Precision Rifle Gear Let’s Talk Bipods

Coltoncashh

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
Feb 12, 2025
14
0
Kansas City, Missouri
Let’s Talk Bipods!

Im curious as to what Bipod styles and brands everyone is running on their rifle builds. I do a lot of deer hunting but have recently started getting more into the Rimfire NRL22 competitions and I am looking for a bipod that is a good all around option that gives you the best bang for your buck!
 
Last edited:
Let’s Talk Bipods!

Im curious as to what Bipod styles and brands everyone is running on their rifle builds. I do a lot of deer hunting but have recently started getting more into the Rimfire NRL22 competitions and I am looking for a bipod that is a good all around option that gives you the best bang for your buck!
I have both a very expensive Elite Iron (with an ARCA mount) and an Atlas CAL.

I use the CAL the vast majority of the time and highly recommend it.
 
AccuTac is a good value, esp if you can find a buddy with a PRS discount (30% off from the manufacturer). Atlas Cal is also a good choice; CkyePod is less solid but much more flexible, you likely want the PRS version (shorter than the standard).

If you go with the AccuTac, agreed that you want the SR-5. Any of the -4 models are too short for proper fundamentals.
 
If you want a lot of flexibility, then go with the Ckye-Pod. It is my favorite bipod. I have two - a single pull and a double pull. They are not cheap but nothing is in this sport.

If you intend to shoot mostly from the prone position, then look at the Elite Iron as well. It is first-rate.
 
I use an Atlas CAL on my precision rifles. I have an original Atlas with the free turning legs on my NRL22 rifle just because I had it available and the recoil of a 22 doesn’t make the legs walk like a centerfire does, and my gas guns have Harris S series bipods.
 
I have Harris, Atlas, and Accu-Tac. The Harris is a good basic bipod but since the legs don't lock into position (spring loaded) I save those for rimfires these days. I think the Accutac is the most solid, but for me it's more difficult to deploy or change the angle of the legs. IMO the Atlas, for the money, is probably one of the best "all around" bipods (I do not have any experience with more expensive bipods)
 
If you are just looking for PRS type comps and don't mind spending the $ it's had to beat the flexibility of the CkyePod. I could also see a double/triple pull working okay for hunting. Often unless you hunt nothing but the flat desert (and even then) most prone bipods end up being too low to use in a lot of situations with grass, sage, shrubs etc. and you really want something you can almost shoot from a low sitting position. However, if you don't want to drop $700-$1000 on a bipod there are of course other options. At the end of the day most bipods will work, some do things better than others and there are always trade offs. More game has probably been killed with Harris bipods than any of the fancy bipods combined.

I've ran Harris, Elite Iron, CkyePod, various Atlas and Accu-Tac bipods. However to be fair, most of my bipod use is just at the range, I don't shoot much for comps. Mostly these days I've been running the Accu-Tac offerings, but they also have some drawbacks. I guess I'd sum them up as such.

Harris: It's budget, it works, there's all kinds of upgrades you can make to it, but it's not super flexible, however I hunted with one for decades and never had an issue with it, but haven't had one for many years. Plenty of guys shoot them really well.

Elite Iron: Really stable, works well, easy to use, but you can easily spend as much in adapters as you did for the bipod and break $1000 fast. It's also not really flexible from gun to gun, as often you may need to change adapters. They were all the rage a few years ago but you hear almost nothing about them anymore, mine almost never goes to the range with me.

CkeyPod: Only picked one up because it was Black Friday deals. It's crazy adjustable and I can see why PRS guys love it because it can adapt to so many positions. However, it's not the most stable, and guys do seem to have issues breaking some of the parts sometimes. If you wanted a tall bipod I could see the double/triple pull being nice for hunting, other bipods offer leg extensions but they are not really viable in the field to swap out unless you leave them on.
Atlas: I've ran whatever came before the V8, PSR, SuperCal, and 5H. For a smaller, light option the V8 is not bad, but the Cal and SuperCal are the only ones I still have. I'm not a big fan of panning bipods, but for PRS and probably some hunting situations it could be valuable. Before some of the more expensive options came along a lot of guys like the PSR with the longer leg option for PRS. I do love the SuperCal though.

