Best Rifle Bipod For Long Range Shooting (Ruger & More)

We all need support whether it’s in our relationships, our boxers, or our rifles. Shooting supported can easily halve your group size. The best support is a lead sled, but a great alternative is a bipod.

So here are the best rifle bipods that money can buy.

Best Bipods for Long Range Shooters

The best bipod is a combination of durability, stability, and price. You should pick your features and attachment point, then your bipod height. Most use a 6-9 inch bipod, while some use taller bipods because of comfort, body armor, or shooting position. 

So, focus on stability and comfort when shooting – with higher stability, you can focus on hitting your smallest groups. Also, tilt for uneven ground is a must-have for most bipods too.  

1 – Harris Engineering 6in-9in Ultralight Bipod S-BRM

Specifications

• Height – 6″ to 9″
• Leg notches in 1″ increments
• Spring-loaded legs, for fast deployment
• Built-in sling swivel stud
• Material – Aluminum
• Weight – 13 oz.

Made out of quality steel, their products last for years of shooting without bending or breaking.  And Harris doesn’t just make quality products – they innovate with the industry, which is why the majority of competition shooters use Harris Bipods. 

The speed of deployment for the legs is a major factor for competition shooters and hunters, making sure you never let another trophy get away.

Choosing a Harris Bipod

Above are the codes for Harris bipods, but the most important code to note is the S. This allows you to swivel or tilt your bipod. Always choose a swivel bipod for the ability to level your rifle on uneven ground.

Harris bipods have adjustable legs, and most prefer the notched legs (code M) to the infinitely variable legs.

Another factor to consider is how you attach your bipod to your rifle. Harris traditionally uses a sling swivel to attach to a rifle. 

Now, using this attachment creates a solid attachment point on most rifle stocks, giving you stability and accuracy.

Plus, it also gives a firm tension grip that moves with the recoil of the rifle to allow for large forces when firing.

While the sling swivel method works very well, Picatinny Attachments have several benefits: the ability to quickly detach your bipod, directly attach to a rail instead of an adapter, and a more solid mounting point than the sling swivel. The downside is that Picatinny rails are less universal that sling swivels.

Just remember that friends don’t let friends attach their bipods to the barrel

Someone Wise

While your AR-15 may have a Picatinny rail, your hunting rifle may not. It is easier to add a sling swivel than it is to add a Picatinny rail.

While some shooters buy 9-13 bipods, known as “L” or prone bipods, they find more use when the shooter is wearing body armor or thick clothing.

Most shooters will simply throw their pack under a bipod to gain height, which is why we recommend the BR Harris.

The other height bipods are used for shooting while sitting or kneeling. So, consider which stance you need the most support in, but for most, we’d recommend the S-BRM model.

The S-BRM is currently on-sale until December 12, 2024, so make sure to click the links here to ensure the best savings.

2 – Atlas Bipods PSR

Specifications

• Height – 5.2″ – 9.6″ (6.8” at 90°)
• Pan – 30° 
• Tilt – 30° 
• Position Button – 0.5″ diameter
• Fore and Aft pivot limiting Bosses
• 5 leg positions – 0°, 45°, 90°, 135° & 180°
• Non-Rotating Legs
• Material – 6061-T6 Aluminum
• Weight – 13.61 oz.

Changeable feet

Atlas Bipods can quickly change feet, coming with rubberized feet that can be swapped with spikes, skis, or raider feet. 

The Spikes work great for loading the bipod and shooting off wood, concrete, or grass. The Skis work for free recoiling a rifle or grass, and the Raider feet act as a wider base spike. 

Essentially, this gives you the ultimate customization for any environment. One bipod to rule them all.

Changeable Leg extensions

A great feature of the Atlas bipod is the ability to add 3 inches to the end of the bipod. Multiple extensions can be added, but most just make custom legs for sitting or shooting. As I mentioned before, ‘most’ shooters use 6-9″ bipods, so this essentially gives you both.

