Tag Archives: bipod

MDT GRND Bipod

May 14, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewbipod, grndcoldboremiracle

Preface

A good bipod is right behind a good scope when it comes to rifle accessories. At least in my opinion. A solid shooting position is fundamental to proper shooting, bipods make building a solid position much easier.

With the precision rifle craze at it peak, there are many great options for shooters when it comes to bipods. Today I am bringing you another one of those options, the MDT GRND Bipod. I assume they just pulled out the vowels, and that it means ground bipod.

MDT GRND Bipod, US Optics FDN25x — uneven ground is no match for this bipod

I’ve had the good fortune to try a multitude of different bipods, so I was excited to try out this one today and see how it stood up to the competition. And it IS a ferocious competition.

With so many great options it’s hard to put a crown on just one. Though in this price range and size, the obvious unit to beat is the Atlas or CAL-Atlas bipod. Let’s get into this and see how the MDT does in this match of stance.

Two Feet

The MDT GRND Bipod uses the same two-legged design that separates us from the animals. Like most bipods, it has some very basic features. Two legs that can fold up for transport, and can also be extended from 4.5 to 9-inches to raise the shooting height of your rifle. While this bipod can cant from right to left, it doesn’t have any built-in movement for panning left to right.

At its heart the MDT appears to be all aluminum, but the lower portion of the legs are made from carbon fiber. There are polymer buttons to unlock the legs for extension, as well as for folding up the legs. Folding the legs can be done either forwards or rearwards, one direction has two folded settings at 90 and 50 degrees. The other only has a lock setting at the 90 degree angle. You can reverse this feature by simply removing from the rifle and reinstalling the opposite way.

My bipod is configured with an ARCA clamp at the top. This design has become more and more popular lately, both for the convenience and speed of movement. The ARCA clamp can be slid up and down the ARCA rail on your rifle, and uses a thumb-screw to tighten down.

Additionally, the bipod uses a friction locking clutch to solidify the leveling feature. You can level the rifle and tighten down the lock, to keep your rifle solid. Or you can leave it slightly loose to retain your ability to rock the rifle.

Other Configurations

In addition to the features mentioned already, there are some additional accessories that can be added. And other mounting configurations available.

In addition to the ARCA rail mount, the GRND bipod can be had with a picatinny rail mount, an A.R.M.S #17 mount, as well as the very common M-Lok. With one or another of these options, there is surely a way to attach this bipod to all of your rifles.

The rubber feet that come with the GRND bipod can be swapped out for the very popular options from B&T Industries Atlas bipod feet. Which is very handy.

In addition to the Atlas bipod feet, the MDT Ckye bipod feet also fit the MDT GRND bipod. But it was incredibly hard to find any of those feet unless they were in a Ckye bipod.

Shooting with the GRND Bipod

I slapped the GRND bipod onto a couple rifles, to see how it fit and how I liked the function. First up I mounted it to a custom built 25 creedmoor in a KRG Bravo chassis with an Area 419 ARCA rail attached.

This was an excellent combination, as the ARCA mount of the bipod allowed me to quickly move the bipod to wherever I needed it under the rifle. The only thing I could have wished for was a little better clamping device. The thumbscrew seems to take a bit of extra effort to get it locked up as good as I’d like.

Maneuvering the rifle through various shooting positions was greatly enhanced by the ability to fold and adjust the bipod in different locations. Including just getting it out of the way when shooting from other support.

I also ran the bipod on an AR for a few days of shooting. The light weight of the MDT was a nice feature on a rifle I had overburdened with scope.

More Guns

For the last month or two the bipod has been attached to my main precision gun, my Desert Tech SRS M2. I took my Atlas bipod off the rifle to try this one instead, and across a couple different calibers it has been a very nice addition.

The GRND bipod has basically the same controls, but it seems much easier to operate single-handedly. I’m not saying it’s hard to extend Atlas legs, but you know the awkward little motion you have to execute to extend or collapse the legs? None of that is needed with this bipod, its as simple as grabbing and setting the height.

Reversing the bipod on the ARCA rail gave you the option to have the 50 degree lock setting to the front or back.

