Quick review of three cheap bipods

[urban]

I now have three cheap bipods from Amazon and I thought it might be helpful to post a quick review.

First up is £33 - "Zeadio Carbon Fiber Pivot Tiltable Bipod with Sling Mount (6"- 9")" (Amazon product ASIN B07JLP31ZF). I bought this a couple of years ago and it's had a reasonable amount of use. It's pretty good. It's the only one of the three that has a stud-mount. Weight is 328g. It has spring-loaded tilt (tick) but does not swivel (I don't mind). Fixing is a bit of a faff but I guess it's the same with any stud-fitting - I haven't tried others so I can't say. It's very secure once fitted. The only problems have been very minor. One of the strips of foam betwen bracket and stock came loose but I replaced it. The swivel-lock loosens easily and needs frequent tweaking to keep it tight. The legs sometimes don't lock when extended and need a bit of a wiggle. I would buy another one.




Second is £26 - "Nabila Bipods for Rifles 6 to 9 Inches Swivel Tiltable Quick Release Picatinny Mount Tactical Bipod" (Amazon product ASIN B08FQMYP4Q). I bought this, and the one below, because I wanted a Picatinny fitting to make it faster to attach/detach. It's a tiny bit heavier at 354g (plus it needs a rail, obvs, which adds weight). I have only just bought this so my review is not based on any shooting experience - just fitting it and testing it out in the house. It's stunning value for money - solidly machined our of aluminium and steel. Everything works exactly as it should and it's way more robust than I expected. It tilts and swivels and you can lock it using a large knob underneath. Tilt is quite limited and not spring loaded. Legs lock in multiple positions (but although I know this is a common feature, I don't really get why anyone wants it). Legs are unlocked with a button on each. They extend and retract without spring tension. It's really impressive and would be a good buy, but I prefer the next one.




The last one is £30 "Zeadio Tiltable Bipod F19 series, 8 to 11 Inches" - Amazon product ASIN B0C5LMJWXZ. This is the heaviest at 374g. It is taller than the other two but I never use the minimum height on my existing bipod so that's ok for me. Build quality is again astonishingly good for the money. The rifle that I'm testing them with (Howa 1500 .223 20 inch varmint in MDT LSS-XL chassis) is not light and I have absolutely no worries about using any of these bipods with it. It has very good tilt and swivel (although not spring-loaded, which I prefer) with a good locking lever. Legs lock in multiple positions and are unlocked by pulling them down. Legs extend against spring tension and therefore retract automatically when the release lever is pressed.




In summary, I think you'd be happy buying any one of these. I was thinking hard about buying something more expensive, but I'm very glad I didn't.

 

[MarinePMI]

Hmmm...

If you're not using your gear hard, these may be okay.

But in my experience (which is over a fairly long time), having seen many of them fail (often at precisely the wrong time), they are all junk. They'll work in a pinch when new, but they ultimately, just wear out quickly, and are not made well.

<shrug> I know some are looking for a bargain, and if you don't use them much, they are a bargain. But if you use a bipod a lot, IME a shooter would be better off buying an actual bipod (these are all Chinese copies of Harris, Atlas and Magpul designs) from the original/genuine manufacturer.

JMTCW...

 

[Herb64]

All ‘knock offs’ are a disgrace. Companies spend good money on research and development to then see someone benefitting by producing garbage products. Save up to buy the genuine article.

 

[bluesako]

i bought 5 harris bipods 30 years ago still got four gave one away to a good mate still going strong bs

 

[Len the dog]

I was thinking hard about buying something more expensive, but I'm very glad I didn't.

You’ve already spent £89 on three cheapos, for a few quid more you could have got a Harris that would last you a lifetime.

 

[Nimrod1960]

I have a good friend who used to run a serious kitchenware business sourcing most products out of China. He often made the point that his products were made in the same factories to same spec as similar branded items. His point being the price difference is often about marketing and IP not manufactured content.

I need a bipod for occasional use , mainly zeroing, will consider one of the above.

Thanks for starting thread.

 

[Fair Hill]

All ‘knock offs’ are a disgrace. Companies spend good money on research and development to then see someone benefitting by producing garbage products. Save up to buy the genuine article.

As already mentioned sometimes the non-branded items are made in the same factory as the originals so you are in essence paying a lot extra for the name tag.

If everyone just stuck to buying the original of anything there would be no competition and the consumer would be the loser as there would be no incentive to either drop the price or improve the product.

 

[MarinePMI]

As already mentioned sometimes the non-branded items are made in the same factory as the originals so you are in essence paying a lot extra for the name tag.

If everyone just stuck to buying the original of anything there would be no competition and the consumer would be the loser as there would be no incentive to either drop the price or improve the product.

Ummm....the fact that there are three different types (previously mentioned), each in their own price range, kind of proves that your point about competition is flawed. Each brand is testament to them trying to compete agains tthe other brands on price, utility and ruggedness. Hacks/copies are just leaching off the companies' efforts to improve designs without expending any capital on R&D. Never mind funding the CCP's military (a lot of these are what are fielded in the PLA today). So every time someone buys one, they are funding the CCP's effort to arm and fit their troops.

If you ever wonder why Chinese gear (uniforms, body armor, helmets, etc.) tends to run one size smaller than European/American sizes, that's why. They're made for the PLA military, but offered for sale to defray costs. People need to quit funding the CCP, due to their frugalness/greed.