45 degree Leg positioning

One of the main functional differences between the Harris and the Atlas bipods is Altas’ 5-position system. This allows you to fold the bipod back 45 or 90 degrees, or forward 45 or 90 degrees.

So what that does is halve the height and allow you to load the bipod in different positions. Folding the bipod back also allows you to go through brush with less risk of the bipod catching on grass, underbrush, or wire fences.

Once again, Atlas bipods do it all.

Pan and Tilt

Atlas bipod can be panned and tilted (canted) 30 degrees, which is great for multiple targets and uneven terrain.

Anti-Leg Rotation

Loading a bipod without anti-rotational legs can tend to creep forward, cant and twist. But Anti-Rotational Legs allow you to load the bipod without fear of twisting or walking the bipod forward.

Is It Worth the Price?

Overall, the Atlas bipod has some of the best innovations for the price. While the Magpul, Harris, and Caldwell are cheaper, they have fewer features and lower build quality. 

And although CykePod, Veraspod, Elite Iron, and GG&G have a higher build quality or different features, Atlas is at a sweet spot for price and features. They are some of the best bipods for any shooter, but we’ll admit that if you shoot enough that an Atlas Bipod isn’t enough for you, grab a Cyke Pod.

Atlas PRS vs 5H

If you decide to choose an Atlas Bipod, picking between the PRS and the 5H series bipods is difficult. Here is the main difference to make the choice clearer:

The 5H is built heavier for larger calibers and has a unique feature that keeps the apex of the bipod above the barrel instead of the barrel itself.

It’s also important to note that with the rising popularity of bipods over the years, so has the rise of cheap Chinese rip-offs occurred, which have been targeting companies like Atlas. The links on this page go to our certified suppliers, which only carry genuine made-in-America parts:

3 – Magpul Industries Bipod

Specifications

• Height – 6.3″ – 10.3″
• Attachment – M-LOK Slots
• Pan – 40°
• Tilt – 50°
• Materials – Steel, 6061 T-6 Aluminum, Mil-Spec Hardcoat Anodized, Polymer
• Weight – 11 oz.

What’s more, it tilts to level on uneven ground, can pan for moving targets, and comes in Picatinny, M-Lok, Arms, or QD sling swivel, making it easy to attach no matter your chassis. But there is just something off when shooting it.

That something is just how loose it feels. While shooting, you can never feel quite as stable as you do with the Harris or the Atlas, and when using a bipod, it is all for stability. 

Shooting with the Magpul wasn’t as bad as some of the cheap bipods we’ve used, but it did open groups up a bit. While Magpul claims the looseness is there by design, we would rather have a similarly priced Harris.

4 – MDT Ckye-Pod Gen2 Bipods

Specifications 

• Height (PRS Short) – 7.5″- 13″
• Single-Handed Adjustment
• Pan – 360°, Lockable
• Tilt – 170°, with Tension Adjustment Knob
• Built-in barricade stop
• Material – Hard Anodized Aluminum
• Weight – 30oz.

This bipod can accept any Atlas bipod feet and has much wider adjustments for its legs, all done with one hand. What’s more, the Ckye Pod can pan 360 degrees with 170 degrees of cant, and also includes a barricade stop. It’s hard to find and nearly double the price of the Atlas, but it’s well worth it if you can take advantage of the features.

Grabbing a bargain bipod is great for 22lr trainers, but shooting 7.62x51mm or 300 Win Mag will just destroy a cheaper bipod. 

That said, after testing several of the most popular brands, we found the best bang for your buck bipods. These following bipods aren’t the big name brands but they will deliver, guaranteed.

