An interesting idea?

[Meaty]

Being an engineer and a shooter I often ponder over existing designs and wonder how things can be improved-some seem to have some merit and others not so (more often than not the latter!)
One of the things I have been thinking about is a suitable replacement for my Harris bipods and I have a couple of fag-packet designs but as yet no time to experiment-never enough hours in the day. All the radical new designs feature a wider footprint which is an obvious advantage but it got me thinking why has nobody looked at making a dedicated target bipod that is extended forwards as well as wider, thus making the footprint much larger and increasing stability? (I know the Atlas type can be angled forwards but is it stable?) With this in mind I have been looking at suitable materials and my fag packet design incorporates a pair of heavily modified front forks from an oldish time trials push bike. There seems to be a lot of merit in these as the Renolds 531 (type) tubing is strong, light and fairly easy to work with and they are profiled/tapered in all the right places off the shelf-I have a couple in the shed from when I used to build bikes and do the odd time trial. I can vouch for there strength and rigidity as I never bent any in the few years that I cycled and I am 6'4" and nearly 20 stone! I have no photos yet as things are no further down the line than a few ideas but I think there is some merit to this idea-anybody got any input?

Just been having a look around and seems that this chap has had a similar-ish brain-fart!
http://www.accurateshooter.com/featured ... ral-bipod/
Personally I think this looks butt ugly but the concept is similar.

[Christel]

I have seen the integral bipod, I am not to keen on it being integral simply because it limits it's use.

My bipod is ultra wide with big swivel feet which of course is ideal when shooting at Barton Road where the terrain differs from 800 to 900 to 1000. Height adjustment in the middle so it is twice as fast as any other bipod I have owned. We are always looking at improving designs simply because as a shooter it makes life easier with a good design and of course one might even hit the target

[ovenpaa]

Oddly enough as I read this I also thought of 'that' bipod which is wide and extended forward as well. Now the thing is, does a bipod with feet canted forward it suit the F/TR type disciplines as well as the potential in a 'tactical' environment.

[Meaty]

Hi Christel,
The one I have designs on is detachable unlike the integral jobby in the link but the forward raked legs is the concept that I like. Height adjustment is what I am thinking long and hard about atm.
p.s. Barton rd. is cancelled tomorrow if you were thinking of going.

[ovenpaa]

Meaty, I have Fortmeier bipod here that may just be of interest to you design wise as it has adjustable length legs and also has the reputation for being amongst the best in the business. I will post a picture up when I get a chance.

[Christel]

We did plan to go, decided against it though because of the weather...apart from on here we have not been told about the cancellation.
sign92

Straight or forward legs...you need swivel feet to move with the recoil. IMO

[ovenpaa]

In theory you extend the length of footprint from rear rider to bipod feet which is a good thing so I guess you could shorten the stock so saving weight and yet still keep the same lengthways footprint however I do wonder about the dynamics of moving the bipod pivot point backwards by say 70,0mm

I/we are forever discussing bipod innovation and design and have a few ideas, we managed to get down to around 550 grams with a reasonable footprint however I prefer to go wide to reduce hop and improve tracking even if it is at the expense of some minor weight gain.

We have a new generation of F/TR bipod on the drawing board right now that hopefully will be finished and released for March time.