Harris bipod for M1A - three questions:

[Nando Aqui]

I have decided to add a Harris bipod to my SA M1A (walnut stock). I have other rifles with VersaPod bipods and others with their original H&K bipods, but this will be my first Harris, and I have three questions:

(1) Which Harris bipod do you prefer - swivel (S) or not?
(2) How about notched or smooth legs?

(FWIW, the VersaPods I have allow tilt and swivel, have notched legs, and work fine for me.)

I have read various approaches to mounting the bipod (adaptors, existing hole or new hole, etc.), but I can't remember whether mounting it on the forward hole of the swivel mount plate was considered.

(3) Would it be OK to drill out the forward-most of the two rivets that hold the sling swivel plate and drill (as necessary) to mount the stud for the bipod there?

Thanks -

Alex

 

[762x51]

On 1 and 2:

I personally prefer the swivel models with leg notches. The ability to level the rifle is indeed quite useful, to me at least. One must have addition to the S models, in my opinion, is the Pod-Loc lever to lock the swivel by hand (Brownells sells it). Makes for very quick adjustments. As for the leg notches, I simply find them much easier and less annoying to use than the friction knobs on the standard model.

 

[Nando Aqui]

Swivel model with notched legs it will be - it sounds the best to me as well.

Thanks!

Alex

 

[Fatelvis]

I agree with 7.62. The notches in the legs get you close to level on an uneven surface, and with the swivel, you can fine tune your sights to be level/plumb. The swivel feature, for me, also seems to eliminate any unrepeatable "torque" on the bipod, affecting my zero.

 

[Freedomv]

I would be careful of mounting anything to the forward sling swivil as the stock will crack from added pressure. This is a weak point. Maybe if the area was reinforced with a metal devise such as a peice of aluminum conduit cut in half. accraglassed inplace over a larger area to support the extra strain. A little work but worth the effort to avoid splitting the stock length ways. or breaking the swivel base out entirely.
I have been there done that.
Good luck. And good shooting.
Vern