'Harris style' bipods - any good?

[tdawson]

Hi, I was thinking of buying a cheap (but not crap) bipod from ebay or amazon, mainly to help me get through my DSC1 shooting assessment and for zeroing my set-up as and when. i don't think I will be using it much thereafter as I prefer shooting sticks (I'm an old git and my body is a bit stiff when I'm lying on the ground in the prone position)! Can anyone report on the quality of the 'Harris style bipods (6"-9") that attach to the front - there seems to be quite a few similar products at around £20 or so. Happy to pay a bit more for a good quality 2nd hand item - but is it worth it?

 

[David.evans]

I got 3 and they do the job that there intended to do

 

[Steff]

As long as it doesn‘t break while shooting, why not. For your intended purpose I‘d give it a go.

 

[75]

I've got a cheapy off eBay. Not as good as the original but good enough for what you need. I seem to recall the nuts kept coming loose and needed some threadlock plus it's not very stiff when extended. Will get you through a shooting test though.

 

[jb1]

have a look at Sniper systems a tad cheaper and ive had no complaints with them over probably 10 + years with a 12-14 lb rifle on them.

The problem is buying the cheap chinese bi-pods they do snap if you put any forward force on them occasionally then you have a mono-pod thats close to useless, it then makes the £90 Harris not a bad price. Keep your eye out in the "for sale" section they do come up now and again,

 

[User00040]

Don't buy Cheap Chinese Crap please!

A secondhand Harris from here is better than paying the same or more on eBay, where 25% will be supplier profit, 55% percent manufacturer profit (or more), less than 10% worth of material costs and a pittance for the poor sod who put them together!

 

[Mr. Gain]

The very first bipod I bought 30-odd years ago was a Harris. I thought it was very expensive at the time. It is still as good as ever. Since then I must have bought half a dozen knock-offs, including Sniper Systems. All have broken. I now consider myself wiser, but sadly not entirely immune to the temptation to waste money on cheap Chinese tat.
As a more general point, I find sticks much more useful than a bipod. If zeroing from prone or off a bench, I'll use a well-stuffed rucksack if I don't have a sand bag to hand.

 

[yeet]

Most people say don't buy cheap Chinese crap, but in this instance I feel like its fine, I've had one that was £14 for about 2 years and its been on and off lots of rifles including 308's and 408's, they're so simple they cant really go wrong

 

[Koenig]

I’d recommend a genuine Harris perhaps 2nd hand from here. Blackhawk make good copies. I’d steer clear of low end copies especially if you intend fitting it to a centrefire.

Even the Harris will break if you abuse it by pushing forward on it, as the MoD found out with the Sharpshooter rifle.

 

[long_range_rob]

Or just shoot off a backpack for the test?

 

[K.H - Tikka]

I have a 6-9 Harris up for grabs in the Classifieds... there could be some movement in price if you’re interested @tdawson - it’s practically new and will last you a very long time!

 

[GWP]

I have a caldwell only use it on my rimfire but still good after 10yr

 

[Grannysmith]

I have one i dont want pm me with adress and i will send it to you

 

[TomDeer]

I've got a Deben one. It's fine for zeroing. I don't use it for anything else though and don't keep it attached to a rifle. A backpack always seems to be a quicker and easier support to shoot off in any other situation a bipod might be used.

 

[Jeff8861]

I've got a Harris and a Chinese knock off I found no difference when using it in the field save you dosh and buy the copy.