Last updated on April 22nd, 2024
In my search for the best rifle bipod, I regularly put mine to the test whether its hunting trips in the rugged New Zealand alps, long distance shooting in the harsh outback or long days at the range for a competition shoot. Because of these challenging conditions I am always on the lookout for the best rifle bipods on the market.
Precision shooting requires stability and reliability and built for purpose bipod can make the difference between a hit or miss. For shooters in the market for a new bipod, we will take a detailed look at the best rifle bipods in the shooting world. Having extensively used a number of bipods over the years such as Harris, Warne and Atlas this guide will help show the most popular choices on the market.
1. Best Overall Rifle Bipod: Warne Precision Bipod
If you haven’t come across their gear before, Warne make high quality kit, they are a well established brand in the shooting community known for their well thought out and machined gear. The set of Warne scope rings I have are some of the best I have ever owned so I had high expectations picking up their bipod.
What makes the Warne Skyline different from all the other bipods on the market are two main things, its range of motion and the ease with which the height of the legs are adjusted. To extend the legs, you simply pull down on the legs foot which fully extends them. Pressing the lever at the bottom of each leg retracts the leg up a notch, continue pressing the lever to retract the leg to the desired height. The legs extend between 6.9 to 9.1 inches, making it suitable for a lot of shooting scenarios where you are in an awkward position on uneven terrain.
Similar to the Atlas you have a switch on the outside that when pressed down allows you to move the legs forward and backwards through the three positions. There is a rapid deploy feature where you can simply pull the legs into the 90 degree position, this can be swapped to be front or rear facing.
The bipod’s pan (side to side) range is a wide 44 degrees. The tilt (up and down) range is 22 degrees which is plenty for uneven terrain I find myself in. This wide range of movement is achieved through the unique ball head design. Tightening and untightening the central wheel allows the bipod to remain fixed or pan and tilt on the ball at the center of the bipod. The tension range on the wheel allows you to finely adjust to your preferred tension.
Crafted for the modern shooter, the Warne Precision Bipod stands out as an incredibly durable and adaptable bipod. I have been running one of these for around 12 months now and in terms of the best rifle bipod, its my favorite of the lot. Designed with Picatinny and ARCA rail mounting options, the Warne Precision Bipod can be integrated with most rifles used in competition shooting. Its adjustable cant system further allows for precise adjustments, crucial for those shots that require the adaptability in the field.
The Warne Skyline Bipod is unquestionably a professional piece of kit for those wanting the extra edge for their competition or long distance rifle. For me the Warne edges out my Atlas because of the adjustable height, canting mechanism and quick-detach functionality. These have been very convenient features that mean the Warne has become my goto bipod. If you are in the market for a quality bipod thats guaranteed to perform, the Warne is a solid piece of kit that you wont be disappointed by.
Quick Stats Warne Precision Bipod
- Quickly attaches to any Picatinny Type Rail
- One Hand adjustability
- Rapid leg deployment from horizontal to 90°
- 3 Position Leg Rotation: 0°, 45°, 90°
- Leg Extension Min Height 6.9 inch/Max Height 9.1 inch
- 22° Total Cant 44° Total Pan
- Weighs 16.5 oz
- Designed and made in the USA
2. Most Customisable Bipod: MDT Ckye-Pod
The MDT Ckye-Pod Gen 2 has been around since 2020 and is made by a company that constantly refines and innovates competition gear. The Ckye-Pod comes in four different leg lengths which include PRS Short (around 7.5″ collapsed, stretching to 13″), Standard (about 9″ collapsed, extending to 15″), Double Pull (roughly 9″ collapsed, reaching 18.5″) and lastly Triple Pull (close to 14.5″ collapsed, expanding to a lengthy 36″). The bipod also has a small barricade stop on the inside, in the form of a small flat surface. This makes a solid contact point when pulling against a barricade.
To extend the legs on the bipod, MDT have made that a quick and easy job. Unlike others where you have to press a button or latch, here, you just pull to extend and press to retract. This makes adjustments easy to do, especially when you’re in a firing position and aiming at a target. The Ckye-Pod has a 170 degree cant capability, and the cant tension knob.
