The Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) was originally a modified and accurized M16 issued to specialized military personnel. It was designed to extend the effective range of the M16 and its 5.56mm cartridge beyond 250 yards in open desert environments. There are three key modifications that are the hallmarks of the DMR — a telescopic sight, a heavy barrel (usually 18 inches) and a bipod.
While the addition of a bipod is essential for long range accuracy, many bipods are cumbersome, add additional weight and are sometimes difficult to use rapidly. All that has changed with the introduction of the Protean Stability Tracker II.
What Makes the Stability XT Bipod a Standout?
The Stability XT is the most ingenious bipod I have ever seen. I used it to set up my own updated DMR — a DPMS TAC2 16-inch heavy barrel M4 carbine with round handguard. It proved to be an ideal testbed.
The Stability XT is a lightweight, all-aluminum, springless bipod. It can be deployed without having to disengage from the rifle by the use of a simple built-in trigger. The Stability XT’s adjustable legs fold down and lock into place at several different angles. Pushing forward on the trigger pushes the legs back up into place. If you mount an optional stability grip on the trigger assembly, you now have a vertical foregrip that can be used for maneuvering as well as firing the DMR in more close-quarter combat situations.
According to the Protean Innovations website, the Stability XT Bipod’s fast leveling is due to the side-to-side canting. Additionally, the ability to pan and/or pivot helps to stabilize in unusual positions and lead or lag moving targets. These features — canting and pivoting — can be used separately or in conjunction with one another. The website states, “it is the only bipod where the shooter is able to deploy both legs with a single hand while actively aiming during the setup.” Protean also improved the bipod with the movement of the leg extension triggers. The triggers are on the backside of the legs, allowing the system to be braced against objects without accidentally extending the legs.
Being able to track (traverse right and left) moving targets is an important feature of the Stability XT, whether the rifle you affix it to is a DMR, a bolt-action tactical rifle or a hunting rifle. It saves having to physically move the rifle to another position and setting up all over again.
Protean Innovations Stability XT Bipod Specifications
Construction Aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum
Height at vertical — legs retracted 7 inches
Height at vertical — legs extended 10 inches
Leg adjustments .25-inch increments (12 settings)
Leg angles 60 degrees included between both legs
Six angular positions 0° (stowed), 25°, 45°, 60°, 70°, 90°
Panning angle 270° total from left to right
Canting angle side to side + or – 25°
Weight 15.2 ounces
Price $369
Test Firing the Stability XT
I affixed the Stability XT to the DPMS TAC2 and added the polymer vertical foregrip to the trigger assembly. Then worked with it before heading to the range to get a feel for the setup.
The Protean Innovations Stability XT deploys and operates as advertised. It was easy to pop the release trigger as I moved into my prone shooting position. This allowed me to get into position much easier and ready to shoot more immediately. If you were to use your rifle from a standing or supported position, or if you need to cant the rifle, the legs release/retract by the push of individual triggers located at the rear of each leg. The rubber “flexing feet” also ensure rifle stability on angled surfaces. The bipod did not buckle or collapse and stayed firmly locked into position throughout the test.
I also had two firearms instructors and retired police force try out the Stability XT. We all agreed that it was the slickest and lightest bipod we had ever tried. If I were still a SWAT officer, I would have one on my sniper rifle or my M4 carbine.
Sources:
Protean Innovations: ProteanInnovations.com
About Scott W. Wagner
Scott W. Wagner has been a law enforcement officer since 1980, working undercover in liquor and narcotics investigations and as a member, sniper and assistant team leader of a SWAT team. He currently works as a patrol sergeant. He is a police firearms instructor, certified to train revolver, semi-automatic pistol, shotgun, semi- and fully automatic patrol rifle, and submachine gun. Scott also works as a criminal justice professor and police academy commander.
