Have you heard of it? Maybe you use it? The 17S mounting interface for bipods has been around for a while. Today, Caleb tells us about a few of the nifty things it can do for us. 17S is actually a NATO standard agreement interface for mounting a variety of accessories to firearms - optics, laser sights, tactical lights, and bipods. It's a male-to-female system, and "17S" actually refers to the width and depth of the channel machined into a 17S mount, with holes for clamping the accessory securely to it (more on that later). In civilian use, 17S mounts are mainly used for bipods.
As an example to demo the versatility of a 17S bipod mount, Caleb shows us how an adapter lets you install a 17S bipod on a rifle with a rail for very stable ARCA Swiss mounting system. Just as easily, you can get an adapter to mount the same 17S bipod on a rifle with an M1913 Picatinny rail on the forend / handguard. A 17S adapter is a great way take a bipod designed for a less-common mount and put it on a rifle with a different mount interface.
One caution: While the dimensions of the SLOT on a 17S are standard, the HOLE SPACING is not. If the accessory you're mounting requires specific hole spacing, make sure you choose a mount / adapter with that exact hole spacing.
There are LOT of 17S mounts and adapters available on the accessory market (and at Brownells!). With a little diligent comparison shopping, you can find the right one for your needs.
For info about an excellent bipod that uses a 17S mount, check out Caleb's Product Spotlight video on the MDT GRND-Pod Bipod.