Bipod recommendations

Posted by: Mark O

Don't use them often, but when I do we fight. Seems to be a rust/wear issue. Recommendations?

They do require regular maintenance. Almost all of them now are the pushbutton type. These have a cone shaped aluminum knob on the end of a threaded brass rod inside the tube. That needs to be adjusted from time to time, and the thread needs to be kept lubricated so that the dissimilar metals don't fuse.?ÿ If they do replacement parts can be bought.?ÿ

We just bought a Dutch Hill bipod and rod combo and they are the best we have had.?ÿ I don't like their legs, so, I was skeptical

They need a user that is careful.

The weather can cause failures.

Aluminum is rigid not flexible.

good luck

I've gotten good service from the Seco thumb release bipods and tripods.?ÿ I've had both since 2010 with no failures or breakages.?ÿ Of course I also take the time to dry them out if I get caught in the rain and try to refrain from using them to bludgeon contractors and annoying neighbors.

I have a Seco thumb-release bipod.?ÿ The only thing I don't like is the fact that it's hard to plumb quickly due to backlash in the thumb release mechanism.?ÿ I wish it had micro-adjusters like some of their GPS tripods.

I've had good luck with the sokkia raptor. A bit heavier than some but sturdy and holds all the different diameter rods I have.

Thanks for all the input gentlemen!

I've had a couple of these for years. Given eexcellent service. Rarely blow over. Holds my pole and GPS okay (wouldn't walk away and leave it though. Nor would I with those other contraptions}?ÿ

Prism pole tripod

If not working robotic, two four foot lath bungie corded to the rod is less weight and can be jettisoned at will. I have an invention in mind to make a custom clamp on the rod with slots to hold and secure 4 foot lath for use as occasional bipod.?ÿ

We use them all the time. They just get worn out. If you leave them sitting, they tend to bind up but some grease will help that. I require my crews to use them for traversing. Seems pretty dumb to spend all that money on a high-tech TS then let somebody hold the rod plumb during a shot or backsight without them. They balked at first until they saw the awesome closures we were getting using them.

We also use them when we plumb our rods for calibration. couldn't see setting them in some contraption when all I have to do is plumb them with the TS.

Just realized what I wrote. Grease, only on the buttons. Don't put any down the tube or they won't lock in place. If you grease the whole thing, you'll need some de-greaser. Our primary problem is the buttons, they stick and won't release the springs.

I agree that you don't want to grease the inside of the tubes. But you do want a little on the threads of the brass rods. And?ÿ I can't see putting grease on the buttons doing anything for you. If the buttons are sticking it is because the threads are tightened too much (possibly in response to the tubes having been greased) which depresses the springs.?ÿ ?ÿ It isn't really the buttons that are sticking, it's the aluminum plunger at the bottom of tube.

I think bipods are a must. Especially, with robotics. I had suspect closures until I started using them. I realized I wasn't as steady as I used to be and did not know when the shot was registering on from the robotic compared to where I was at in my wobble. With 2 men, I always had the inst. operator turn down as far to the bottom of the rod as possible, then up to take the shot. This eliminated most of angular error do to wobble, but the robotic is always tracking and moving with me.?ÿ

One thing I did learn is that the foot rests matter. I much prefer the round big washer looking foot rests. With those, you can step the legs in the ground from any direction or angle to the bipods. The foot rests that protrude out like a step require you to rotate the legs or your foot around to stomp them in and that became a real frustration quickly. I like to drop them and know that the foothold is ready no matter which way the bipod legs are oriented. If you find a good deal and buy one with the foot rest, you can easily take the foot rest off and replace with big round washers from a hardware store.?ÿ

I have had great luck out of all the bipods I have ran. My favorite one is the Seco thumb release one, though. It seems to be the best built one I have had. My others were off brands, and I don't know the names as the logos have worn off. I have had very little problems with them. They will loosen up with use. You have to turn the thumb buttons to tighten them back up and you should check this often so it doesn't drop your target on you. I have also found that disassembly is not too hard to do if you don't overtighten the foot tips. I have found that they can sometimes get out of adjustment to where tightening the thumb buttons doesn't work very well and a disassembly to line everything back up fixes the problem. I have only had to do this once with the seco that I have after about 9 years worth of use, I have never had to lube mine, but would listen to the above about not greasing the poles.