The double and triple pull variants do look a little different as they come with extra leg extensions. The interesting thing about the Ckye-Pod is that it comes standard with spiked feet as opposed to rubber feet used by the majority of bipod companies. If this isnt your style, there are a range of different bipod feet available.There are three settings when it comes to the width position of the legs, narrow, middle and wide. And just like the Atlas bipod, the MDT Ckye-Pod’s legs can be angled forward changing up the adaptability in terms of footprint and height.
Another feature which sets the Ckye-Pod apart from others is that the Ckye-Pod’s pan can also be locked. The ability or lock it in place allows you a more rigid platform if needed. This is a very competition focused bipod and is a worthy contender for those looking at a bipod for their next PRS or NRL 22 match. It is similar to the Atlas but has a few more features that are more comp focused, it does however come with a slightly larger price tag.
Quick Stats MDT Ckye-Pod
- Single-handed adjustment
- Provides ultimate traction with spiked feet (Compatible/interchangeable with other brands of feet)
- Crafted from hard anodized aluminum
- 170 degrees of cant
- 360 degrees of pan
- Quick release push button Picatinny mount OR Quick adjust ARCA / RRS dovetail mount
- Separate tension adjustments for pan and cant features
- Built-in barricade stop
- Four leg length options:
- PRS Short (approx. 7.5″ collapsed, 13″ extended)
- Standard (approx. 9″ collapsed, 15″ extended)
- Double Pull (approx. 9″ collapsed, 18.5″ extended)
- Triple Pull (approx. 14.5″ collapsed, 36″ extended)
- Weight: 21 oz.
- Made in Canada
3. Best Entry Level Rifle Bipod: Harris Bipod
My first even non-Amazon bipod was a Harris and I have run one on my rimfire setup for years and love the easy functionality and reliability. Harris Bipods are renowned for their quality and are some of the top performers in the world. Harris bipods have spring loaded legs that fold down rapidly for a very steady shooting rest and easily retract up into place. Older military style Harris Bipods were fixed and didn’t have a swivel base, letting the user level their rifles on uneven terrain. The more modern variants have swivel capabilities. I have used my Harris bipod over the years for long distance target shooting and on my hunting rifle.
Using the Harris Bipod is straightforward. The legs are spring-loaded and fold forward for storage. Simply pull them down and back to extend for use, where they lock into place. To retract, press the button on each leg’s front side for a quick retraction. After a couple of go’s at setting up the legs and retracting them it becomes second nature. My Harris has a leg length of 6″ to 9″. This length of adjustment is ideal for shooting prone at the range or out hunting and even shooting from the bench. There are several other variants available with different lengths.
There are several mounting options for the Harris, in line with the competition but the most common attachment has been the quick-detach sling swivel mount. Almost every rifle will have one of these mounts on it and the Harris attachment grips the sling swivel, and a few turns of a screw ensures its kept in place. Another handy feature is that mounting the Harris Bipod doesn’t interfere with sling attachment. The bipod itself has a dedicated point for sling attachments.
The battleship of the bipod line-up, the Harris is incredibly durable and has a long service history. After owning and using Harris bipods for over a decade I can recommend this if you are looking for a no frills, stable platform with good value for money. There are more modern choices for competition use but not at this price range.
Quick Stats Harris Bipod
- Extends from 6” to 9”
- Notched legs in 1” increments
- Legs are spring loaded, for fast deployment.
- Solid Base
- Attaches to the sling swivel stud.
- Ultralight weight – 11 oz
- Most useful for shooting off the bench.
- 100% Made in the USA.
- Heat treated steel and hard alloys
- Hard Rubber Leg Caps
- Anodized Black
4. Best Value Rifle Bipod: Accu-Tac Bipod
Accu-Tac bipods are made in the USA and they feature a cant ability so you can move them them from left to right making it easy to get your rifle onto the target.
Stepping away from the simpler Harris Style, Accu-Tac are more competition focused and offer five different leg positions, including forward and backward tilt. The legs work on a spring loaded ratchet system, allowing for effortless extension or retraction. This allows for one handed operation from behind the rifle. There are a number of feet options for the bipod too including rubber, claw and spikes.