My Thoughts

After shooting with this bipod for a couple months I feel like it does just about everything my Atlas does. And for two hundred dollars I sure hope it would. Which makes me wonder, other bipods have stainless steel fasteners and locking mechanisms. And are made mostly from aluminum.

I suppose if you have more faith in traditional construction that might be the way you lean. Whereas if you like the composite materials, the MDT is a great way to go. It certainly isn’t the lightest bipod, but you may find it to your liking over others. While I like this bipod, and have nothing against it, I don’t see my Atlas bipods going anywhere.

-CBM

Desert Tech SRS M2 Apex Optics Rival — steadying the rifle over the MDT GRND bipod

Rifle Bipods: Two Legs to Stand on

January 19, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewbipod, warnecoldboremiracle

Introduction

Though many shooters still use the same practices that are generations old, rifle shooting has changed over the years. One of the many things born from the current precision rifle shooting craze is a wealth of new support devices. Rifle bipods, in particular, are a popular option. They’re easily attached to the front of your rifle and extend to give a solid front shooting support.

You could use backpacks, shooting sticks, and other things, but it is hard to beat a good sturdy bipod. So let’s dive into some of the legs and feet that make up the modern bipod market.

EARLY STANDARD SETTERS

Bipods come at a variety of price points and build qualities. But it would be impossible to discuss this topic without mentioning the Harris bipod, which is probably the most well-known and widely used bipod in the U.S. market. It is also probably the most copied design, but do not waste your money on the knockoffs. Even the clones made cheaply by well-known U.S. companies are not as good as the original Harris.

Harris Bipod on Sako 85 Finnlight Rifle — The **Harris bipod**, like the one shown here on this **Sako 85 Finnlight**, helped set the modern trend for solid, affordable, practical rifle bipods.

The Harris became so popular because it did a couple of things well. It gave solid support to the front of your rifle and was easily attached to any firearm with a front sling stud. That made it pretty universal. It also folded neatly out of the way when you weren’t shooting. It did all these things for a fairly modest price – especially by today’s standards – so it flourished.

After Harris’ success in dominating the bipod market, it became apparent that there was more to be done. Not much has changed with those original bipods in the 20 years I have been buying them, so someone else was bound to pick up the torch and move it forward.

The Harris is sometimes found on even expensive sniper rifles like this Desert Tech SRS A2 Covert

B&T INDUSTRIES

B&T Atlas Bipod On AR Rifle — The B&T Atlas bipod mounted to a **Ruger Ar** with **US Optics scope** and YHM suppressor.

The Atlas bipod made by B&T brought bipods into the 21st century with a much better design and construction. The Atlas used machined aluminum and steel parts, bringing incredible strength and durability. Features like replaceable feet and spikes, 180-degree pivoting legs, and locking points at 45 and 90 degrees were just some of the improvements that tantalized marksmen. They also offered much better mounting solutions such as Pic rail clamps, but it came at a heftier price.

The Atlas bipod surely took the entire bipod market a step into the future and opened the door for a whole new world of innovation. This, of course, led to more cheap Chinese copies.

THE ATLAS BIPOD

The current selection of Atlas bipods has grown significantly. While not cheap, they still offer an excellent value for American-made innovation. For years, the standard was the Atlas V8. It offers an assortment of mounts. I use either an ADM Pic rail QD clamp or an Area 419 Arca lock clamp to attach it to my rifle.

One of the features that made the Atlas so popular was the easy ability to deploy or stow the legs. They fold forward or back and lock in either position. They can also be locked at a 45-degree angle. For that matter, they can be locked individually to give you a solid shooting position regardless of the terrain or support.

The Atlas bipod mounted on my **SRS M2**

The legs are easily extended to varying degrees by pulling down on the knurled collar on each leg. Hard rubber feet offer great traction on firm surfaces, but they can also be swapped out for spikes, skis, or cleats. The bipod rocks and pans left or right to allow leveling of the rifle on uneven terrain.

Tension is controlled by a knurled knob underneath. This is the only thing about the Atlas that I never really loved. At times, it seems like the bipod will tension up or not regardless of the way you turned the knob. This is not an issue with the popular CAL Atlas bipod, which uses a tension lever. The Atlas V8 does everything a bipod should do, and B&T Industries continues to keep the Atlas line at the cutting edge.

