Got a new rifle today, want to put a bipod on it, as it is a tad bit heavy.

What makes one brand name (Harris) cost more than double the price of other brands? What should one look for in a bipod?
I don't want to be cheap, but is an expensive bipod like putting premium gas into a k-car or is it worth the couple extra bucks?
Thanks

I've not used a bipod on any of my rifles, yet!
My experience is with tripods with heavy cameras, Mamiya RB-67 and 4x5 view camersa. There's nothing more aggrevating then having your camera wobble or slowly begin to list in one direction or another.
Purchase the best you can afford and plan to keep it the rest of your life.
Jim

Hi Guy`s,

It`s my understanding that Harris has just had the time on there patten run out and now other companys can copy there product.I will say that the cheaper copys are all made in RED CHINA and will not be found on any of my rifles.pay the extra cash and get the original.The job you save might be your own.

Riflemen10x

I use a sit down bipod for coyote hunting. It is a commercial version of Varmit Al's shooting sticks which I also have. I don't use them deer or elk hunting, but they are perfect for varmits where your sitting down calling.

Check out Varmit al's site for the instructions to build this nice bipod. It is light and easily carried and with a belt clip can go with you without any hassle and no big added weight to the rifle.

Here is the link. I believe it's under gear I carry

http://www.varmintal.com/ahunt.htm

I would advise paying the extra money. i have friends that tried the cheap route and have nohting but troubles... while the Harris pods are solid the first time you mount them.

I have a B-Square and it has been a good piece of equipment. I don't use currently it on anything larger than a varmint rifle but I have used it on my 30-06 in the past for paper punching out to 300 yards and it worked fine. I just don't like how they have all that extra potential for hanging up on brush.

As for buying cheap. My grandfather told me once and I took it to heart after my first cheap tools broke, "Buying cheap will cost you twice as much in the long run as buying good the first time". Buy good gear at reasonable prices. Bargain hunt, but know what you are looking at.

I've only ever had Harris, except for a real cheap plastic thing which I ought to throw away, and always felt they were worth every penny. I presently have three different models, the oldest of which is about 12 years old. Two are the shortest available (6"-9"), one with the leg notches and the other screw adjustable, and another the next bigger size. All are the fixed, non-pivoting, non-canting type.

I have 2 shooters ridge? (used to be outers) bipods, they both work fairly well not quite as expensive as the harris but very similar, not sure as to where they are made

I have a Harris on my .308 Heavy barrel. It is rock solid! I've tried others but they don't compare! JP

I've only used Harris bipods, and have had no reason to search out another. I only use them for varmint shooting as it's just more poundage that I don't want to carry around for big game hunting. In the sagebrush country of S Idaho (which extends to quite a high elevation), they are of limited use anyway since most of the sagebrush is higher than what is required in a sitting position. Many of the areas in Wyoming, for example, have much shorter sagebrush and my model would work well there for antelope, however. Most of the time I would rather take an offhand shot or sitting position shot without them anyway, at least for big game. Varmints are a different deal.