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Posted by: Ben Davidson

For rust, I would just rub a little remington oil on them where you are seeing the problem. I wouldn't think a little rust would be a problem unless they were locking up on you. If I get my wet, I extend them, wipe them down and let them air dry when I am done for the day. I have never had a rusting problem.?ÿ

I think bipods are a must. Especially, with robotics. I had suspect closures until I started using them. I realized I wasn't as steady as I used to be and did not know when the shot was registering on from the robotic compared to where I was at in my wobble. With 2 men, I always had the inst. operator turn down as far to the bottom of the rod as possible, then up to take the shot. This eliminated most of angular error do to wobble, but the robotic is always tracking and moving with me.?ÿ

One thing I did learn is that the foot rests matter. I much prefer the round big washer looking foot rests. With those, you can step the legs in the ground from any direction or angle to the bipods. The foot rests that protrude out like a step require you to rotate the legs or your foot around to stomp them in and that became a real frustration quickly. I like to drop them and know that the foothold is ready no matter which way the bipod legs are oriented. If you find a good deal and buy one with the foot rest, you can easily take the foot rest off and replace with big round washers from a hardware store.?ÿ

I have had great luck out of all the bipods I have ran. My favorite one is the Seco thumb release one, though. It seems to be the best built one I have had. My others were off brands, and I don't know the names as the logos have worn off. I have had very little problems with them. They will loosen up with use. You have to turn the thumb buttons to tighten them back up and you should check this often so it doesn't drop your target on you. I have also found that disassembly is not too hard to do if you don't overtighten the foot tips. I have found that they can sometimes get out of adjustment to where tightening the thumb buttons doesn't work very well and a disassembly to line everything back up fixes the problem. I have only had to do this once with the seco that I have after about 9 years worth of use, I have never had to lube mine, but would listen to the above about not greasing the poles.

Also, some come with high quality rubber for the handgrips, while others have a foam grip. I recommend the rubber as it will last longer, but my foam grip off branders have actually held up pretty well too. But if you geet them in briars and around barbed fencing you can tear them up if not careful.?ÿ

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Never liked them. never used them.

I use them regularly for monument ties and the occasional photo control point.?ÿ On pavement I like to use sand bags or other weight to make sure they don't blow over.?ÿ On bare ground I make sure the points are dug in as deep as possible.?ÿ Unlike Ben, I would rather have a foot step than the washer the Seco bi-pods come with.?ÿ Unless the legs are at a step angle the washers keep the points from getting a good bite.?ÿ Being from the great PNWet they do require regular maintenance but nothing more than a little silicone and lithium grease can handle.?ÿ I'm with Jim on the need for fine tuning.?ÿ When I'm setting control I go with a tri-pod and tribrach, I just don't think you can get nearly as accurate with a rod.

We work in the rain here in the PNW. And I use bipods routinely. So the bipods are soaking wet all the time. These things are made of aluminum and plastic so corrosion is not a problem, except for the threaded brass rod. I guess that is much of why I keep stressing the lubrication of the?ÿ threads.?ÿ?ÿ

I'm fully familiar with the various other means of propping up the rod, from just holding it steady to the 4 foot lath trick. To me, those are expedients to use when the bipods are impractical or unavailable for one reasons or another. I would not want to be without bipods for all my rods. Especially with robotic.?ÿ?ÿ

BTW - I have strapped 5/8" x 30" iron rods to each of my bipod legs. This to make the setup more stable - less likely to be blown over by a gust of wind.?ÿ Sure, it makes the thing a load to carry. But after several blowovers I thought it the right thing to do.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ

Seco's thumb release tripod is great for preventing blowovers. I use it for back-sights that need to be stable for long occupations and on surfaces or weather conditions where you just can't trust a bipod not to blow over.

After a blow over or two I switched to a pole tripod. I also switched to both a Leica bi-pod and pole tripod and they are made as well as the Leica prism poles, meaning I have never had to take them apart or adjust them or lube them, you know all the stuff you have to mess with all the time with the SECO's (I have one of those still someplace that I put out to pasture the day I bought the Leica versions). i rarely use the bi-pod, but there are times where it is the better way to go, 99% of the time I use the pole with pole tripod or a regular tripod.

SHG