Over the last twenty years Titanium, Aluminium, and Carbon have been tried, and they are up to 20 times the price. Yeah 20 times!! We've entered the era of the £/$/E 1200 bipod. I know, Yikes!!
We're at less than half that with both of these, but neither were in any way cheap.
There are two scenarios where I want a bipod, and they are so completely different no one bipod can do it all. Low enough to shoot off a bench, or long-legged enough to set up amongst the tussocks of the highlands. Take it out of a Peli case at the firing point, and take it with you for a long walk.
We're at less than half that with both of these, but neither were in any way cheap.
There are two scenarios where I want a bipod, and they are so completely different no one bipod can do it all. Low enough to shoot off a bench, or long-legged enough to set up amongst the tussocks of the highlands. Take it out of a Peli case at the firing point, and take it with you for a long walk.
AKA Don't Care & Do Care how much it weighs. Theres a company who make a really cool looking model, all titanium and carbon, lots of people have them 'just in case' a bit like a Rolex its jewellery sold as a tool. Way too short for hunting any ground more undulating than a pool table.
Extra large buttons for wearing gloves
GRS: we know these guys as stock makers from Norway. Having started out in furniture they first made their laminate stocks, then a chassis and a composite version. They've always done a few accessories but not been the best at telling that story. For their bipod they took the best in show Fortmeier and made it better. I've owned a few of the Fortmeier style bipods from different makers and they're fantastically strong and stable. The great thing about Fortmeier is also its achilles heel. They popularised the pendulum or 12 o'clock installation. BUT. At the time of purchase you have to choose whether you're going to mount it 12 o'clock or in the conventional 6 o'clock position.
GRS: we know these guys as stock makers from Norway. Having started out in furniture they first made their laminate stocks, then a chassis and a composite version. They've always done a few accessories but not been the best at telling that story. For their bipod they took the best in show Fortmeier and made it better. I've owned a few of the Fortmeier style bipods from different makers and they're fantastically strong and stable. The great thing about Fortmeier is also its achilles heel. They popularised the pendulum or 12 o'clock installation. BUT. At the time of purchase you have to choose whether you're going to mount it 12 o'clock or in the conventional 6 o'clock position.
GRS stole a march by making theirs user adaptable between the two. Many of the bipod companies offer several different feet, always at exorbitant extra cost.
GRS made flip-able feet. Skis on one side, spikes on the other. Nice touch guys. For your heavy rifle these are the bipod to beat, you can spend more, but nothing is any better.
Tool less attachment to your rifle, twist to clamp.
Gunwerks: I've tried a few times to buy a really lightweight bipod, and every time I've felt disappointed with the design or build and soon sold them on. There was a company that made their offering from PEEK, and their proud boast was 'it weighs the same as three rounds of .308'. It had a flimsy vibe and was so short it only really worked off the bench. The last missive I remember from the company was that people broke them testing them to see if they were as flimsy as they looked. They were.
I saw Thomas from the THLR.no channel was using the Gunwerks, and as he has owned even more bipods than me I thought I'd give it a go.
For the most part they have just put features we've already seen together. Two leg extensions; quarter turn, and notched spring-loaded. You set the tension on the cant in the usual way. Their innovation, and I really like it, is the lever-less twist-lock that attaches the bipod to your picatinny rail. Much neater than a dedicated adapter that needs to be installed by a gunsmith.
Big shout to The Lone Star Parson who acted as my postie to make this happen.
your pal
SBW
