I purchased the Javelin Long about a year ago soon after I bought my first hunting rifle (Browning X-Bolt Hell's Canyon Speed, 30-06). I am new to hunting, so my comments probably do not add much value. But, for what it's worth, my decision to purchase the Javelin boiled down to the design features (light weight, easily detachable, and quiet) combined with the good reviews. I figured the lightweight design would complement my relatively light weight hunting rifle nicely. I also really liked the fact that you could just leave the bipod in your pocket and quickly and quietly install it only when needed. It is the only bipod I have ever used, so I clearly can't provide any objective comparisons with other bipod designs. I used this setup successfully on my first ever hunt (Antelope in Wyoming) last fall. My personal preference is to use the bipod in "pan" (or traverse) mode. When I first started target shooting with the rifle, I attempted to use the "locked" mode thinking it might offer better lateral stability. However, since the bipod mount is simply threaded into the relatively soft composite stock of the rifle (using the forward sling mount), I found that it wasn't really all that effective at preventing unintended panning ... the threaded insert would just twist slightly allowing some small amount of pan motion even when in "locked" mode. Ever since then, I have installed the bipod in pan mode just to prevent applying unintentional torque to the attachment screw. Personally, I have found that I like the added range of motion associated with the pan mode regardless. However, as a new hunter (and new shooter in general), I am not attempting to use the bipod in situations that require a shot of more than a couple hundred yards. A more experienced hunter or target shooter taking longer distance shots may have a completely different opinion. Overall, I am very happy with the bipod. It is a simple design that seems to be a little less "clunky" when compared with other more traditional bipod designs. It is certainly an expensive option, and I suppose it could be lost relatively easily if you get careless about where you store it (packing it around permanently attached to the rifle is not an option). If you are into shaving off ounces of your hunting equipment for your back country hunts, or if you want a bipod that quickly and quietly disconnects/reconnects so you are not always packing it around on your rifle, then I would recommend it. Perhaps my opinion will change as I gain more experience ... only time will tell. You may want to wait for opinions from some of the more experienced forum members.