THE WARNE SKYLINE BIPOD

Warne Skyline Bipod on Rifle — Warne upped the game with their **Skyline bipods** that offer nicer features for adjusting the bipod from a shooting position.

Warne has long been well known in the industry for robust mounting solutions for optics, but they have also jumped into the bipod game with their Skyline bipod. The Skyline features a strong aluminum body and legs with a tensioning ball clutch to allow rocking and panning. There is a knurled knob under the pivot point that the shooter can adjust for tension. The legs are extendable and have a ratcheting catch to set leg length.

Much like the Atlas, the Skyline’s legs can be folded either to the front or the rear and locked at 45 or 90 degrees. They are different in that the detents for leg locking are only on one side of the pivot. So if you fold up the legs to the rear, they can be deployed without releasing the detent, and they will fold directly to the 90-degree detent. If you prefer them to be locked, you can fold them to the front. This could easily be reversed by rotating the mounting clamp.

The Skyline can be used with either a Pic rail clamp or an Arca clamp. I use the latter for my purposes. Another great feature on the Skyline is the ratchet catch on the leg extensions. The legs can be extended and catch on the ratchet teeth. You can then either push the ratchet lever in to drop a tooth, or you push it in and down to release the ratchet entirely to retract the legs. It also has a mechanical cam feature to lower the leg height from the shooting position. You will love this feature if you’ve ever tried to reach out and adjust your bipods from a shooting position.

In addition to these features, the Skyline has available adaptors to use Warne cleats and spikes. Or you can even use an Atlas foot adaptor to take advantage of the wide variety of feet options for Atlas bipods. You can also get 3-inch leg extensions that make the Skyline up to 12 inches tall. This is welcome for me because one of the only gripes is that I wish it was just a touch taller.

IN THE FIELD

Hunter With Captured Game — As hunting tools, bipods offer some great advantages.

Shooting in the field with these two bipods quickly revealed the pros and cons. Both are very robust, which makes them a little heavy if you’re going to be hiking in the backcountry for a week. But the Atlas is a few ounces lighter. Both also provide stronger support than the old Harris thanks to the quality construction.

The quick change out of the rifle interface only takes seconds with the Skyline, and tool less removal of the Picatinny clamp to install the Arca clamp is easily done in the field. The Atlas definitely has fewer snagging points. While it is built like a tank, there are fewer places for gear and clothes to get hung up. The assorted levers and buttons on the Skyline can get caught up on some things. Though I love the ratchet lever of the leg extensions, I could see small debris getting into the small spaces.

Shop all Bipods at Palmetto State

Optics Planet also has a great selection of Bipods

CONCLUSION

These are both excellent bipods, and the only way I would force myself to choose between them would be on a lightweight backpacking hunt. I think either of them would work great in a competition like a PRS, though the Skyline might have an edge when it comes to quickly leveling the rifle. But if I’m going on a backcountry hunt where ounces are pounds, I might choose the Atlas over the Skyline due to its lighter weight. If you are looking for more support in your shooting, look at either of these bipods. You can’t go wrong.

-CBM

For more ancillary shooting equipment click here

Leapers UTG OTB Bipod

February 3, 2020Ancillary gear, Product reviewbipod, leapers, leapers utg, support, utgcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Sometimes I forget how long I’ve been around this business of shooting. There was a time when I couldn’t wait to visit the gun shows, and believe it or not I even bought some of the stamped garbage they sell there.

There was a time where I even picked up one of those garbage bipods that clamp to your barrel, looks almost like a WWII machine gun bipod? You know the one. Thank goodness times have changed, my tastes have matured, but they still sell all that garbage.

Leapers UTG

The reason I bring it up is, just as we mature and grow, so too can manufacturers. Leapers UTG is not a new name to me, I have heard it and seen it a million times over the years. I never bought anything from them, but I had always associated the brand with inexpensive gear I considered not worthy of my time.

As the years have passed, I paid them no attention, until I was recently given the chance to try one of their bipods. My historical perception almost instantly biased me against the idea, I was quite sure I wasn’t going to like it. But when it finally arrived in my hands, my bias began to dissipate just as quickly as it had risen.