One of the Accu-Tac’s biggest strengths is its build quality, its very well made and extremely solid. With durability however often comes a trade off, and that is its weight. I often compromise on weight for extra durability, especially in my optics but this is something I would carefully consider on a hunting rifle. For a competition setup however it could be an asset, helping get some weight to the front of the rifle for balance.
In terms of value for money the Accu-Tac shines here, its reasonably priced considering its build quality and made in America appeal. If you had any doubts, it also comes with a lifetime warranty. It might not have all the comp features of the MDT Ckye-Pod but the price is reflective of that. Accu-Tac make a lot of other shooting gear and if its as well made as their bipod, I can see myself adding some of their gear to my setup in the future.
Quick Stats Accu-Tac Bipod
- Materials 6061 T6 Aluminum alloy / High strength steel hardware
- Min. Height (Legs at 45°) 5.5” / 140 mm
- Min. Height (Legs at 90°) 6.75” / 171.5 mm
- Max. Height (Legs at 90°) 8.25” / 210 mm
- Min. Stance (Legs at 45°) 8.0” / 203 mm
- Max. Stance (Legs at 90°) 12.25” / 311 mm
- Closed Position Width 3.250” / 82.5 mm
- Closed Position Length 7.5” / 190 mm
- Weight 20 oz
- Color Flat Black
- Coating Type III ( MIL-SPEC ) Hard Anodize
5. Most Modular Bipod: Evolution Bipod
As the name suggests, the Evolution Bipod brings some interesting features and design to the table. What sets the Evolution Bipod apart is its ability to adapt to different users requirements. By allowing shooters to change its legs, it can be tailored for specific environments and requirements. Lightweight, simple and well priced the Evolution bipod appeals to a lot of folk. It may not be as popular as the MDT or Atlas but it brings a simplicity that the others don’t have. A wide range of mounting options exist, all locked into place with a lever style lock.
A great feature of this bipod is the ability to quickly adapt leg lengths. The carbon fiber legs come with a QD mechanism, enabling swift adjustments for different shooting scenarios. The feet are spring loaded, which is a handy feature. If the standard rubber feet don’t suit your needs, Evolution also offers spiked feet compatible with the bipod. Feature packed bipods can be great if you need the extra capability however, they aren’t always the ideal choice for every scenario.
Quick Stats Evolution Bipod
- Quick-detach legs
- One-handed operation.
- Spiked feet (sold separately) that can attach directly to the bipod for an ultra-low leg or to the end of any leg for better grip on soft surfaces.
- Standard leg length options are 7-10″, 8-11″, and 10-14″. Sitting length legs are 12-19″, 16-23″ 22-29″.
- Carbon fiber and aircraft grade aluminum our legs are extremely strong, lightweight, and durable.
- Non-rotational legs, and pivots. All aspects of the leg assemblies will be non-rotational.
- Weight by leg length: 13 oz. for 7-10″, 14 oz. for 8-11″, and 15 oz for 10-14″ legs.
6. Best Budget Rifle Bipod: Magpul Bipod
This bipod from Magpul mainly focuses on being a lightweight and affordable option. This compact bipod is one of the most popular at my local range mostly due to Magpul’s great reputation coupled with its low price. This is a simple design and Magpul use their signature Polyamide blend to reduce weight while providing a solid base.
There are Picatiny and M-LOK mounting options, making it fairly adaptable to most peoples setups. The central of the bipod connects both legs and houses the built-in pan and tilt mechanisms. There is 40° of movement and it is lockable if needed, without affecting the tilt action. There is 25° of tilt on each side for those tricky uneven ground shots.
The legs are extendable from 6.3” to 10.3” with 7 positions, each 1/2” apart. They’re extended by pressing a button on each leg, a simple and effective design. Luckily the feet on the bipod are interchangeable with other types but it does come standard with rubber feet that provide a good drip. This is a good option for the rifleman on a budget. It will get the job done and wont fall apart in the field. For competition use I would be looking at other options on the list.
Quick Stats Magpul Bipod
- Height, max 10.0 in.
- Weight 8 oz.
