 

[Matt5266]

I always carry a tripod for glassing but for shooting its either off my pack or using my Trekking poles and pack in combo for a sitting or kneeling shot. I always carry Trekking poles cuz my knees are sh*t.

 

[BluMtn]

I use trekking poles with the Quik-Stix attachment. In the conditions I hunt in where you are sitting on a slope most of the time it allows you to adjust for different heights.

 

[wapitibob]

Bipod is always on my rifle, partner uses a Javelin and plugs it in to shoot.
I use a slik sling V2 and the bipod weight isn't an issue.

 

[flyfisher117]

I carry both. Though my tripod is more of a “I could shoot of it if I had to” but it’s main purpose is glassing. I don’t like shooting off of tripods. I also can’t afford a good shooting tripod.

Where and how I hunt I won’t give up my Hatch bipod. I absolutely love it.

Where I used to hunt in north Idaho I wouldn’t dream of using either. Every animal I shot was offhand or resting off natural objects, one was prone off my pack.

Where I used to hunt in eastern MT we just carried shooting sticks and they worked well for how we hunted.

 

[Rayland]

I don’t carry a tripod, but I do carry a Spartan javelin lite on my binocular harness and a modified Springbok/javelin lite combination on my pack. I don’t like the flexible head on the Springbok, but the long legs are great for seated shots in high grass or similar conditions.

Usually for prone, I use the backpack as my rest, but I keep the short Spartan option around for when I don’t have the pack.

I’m probably just prejudiced against them, but I don’t like tripods. They have very limited utility with the mobile way I hunt.

Edit - and I probably won’t ever use a rifle mounted bipod again. Too much weight on the rifle for something I only use if I really need it.

I really appreciate the input on this! I think I’ll give this a try. Less weight on my rifle sounds great! I feel my rifle is on the heavier end as is.

Cheers!

 

[180ls1]

Do you not glass much? Have you glassed from a tripod?

 

[Antares]

Nothing is as fast and lightweight as learning to shoot off your pack. No bipod, no tripod.

 

[noKnees]

I mostly just shoot off my pack, its how I mostly practice. I am more steady from the prone than standing. There are places where I do use a tripod, newfoundland for example as its all wet and the tuckamore makes prone shooting a PITA.

 

[hereinaz]

Nothing is as fast and lightweight as learning to shoot off your pack. No bipod, no tripod.

This is a skill for sure. Lots of places give significant opportunities for this. I am practicing it more because of @Bluumoon to add speed for shots inside 300-400. I think it should be a part of every hunters repertoire.

With that, I think the prone bipod is unnecessary.

For most of my hunting, distance gives me time and opportunity. With it, the tripod gets me better support and a shooting position in every condition, if needed. I can get as nearly as solid as prone. It is a universal option that exists everywhere. If you leave the bipod and get the right tripod, speed and weight can become non factors.

It doesn’t have to be slow or awkward with practice.

Thread 'Thread for Fast/Solid Tripod Techniques'

Aug 5, 2025

I see a lot of people asking about how to shoot off a tripod. I also hear so many poo poo the idea of using a tripod for shooting because they are slow or weigh too much. I disagree on all points, not that this is the best way to skin the cat...

Here are three techniques that I practice. Kneeling, Seated, and "Old Man Prone". I will post up some other techniques for shooting on irregular terrain and answer whatever questions you might have. I'll also add videos showing how to "clip in" with ARCA.

Inverted tripods are the easy button for speed and stability.

This is the Leofoto SO-282CX...

• hereinaz
• Replies: 34
• Forum: Long Range Hunting

• 

 

[hereinaz]

I mostly just shoot off my pack, its how I mostly practice. I am more steady from the prone than standing. There are places where I do use a tripod, newfoundland for example as its all wet and the tuckamore makes prone shooting a PITA.

And Arizona, the last thing I want to do is quickly throw down my pack and lay on the ground… for not being wet it makes up in pokey.

 

[kpk]

I'm either shooting off my pack, trekking poles/quick-stix, or the tripod I'm already carrying for glassing. If I'm not taking a spotter, I'm not taking a tripod.

Almost everything I've shot has either been off of my pack, a rock, or comination of both.

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

I think having a rear support is more critical than a Bipod. Use the back pack. Tripods are great and I never leave home without one!

 

[Caseknife]

My Utah buck last fall, used my trekking poles that were in my pack. First time, worked great, 250 yard shot across canyon through oak brush, very solid. Try to get multiple uses out of your equipment, bipod has only one use. I would probably use a tripod if I carried one more often to glass with, but my trekking poles are always with me.

 

[Bluumoon]

This is a skill for sure. Lots of places give significant opportunities for this. I am practicing it more because of @Bluumoon to add speed for shots inside 300-400. I think it should be a part of every hunters repertoire.

With that, I think the prone bipod is unnecessary.

For most of my hunting, distance gives me time and opportunity. With it, the tripod gets me better support and a shooting position in every condition, if needed. I can get as nearly as solid as prone. It is a universal option that exists everywhere. If you leave the bipod and get the right tripod, speed and weight can become non factors.

It doesn’t have to be slow or awkward with practice.

Thread 'Thread for Fast/Solid Tripod Techniques'

Aug 5, 2025

I see a lot of people asking about how to shoot off a tripod. I also hear so many poo poo the idea of using a tripod for shooting because they are slow or weigh too much. I disagree on all points, not that this is the best way to skin the cat...

Here are three techniques that I practice. Kneeling, Seated, and "Old Man Prone". I will post up some other techniques for shooting on irregular terrain and answer whatever questions you might have. I'll also add videos showing how to "clip in" with ARCA.

Inverted tripods are the easy button for speed and stability.

This is the Leofoto SO-282CX...

• hereinaz
• Replies: 34
• Forum: Long Range Hunting

• 

Eh, I’m not a very good hunter, so I have to be a passable shooter. Funny to me when people say their hunting shots aren’t rushed, I think 1/9 big game animals the last few years for me has been unrushed/time limited.

If I have my pack I have zero use for a short bipod. If I were hunting w out a pack I could see a use case for something like the short spartan.

I’m slow w tripod. Currently messing w a long leg Spartan that I would use in conjunction w pack

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I carry my bipod on my pack as I can attach it in seconds. Besides, there's a lot of times you don't really need it and it just adds weight to your rifle. Rather have the weight on my pack.