Comparison of Harris to higher end bipods

[Deleted old_dood]

I only shoot off a bench, 200 yards max. Is it worth it to buy an Atlas or GG&G over a Harris?

 

[johnfred1965]

I have been perfectly happy with all three of my Harris bipods, but I must confess, I haven't tried the others. I have shot off a concrete bench, but you have to be careful of hop off the hard surface. For varmint hunting on hard ground, they are plenty steady for PD's as far as I can see them.

 

[CharlieNC]

From a bench only consider either a low cost rest or a sandbag.

 

[jdh47]

The Atlas is nice but I can't justify the extra cost. I can't shoot my Harris off a bench well. The surface is too hard to get it loaded and it hops. It might be just me used to shooting off a front rest for so long.

Joe

 

[Preacher]

I also like Harris Bipods, they do what needs done for hunting, but for shooting only off a bench I use bags.

 

[John from MN]

I know some very experienced shooters that don't care for the forward/back play in the legs of the Atlas. I'm just the opposite, myself. Just can't bring myself to go back to my Harris after using an Atlas for a few years.

The Atlas is nowhere near as simple to mount as a Harris, though.

 

[mikecr]

For field shooting, I don't feel like anyone has actually bested a swivel model Harris (not really).
On the bench, I can throw down a couple carpet squares and shoot off a Harris same as one in the dirt.

 

[Deleted old_dood]

I know some very experienced shooters that don't care for the forward/back play in the legs of the Atlas. I'm just the opposite, myself. Just can't bring myself to go back to my Harris after using an Atlas for a few years.

The Atlas is nowhere near as simple to mount as a Harris, though.

forward/back play? really?

 

[Deleted old_dood]

For field shooting, I don't feel like anyone has actually bested a swivel model Harris (not really).
On the bench, I can throw down a couple carpet squares and shoot off a Harris same as one in the dirt.

all our 200 yard benches are concrete with carpet on top.

 

[John from MN]

forward/back play? really?

Yep. No joke. Take a look at one in person if you get the opportunity. They feel entirely different than a Harris.

 

[eric32]

The play in the legs allows you to load the ATLAS which will move the with the recoil of the rifle and keep the legs planted like a pivot point. With proper body position and hold, you will come back on target. The cant allows a level rifle on uneven surfaces.

ATLAS has a tension knob to adjust the play in the bipod to your preference.

 

[hogpatrol]

A vote here for the Harris for hunting. I use the S model with the longest legs. I can sit on the ground and be solid enough to ping varmints at long range. Rest or bags on the bench though.

 

[mikecr]

I'm a walking varmint hunter. I move from field to field scanning for groundhogs, and when I spot one I setup rest efficiently from a Harris like hogpatrol's. By now I'm sure I've taken nearly 1000 GHs, with many in the 500-650yd ranges, >90% kill rate, using either 6br, or 223. Anyway, a Harris bipod is absolutely critical to my success, and if there were an actual better bipod out there, I would have it. Don't care what the sum beech cost.
But when I look over the gazillion copies and versions of bipods out there, I don't see better than Harris so far, even while I feel there is potential for better design(which is why I look). When you consider practical field use attributes, across the board, it will be very difficult to better it.
Just try to think of one thing improved -that would not also be a compromise -to your build and/or field use..

 

[me124704]

Another vote for Harris...in my opinion, it's hard to beat the S-BRM with a pod-lock.

 

[Preacher]

2 of my Harris bipods are set up with the old POD-PAWS.
Sure wish they were still made...

 

[Deleted old_dood]

I only shoot target from a bench. Like I stated, all 200 yd benches are covered with carpet. My rifles are a Savage LRPV, 223AI, wth a short Harris notched leg bipod, and a Savage 12BR in 6BR that I have always shot off a rest. I recently borrowed a HS Precision stock like the one on my LRPV and put the 6BR in it. I shot just as good off the bipod as I have with the rest. That was disappointing. So I sold the rest and ordered a LVT stock from Sharp Shooters Supply. To tell you the truth, part of my dissatisfaction with shooting off the rest was the rest itself and having to lug a 26# hunk of metal down to the firing line. Although I have success, group wise, off the bipod, I have to readjust my point of aim nearly every shot, i guess, because of jump. I'm wondering if the Atlas will reduce or eliminate that. I really don't like shooting off sand bags.

 

[NateHaler]

I only shoot off a bench, 200 yards max. Is it worth it to buy an Atlas or GG&G over a Harris?

SHORT ANSWER: No. Get yourself a Harris BRM-S, and a good rear sandbag (which excludes Hoppes' suede POS), and be done with it.

LONG ANSWER: I've used various front rests, including Midway, Sinclair, Cowan, and JJ. I've used rear sandbags from Hoppes (beginner's mistake), Protektor, and Edgewood, with playground sand and Zircon (heavy) sand. Lugging all of that to/from the shooting bench from the car is a PITA. And then the time it takes to set up. KISS.

 

[NateHaler]

Although I have success, group wise, off the bipod, I have to readjust my point of aim nearly every shot, i guess, because of jump. I'm wondering if the Atlas will reduce or eliminate that. I really don't like shooting off sand bags.

I don't think there's a way to avoid 'adjusting' your point of aim nearly every shot, unless you dedicate your rifle (overall weight, and especially stock design, i.e. flat forend and buttstock) and rear bag (or rest) and front rest -- so the rifle will slide under recoil and you merely need to push it forward to the stop to get back on target. Or, buy an 'Unlimited' aka "Railgun" sort of benchrest rifle, i.e. a return to battery setup, where basically you dial it in, then touch the trigger while peeking through the scope, but not touching any other part of the rifle. Like these: https://www.google.com/search?q=ski...Q1XDzoQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=benchrest+rail+gun

I don't think that's the sort of shooting you're after... but if you are, then I encourage you to attend a local BR (benchrest) match and see what that crowd does.

 

[rardoin]

I have a couple of Harris', one for F-class type 'tactical' type gun MR matches and a longer version for varmint hunting. Both are great but, the main issue I have with target shooting with the 6-9" Harris is the fixed leg angle; this limits the option on the height of the bipod and I have to shim my rear bag sometimes to get proper elevation. The Sinclair has various positions to set the 'spread' of the legs which, combined with adjusting leg length helps overcome that issue. I plan on testing a Sinclair soon to compare. The main complaint I have heard about the Sinclair is loosening of fasteners. Loc-tite should fix it.

 

[qldreloader]

Neither for me. I ran Harris bipods for many years and then tried an Accu-Tac. While Harris certainly works I can be far more casual with the way I use the Accu-Tac and get great results. It doesn't have to be preloaded like the Harris and my POI shift between the Accu-Tac and bags is negligible where the Harris generally shot higher than off bags.