Accu-Tac: I really like these, super solid, easy to adjust, lock up really tight, and they have a nice variety of well made feet, etc. options. Most range days this is what I'm shooting with usually a Cal as a backup. I wouldn't say I shoot any of them "bad" compared to the others but the Accu-tac for me seem to be more consistent in my groups compared to the others. However, I don't think they are as flexible as some other options for games. The leg extension travel on the Accu-tac's are less than say an Atlas of similar size, so you really have to make sure you get the right leg length for your use case. For example the SuperCal is 7.4" at 90 degrees, but adjusts from 5.8" to 11", the WB-5 goes from 5.5-10" with similar 90 deg height. In something smaller the SR-5 goes from 6.5-11" but the Cal in tall version goes from 6.3-12.5".

Also depending on the Accutac model there's a huge difference on overall height so in some models I need the "4" version of legs, and in others I needed the "5" to get the same position on the same gun. For example I'd have to run the WB-5 instead of the WB-4 because the rifle drops much lower into the "cradle" with no panning unit. However the FC-5 was too tall, because the panning unit adds a ton of height. I'd call that another downside really, the panning design they use adds probably at least 1" height to the bipod rifle attachment so the rifle is higher in the cradle than other designs. Usually I'd rather have a bipod be on the taller side because you can usually set the legs out at 45 deg to drop down more, but some shooting situations don't allow that. I'm also not a huge fan of their clamps, they have a really low stack height but they use a shorter 90 deg throw than most lever clamps so they don't have to worry about the lever getting into the legs, but I have to adjust it for just about every rifle I put it on. They did recently make an adapter so you can put a 17s style clamp on (RRS, Area 419, etc.) but on some bipods like the WB-4 or LP-50 where the rifle sits deep in the cradle of the legs, the adapters won't work with a picatinny setup because the clamp lever hits the bipod legs and won't open far enough to remove it. Might be okay on a Arca when you can just slide it off the front, but not on a picatiny rail. I'm not a fan of Arca for anything but gamer guns unless it's one of the types that interlocks.

I will say while not a bipod, I really like the Arisaka Defense Rail Slider clamp. It basically allows you to press a button and then slide the bipod along your picatiny rail, but still has an adjustment to tighten it up solid. Makes it fast to get on/off guns and once you do it only needs about a half turn of the knob to tighten up. I do wish they had a lever instead of the knob to tighten it up, because with the quick adjust button, you never have to give it more than about a turn from rifle to rifle from sliding to tight.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ronin22
AccuTac is a good value, esp if you can find a buddy with a PRS discount (30% off from the manufacturer). Atlas Cal is also a good choice; CkyePod is less solid but much more flexible, you likely want the PRS version (shorter than the standard).

If you go with the AccuTac, agreed that you want the SR-5. Any of the -4 models are too short for proper fundamentals.

I've never seen anyone keep the PRS version. It's always just a little too short. Everyone I've ever shot with uses a standard or double pull (myself included).


If you're not prepared for Ckye-pod money, accu-tac.
If you can't do that, Harris. But, only the notched leg version. (Some of these guys are so old they likely don't know these exist...🤣)

Everything about Atlas drives me nuts. I can't stand them. Manipulating them just makes me want to throw it

I use a notched leg with cant 9-13" Harris or a standard Ckye-pod.
I would never go shorter and actually refuse to buy any of the other mdt offerings because we have stuff on our ground and elevation. A 6-9" Bipod is useless once you leave the bench unless it's on a 3" thick brick of a stock.
 
I've never seen anyone keep the PRS version. It's always just a little too short. Everyone I've ever shot with uses a standard or double pull (myself included).


If you're not prepared for Ckye-pod money, accu-tac.
If you can't do that, Harris. But, only the notched leg version. (Some of these guys are so old they likely don't know these exist...🤣)

Everything about Atlas drives me nuts. I can't stand them. Manipulating them just makes me want to throw it

I use a notched leg with cant 9-13" Harris or a standard Ckye-pod.
I would never go shorter and actually refuse to buy any of the other mdt offerings because we have stuff on our ground and elevation. A 6-9" Bipod is useless once you leave the bench unless it's on a 3" thick brick of a stock.
No no no. They’re for sitting your gun down without having to prop it up against something and for photos too.
 
