Bipod
A
bipod is a support device that is similar to a
tripod or
monopod, but with two legs. It provides significant stability along two
axes of motion (side-to-side, and up-and-down.)
On firearms, bipods are commonly used on
sniper rifles to reduce motion and permit more accurate shooting. They are also seen on other long-
barreled weapons, especially
light machine guns or
squad automatic weapons.
Machine guns are capable of firing long continuous bursts of fire, but at the cost of increased
recoil (which decreases accuracy), and increased weight (machine guns are heavier in order to absorb the stresses of prolonged fully-automatic fire). The bipod permits the operator to rest the weapon on the ground, a low wall, or other object, reducing operator fatigue and permitting increased accuracy.
A bipod can also refer to a mechanism or organism that walks on two legs.