BipodeXt Competition Pro Stabilizer: Long-Range Game Changer

Introduction

I’ve been shooting precision rifles for a few decades now, and I’ve seen a few things come and go.

Many devices and technologies are introduced every year, and about the same amount are discarded from previous introductions. I was familiar with bipod extending and the stabilizers, though I wasn’t sure how valuable they were in practical use.

So when I was offered a chance to try the BipodeXt PRS Competition Pro Stabilizer from Accuracy Solutions, I figured it was worth my time to see once and for all if these things were worthwhile.

The BipodeXt stabilizer claims to greatly reduce the ‘wobble’ (my word) of the shooter and rifle while targeting a particular object.

It does this by extending the pivot point of the whole contraption further forward and thus widening the stance of the rifle and shooter combination. A simple physics analysis would likely prove that on paper it’s a great idea, but is the increased consistency enough to justify adding the apparatus to your rifle?

The BipodeXt is not a large piece of equipment, and adding it to your rifle can change more than just stability. With this premise, I decided to approach the project objectively to see if it was worth it for a shooter like me, a professional plinker of sorts.

BipodeXt PRS Competition Pro Stabilizer Review

When the BipodeXt showed up at my house, I was quite excited to get it opened and inspected. The unboxing was actually pretty impressive for me, in just a few seconds I realized the quality of the manufacturing they maintain at Accuracy Solutions.

I lifted the stabilizer from its foam celled box. Initially, it seemed pretty light, considering its size. The stabilizer is built from multiple telescoping carbon fiber tubes that collapse into each other, each section of the tube secured by a clamp.

The largest tube serves as the base that mounts to your rifle, and it can be done by either connecting to a Picatinny rail or ARCA rail.

The stabilizer came with picatinny clamps installed already, but also included in the box were ARCA clamps. On the end piece of the telescoping tube there is a robust set of picatinny rails that you can use to attach a bipod and any other device you might need for way out there.

I was planning on running the BipodeXt on my Desert Tech SRS M2 which has a built-in ARCA lock rail along the bottom of the foregrip. So using an allen wrench I pulled the Picatinny rail clamps from the stabilizer and swapped them out for the ARCA clamps.

There were a few bipod options I could have used, but in the end, I chose to go with the Atlas 5H bipod. Since adding this device to my rifle would greatly reduce its mobility, I figured who cares if I use a big, heavy and stable bipod?

Adding the stabilizer and bipod to the rifle at a bare minimum would add a good deal of weight to the rifle, and that alone would probably help me shoot more consistently. All that was left was to get the gun in the field and see how stable it could become.

As I broke down the unit to mobilize, I was quickly confronted with one of what we’ll call a drawback. The SRS is a pretty compact rifle, but once you add the BipodeXt stabilizer, there is definitely an increase in mass.

This is obviously remedied quickly by flipping the clamps open and removing the stabilizer. That said, I imagine on a conventional rifle it would be even more awkward to try and maneuver the rifle without removing the stabilizer.

Either way, I don’t picture this to be for the guy who is moving around a lot, whereas if you are shooting from a static position and plan on doing it for a while, it seems like this could be a great asset.

Specifications

Pros & Cons

First Impressions

I must admit that I was quite impressed with the quality of the product right from the start. Quality carbon tubes and the well-machined aluminum parts make this thing just a handsome piece of kit.

The double clamps to attach it to the rifle ensure even better stability without any flex added. The little bubble level mounted at the bottom of the stabilizer can be used to ensure your whole rifle is level, and it’s out there far enough to ensure you can see it without having to get out of position.

The bipod mounting foot at the end is also pretty genius, allowing either Picatinny to be used or it can be flipped over to install a bipod mounted with ARCA. The additional pic rail sections mounted on the tube can be used for other accessories. It had occurred to me it would be a good place to perhaps mount a chronograph bayonet.

Once I had everything loaded up, I headed into the snowy mountains above my home. My Desert Tech SRS was currently configured as a 338LM instead of the 6GT it had been shortly before. This was by design because I wanted to see how well it worked with a heavy recoiling cartridge.

Once in my shooting position, I was quite pleased with how easy it was to quickly install the stabilizer. I left my bipod folded and attached, which made it a simple package to collapse and stash in my shooting bag.

Once I started shooting, I could definitely feel a difference in how the rifle moved. As I expected, the additional weight was definitely keeping the rifle from jumping as much.

I shifted my position to look at a distant ridgeline, something towards the end of the Lapua’s effective range. As I lay there breathing, I focused hard on my reticle to see just how much it moved. Sure, as the snow is white, it sure seemed steady. Now all I needed to do was test the difference between the extended BipodeXt and without.

I decided I would try shooting a group in the distant dirt, and see how good a group I could shoot, and then swap out the stabilizer and repeat the process to see if I could tell the difference and, if so, how much.

I also installed the BipodeXt on another rifle just to see how it felt and interacted with that one as well. The rifle was a Savage 6.5Creedmoor in an MDT chassis, which also included a built-in ARCA rail along the bottom of the handguard, making the install a piece of cake.

There was a slight difference in the feel between the two rifles, but the overall impression was about the same. They were both a lot easier to maintain steady, and both were just a little bit more challenging to move around and shift shooting positions.

The longer stance of the rifle using the BipodeXt adds stability, but it also increases the radius needed to pan the rifle. This may or may not be a big deal depending on what you are shooting at.

Features

Quick Attach/Release

Perhaps one of the best functions of the stabilizer is the ability to quickly install or remove the product from your rifle.  

Extension/Retraction

The high-quality clamps around the carbon tube make the stabilizer easy to extend or retract as needed. The BipodeXt can be extended fully or at reduced lengths depending on your shooting real estate.

Easy leveling

With either of the extension clamps, it is easy to level the rifle by letting the carbon tube rotate until level, and the added benefit of the bubble level makes it easy to do without getting back on the gun.

Stabilization

The stabilization of the rifle is the main purpose of the BipodeXt, and it does a fine job of adding stability to the rifle to a degree that can be measured.

Conclusion

After shooting with the BipodeXt, I was pretty impressed with how it aided in my static shooting.

Not only did it allow me to stay steadier on a distant target, but you could actually see it in your movements. Watching the reticle on my target, I would run the bolt to see how much the rifle would wobble as I ran it.

I could measure approximately 1-1.5 MRAD of movement around the target while running the bolt. And after installing the BipodeXt, I saw that amount cut in at least half, keeping me closer to my target. In this same way (but obviously at a smaller scale), the unit helps keep the rifle steadier while you target and press the trigger. The added weight is obviously another benefit for subduing the movement of the rifle.

The BipodeXt is very well made, and its quality components are quite apparent. It is not an inexpensive product, but I think the quality and finish are on par with the asking price.

The way I see it, this product is ideal for a particular group of shooters. Long-range shooting and particularly ELR shooters would greatly benefit from this impressive set of landing gear.

It strikes me as ideal for the kind of scenario where you shoot in a direction and don’t require a great deal of movement. The stability and sturdiness can greatly improve your shot placement and the ability to spot impacts.

Would you try a product like this in your ELR shooting? Let us know below.