I've recently tried several bipods in search for one that is perfect for my needs. Long story, short... The search continues. There is no perfect.
Spartan Javelin. Best option if you NEED featherlight. But it's also the least stable of the 3 I've recently tried. The carbon makes it light, but then it also has some flex to it. The joints also have some slop/wiggle to them. Also, if you need to shoot sitting/kneeling, there is no fast way to depoly longer legs. You have to screw them in separately. Nonetheless, if on a backpack hunt, this is still the one I'd want. I shot a buck this year at 508yards off of it and it obviously worked.
Atlas Somethingorother. I can't keep their confusing model names straight. It has the pic rail q/d mount, the longer legs that are non rotating. By far the most well made of the group. The machining is incredibly precise and there is no slop or wiggle at all. It's vault tight and the quality is evident. The most stable option by far, but that stability comes with a price, it's bulky and heavy. Not a backpack option, IMO. But man, it sure is nice. My only other complaint is the leg height. Even the longer legs are not long enough to sit with, so I'm not sure why they offer this version. It's a strange size, not long enough to offer any functional advantage over the shorter legs, so seemingly not very useful. Stick with the short legs and save yourself the weight. If they could figure out a way to trim this thing down in weight and bulk, and offer sitting height legs (I realize that's a tall order) they'd have hands down winner.
Hatch. The most functional of the group for a hunter. Sitting height legs that are quickly deployed. Folds up trim and not terribly heavy. The weight is an acceptable tradeoff for the functionality. Well made overall, but not compared to the Atlas. The machining and joints are just not as precise. Even in the non-extended form, there is an unacceptable amount of slop/wiggle to the legs. Reminds me of a cheapo Harris. It's better than nothing, sure, but at high power and long range, those wiggles are going to be a problem. The leg joints have a good 1/8" slop to them. Frankly, for the price, which is comparable to Atlas, I expected better. I really want to like this model as it's so practical, but that excess slop is unforgivable. If they could figure this out and tighten up the clearances to reduce the slop, it would be the hands down winner. Frustrating, as it's close.
So back to the drawing board. The search continues for a hunting bipod that is not oppressively heavy and bulky. That can be used seated and/or kneeling, and that is well made with tight machining clearance and low tolerances.
Spartan Javelin. Best option if you NEED featherlight. But it's also the least stable of the 3 I've recently tried. The carbon makes it light, but then it also has some flex to it. The joints also have some slop/wiggle to them. Also, if you need to shoot sitting/kneeling, there is no fast way to depoly longer legs. You have to screw them in separately. Nonetheless, if on a backpack hunt, this is still the one I'd want. I shot a buck this year at 508yards off of it and it obviously worked.
Atlas Somethingorother. I can't keep their confusing model names straight. It has the pic rail q/d mount, the longer legs that are non rotating. By far the most well made of the group. The machining is incredibly precise and there is no slop or wiggle at all. It's vault tight and the quality is evident. The most stable option by far, but that stability comes with a price, it's bulky and heavy. Not a backpack option, IMO. But man, it sure is nice. My only other complaint is the leg height. Even the longer legs are not long enough to sit with, so I'm not sure why they offer this version. It's a strange size, not long enough to offer any functional advantage over the shorter legs, so seemingly not very useful. Stick with the short legs and save yourself the weight. If they could figure out a way to trim this thing down in weight and bulk, and offer sitting height legs (I realize that's a tall order) they'd have hands down winner.
Hatch. The most functional of the group for a hunter. Sitting height legs that are quickly deployed. Folds up trim and not terribly heavy. The weight is an acceptable tradeoff for the functionality. Well made overall, but not compared to the Atlas. The machining and joints are just not as precise. Even in the non-extended form, there is an unacceptable amount of slop/wiggle to the legs. Reminds me of a cheapo Harris. It's better than nothing, sure, but at high power and long range, those wiggles are going to be a problem. The leg joints have a good 1/8" slop to them. Frankly, for the price, which is comparable to Atlas, I expected better. I really want to like this model as it's so practical, but that excess slop is unforgivable. If they could figure this out and tighten up the clearances to reduce the slop, it would be the hands down winner. Frustrating, as it's close.
So back to the drawing board. The search continues for a hunting bipod that is not oppressively heavy and bulky. That can be used seated and/or kneeling, and that is well made with tight machining clearance and low tolerances.
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