- Mil-spec hard anodized 6061 T-6 aluminum
- Stainless steel internals
- Spring-tensioned legs stow neatly forward and snap down
- Leg extensions slide and lock securely with the push of a button
- Staggered soft rubber feet hold fast on a variety of shooting surfaces
7. Lightweight Rifle Bipod: Spartan Valhalla Bipod
The Spartan Valhalla Bipod is a high-end, versatile shooting bipod designed for use in various shooting disciplines, including hunting, tactical applications, and competitive shooting. Spartan Precision Equipment is known for creating innovative, lightweight, and robust bipods and tripods that enhance the stability of shooters rifle platforms. The carbon fiber legs help keep the weight down and provide good durability. Its a bonus that the bipod comes from a well respected company who have a great reputation for quality and customer service.
Quick Stats Spartan Valhalla Bipod
- CNC machined from 7075-T7351 aluminium billet with a hard-anodised black finish
- Durable tungsten carbide tips with tethered synthetic boots to enhance grip on all terrains
- Five leg pitch settings from 0° to 180°
- Cant facility for uneven surfaces
- Spring-assisted tac legs for quick one handed height adjustment
- Modularly designed to accept a range of different legs for different shooting positions and terrains
- Mount the Valhalla directly onto the Sentinel tripod system and any other product fitted with a Davros mount
- Supplied with storage case and your choice of Valhalla Picatinny and M-Lok Adapters. Other adapter options available
8. Best Tactical Bipod: Atlas PSR Bipod
The Atlas PSR (Precision Sniper Rifle) Bipod is a high-quality, versatile bipod system designed for use on rifles, particularly in the context of military, law enforcement, and precision shooting. This bipod is part of the lineup produced by B&T Industries LLC, known for creating robust and innovative support systems for tactical and sporting rifles. Up there with Harris in terms of popularity, the Atlas series are an easy inclusion for the best rifle bipod list.
The Atlas PSR Bipod is favored among precision rifle shooters because of its solid construction and the stable platform it provides for shooting at range. I have run an Atlas on some heavy rifle setups over the past three years and impressed with its performance.
Quick Stats Atlas PSR Bipod
- Height Range approximately 4.75 – 9.0″ (standard height)
- 15 degrees +/- of preloaded Pan.
- 15 degrees +/- of preloaded Cant.
- Leg positions are; stowed back, 90 degrees straight down, 45 degrees forward and stowed forward.
- Weight is 331 grams
- Available in black only.
- Made in the USA
Choosing The Best Rifle Bipod
Bipods are available in various styles, each differing in certain aspects. These differences include leg lengths, the range of attachments they support, how they connect to your rifle, and additional features like panning and tilting capabilities. The bipods above represent popular models from each brand I have used. When choosing a bipod, it’s crucial to ensure it fits your rifle’s attachment system, which may be a swivel stud, Picatinny rail, or ARCA rail. Additionally, consider how the bipod will interact with other rifle accessories, such as slings, weapon lights, night vision devices, and more.
For those looking for specific features, such as longer legs for shooting over tall grass while kneeling, many manufacturers offer different versions to meet these requirements. The length of the legs is an important factor. Longer legs offer the advantage of elevating the rifle above obstacles, but they also increase weight and tend to be less stable due to increased flexibility. Keep this in mind if you plan to hunt on foot with your rifle.
For ground level shooting from a bench or the mat, bipods with legs ranging from 6 to 8 inches, extendable by an additional 3 to 4 inches, are the ideal ‘Goldilocks’ range for me. These sizes are generally effective for various field scenarios, although they may fall short in environments with dense bush. Models featuring leg lengths of 9 to 16 inches are better suited for shooting from kneeling or sitting positions. Some bipods even offer extra-long leg extensions, raising the height up to 30 inches above ground level but at that point you should be looking at tripods.
Using a Rifle Bipod
There are alot of techniques that can be utilised when using a bipod for shooting, especially in environments featuring rocks, trees, barricades, and other elements. Generally, the best approach involves aligning yourself directly behind the rifle and applying a consistent, moderate forward pressure on the stock with your shoulder. This action, known as loading the bipod and it eliminates any looseness in the bipod legs.
This technique not only stabilises your position for enhanced accuracy but also aids in managing rifle recoil. As a result, it enhances shot precision and facilitates quicker re-targeting. While it’s not necessary to exert your full body weight onto the bipod, applying sufficient pressure to maintain the rifle’s position against your shoulder without the need for a rear support bag is best.
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