MDT FIELD REPORT - MDT GRND-POD

One of the most common things I discuss with new shooters when looking at equipment purchases is the rule of diminishing returns. When it comes to purchasing decisions, the phrase "Buy once, cry once" gets thrown around. I subscribe to this theory for the most part. You won't be disappointed if you buy the best that money can buy. The hitch comes in when funds are limited; let's face it, long-range shooting isn't cheap. When ammo sells for $2 a round, entry fees for matches are around $300, and gas to get there is $5 a gallon, funds become limited. One has to be deliberate with their spending. I tell people to look for the point of diminishing returns, where spending $100 more doesn't get you the same boost in performance as the $100 before it did.

BUYING PERFORMANCE

You can buy more features or niceties, but how much raw performance are you getting? In my experience, for a legit long-range setup, you need to spend around $1,200 for an optic, $1,000 for a custom action, $500-$600 for a stock or Chassis, and with the introduction of the GRND-POD, $200 for a bipod.

More: MDT Field Report - MDT CKYE-POD GEN2 DOUBLE PULL BIPOD

THE MDT GRND-POD

MDT released the MDT GRND-POD bipod in early 2022 as a rugged, lightweight solution to complement the feature-packed MDT CKYE-POD. The MDT GRND-POD bipod is available in two models, one that attaches to a Picatinny rail and one made for the ARCA/RRS Dovetail. The bipod has 40 degrees of tilt, legs that can rotate 180 degrees with a 50-degree forward angle, and has a height adjustable from 4.5 to 9 inches. A throw lever allows the end-user to tighten the tilt/cant function easily. The legs can be quickly deployed with a simple pull. The MDT GRND-POD is an amalgamation of tough polymer, 6061 T6 aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber.

FAVORITE FEATURES OF THE GRND-POD

My favorite feature of the MDT GRND-POD is its ability to extend the legs without actuating a lever or lock. This allows me to place both bipod feet on the ground in an uneven shooting position, reach forward, hold the lower of the two feet down, and tilt the rifle back to level with the leg extending as I tilt. Also, if the shooter finds one leg too long, it is extremely easy to press the large leg locking lever and drop it down a notch or two. I have found it very repeatable, and I can drop into my intended notch without going past it.

Another design element I am very fond of is the outer portion of the telescoping leg being oriented at the bottom versus the top. If you have ever deployed your Harris bipod in the mud, you will know what I am referring to. The mud instantly gets into the spring in the feet and the lower couple notches; if you stow the legs without thoroughly cleaning them off, you will get mud and grit into the upper leg section. With MDT engineering, the outer leg as the bottom section keeps the locking surfaces much higher and away from debris. Finally, I appreciate the included lever for cant lockout. I can remember days past buying a $100+ bipod only to realize I then had to buy a $25 add-on to get the functionality I wanted. The legs once deployed or folded back can work as a barricade stop, which makes building a shooting position easier.

A feature I absolutely love is the weight. Coming in at 15.4 ounces, the MDT GRND-POD is an excellent compliment to my back country hunting rigs.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

At just under $200 USD, the GRND-POD is certainly not a low-cost or budget option. Still, it has everything you need for hunting, a general precision rifle. It will do the majority of what you need for competition. It has features the budget models do not have and some elements that even higher-end bipods lack. The GRND-POD does everything well. If you are in the market for a bipod but need to be conscious of price, save your money and get the MDT GRND-POD.