Hello,
As you can probably see, I am a new member to the forum. I have a .300 Tikka win. mag. Right now I have a versa-pod swiveling bipod on it. It does okay except for the mounting bracket continuously wants to come off. I am considering upgrading to a better pod but I am unsure whether I want a fixed bipod such as the harris which has no swivel or the swinging pods that give you some range of motion. This would be purely for in the field shooting. If any of you have any input that would be tremendous.

i have toyed with the idea of adding a harris to one of my rifles as well. i have always been leaning towards the swival but will be interested in what others here post. nothing is better than hearing opinions from actual field users.

You can get a Harris that swivels. That imo is the only way to go. I have used harris for years and never had one come loose while on the gun. I am not familiar with versa pod but if it keeps coming loose it would go right in the trash if it were mine!!

As far as swivels go , I got rid of all my solid mount bipods and swapped them all for swivels. In the field you don't have time to be messing around trying to level off the bipod. I used to put one leg of the pod on top of my foot to level it out for a quick shot. Not exactly steady and defeats the purpose of using the bipod. The swivel models eliminate that problem. I have every length ,and the tallest model is 27'' and a pretty good fit for shooting from the seated position and is the most used of all my bipods.

Prior to my retirement I was a police Capt. and because of my long experience in the shooting sports I acted as an adviser to those in charge of our shooting program. At one point the Sgt. that headed our CRT (SWAT) came to me because they were buying new sniper rifles. They had in mind a package that was offered by a company. I looked at it and told him it all looked good but that I would insist on swapping the regular Harris bi pod for the one that permitted the gun to be rocked side to side to level the sights.

They got the bi pods I suggested and not long after that the shooters went to a "sniper school". When they got back they made a point of stopping in to thank me. It turned out most of the "student snipers" had the regular Harris bi pod and they were able to see the contortions these men went through to level their rifles.

You don't need the one that swivels on a horizontal plain but the one that lets you level the cross hairs without having to reposition the foot is what you want.

For hunting, I progressed from a fixed Harris bi-pod to a swivel bi-pod to separate shooting sticks. Attached bi-pods are good for extended shooting (as for prairie poodles) or for "ambush hunting" where the location is known where an animal will appear, but for versatility separate shooting sticks with variable length adjustment of the legs are far superior. With the attached bi-pods, I found myself wasting a lot of time trying to adjust the bi-pod when an animal was in a position other than where I expected or if it appeared suddenly while I was walking. With long adjustable shooting sticks I can adjust them quickly and even use them from a standing position. Since switching to them 2 years ago, I've used them successfully on 2 mule deer, a moose, a turkey and small game (grouse and squirrels) with no problems.

do they make a swivel bipod that folds up like a harris, but rocks like your saying, wat about a stainless one

The one that rocks side to side looks about the same as the regular one and folds the same way. Just a few more parts where it attaches to the forstock.

I'm a coyote hunter so keep that in mind. For most shooting situations I'm in a sit down rifle rest is the easiest to use. I don't use type that attaches to the rifle stock and stays on the rifle as most sit down bipods are simply to big. I used shooting sticks for years and you can get a good plan to make your own from Varmint Al's website.

I'm way to old to lay down and use a bi-pod anymore. Here's what I use now. It has a nylon ball that clips into a nylon socket head on the bipod and allows up and down movement along with being able to keep the rifle level. You can also pick up the rifle and the bipod stays attached to move it or simply click it off and on. It also extends enough that you can shoot from a folding chair which I use at times when I'm calling coyotes. Also every bit of elevation helps get above the grass and weeds makes shooting easier. Even when were out ground squirrel shooting these go with me.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/Preditor%20masters/coyotesetup.jpg

I suggest that if you use the type of bipod that stays attached to your rifle you glass bed in a piece of steel in the forearm tapped for the sling swivel screw. Make this piece two or three inches long and glassbed it in. I've fixed a bunch of forends that bipods had torn out the little nut that holds the sling swivel screw in. It can split and tear the dickens out of a wood forearm and simply pull thru a plastic stock.

I've got several of the harris fixed Bi-pods. Mine do require periodic tightening of the screws and nuts, but its nothing I can't do with a leatherman tool, and they work so well for what they weigh. I'm not a fan of ultra light guns, so I use what works, and the Harris will get my vote.

I have but two bipods; Both Harris. One the legs automatically retract, the other they automatically extend. Which is better, well here is my thought:
for a hunter, I think that the auto down legs would serve better than the auto up. If you were stalking, and had to set up for a shot quick, this would be a faster way....BUT...when said legs extend, they come down with a "thunk" that would be heard by any game.

I also made a set of cross sticks, which are just some flat cut oak lashed together with some para-cord. The fit in you back pocket, and are quietly and easily deployed on any rifle or pistol in less than a second.

Here's how simple these are:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1600/682422/18176814/304636778.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1600/682422/18176814/304636775.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1600/682422/18176814/304636772.jpg