ronsatspokane
Gold $$ Contributor
Design, engineering. stability, quality of machining, fit, finish. Cheap bipods are lacking in all of the above.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I bought a cheap one. It broke fixed it, it broke, I bought a Harris.
MikeMcCasland
Team Texas F-T/R
I'm making an assumption we're not talking about F-T/R style bypods here...
Cheap bipods work fine for occasionally shooting off a bench with reasonably weighted rifles. Once you attach it to ~20+lb rifle and are constantly throwing the thing around, you're going to need something way more durable than a $50 Chinese plagiarized version of a Harris.
Most of the more expensive bipods also offer a much wider stance, more flexibility in terms of leg placement, higher quality/more durable/better made materials, different attachment mechanisms etc.
Cheap bipods work fine for occasionally shooting off a bench with reasonably weighted rifles. Once you attach it to ~20+lb rifle and are constantly throwing the thing around, you're going to need something way more durable than a $50 Chinese plagiarized version of a Harris.
Most of the more expensive bipods also offer a much wider stance, more flexibility in terms of leg placement, higher quality/more durable/better made materials, different attachment mechanisms etc.
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I bench rest shoot exclusively. Been using the same "cheap" bipods for years. I shoot about 500 rounds per session per month. I am not a competition shooter (F-class or any class). My rifles weigh 16#'s/18#'s and 12#"s.
Is a$3,600,000 Bugatti Chiron better than $32,000 Dodge Ram ( or any other brand)
Is a$3,600,000 Bugatti Chiron better than $32,000 Dodge Ram ( or any other brand)
MikeMcCasland
Team Texas F-T/R
Glad they're working for you then. Sounds like with your application you don't need to spend more than $50 on a bipod.
But I want to know why a person would spend $500+ for a bipod versus just $50?
I get it if the person has a money tree in the backyard and wants the best of the best. (A "because I can" thing)
But is a $500 bipod going to provide $450 worth of value over a $50 bipod?
Ned Ludd
Silver $$ Contributor
Adjustability, width of the footprint, sturdiness, weight, and probably a few more characteristics are among the reasons a bipod can cost $500 or more. I'd be perfectly happy if the company from which I buy my bipods sold them for $199, or better yet, $99 each. Unfortunately, they don't.
Perhaps a better question would be, "Does everyone wishing to use a bipod need one that costs $500?" The answer is probably not. As Dean noted, unless the intended application requires certain features typically only found on the $500+ bipods, such as are commonly used among F-TR shooters, a standard Harris or Atlas bipod might cost well under than half of that price and still do everything that is required of it and more.
Perhaps a better question would be, "Does everyone wishing to use a bipod need one that costs $500?" The answer is probably not. As Dean noted, unless the intended application requires certain features typically only found on the $500+ bipods, such as are commonly used among F-TR shooters, a standard Harris or Atlas bipod might cost well under than half of that price and still do everything that is required of it and more.
Much like anything the research and design that go in to a product need to be included in that cost. Also, where it’s manufactured plays a part in the total cost.
Sure they may function similarly, especially if one is a cheap copy of a proven design. The raw materials and parts of each are probably very comparable. You will find that name brands may use more robust materials, which can make them more expensive.
Intellectual property costs money.
All that said, you certainly pay for the name too, just like paying for Gucci, or LV vs Old Navy.
Sure they may function similarly, especially if one is a cheap copy of a proven design. The raw materials and parts of each are probably very comparable. You will find that name brands may use more robust materials, which can make them more expensive.
Intellectual property costs money.
All that said, you certainly pay for the name too, just like paying for Gucci, or LV vs Old Navy.
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Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
Bought my first Harris in 1970, added two more since. All three still going strong after 52 years.
Not sure if they qualify as "cheap", but they sure have worked well over all these years.
In my wildest dreams, I'd never consider paying $500 for a stinkin' bipod no matter what whistles and bells it may have. It's a BIPOD for crikey-sakes!
Made in the USA, NOT a ChiCom knockoff, works as advertised.
Not sure if they qualify as "cheap", but they sure have worked well over all these years.
In my wildest dreams, I'd never consider paying $500 for a stinkin' bipod no matter what whistles and bells it may have. It's a BIPOD for crikey-sakes!
Made in the USA, NOT a ChiCom knockoff, works as advertised.
ROBARRC50
Gold $$ Contributor
Shooting on a square range off a bench not in field conditions probably dont matter to much since the rifle and accessories are probably not used hard. As long as the legs dont loose adjustment the swivel stays tight shot to shot. Has a wide enough stance. Probably fine with the cheap stuff. Light rifle low recoil probably fine. Bare minimum i would use is a harris swivel model. They all break in real use but the China knockoff stuff wont last long in the hills with big rifles they fall apart fast. Guess it all depends on your accuracy and consistency expectations and how much you actually shoot. 500 dollar bipods are well built,machined, finished hold adjustment, works of art. Its like comparing a barska scope to a top tier scope. Sure if the barska will hold zero it will shoot just as good just dont expect to dial elevation and windage with it and have it work.
I just paid $140 for my Harris that Ill use on my hunting rifle. I'm 59 years old and it will still be working perfectly long after I'm not. I'm building a NRL type hunting rifle that I'll also put a bipod on. I will not be putting a $500 bipod on it even IF its the best bipod ever made. I think the advent of YT, and PAID "non bias" YT reviews, are having too much influence of what is actually good and what is just expensive.
Gas burner?Yes.....anything is better than a gas burner Ram.
Gas burning is a good thing!!!
I love the smell of CO2 in the morning!!!
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