Dave Hoback
07-19-2022, 12:35 PM
This was a long time coming. The top tier bipods out there are just one of those things I won’t spend the money on! Dropping $300 on a Bipod goes against every thread of my being! For one: it’s nothing more than a rest for the rifle. It doesn’t do anything special, regardless of the dohickies & jeeblestbey are designed with. And a second point of contention, I knew I could build a better unit with much better materials, at a fraction of the cost! So I finally did just that.
Started with some 2024-T3 Billet Aluminum. I’ve had this large piece of stock for some time. I then ordered some 3.5mm Carbon Fiber Plate & 16mm Tube, with a 12mm diameter 6AL4V Titanium rod. Also some rubber feet & all Titanium hardware.
https://i.ibb.co/LvVZmQC/05-ED4-B0-C-EA5-F-4-A7-A-B39-D-C120205-C313-A.jpg (https://ibb.co/rvDwYbZ)
Cut/machined the Aluminum into the blocks I needed. The CF plate & Tubing, and Ti rod were cut in halves. Also cut a section of Titanium to be used as a spigot. I’m a big fan of using a Bipod spigot to get the it further forward. I machined one end, drilled & tapped m5 thread for a QD lever Picatinny clamp & fixed with Ti flat head screws.
https://i.ibb.co/nrtNVmW/55445746-BCC9-42-E3-AE2-E-B04676808-C2-A.jpg (https://ibb.co/jhsPxfp)
https://i.ibb.co/gD2Vq24/E6-C5-AC2-C-8749-4-B02-8758-2-E921-C8-B84-A0.jpg (https://ibb.co/dQTgCTm)
https://i.ibb.co/wNKX4B3/7558-FE7-E-E8-CB-4401-A214-3-B66-DDE6-E9-BC.jpg (https://ibb.co/FbBMzmN)
https://i.ibb.co/VjVfn2k/D35-D8097-76-E0-4-E81-9-D54-EB7-C17-BA6-DC4.jpg (https://ibb.co/p02YVJk)
https://i.ibb.co/hDvTfYy/B54-B862-E-F253-42-AC-9309-21555983-F4-AF.jpg (https://ibb.co/RzWJyj9)
A leg nearly completed. Just need to drill/tap the Ti rod & mill a slot for adjustment.
https://i.ibb.co/TBgP8Gk/92-D3-BD3-D-E0-AD-4203-A9-A9-EA23-C3-E11-D31.jpg (https://ibb.co/99ryT0N)
a view from the top of the leg. Shows the Ti screw to retain the CF tubing.
https://i.ibb.co/QF3B9cJ/E8-BE9-F28-977-D-48-FD-B5-D8-ACB02-E2-D64-E9.jpg (https://ibb.co/pvBD2P1)
Very nearly finished. Can anyone visualize what I’m going for hear? The body actually consists of 2 of the Carbon Fiber plates, as is under the Aluminum blocks. The TWO are glued together for machining, drilling holes. So everything is perfectly aligned.
https://i.ibb.co/cygCcnd/BFF8452-F-D021-4-BAC-8-D80-C720-D2825724.jpg (https://ibb.co/K50LjvH)
This is such a fun project. Quite a bit of “next level” machining involved. I’m so thankful to have this knowledge & ability. I certainly can’t afford ALL the top tier parts I want. It’s so satisfying to be able to build not only an “equal” quality part, but something that surpasses even a $400 Bipod.
Started with some 2024-T3 Billet Aluminum. I’ve had this large piece of stock for some time. I then ordered some 3.5mm Carbon Fiber Plate & 16mm Tube, with a 12mm diameter 6AL4V Titanium rod. Also some rubber feet & all Titanium hardware.
https://i.ibb.co/LvVZmQC/05-ED4-B0-C-EA5-F-4-A7-A-B39-D-C120205-C313-A.jpg (https://ibb.co/rvDwYbZ)
Cut/machined the Aluminum into the blocks I needed. The CF plate & Tubing, and Ti rod were cut in halves. Also cut a section of Titanium to be used as a spigot. I’m a big fan of using a Bipod spigot to get the it further forward. I machined one end, drilled & tapped m5 thread for a QD lever Picatinny clamp & fixed with Ti flat head screws.
https://i.ibb.co/nrtNVmW/55445746-BCC9-42-E3-AE2-E-B04676808-C2-A.jpg (https://ibb.co/jhsPxfp)
https://i.ibb.co/gD2Vq24/E6-C5-AC2-C-8749-4-B02-8758-2-E921-C8-B84-A0.jpg (https://ibb.co/dQTgCTm)
https://i.ibb.co/wNKX4B3/7558-FE7-E-E8-CB-4401-A214-3-B66-DDE6-E9-BC.jpg (https://ibb.co/FbBMzmN)
https://i.ibb.co/VjVfn2k/D35-D8097-76-E0-4-E81-9-D54-EB7-C17-BA6-DC4.jpg (https://ibb.co/p02YVJk)
https://i.ibb.co/hDvTfYy/B54-B862-E-F253-42-AC-9309-21555983-F4-AF.jpg (https://ibb.co/RzWJyj9)
A leg nearly completed. Just need to drill/tap the Ti rod & mill a slot for adjustment.
https://i.ibb.co/TBgP8Gk/92-D3-BD3-D-E0-AD-4203-A9-A9-EA23-C3-E11-D31.jpg (https://ibb.co/99ryT0N)
a view from the top of the leg. Shows the Ti screw to retain the CF tubing.
https://i.ibb.co/QF3B9cJ/E8-BE9-F28-977-D-48-FD-B5-D8-ACB02-E2-D64-E9.jpg (https://ibb.co/pvBD2P1)
Very nearly finished. Can anyone visualize what I’m going for hear? The body actually consists of 2 of the Carbon Fiber plates, as is under the Aluminum blocks. The TWO are glued together for machining, drilling holes. So everything is perfectly aligned.
https://i.ibb.co/cygCcnd/BFF8452-F-D021-4-BAC-8-D80-C720-D2825724.jpg (https://ibb.co/K50LjvH)
This is such a fun project. Quite a bit of “next level” machining involved. I’m so thankful to have this knowledge & ability. I certainly can’t afford ALL the top tier parts I want. It’s so satisfying to be able to build not only an “equal” quality part, but something that surpasses even a $400 Bipod.