The bipod is quickly detached if needed, while the mounting block remains fixed

The UTG Bipod

The UTG Over the Bore Bipod is as its name suggests mounted above the bore. It uses a mounting block that clamps to the 12 o’clock rail of your rifle, the bipod has a spike that is received into the block. The bipod cants on the spike allowing the rifle to be leveled on uneven terrain, the spike is also mounted on a horizontal hinge, which allows the rifle to pan left and right. In the mounting block itself, there is a small tension knob, which tightens like a clutch around the bipod spike to tension the cant of the bipod to your liking.

The mounting of the Over Bore Bipod did not interfere with sights

My initial impression of the bipod mounted to my Desert Tech MDRX was that it looked like a strong and buxom piece of kit, the weight made me confident that it was well built. But I was also initially concerned that the cant and pan of the bipod wouldn’t be sufficient for my anything but flat world.

As it happens, I was quite happy with the panning radius of the bipod, I was able to pan left and right enough to have to move my body position. I figured that if I can pan enough to have to move my body position, then it’s no big deal to reposition the rifle in the process. The cant, while sufficient was not quite as much as I would have liked.

Though this may be directly related to the rifle it is mounted on. The diameter of the barrel/handguard is the limiting factor with this bipod, so the thicker your setup, the less cant you will have before the bipod legs stop against the rifle.

From above, you can see the pivot point allowing the rifle to pan left and right

Up close detail of the OTB Bipod features, notice tension knob on the side of the mounting block, pivot hinge, and oversize leg-locking buttons.

The legs of the bipod are one of its greatest strengths, the pivot of each leg is very robust, and the large lock release on the outer edge of each pivot is easy to feel and press whether or not you are looking at it.

The legs fold both forward and backward with several locking points allowing more stowing options, as well as shooting positions. The legs extend with a pull, and have notches every half-inch or so to lock them at height. The legs are spring retracted when the leg-lock is depressed, these controls are easy and intuitive.

One of my biggest fears when I saw the bipod initially was that it would be too bulky to stow when walking around. Most bipods add bulk to the front bottom end of the rifle handguards, when affixed they reduce the space you have to grip when shooting from the offhand position.

This is something most of us either get over, or get used to. When I saw the size of the UTG bipod, I thought for sure this thing will be a significant hindrance while trying to maneuver. Again, to my surprise, the UTG bipod when stowed to the front or rear was completely out of my way and allowed unmolested use of the entire handguard.

And with the ability to quickly remove it by simply depressing the release on the mounting block, it can easily be stowed elsewhere if you wish.

The UTG OTB Bipod as seen mounted to the **Desert Tech HTI 50BMG**

Shooting with the UTG bipod was also more pleasant than I had anticipated, with both the pan and cant features providing more radius than I expected. Shooting the rifle with the bipod folded up and stowed was also no issue.

Almost every fear I had about this bipod going in was a non-issue, all but one. The only problem I could honestly give about this bipod is its weight, it is not a light bipod. I have several others that weigh very similar, and they are certainly in another class, but cost two to four times as much money too.

Final Thoughts

The UTG bipod is built well enough I would consider using it on very heavy rifles, and even on lighter built rifles provided I didn’t have to pack them very far. I think this bipod would be perfect for range shooting, prairie dog shooting or any other activity where the weight wouldn’t cause an issue.

I love the way my rifle hangs from the bipod, it naturally wants to rest level, and it never wants to topple over, which is an issue I’ve had with many other bipods. With a street price under $150 its no surprise it has five-star reviews from Amazon and Optics Planet.

So, while I’m not going to ditch my Harris and Atlas bipods anytime soon, as they all have their use, this UTG bipod will definitely stay in my collection.
-CBM

Accu-Tac LR-10 Bipod

January 11, 2018blog, Product review, Shooting hardwareaccu-Tac, Accutac, atlas, bipod, feet, Harris, legs, pod, Rifle, supportcoldboremiracle

Trying new Things

Every now and then, I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to try a new piece of equipment. Its a strange place to be, when you have what you think is a perfect fit, and then have to try something different.