5 – Caldwell XLA Shooting Rifle Bipods

Specifications

• Height – 6″ – 9″
• Tilt – 20°
• Pivoting Available
• Type of Head Adjustability – 2-Way Adjustable
• Feet type – Rubber
• Material – Aluminum
• Weight – 12 oz.
• Warranty – 2 years

The build quality can be enough for small calibers like 22lr and 5.56x45mm. However, Caldwell bipods, like most budget bipods, suffer from a lack of material strength. Considering that is their only downside, the Caldwell bipod is great for a 22lr trainer.

6 – Leapers UTG Over Bore Bipod

Specifications

• Height – 7.33″ – 11.42″
• Panning – 22°
• Tilt – 44°, Tension Adjustable
• Posi-lock Push Buttons
• Extendable Legs
• Foldable Legs
• Picatinny Mount
• Stand – Rubberized Stand
• Material – Aircraft Aluminum with Reinforced Steel Components
• Weight – 24.1 oz.

Several Leapers bipods have a 45-degree position lock, 360-degree panning ability, and 30 degrees of tilt.

One of the most interesting Leapers Bipods is the UTG Over Bore Bipod, different from most other bipods you will find.

7 – CVLIFE 6-9 Inches Tactical Rifle Bipod

Specifications

• Height – 6″ – 9″
• Upgraded Mount Tension Screw
• Material – Hardened Steel and Aluminum
• Lightweight – 10oz.
• Picatinny Adapter Included

The biggest problem is the screws – they strip very easily. Fortunately, most of the lighter parts can be changed out with better materials, but the question is why.

Each round of 308 costs a minimum of $0.60 per round, while Federal Gold Medal Match costs $1.75, and rifles cost an average of $1000 plus a minimum of $500 for optics – using a cheap bipod will drive most into the throes of insanity.

8 – Grip Pod Vertical Foregrip

Specifications

• Height – 6.25″ – 8.25″
• Width – 7.25″
• Length Closed – 5.75″
• Diameter – 1.75″ 
• Material – Reinforced Steel, Polymer
• Weight – 6 oz 

The Grip Pod is great for military and police use, but the cost and weight aren’t far from an Atlas or a Harris. This brings us to why a Grip Pod can be amazing; when shooting an AR-15 or other “Assault Rifle.” 

Yes, we know “assault rifles” is not the correct term for AK, CZ Bren, AR-15, FAL, or other “military-style” rifles, but it is better than most other terms. The Grip Pod shines when you want both – bipod for prone or supported shots and vertical grip for movement.

Rifle Bipod Specifications 

Product	Weight	Material	Height	Other Key Specs
Harris Engineering 6in-9in Ultralight Bipod S-BRM	13oz	Aluminium	6″ – 9″	Leg notches in 1″ increments Spring-loaded Legs Built-in sling swivel stud
Atlas Bipods PSR	13.61 oz	Aluminium	5.2″ – 9.6″	Pan: 30 degrees, Cant: 30 degrees 5 leg positions: 0, 45, 90, 135 & 180 degrees Non-Rotating Legs
Magpul Industries Bipod	11oz	Steel, 6061 T-6 Aluminum, Polymer	6.3″ – 10.3″	Attachment: M-LOK Slots Pan: 40 degrees, Tilt: 50 degrees
MDT Ckye-Pod Gen2 Bipods	30oz	Hard Anodized Aluminum	7.5″- 13″	Single-Handed Adjustment Pan: 360°, Lockable, Tilt: 170°, with Tension Adjustment Knob Built-in barricade stop
Caldwell XLA Shooting Rifle Bipods	12oz	Aluminium	6″ – 9″	Tilt: 20°, Pivoting Available Type of Head Adjustability: 2-Way Adjustable
Leapers UTG Over Bore Bipod	24oz	Aircraft Aluminum with Reinforced Steel Components	7.33″ – 11.42″	Pan: 22°, Tilt: 44°, Tension Adjustable Posi-lock Push Buttons Extendable & Foldable Legs Picatinny Mount
CVLIFE 6-9 Inches Tactical Rifle Bipod	10oz	Hardened Steel and Aluminum	6″ – 9″	Upgraded Mount Tension Screw Picatinny Adapter Included
Grip Pod Vertical Foregrip	6oz	Reinforced Steel and Polymer	5.75″ – 8.25″	Width: 7.25″, Diameter: 1.75″

Who Needs a Bipod? 

