I am sure you have already thought about this but I consider a good bipod to be essential. $100 Harris is a no brainer. You will need an adapter to mount the Harris on the RPR. You can go one of two ways: A) get a pic rail adapter for the bipod. Your RPR's handgurd is keymod so you would mount the rail section (included ) to the 6 o'clock position on the handguard, mount the pic rail swivel stud adapter on the rail, on goes the Harris. Or B) get a keymod Bipod mount/adapter. Attach that at the 6 on your rail, Harris mounts directly. This option will be lighter weight and lower profile than option A. Cost of a bipod rail mount ranges from $10-100. QD versions from LaRue/ADM are obviously at the high end of the range. A keymod Bipod adapter should run you $20-$30. I would research these a bit, you don't want one that has any play in it. Solid mount is important. Unfortunately not all KM rails are created equal. Some adapters and/or rails sections will work well with one brand's handguard but not another.
Yes, the Harris bipod was on my to get list, but I did not know there were other mounting options available. Which would provide the more secure attachment--option A or B? And if B, how does one determine if the Ruger's KM rails will work with another company's mounting system? Also, would a QD add movement to the set up?
I use QDs for my archery stabilizers and scope housing mostly for ease of packing for travel, and do have to be mindful of the potential for movement. So, would it be better not to use a QD for the rifle? Seems like there is so much to learn all at once--can be daunting at times....
I agree. These decisions can be daunting.
To address your questions:
1) Which would provide the more secure attachment--option A or B? - with the right hardware, both A/B should work equally well. The primary difference being A will add more height and weight to your Bipod and give you the option the go QD. Bear in mind, attaching/removing the Harris with its std. system is pretty simple and not very time consuming. You loosen the torque screw and pinch the jaws- Bipod comes on/off the sling swivel.
2) if B, how does one determine if the Ruger's KM rails will work with another company's mounting system? - This is kinda a tricky thing to figure out. You could do one of three things:
A) order a couple different options from a company like Amazon (easy/cheap returns) and find the one that fits the best. Send back the rest.
B) Go to a local shop that stocks multiple options for you to try before you buy.
C) look around on the web and see what is working for other forum users. Keep in mind your model, #18008 (gen2) has a different hand guard than the previous generation so you would need to find info specific to your model. ( I recommend options 1A or 1B)
3) would a QD add movement to the set up? - if you go high - end = ADM/LaRue, no. You are rolling the dice with the cheaper QD models.
I have never competed in PRS, so I can't speak to the necessary of having a QD bipod for that application.
The Atlas is, of corse, a great piece of kit. I own one in addition to my Harris. But at 3x times the price, do you get 3x the bipod? No I don't think so.
LaRue offers some good priced deals on Harris Bipods including their QD mount. This is an option to consider:
http://www.larue.com/harris-combos?sort=popular
Lastly, if you get a Harris you will want a model that swivels;for shooting off uneven surfaces. Some of the LaRue options above include upgraded swivel adjustment devices (for a significant price jump) The stock one which comes with the Swivel model Harris sucks. I use a T-Nuts swivel level upgrade for the Harris. Works great, easy to install and cost around $10.
http://t-nuts.com/index.php?cPath=73
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In competition, evaluating the value of a piece of gear isn't as straightforward as putting two things side by side and saying "geez, that's nice, but not 3x the cost nice". You have to start by saying "which one will allow me the greatest flexibility and provide the best chance for extra points?".
Believe me when I tell you, 1 point can make or break you. Huge. 1 point can literally be the difference between a win and a loss (depending on which side of the tie breaker you fall on). 1 point can be the difference between a 3-way tie for second, where they add up 2nd & 3rd place money, then split it three ways, vs getting paid a solo second. 1 point, in a tight leader board, can literally move you up 5 places. It can be the difference we between getting paid and not getting paid. If an Atlas can get you 1 more point, in my mind, you'd be a fool to not get it - regardless the $200 cost difference. You can get that - and then some - back in literally one match.
Now, having said that, it is still up to YOU to make the determination of if that piece of gear will allow you the opportunity it to get more points. The rest of your game might be so solid that it wouldn't help. For me, the Atlas brings points on barricade stages. And it's also the reason QD is important - you take it off the front of the rifle and put it all the way back, right in front of the mag well, and then you put the legs down at 45 degrees forward. Now you can push into the barricade with the bipod legs to increase your stability. On a rooftop, you can put it on the butt of the rifle to support the back. Or you can put them at a 45 degree back angle to grip the peak of the roof if it's wet and you find yourself sliding down - you can use the rifle as a sort of anchor to hold yourself up. Or if a position calls for a bipod, but the legs are too tall in the down position, you can put them at 45 degrees to lower the rifle. Or if you're shooting off of some type of a span barricade like a barrel or tires, and need the legs to be forward or back - you can do that. All things a Harris cannot do, and none of which has to do with the quality of the construction of either unit. The biggest part about the QD is that it allows for the use of pic rail, so you can put it where you want it, instead of being locked into swivel stud locations, and it also allows for fast, easy removal if you made a mistake in how you planned to attack the stage, and now it's in the way and needs to come off fast - while you're on the clock. Or sometimes when you need to start a stage prone, then transition to a barricade like a shoot house window where having a bipod on gets in the way, and makes it harder to put the rifle through the small windows. Shoot prone, drop it off & leave it on the ground. Pick it up when the stage is done. A Harris on a sling swivel can't do that.