The Accutac Bipod

That was the case this weekend, when I put the Accu-Tac LR-10 bipod on my SRS Covert. I usually run either a Harris for compact lightweight, or an Atlas 5H for position building perfection. Today my purpose was to give the Accu-Tac a shot, and see how it measured up.
My initial impression when I picked it up, was a bit skeptical. It looked like it was built to be stout, but it also had a bit of a different style to it. Being the complete poser that I am, I pay very close attention to aesthetics. I wasn’t too sure how to feel about the LR-10.
I wasted no time, and quickly put the bipod into use, trying various positions. Like any new piece of gear, it took a second to get used to . But I quickly found myself liking the simplistic operation one would hope to find in two legs attached to a rifle. The QD attachment was smooth and easily adjustable, making installation simple.

Being used to the Atlas and Harris bipods, the LR-10 was an easy shoe in. The few controls on this bipod were quite simple and obvious as to their function. The bipod world has many different options when it comes to leg extending, and I am still undecided about legs springing in, or out. This bipod is of the former, retracting its legs with the simple push of a levered cam. So easy to push in, I was concerned it might be easily pressed by accident causing a loss of sight picture in a heated moment. But to my surprise, the angled cut of the lever uses the weight of the rifle, to create quite a resistance. Making it a deliberate action required to adjust the leg length. Conveniently, when the rifle is not on its legs, all functions of the bipod are very smooth, and require little force. The legs are easily folded by simply pulling them away from the rifle, and positioning them, both front and rear 45 degree angles, as well as the standard 90.

The feet of the bipod screw in, making it easy to change out for spikes vs. rubber.
The extension length of the legs did leave me wanting a bit more. I was surprised they didn’t come out further, considering the size of the un-extended portion.
The pivot point, at the center hub of the bipod has a captured rotation, allowing plenty of cant for uneven terrain, but not allowing the rifle to tip over. A “T” shaped thumb screw is located in the hang down position between the legs. The screw applies pressure to a small brass shoe, that applies a braking force against the shaft on which the bipod cants. The braking force can be adjusted from slight resistance, to completely locked up. While robust in most places, the pivot point of this bipod appears to be the weakest link on this device. I think it would do fine on most rifles, but I would be a bit concerned putting it on heavy recoiling rifles (.33+). I am no engineer, but it does seem to me that a slightly larger shaft could benefit the LR-10.

Shooting with the Accutac Bipod

My impression of shooting with the Accu-Tac was very positive, it was very sturdy. The wide stance, and stout construction made my rifle feel very steady. The quick lockup of the cant feature was easily done with my thumb from the firing position, locking the rifle firmly into place. Setting up position was also quick. By simply rocking the rifle to one side, and pulling down on the downhill leg, followed by a quick leveling, and you are ready to engage. Even under hard bolt manipulation I found it quite easy to keep the rifle on target, and not loose sight picture.
The LR-10 also proved quite stable when shooting from improvised positions, allowing me to really lean into the rifle.

Conclusion

With as many good bipods as there are out there, and as much as some of them cost, I would want to get the best I could for the money. While I dont think I would trade my Atlas 5H in for this LR-10, I do think it is a good product overall. And at almost half the price of the Atlas, the LR-10 is definitely an appealing option for HD bipods. For the average guy who wants a solid rest without spending a huge portion of his earnings, I think this bipod would serve you well. But if you are a tier 1 poser, you may have to step up your gear queer appropriating to a higher level.
-CBM

A Tripod for the People: Precision Rifle Solutions tripod

January 11, 2018Ancillary gear, blog, Product reviewbipod, equipment, mount, saddle, shooting sticks, Tripodcoldboremiracle

Why shoot from a tripod?

When I began precision rifle shooting many years ago, it was a different landscape. An astounding amount of growth has occurred over the years, and it has kept my perspective shifting, as well as my goals. Technology and product innovation have kept our shooting world fluid, making it quite the challenge to stay on the cutting edge.