Several groups of people may find a bipod to be a valuable addition to their shooting setup:

Hunters: A bipod can be a valuable tool for hunters, particularly those who hunt from a prone position or need to take long shots. By providing a stable shooting platform, a bipod can help improve accuracy and increase the chances of making a successful shot.

Target shooters: Also popular among target shooters, who may use them to help improve their accuracy and consistency when shooting long distances.

Law enforcement and military: Bipods are often used by law enforcement and military personnel, who may need to shoot from a prone position or take long shots in various environments.

Competitive shooters: Also used by competitive shooters, who may use them to help improve their accuracy and consistency when shooting long distances.

It can help improve accuracy and increase the chances of making a successful shot, making it essential equipment for many shooters. (1)

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Bipod

There are several things to consider when buying a bipod:

Purpose: What you will be using the bipod for? Do you need a lightweight, portable bipod for hunting or a more heavy-duty model for shooting long distances?

Material: Bipods are made from various materials, including aluminum, steel, and polymer. Consider the weight and durability of the material when making your decision.

Adjustability: Some bipods are adjustable, allowing the shooter to change the height of the gun to suit their needs better. Evaluate whether this feature is essential to you.

Mounting options: Bipods can be mounted on the front or back of a rifle, so consider which mounting option is best for your needs.

Price: Bipods range from under $100 to several hundred dollars, so look at your budget and decide how much you are willing to spend on a bipod.

Brand reputation: Going for a reputable brand is always better. Read reviews from other users to get an idea of the quality and reliability of the products.

Compatibility: Make sure the bipod is compatible with your rifle or long gun. Some bipods are designed for specific types of firearms, while others are more universal.

Considering these factors, you can find a suitable bipod for your needs and budget.

Now that you know which bipod to buy, you’re going to need to know how to mount it. For that, see our guide to AR-15 bipod mounting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What bipod does the military use?

One popular bipod used by the military is the Harris Bipod, known for its durability and versatility. The Harris Bipod is available in several different models, including a lightweight, portable model well-suited for use in the field and more heavy-duty models designed for more rugged environments.

Other bipods used by the military include the Atlas Bipod and the Accu-Tac BR-4 G2 Bipod.

Will a bipod affect accuracy?

A bipod can improve accuracy by providing a stable rifle or long shooting platform by eliminating movement and vibrations.

However, it’s important to note that a bipod alone will not necessarily guarantee improved accuracy. The shooter’s technique, the quality of the rifle and ammunition, and various other factors can also play a role.

Should I put a bipod on my rifle?

Whether or not you should put a bipod on your rifle depends on your specific needs and circumstances. 

If you use your rifle for hunting, target shooting, or other activities where you must shoot from a stable position, a bipod can be a useful tool to help improve accuracy and consistency. (2)

How does a bipod affect accuracy?

A bipod can affect accuracy by providing a stable rifle or extended gun shooting platform. A bipod can help the shooter hold the gun more steadily by eliminating movement and vibrations, improving accuracy.

Can I still have a sling if I mount a bipod on my rifle?

Yes, you can still have a sling if you mount a bipod on your rifle. Many bipods are designed to be used with a sling and can be mounted on the front or back of the rifle without interfering with the sling.

If you use a bipod that mounts on the front of the rifle, you may need to use a different type of sling than you would typically use. 

Our Top Pick – Harris Engineering 6in-9in Ultralight Bipod S-BRM

References

1. Merriam-Webster, “bipod”, retrieved from, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bipod
2. Field & Stream, Do You Need a Bipod for Shooting, retrieved from https://www.fieldandstream.com/do-you-need-bipod-for-shooting/