[Gundam]

My buddy's father just got an M1A Socom, and I wanted to get him a bipod for christmas. I have no idea what I need to put one on, and was looking for some recommmendations. I have a Harris bipod, and I really like those, especially since they go for pretty cheap, but I'm open to any suggestions (specific models if possible, as well as accessories needed to mount them.)

[NMshooter]

A carbine like that is really not the sort of firearm bipods are most useful on.

Look here: www.thewilderness.com and think about getting him a nice single or three point sling. That would be much more useful for a carbine than a bipod.

Hope that helps.

[Dienekes]

Amen. Get a good sling (leather M1907 or a good tac sling) and learn how to shoot from positions. I have a safe full of .30 caliber rifles and nary a bipod in the bunch.

At least where I live a bipod would be just extra weight; most of the time if you go to prone all you see is sagebrush. Have to shoot from sitting to get line of sight on the target.

I suppose that's not a problem on flat ranges and Gotham City...

[Lucky]

I read a manual for the M14 on the Global Security sight, and a good suggestion they showed there was to use a sock and put dirt in it, for a support. Leaves gravel and snow probably work well too, for the winter.

[BamBam-31]

Yeah, put a sock in it! :D

Must agree with the previous posters about a bipod for the SOCOM. A Turner's sling would be a better investment. I had Harris bipods on a couple of my rifles, but I've since removed them. At the range, they shoot better off bags anyways.

[geekWithA.45]

Concur. A bipod runs counter to the design intent.

But since it's your buddy's dad's rifle, I'd lookup M14 bipods, if that's what you really want to do.