As a blue collar shooter, I have had trouble over the years fulfilling my desire for top tier hardware. Always having to find a compromise, and doing the best I could with what I had.
A quick browse through gun rags, internet forums, and some of the regional trade shows will surely drive the average shooting enthusiast out of his mind. The ever growing surplus of whiz-bang accessories being peddled to the American shooter is astonishing. And the effort by so many to reach tier zero civilian-operator status fuels it.
In the storm of QD-this, and tactical-that, it’s easy for a guy who just wants to shoot, and shoot well, to get overwhelmed with wants. My father taught me as a child that my “getter” had to be bigger than my “wanter”. Compromise was a learned discipline that over the years, helped me achieve my goals.

All those years ago, a point was reached wherein I thought I had achieved some sort of status. It came from a sense of confidence or accomplishment when I proved to myself that I could hit almost whatever I wanted with my rifle given a few conditions. One of those conditions was to have a good shooting position, which was almost always prone. In order to up my game, I had to “get off my belly”, as put by my friend The Blanman

A crucial step forward was realizing that any fool with enough ammo and a decent rifle and scope can hit distant targets from a prone position. It is entirely a different thing to hit targets from tough positions, at difficult angles, in a short time, and all the while making those first round hits. This was indeed a challenge, and one that required practice, and some additional hardware.

Precision Rifle Solutions

This is where Precision Rifle Solutions came into my kit. I had long wanted for the gear that so many of the pros use, but I simply couldn’t afford to spend four or five hundred dollars on a tripod. So after some research and few reviews, I bought a PRS medium QD tripod. The tripod came with a small padded saddle that was perfect for resting my rifle on.

I quickly became quite fond of this lightweight little tripod, and just as quickly I worked it into my range routine. In the steep and rough mountains that I normally shoot from, it was perfect for when the bipod just wouldn’t do. The easily adjustable legs were quickly deployed and help me get a good solid rest, allowing me to shoot over tall grass, bushes and other obstacles that often block a shot from a regular bipod. It also worked exceptionally well for those high angled shots where again, a standard bipod left me wanting more. I have been using the PRS tripod and saddle for quite some time now, its become one of the most handy tools in my pack.

My **Desert Tech SRS** was a perfect candidate for the tripod

Well, the good people at Precision Rifle Solutions have been hard at work, looking for more products to offer the serious recreational shooter. And I was excited to get this next one in my hands.
The Freedom Quick Release Mount is a small aluminum block that you can attach to your rifle, and with the QD release plates also available from PRS, you can in a matter of seconds, attach your rifle to any of their tripods. It attaches to your rifles pic rail, giving you a very solid lockup with the tripod. I have found it to be an invaluable addition to my tripod, I can run it either with the saddle, or without. Instead opting to snap the rifle directly to the ball head. The best part of it all, is that I can do all of this without even removing my standard bipod. Allowing me to go from a prone position on my traditional bipod, transitioning to a kneeling, or sitting position in literally a couple seconds. I can just as quickly drop the tripod loose, and go right back to my bipod. The FQRM is very compact and doesn’t interfere with the function of the bipod if your rifle has a full length bottom rail and allows you to mount both.

When coupled with the QD Tripod, and its compact ball clutch, it is amazing how quickly I can transition from one position to another. And if you have a good backpack to use as a rear support, you can get so stable, you’d think you were prone on the ground. Making long range shots quite a doable challenge.

The compact and lightweight tripod easily fits in a daypack for an afternoon hunt, or for a competition. The FQRM is also easily attached and left on most tactical style rifles to be used with or with out a bipod mounted next to it. It can also double as a barricade stop when it’s not attached to the tripod.
The FQRM is attached to a pic rail, sliding on from one end, and using two cross bolts, it clamps down. I got the FQRM with the PRS quick release plate, but with common threads in it, Im sure you could attach any kind of tripod QD mounting plate to it. With additional QR plates, there are countless mounting options, to put, optics, or other accessories on the top of this handy little tripod.

Conclusion

With so many expensive options for shooting accessories, its very refreshing to find good quality gear, made in America, for a reasonable price that the average shooter can afford. I will continue to use the great products from Precision Rifle Solutions, and cant wait to see what innovative and useful product they come up with next.
If you’d like more information, go to their website:
Precision Rifle Solutions And tell them I sent you, you might get a platypus sticker out of it…