If you’ve got more than one PCP, can you really get by with just one bipod shared between them? Mike Morton gets down to earth with the Javelin to look for some answers
With the Javelin, Spartan Precision Equipment has produced an ultra-lightweight bipod made of carbon-fibre and alloy
Key Specs
Maker: Spartan Precision Equipment (www.javelinbipod.co.uk)
Model: Javelin Bipod (Short prototype on test; Long and Standard also available)
Price: £255
Weight: 154g (with locking lever)
Ground-to-Stock Height: 15-19cm
Overall Length in Pocket: 19cm
The bipod comes in a kit which includes one adapter, three rubber grommets of varying forend profiles, and three screws of different types of thread
Do you shoot a PCP off a bipod? If you do, the chances are you’re using a Harris or one of its many clones. This is a solid and dependable bipod that’s been around for years. But it’s relatively heavy and quite chunky – and if it’s a genuine Harris, it’ll cost well in excess of £100.There’s a knack to attaching a Harris to your rifle.
While it can be done quickly enough with practice, it’s a little too fiddly to constantly fit and refit in the field, so many shooters tend to leave it on. And if you’re using a sling, you’ll know how uncomfortable it is to carry your rifle with the ’pod fitted, as it digs into your back. This review isn’t about the Harris, but it’s good to set the scene to explain what the Javelin is, and why it’s so different.
The Javelin can be tilted to neutralise cant, then locked in place once the rifle’s level by using this lever, similar to the KMW Pod-Loc for the Harris
With the Javelin, Spartan Precision Equipment has produced an ultra-lightweight bipod made of carbon-fibre and alloy. In keeping with the company’s ancient Greek namesake, the ’pod looks minimalistic, but in fact offers a multitude of features.
The whole concept behind the Javelin is that it’s held in place with a magnet, meaning you can attach the bipod when it’s needed and take it off when it’s not. This is an unusual idea, but it really does work. Do you want to make your rifle stable so you can fill it with air before you head out hunting? Add the Javelin. Are you going on a roving stalk? Take it off. Have you been doing the rounds on your permission and spotted a perfect ambush site? Put it back on. Are you heading back to your car with your rifle slung over your shoulder? Take it off again. OK, you get the idea: the Javelin is a versatile bit of kit, and the magnet is strong enough to hold the bipod in place when it’s in use, but it’s still easy to click it on and off in seconds.
The Javelin clicks into the adapter and is held in place by the on-board magnet, which is more than strong enough to hold the bipod in place
The current range of Javelin bipods includes firearm-friendly Long and Standard versions, but the one I had on test was a new Short bipod: this is more suitable for airgun use, as PCPs naturally sit higher off the ground than the average centrefire due to their additional air cylinder.
Swap shop
Whichever leg length you decide to go for, the bipod is fitted to your rifle with the use of a universal adapter, which is meant to be kept on the gun all the time, although it’s not a permanent modification. If you have more than one rifle, use an additional adapter and swap the Javelin between them.
The bipod comes in a kit which includes one adapter, three rubber grommets of varying forend profiles, and three screws of different types of thread. If your rifle has a sling swivel stud fitted, all you need do is remove the stud and match the threads on the stud to the relevant screw. If your rifle is not fitted with a stud, you’ll have to drill a hole for the Javelin screw, just as you would if you wanted to fit a regular sling swivel stud.
The bipod slots into the adapter two ways. One way gives the rifle a lateral arc of movement so you can pan the rifle to track your target…
The next job is to find the grommet that most closely matches your stock profile, position the adapter and then gently screw it in place. But before you do this, test-fit the screw and make sure it’s not going to interfere with the rifle’s air cylinder. If it does, you may need to shorten the screw. The adapter features a hole to take a sling swivel, and the intended orientation is to have this hole facing rearwards, but you may have to fit it the other way. I fitted the Javelin to my Brocock Bantam, and had to flip the adapter 180 degrees otherwise it would have partially covered the fill port. This will depend on the layout of your particular rifle.
With the adapter fitted, it’s time to snap in the bipod. On top of the ’pod is a little steel rod which fits into a slot on the adapter. Fitted one way round the bipod will be locked in place in ‘range’ or ‘target’ mode, but fit the bipod the other way and you’ll be able to pan your rifle when it’s in the aim, which is very useful when laying up near a warren. The Javelin can also be tilted left or right to level it on uneven ground, and can be secured with a lever. The legs can be extended by twisting them half a turn, pulling them out to the required length, then twisting them half a turn the other way to lock them in place. The legs are also magnetised so they’re together when not in use.
…While if you insert it the other way round the bipod is locked in place, making a more rigid platform for taking shots.
With the bipod fitted and deployed, it behaves impeccably. The carbon-fibre is extremely rigid and lets you get rock-solid in the aim. Will the Javelin work as advertised? I fitted a second adapter to another rifle and swapped the ‘pod between them. Total time with both guns lying side by side? Five seconds. The Javelin may seem expensive, but you only need one for all your shooting needs.
Verdict: 90/100
Build Quality: 19
Fitting: 16
Features: 18
Ease of Use: 19
Value: 18
“The Javelin is beautifully made, is far tougher than it looks, and is quick and easy to use – this does come at a cost, but it’s a one-off purchase as this is a bipod that’s built to last.”
This article originally appeared in the issue 104 of Airgun Shooter magazine. For more great content like this, subscribe today at our secure online store: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk
Leave a Reply