If you can't do that, Harris. But, only the notched leg version. (Some of these guys are so old they likely don't know these exist...🤣)
Ha! I fall into this category! The last time I used one or paid attention to one there was no notched leg option :)

They got expensive too! The last time I bought one I think the most you could spend on one was like $60 and that was at a full retail gun shop. Now even at the discount shops you can drop $150-200 on one. 😮
 
When you can make the standard go down to 3", why limit the height?
When two clicks up on the PRS length and you are at Standard height, why would you trap yourself into having to go wide or forward with the feet to get to a lower height?

I’m firmly in the group that uses a Harris 90% of the time and carries a CkyePod for goofball positions. But a PRS height has always worked fine for me. The only match I’ve ever needed more is at Cameo when the shooting position is down sloping and the targets are 10* up on the far hillside….and they typically have a double or triple pull loaner on that stage.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rob01
When two clicks up on the PRS length and you are at Standard height, why would you trap yourself into having to go wide or forward with the feet to get to a lower height?

I’m firmly in the group that uses a Harris 90% of the time and carries a CkyePod for goofball positions. But a PRS height has always worked fine for me. The only match I’ve ever needed more is at Cameo when the shooting position is down sloping and the targets are 10* up on the far hillside….and they typically have a double or triple pull loaner on that stage.

I agree. Been using the PRS height CkyePod for a couple years and never needed higher than it goes.
 
I’ve used a bunch. Started with Harris and at one point had 6 of them. Went through GGG, Atlas, Accutac, TBAC and MDT Ckye

My go to pods now are Atlas Cal Gen 2 with hawk hill talons and MDT Ckye double pull.

For the $300 (used) range the atlas cal is an awesome setup. Especially if you’re only doing prone or bench shooting.

Nothing beats the Ckye for overall flexibility though. Super narrow up to sitting height to super wide and low to the ground. A ton of cant and a lockable panning feature I use all the time now. Both have the leg extensions on the outside so you’re not sucking dirt inside the leg when you collapse.

Your budget would determine which one to get. Shop the sale section here and save $$. The Ckye single pull can be found around $500. Which is what I’d buy before a atlas or TBAC at that price if I didn’t want the height of the double pull
 
I’ve pretty much landed on Harris 9-13slm for “cheap” bipods. I had an atlas cal for a while and got fed up with the height adjustment mechanism. Plus the legs get dirt and dust on them and become very sticky. I think the accutac is the better alternative for similar function. Ckye pod wins for overall flexibility
 
I was a bipod whore. Now a retired semi-whore. My GO-TO bipods are now the Ckyepod, Atlas PSR and Warne Skyline lite. After owning the Skyline lite for a few months now, I really have no reason to go to another Atlas as long as it's as durable as the Atlas. The Skyline was half the price of the Atlas too.


1740086450999.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobby1028
I've never seen anyone keep the PRS version. It's always just a little too short. Everyone I've ever shot with uses a standard or double pull (myself included).


If you're not prepared for Ckye-pod money, accu-tac.
If you can't do that, Harris. But, only the notched leg version. (Some of these guys are so old they likely don't know these exist...🤣)

Everything about Atlas drives me nuts. I can't stand them. Manipulating them just makes me want to throw it

I use a notched leg with cant 9-13" Harris or a standard Ckye-pod.
I would never go shorter and actually refuse to buy any of the other mdt offerings because we have stuff on our ground and elevation. A 6-9" Bipod is useless once you leave the bench unless it's on a 3" thick brick of a stock.
This needs more attention. So many recommendations are for 6-9" bipods online, and I've only ever seen it cause problems for people not on a bench shooting level targets. Unless you live in Western KS, you're going to be shooting at different levels of targets at some point, and it's easier to stack bags in the rear to accommodate a tall bipod than it is to try and brute force the front end of your gun to higher than 9" without compromising stability.

A friend built a gun last year with a 6-9" Atlas and had a hard time shooting prone at distance, and thank goodness you can buy 3" atlas bipod extensions.

Crazy to think it's 5 years ago, but the 2019 NRL championship had a lot of top shooters running Harris when Ckye-Pod, Atlas, Accu-Tac were all available:

For competition use though, I do think a quick pull leg is pretty beneficial. Being able to _quickly_ add height to your bipod on the clock is pretty beneficial. On a non Ckye-pod budget, I'd be looking pretty hard at the Warne options.
 
This needs more attention. So many recommendations are for 6-9" bipods online, and I've only ever seen it cause problems for people not on a bench shooting level targets. Unless you live in Western KS, you're going to be shooting at different levels of targets at some point, and it's easier to stack bags in the rear to accommodate a tall bipod than it is to try and brute force the front end of your gun to higher than 9" without compromising stability.

