Javelin MK11 - Bipod

I recently purchased a Javelin MK II Bipod and have now had an opportunity to field test it a couple of times so I thought I'd offer up a few thoughts:

First, these bipods are ridiculously expensive ($470-ish) so the big questions is - are they worth it? Well... naturally that question is subjective because it depends on how you value such things. If you want a top quality, lightweight bipod then the answer is yes, they're totally worth it. If you don't care what you hang off the front of the stock then yeah, nah, buy a cheap Chinese knock-off of a Harris for $60. As I'm doing more alpine hunting than bush hunting (and I'm getting old and tired.... sorry - old, GRUMPY and tired...) the idea of carrying less weight up the hills is appealing. Am I really saving much weight....? No, probably not as much as I'd hoped. But something is better than nothing.

In the box you get a Bipod, a curved mounting Adapter, a couple of screws and an Allan Key. Installation took 5 minutes. There is alternative to using the Adapter which is pretty swishy - the "Gunsmith Insert" - and I'll probably end up going that way in future. There are a number of videos online detailing the installation so I won't blab on about it here.

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In the field I've been carrying the bipod hooked over my belt. It stayed put and was easy to access at a moments notice. I like the idea of a pouch on the sling and you can now buy these ready to go. When walking through scrub and crap the fact the bipod isn't mounted up front means less to tangle on. It also means less weight out forward so balance is retained when you want to shoot but have no need for the bipod. I like that - especially if using a suppressor as the balance is already forward enough. When you need to take that long shot with the bipod, you place it in the Adapter (retained by the magnet) and you're good to go.

The feet are adjustable in length - rotate the legs a couple of turns, pull to desired length, tighten. Done. I found that you don't have to get too fussy with the height adjustment on uneven ground because the bipod has quite a good amount of side to side angular adjustment. One of the best features of the Javelin is the ability to track a moving animal with out having to move the feet. The Adapter allows a good range of rotation from left to right so it's very easy to follow an animal that is moving across the scope.

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So was it worth the money? Mmmmm... probably not.
Do I like it? Yes, definitely. Loving it in fact.
Would I buy another one? Yep, I think I would.
Best suited to: Those who like to hunt the tops or enjoy the challenge of long-range shots.

These are made in China also

I bought one a while back from the agent in Ch-Ch and it does what it is supposed to do, after a few outings I put needed to put an additional screw into the mounting plate to stop the it moving around on the stock. One screw just did not hold it with the sling attached. Expensive but light.

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Originally Posted by stickle7

I bought one a while back from the agent in Ch-Ch and it does what it is supposed to do, after a few outings I put needed to put an additional screw into the mounting plate to stop the it moving around on the stock. One screw just did not hold it with the sling attached. Expensive but light.

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That's an interesting point to consider Stickle7 and thanks for the input. With the synthetic rubberized stock I have on the A7, I wondered whether it could come loose on you and it sounds like it could. I guess the cure for this is to go for the "Insert". I like the look of that although I'm yet to bore a 19mm hole in my stock.

does it actually lock into the insert that's mounted on the stock?

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

does it actually lock into the insert that's mounted on the stock?

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nope ,holds there by a magnet

Yep, wot he said.

The Bipod has a rare earth magnet on the end of the boss and this attracts itself to the countersunk stainless screw that retains the Adapter to the stock, providing a fairly strong connection.

The alternative to this is to buy the "gunsmith insert" which you bond into the stock. It mounts flush and has a small disc inside to which the magnet attracts. Either way the result is the same... the bipod doesn't fall out.

Update on this product:

After a recent walk I found that the thumb-screw had been brushing against my clothing and had unwound to the point it was almost going to fall off. As there is no retainer, a small tap with a dot-punch on the top of the screw has stopped that from ever happening again but I thought I'd bring this to the attention of the manufacturer. I flicked them an email via their website suggesting a product improvement and was very surprised to get a response within 6 hours. So many times you find the email addresses associated with website to be unmonitored so it was great to see such a quick reply.

The Big Boss informed was very interested in hearing the feedback on the thumb-screw and indicated they would be updating this area to prevent it from happening in future. He also indicated that an updated thumb-screw would be available online soon. These guys are genuinely interested in hearing from the field and seem to be very pro-active. I asked 4 questions and received answers to all of them the same day.

Anyhow I just thought I would make people aware that behind this product there is a small bunch of people with a passion for what we do out in the hills. Maybe paying all that money for the bipod is made easier to swallow when you know you have their dedication and support behind you. Nice work.

I’ve now had an opportunity to try out my new Niggeloh Bipod Pouch. I have to say it’s significantly better than throwing a bipod leg either side of my bumbag strap or belt. Although that worked well for the first few missions I did manage to drop the bipod while crawling through a gut full of matagouri the other day and it was lucky my son was following behind and picked it up for me. There would have been tears for sure.

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The pouch is a quality product. Simple but smart. The bipod – I have the longer version – slips in there without protest and stays snug and secure until needed. The calf leather strap pops over the pin easily and is soundless… perfect. No noise is made opening or closing the clasp. That might not be a huge issue considering that if you’re using the bipod chances are the game is a fair distance away but it’s nice to know the manufacturers thought of these things and took the time to incorporate such ideas into the design. The pouch itself is made from neoprene and I note the edging strip is finished off up the side of the pouch rather than underneath where it might be subjected to greater wear on the join. Nice touch.

Overall I have to say I’m pleased with this product. It hurt to fork out so much moo-lah for the bipod but the pain of the purchase has subsided and I’m loving it. Easy to use. Smooth operation. Light. Quality product. Good support. I note the later Bipod Adapters have changed a bit in their design, but not in their function. Photo showing changes.


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Now I guess I just need to save up for the Shoulder Strap - it seems to be the best way to carry the bipod. If I manage to get one I’ll be sure to update this page with some feedback.

As I posted they are a great bipod, but after much deliberation I have decided to only use the Atlas between rifles and sell my long model Javelin, if anyone, if anyone is interested pm me, all original box and instructions and so on.