New: Tier One FTR Bipod Kit for the Air Arms HFT 500 and Anschütz 9015
Fitting a benchrest bipod to an Air Arms HFT 500 or Anschütz 9015 used to mean three separate orders: the bipod, the cant block and the right adaptor for the rail. Then the case is another line on the invoice. The new Tier One FTR Bipod Kit puts all of it in one box for £425, in black or titanium, and adds a hand wheel you cannot buy anywhere else.
Here is what you get, why the FTR suits these two rifles, and what the kit saves against buying the parts on their own.
Why the FTR on an HFT 500 or 9015
Both rifles are built for shooting from a fixed position. The HFT 500 is Air Arms' hunter field target rifle and the 9015 is the Anschütz match rifle used in 10m and benchrest competition. Both carry an Anschütz-pattern accessory rail under the forend, so both take the same Tier One rail adaptor. Neither rifle needs a folding bipod for walking a permission. What they need is a wide, low, repeatable platform, and that is what the FTR is.
The FTR plants a 475mm footprint at its lowest setting. Height runs from 150 to 250mm under the stock through a capstan wheel, so you set elevation in small steps and keep the rifle where you put it. Ski feet let the rifle track straight back on the bench, shot after shot. The whole thing is machined from solid aluminium bar on 5-axis CNC and hard-coat anodised at 30 microns, and weighs 530g before the adaptor.
What comes in the kit
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tier One FTR Bipod | The bipod itself, 475mm footprint, 120mm height range, ski feet. Black or titanium. |
| Cant block | Tension lever cant adjustment so the rifle sits level on a sloping bench or uneven ground. Colour matched to the bipod. |
| Cant block to rifle adaptor | Fixes the cant block to the accessory rail on the HFT 500 or 9015. |
| Hand wheel | Replaces the standard tightening lever. Sourced by us, only available in this kit. |
| ABS hard case | Foam-lined, laser-cut inserts for the bipod and parts. Keeps everything together between sessions. |
The hand wheel: why we added it
Tier One supply the FTR with a lever to tighten the bipod down. It works, but on a bench with a rifle in the way the lever is awkward to reach and awkward to turn. We sourced a large six-lobe hand wheel to go in its place. Spin it on, a few turns and the bipod is locked. Spin it off and the bipod is in the case. Quicker, easier, and you get full grip with cold hands or gloves. Tier One do not sell the wheel and neither do we on its own. You only get it in this kit.
What you save
Bought on their own, the FTR bipod is £339, the cant block is £66.98 and the ABS case is £45. Those three come to £450.98 before you add the rail adaptor. The kit is £425 with all five items in the box, so you save over £25 on the first three parts alone, get the adaptor on top, and get the hand wheel that is not for sale anywhere else.
- ✓ Tier One FTR Bipod Kit, Black: £425
- ✓ Tier One FTR Bipod Kit, Titanium: £425
Fitting it
Slide the adaptor onto the accessory rail, set it where you want the bipod under the forend and lock it off. The cant block clips onto the adaptor and the bipod mounts to the block. Spin the hand wheel down to lock the bipod, set your height on the capstan and cant the rifle level. The first time takes ten minutes. After that the bipod comes on and off the rail in seconds and lives in the case between matches.
Who this kit suits
- ✓ HFT 500 owners who shoot benchrest leagues or club competitions from a fixed bench
- ✓ Anschütz 9015 shooters who want a wide, low platform for prone or bench work
- ✓ Anyone moving one bipod between an HFT 500 and a 9015 on the same rail adaptor
Not sure the FTR is the right shape for your rifle? Bring it down to the shop in Berkhamsted and try one on our 20m indoor range, or call and we will check the fit.
Shop the Tier One FTR Bipod KitThe FTR is a static bipod and does not fold along the barrel. Prices correct at time of writing.
