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Rifle Bipods and Shooting Sticks: Which Height, Which Mount, and When Each Wins

By Magnum Sports, NSW Firearms Dealer Licence 413159984, Roseville Chase. Last reviewed: 1 November 2026.

The short answer: choose a bipod by the position you actually shoot from. A 6–9 inch (15–23 cm) bipod suits prone on flat ground; 9–13 inch (23–33 cm) suits prone over grass and stubble, and the bench; 12–27 inch (30–69 cm) models let you shoot sitting. Pick a swivel model if you shoot on sloping ground, and a quick-detach mount if you carry the rifle a long way. Where grass, scrub or a hillside blocks the view from prone, shooting sticks beat any bipod.

Why a rest matters more than most upgrades

Most missed shots on game are not the rifle's fault. They come from wobble, a rushed trigger and a poor position. A rest takes the weight of the rifle off your muscles, so the reticle settles and you can concentrate on the trigger. For the price of a box of premium projectiles, a good bipod or set of sticks will tighten more field shots than a new barrel. That is the same spend logic as our precision rifle build guide: fundamentals first.

Which height do you need?

Height Position Where it suits
6–9 in (15–23 cm) Prone on flat, short ground Bench-flat paddocks, the range, PRS-style prone stages
9–13 in (23–33 cm) Prone over grass or stubble; bench The most useful all-round height for Australian paddocks
12–25 in (30–64 cm) Sitting, or prone on a downslope Hillsides, gullies, shooting over low scrub
13.5–27 in (34–69 cm) Sitting Taller shooters; open hill country

If you only buy one, the 9–13 inch length covers more real situations than the shorter one. Spring grass in a NSW paddock is often tall enough to block a 6–9 inch bipod from prone.

Fixed, swivel or pan

  • Fixed. The rifle sits square to the legs. Simple, light and very steady on flat ground, such as the Harris Standard and Harris Benchrest models.
  • Swivel (cant). The rifle tilts on the bipod so you can level the reticle when one leg sits lower than the other. On a sloping paddock this is the feature you will use most. The Harris Swivel and Harris Notched Swivel are the classic choices.
  • Pan and tilt. The rifle can also rotate left and right without moving the legs, which helps when an animal walks across in front of you. Precision models such as the Accu-Tac SR-5 G2 and Treadstone Jackal Pro sit here.

Notched legs click into set heights, which is quicker and quieter to adjust than a smooth leg you lock with a collar. If you hunt, notched legs are worth having.

How it attaches: stud, picatinny, M-LOK or ARCA

  • Sling swivel stud. Most hunting rifles have one under the forend, and most traditional bipods clamp to it. It is the simplest option.
  • Quick-detach. If you carry the rifle all day, a bipod you can take off and leave in the pack is a real comfort. Spartan's Javelin Pro Hunt Tac and the Tikka Javelin Carbon attach magnetically to a small adaptor that replaces your front stud (the Spartan Classic Rifle Adaptor).
  • Picatinny and M-LOK. Chassis rifles and modern stocks often have a rail or M-LOK slots. Choose a bipod with the matching mount, such as the Caldwell XLA for M-LOK, or a Harris picatinny version.
  • ARCA rail. Common on precision chassis. It lets you slide the bipod fore and aft to balance the rifle and to clamp onto a tripod.

Bring the rifle in when you buy. We check the mount fits, the bipod clears the barrel, and the legs fold cleanly.

Using a bipod well

  1. Load it. Push the rifle gently forward into the bipod with your shoulder until the slack is out of the legs. Do the same amount every shot.
  2. Mind the surface. Rubber feet grip hard surfaces such as a bench or a rock; spiked feet bite into dirt and grass. Treadstone and Scree both make spike attachments.
  3. Zero the way you hunt. A light sporter barrel can shoot to a slightly different point off a bipod than off a sandbag. If you hunt off the bipod, confirm your zero off the bipod at the range.
  4. Level the reticle. On a slope, use the swivel to bring the reticle upright before you break the shot. A canted reticle throws shots sideways at distance.
  5. Keep it quiet. Practise deploying and adjusting the legs at home so you are not clicking metal on metal while a fox is watching.

When shooting sticks beat a bipod

In much of Australia you cannot see the animal from prone. Long grass, scrub, bracken and steep hillsides all push you up to kneeling, sitting or standing, and that is where shooting sticks come in.

  • Monopod. Fastest to set up and lightest to carry; steady up and down, less so side to side. The Allen Axial EZ-Stik doubles as a walking stick.
  • Bipod sticks. Two legs crossed at the top; steady side to side and still quick. The Allen Shooting Stick is a simple, popular choice.
  • Tripod and premium sticks. The steadiest standing rest you can carry. The Blaser Carbon Shooting Stick 2.0 is a light carbon option for deer hunters who walk a lot.
  • Gun-mounted tall bipods. The Primos Trigger Stick Gun Mounted Bipod stays on the rifle and adjusts with one hand, a good middle ground for pig and goat hunting in timber.

Practise standing off sticks at 100 metres before you rely on them. Most people shoot noticeably better off sticks than offhand, but not as well as prone, and knowing your own limit is part of shooting ethically. Our guide to fox control covers how far is too far on small game.

Do not forget the sling

A sling is the rest you always have with you. A two-point sling pulled snug while sitting or kneeling adds real steadiness, and a padded sling makes a heavy rifle bearable on a long walk. Quick-detach swivels let you take it off in the vehicle. See the full range of rifle slings.

What is on the shelf

These are in stock at Roseville Chase as of 1 November 2026. Stock moves, so check the product page or call before you make the trip. The full ranges are in bipods and shooting sticks.

Magnum Sports, NSW Firearms Dealer Licence 413159984, keeps Harris, Spartan, Accu-Tac, Treadstone and Scree bipods and Allen and Blaser shooting sticks at our Roseville Chase store, and we will fit one to your rifle and set the height at the counter. Bipods and sticks can be sent to you; firearms need the appropriate licence and a Permit to Acquire, and we sell ammunition for in-store collection only.

Frequently asked questions

What height bipod do I need for prone?

6–9 inch on short, flat ground, such as a range or a grazed paddock. If there is any grass or stubble, 9–13 inch is the safer choice, and it doubles as a bench height.

Is a swivel bipod worth it?

For hunting, yes. Australian paddocks are rarely level, and the swivel lets you level the reticle without fiddling with leg lengths. For a flat bench or range, a fixed bipod is steadier and cheaper.

Will a bipod change my zero?

It can, especially on a light sporter barrel. Check your zero off the bipod if that is how you hunt.

Shooting sticks or a bipod for pig hunting?

In timber and scrub, sticks or a tall gun-mounted bipod, because you will rarely see a pig from prone. A short bipod suits open paddocks and fox work at longer range.

Can I fit a bipod to a rifle with no picatinny rail?

Usually, yes. Most hunting rifles have a front sling swivel stud, which most traditional bipods clamp to, and adaptors are available for quick-detach systems. Bring the rifle in and we will check.

Where next

Tell us where you hunt and how you usually end up shooting: prone across a paddock, sitting on a hillside or standing in timber. We will match a bipod, sticks or both. Magnum Sports, 19 Babbage Road, Roseville Chase NSW 2069, (02) 9882 2689, sales@magnumsports.com.au.

General information only. Product availability changes; confirm stock before visiting. Firearms require the appropriate licence and a Permit to Acquire. Ammunition is sold for in-store collection only.

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