But again - these are all things you need to figure out and decide. Simply saying "yeah, it feels like a nice piece of gear, but it's not worth 3x the harris" is doing yourself a disservice. To me, if it gets me 1 or 2 points per match more, then it's worth its weight in gold.
As for the list of shit that didn't get me any more points - that is long, and varied. Most of it was sold off to someone who wanted to see if it would get them points, some of it is still for sale, and some of it is in the reloading room thrown in a box with other worthless nonsense. Lol
I believe you have some very valid points. I own an atlas, as I mentioned, and I appreciate the education I I received form reading your post! I don't compete. I am thinking of giving it a try but never have entered a competition. Thus, my point of view is based on my experience using my bipods (both Harris and Atlas) in the traditional fashion: in the prone and occasionally from a bench. But that's to you I have some new tricks to try out!
I don't know if the OP intends of competing. My assumption was maybe, down the road. Therefore I advised him the way I did.... for the time being, while he learning the ropes of long range shooting. And keeping his budget low.
Speaking of high end versatile bipods, have you ever tried the Modular Evolution Bipod? Very similar to the atlas design but with a few more features and options. Like doubling as a tripod adapter and interchangeable legs. Looks interesting. And has received to rave reviews. One reviews comment that stuck with me was "I never though the Atlas could be surpassed until i tried the Evolution" (paraphrased)
http://www.evolutionbipod.com/
Lastly, one more piece of data to support that the Harris is still relevant in PRS. Is according the "What the Pro's Use" %76 of the top PRS shooters still use the Harris:
http://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/01/05/bipod/
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My impression of the op is that he wants to compete - maybe down the road, yes. Were it me, I'd get the Atlas for versatility, since it will afford more options for barricade stages. Being that he hasn't competed yet, he likely doesn't have all the skills and positions built in his mind yet using a rifle without an Atlas, so I think it can help.
As for the guys who still use Harris - as I mentioned, it's an individual choice to use a specific piece of gear. My point was to ensure you evaluate the gear with the proper frame of mind, not just the cost vs construction quality.
I know several pros who still use Harris, and most of them have been competing in rifle competitions for many years, since before the PRS came into existence. They have other tricks they use, and other pieces of gear. For example, Jim See carries three bipods with him - a standard Harris, a 36" Harris, and a 36" moa precision bipod. He wedges them behind his trigger guard, and attaches them to the buttstock of the rifle, all sorts of stuff. There are many creative ways to use gear, and I see a new one at every match. It's simply a matter of what you as an individual shooter are able to get the most points with. If it's a Harris, then by all means, use it! Again, I just wanted to convey the mindset for how to choose your gear. It shouldn't matter if that gear is a bipod, or a stock, or a second bipod, or a tripod, or a pack, etc. They can all serve multiple purposes. Get creative, and get the points!
As for the bipod you linked to - I've never used it, but I've seen them. The one thing that will keep me from ever using one was the following: this past March, a group of us from the forum went down to the LRSE PRS match in KY. It rained. A lot. There was a prone-ish stage that had your bipod on the peak of a small embankment, and you laying behind it, simulating shooting from a ditch, or similar. The ground had zero grass or any other cover, so you just laid in mud. It was VERY slippery, and more than one guy took a tumble.
In any event, there was a guy there with that bipod, with the fancy carbon fiber legs. He dropped the bipod into the mud, went to set up, and started sliding down the hill. He used his rifle as an anchor to try to pull himself back up, and broke one of the legs clean off.
Im sure they warrantied the bipod, and he got a free replacement (or at least I would hope so). But the problem was, there were at least half a dozen more stages to go that day, and he had to complete them with no bipod. So, evaluating gear construction is important too. The best warranty in the world won't replace that piece of gear when you're miles from civilization and have to finish a match...
Now, that was one example, and only one bipod. I don't know what he had done with that bipod previously - used it as a hammer, whatever - maybe he weakened it himself somehow. But since I already own like 4 Atlas bipods, and RRS makes a tripod adapter that is direct-mount to my chassis, it's not something I feel compelled to investigate further. But again - I already have my setup, much like the way the pros are that already have their setup with a Harris.
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