JMTCW...

 

[urban]

You’ve already spent £89 on three cheapos, for a few quid more you could have got a Harris that would last you a lifetime.

I'm just doing a kind service for the people of this parish. No need to thank me. I do it for the karma.

I happen to have three rifles at the moment (rimfire, .223 and 6.5 CM) and I now have a bipod for each. Which is nice.

 

[Nimrod1960]

Hmmm...

If you're not using your gear hard, these may be okay.

But in my experience (which is over a fairly long time), having seen many of them fail (often at precisely the wrong time), they are all junk. They'll work in a pinch when new, but they ultimately, just wear out quickly, and are not made well.

<shrug> I know some are looking for a bargain, and if you don't use them much, they are a bargain. But if you use a bipod a lot, IME a shooter would be better off buying an actual bipod (these are all Chinese copies of Harris, Atlas and Magpul designs) from the original/genuine manufacturer.

JMTCW...

You need to have a word with Mr Bezos (the book seller made good).

 

[cjm1066]

My AYA No2 is a copy of a Holland & Holland, I know where is made cheaper but it will last my lifetime.

 

[User00044]

Ummm....the fact that there are three different types (previously mentioned), each in their own price range, kind of proves that your point about competition is flawed. Each brand is testament to them trying to compete agains tthe other brands on price, utility and ruggedness. Hacks/copies are just leaching off the companies' efforts to improve designs without expending any capital on R&D. Never mind funding the CCP's military (a lot of these are what are fielded in the PLA today). So every time someone buys one, they are funding the CCP's effort to arm and fit their troops.

If you ever wonder why Chinese gear (uniforms, body armor, helmets, etc.) tends to run one size smaller than European/American sizes, that's why. They're made for the PLA military, but offered for sale to defray costs. People need to quit funding the CCP, due to their frugalness/greed.

JMTCW...

I suspect they'd have to sell one Hell of a lot of cheap bipods to match Apple's investment .

 

[Malxwal]

In all honesty, looking at the Accu Tac biod I purchased recently, I struggle to see how it couldn't be made in China. Not because it's poor quality, but the amount of engineering that's gone into it doesn't tally with the price they sell new for, and that's an expensive bipod.

 

[MarinePMI]

I suspect they'd have to sell one Hell of a lot of cheap bipods to match Apple's investment .

True, but we don't' control Apple. We do control ourselves. Just because someone else is doing it...

 

[Herb64]

As already mentioned sometimes the non-branded items are made in the same factory as the originals so you are in essence paying a lot extra for the name tag.

If everyone just stuck to buying the original of anything there would be no competition and the consumer would be the loser as there would be no incentive to either drop the price or improve the product.

Believe that if you want. I’ve seen an Amazon ‘Atlas’ bipod and compared to the real thing it was a piece of s**t.

 

[Fair Hill]

Ummm....the fact that there are three different types (previously mentioned), each in their own price range, kind of proves that your point about competition is flawed. Each brand is testament to them trying to compete agains tthe other brands on price, utility and ruggedness. Hacks/copies are just leaching off the companies' efforts to improve designs without expending any capital on R&D. Never mind funding the CCP's military (a lot of these are what are fielded in the PLA today). So every time someone buys one, they are funding the CCP's effort to arm and fit their troops.

If you ever wonder why Chinese gear (uniforms, body armor, helmets, etc.) tends to run one size smaller than European/American sizes, that's why. They're made for the PLA military, but offered for sale to defray costs. People need to quit funding the CCP, due to their frugalness/greed.

JMTCW...

That's quite a tangent but hey-ho.

I'm guessing this is a long shot but do you like chinese food?

As in from a chinese restaurant or takeaway owned by Chinese people.

 

[Fair Hill]

Believe that if you want. I’ve seen an Amazon ‘Atlas’ bipod and compared to the real thing it was a piece of s**t.

I believe it because of experience, the same experience leads me to believe you're telling the truth about the experience you had with Amazon.

There's plenty room for the two of us to be right.

 

[User00044]

True, but we don't' control Apple. We do control ourselves. Just because someone else is doing it...

My point being , as individuals we inadvertently buy into China on a dailybasis . The West has been investing in China for decades and now , stronger for it , we're scared of the monster we've created . I think it's a little too late to cut the head off the snake and in a cost of living crisis not everyone can afford to pay upwards of £300 on a bipod .

 

[MarinePMI]

That's quite a tangent but hey-ho.

I'm guessing this is a long shot but do you like chinese food?

As in from a chinese restaurant or takeaway owned by Chinese people.

Uhhh...yes, I do. ...I'm half Chinese.

 

[MarinePMI]

My point being , as individuals we inadvertently buy into China on a dailybasis . The West has been investing in China for decades and now , stronger for it , we're scared of the monster we've created . I think it's a little too late to cut the head off the snake and in a cost of living crisis not everyone can afford to pay upwards of £300 on a bipod .

While I agree with you in principle, at some point we have to start weaning ourselves away from the dependency (which is already starting to happen here in the US). And China is already feeling the impact (their economy is really taking a beating right now).

I am merely saying "dual use" items is a good step to start that weaning, since it more directly supports the CCP's PLA.