A friend built a gun last year with a 6-9" Atlas and had a hard time shooting prone at distance, and thank goodness you can buy 3" atlas bipod extensions.

Crazy to think it's 5 years ago, but the 2019 NRL championship had a lot of top shooters running Harris when Ckye-Pod, Atlas, Accu-Tac were all available:

For competition use though, I do think a quick pull leg is pretty beneficial. Being able to _quickly_ add height to your bipod on the clock is pretty beneficial. On a non Ckye-pod budget, I'd be looking pretty hard at the Warne options.


I think I remember maybe 1 prone stage at the 2019 NRL finale?

I've run lots of the available bipods over the years (Harris, Versapod, Accutac, Ckyepod, Magpul, Grndpod) and I think the most versatile bipod out there these days is the lightweight double-pull Ckyepod. More adjustability than any other bipod (save for the triple-pull) but relatively light. If you're on a budget, I really like the Grndpod, pretty much the same cost as a Magpul or Harris (with add-ons) but a much nicer bipod, imo, mostly for the ease of adjusting leg height when behind the gun. Pull out legs are just so much faster to adjust than something like the Harris. I run various Ckyepods on all my bolt guns and Grndpods on gas guns.
 
I have them all too. IMO…

Atlas or Elite Iron for long action magnums and high recoil rifles where you need to load the bipod.

Accutac for no loading comp guns shot free recoil and .22s.

You don’t even need to mount them to feel the difference. The bipods meant to load have slop that you don’t want on a low recoil gun and that you need on a high recoil gun. QED

There isn’t one that does it all better, but every single modern rifle I own has a full ARCA rail, which is a lot cheaper and more versatile than a bipod for every gun.
 
Atlas cal is my go to, love the rubber feet.

My ckyepod would be my favorite IF it wasn’t so sloppy and rickety between loaded and free recoil. And if it actually accepted my atlas feet like it says it should. And if I wasn’t constantly having to tighten the hardware to ensure the tiny little stainless buttons don’t back out, bend, and brick the whole leg spread adjustment. Such a good idea with such poor execution. Its features are awesome, implementation feels janky.
 
Atlas cal is my go to, love the rubber feet.

My ckyepod would be my favorite IF it wasn’t so sloppy and rickety between loaded and free recoil. And if it actually accepted my atlas feet like it says it should. And if I wasn’t constantly having to tighten the hardware to ensure the tiny little stainless buttons don’t back out, bend, and brick the whole leg spread adjustment. Such a good idea with such poor execution. Its features are awesome, implementation feels janky.

Call MDT. Mine has been solid, but a buddy had a button fall out of his double pull. They sent him a few, and told him where to put red loc-tite.
 
You don’t even need to mount them to feel the difference. The bipods meant to load have slop that you don’t want on a low recoil gun and that you need on a high recoil gun. QED

This is an interesting concept I don't feel like we see talked about much. We've seen threads before on the idea that different bipods (those with more slop -vs- those that have less) seem to respond better to different methods (loading -vs- not loading) however I don't know if I remember one that suggested one or the other was better for high/low recoiling setups. No debating that some have way more flex/slop in them like the MDT/Atlas etc. compared to say Accutac but while it's not my realm of shooting it does seem like the Accutac's are very popular in ELR shooting but probably with ski feet on a prepared surface.

I've never loved the idea of loading a bipod with "flex" in it's system. Mostly because my physics brain concludes that the "slop" is likely rotational in nature and as such the height of the bipod changes slightly from loaded to unloaded to loaded again through the recoil cycle. That said in practice I really don't see a big difference in groups between say loading an Atlas -vs- shooting an Accutac, and I suppose as long as you load the bipod consistently it's a tiny variable.

I wonder if some of it comes down to the surface the bipod is on and also the feet used as well along with as you said the rifle design/setup. For example Accutac's are pretty popular in ELR from what I've heard, and a lot of the F class and ELR bipod designs look like they would have zero slop, but also seem to frequently run ski feet, and on a surface that allows the bipod feet to slide. Perhaps ideal from an accuracy standpoint, but only in comps where you can control all those variables.

However for a hunting setup, where you are probably going to be running rubber or spike feet, and you can't pick the surface you're on, having flex in the bipod is probably a positive compromise.