Caldwell DeadShot FieldPod Adjustable Ambidextrous Rifle Shooting Rest for Outdoor Range and Hunting

I loved the idea, so I purchased the product, despite the high price. It arrived in a somewhat damaged box, the manual inside was also a bit chewed up. It was intuitive to set up. It was very sturdy and very practical. The one problem which makes this product unworthy of the name "Dead Shot" showed-up when I started to sight in my scope. Every joint, every part, every function on the product worked perfectly as described and as I was hoping for, except the pivot joint. The pivot joint had a slight vertical play. So for example when I put the crosshairs of the scope on the target at a distance of 200 yards this slight movement in the joint could result in a shot +/- 3' above or below the target. The windage was dead on. Because I liked the product I called the manufacturer to discuss the issue, hoping that maybe just my unit is defective, or it can be adjusted/corrected somehow. Unfortunately I run into a customer service representative who in my believe never shot a rifle with or without scope in her life and whose only aim and effort was to prove me wrong and herself and her employer right. With that effort she really did a disservice to her employer, because as customer I do resent the treatment I have received at her hands, and in the future I will be hesitant to buy anything from this company again. This might be their loss. And my loss is that I had to return a product which I really liked and wanted. I do not know if the play in the pivot joint was a quality control issue in the one unit I have received, but if not and it is characteristic of this product type and line it needs to be corrected or redesigned before this product will be worthy of it's name. I tend to believe that it was the former because the rest of the product was flawless.Update of my original review; 5 STAR RATING!Proper Customer Service can change everything!Following my disappointment with the original customer service response I was contacted by Matt K, from the Engineering Dept. of Battenfeld Technologies, Inc./Caldwell, who explained to me that some of the Magnum DeadShot FieldPods have slipped through QC with subpar pivot joint bearings. This caused the issue described in my original report. The problem was detected and immediately corrected and faulty examples of the product recalled and revised. Matt very generously offered me a revised product at no charge, which offer I happily accepted, since I really like this shooting rest. In the main time the replacement arrived and through evaluation proved to me that it is now really worth of it's name "DeadShot" because now it is rock solid at every joint and pivot and completely functional as described and and I am very happy to own it. At this time I would unconditionally recommend this product to everyone who is looking to buy a very sturdy and multi functional shooting rest like the Caldwell Magnum DeadShot FieldPod.

For the price I don't think it can be beat. It does what it's supposed to do but don't confuse it with a bipod. It supports any gun I have put in it. It has tons of adjustments to get it set the way you like and it folds up pretty small for storage. With the legs at their shortest it's good for when sitting on the ground and when extended it's the right height when sitting in a chair.I now have it set with things adjusted to an average position. All of my guns work on it without adjustment and I rarely collapse it. It's light enough that I just carry it out in the ready to use position and plop it down an I'm ready to shoot in seconds. The one odd thing is that my black rifle works better placing the gun in the supports backwards from a traditional rifle because of it's tube telescoping stock.If you're out in the snow or mud it's perfect for keeping your gun up and out of the muck. I can glass for long periods through the scope without getting tired and when it's time to shoot there is not all the movement of putting down binoculars and picking up the gun. It's right there in position for the shot. On the firing range it's good. It's not absolutely perfect like a pile of sandbags or a heavier support like a lead sled because of it's light weight. And, you probably don't want to leave your gun sitting in it unattended on windy days especially with it's legs short because their stance is rather narrow. A strong wind might blow over your gun if you don't have it well balanced.EDIT 11/13/2012While I still like the tripod I am finding it tippy for use night hunting. During the day when you can see what you're doing it's not as much an issue. But at night when you not only have to worry about getting it set level but then the gun strap hanging on it somewhere and trying to sit down without bumping and knocking it over... It works well for covering an arc of about 30-45 degrees but quickly picking it up and re-positioning it at night for shots outside your prepared shooting arc can be cumbersome and noisy. For night use I think I'll go back to using a gun mounted bipod.

I get increasingly tired of looking for places to set up my long range FFP, especially when I find a fantastic shooting spot and I am attempting to lay prone and behold there is a stupid patch of weeds in my sight picture. this was my way of bringing myself up above that sage line so I can set up wherever I want in the field.when I took it out, I was not nice to it. if it cannot handle being thrown around a little, then I don't want it.Pro's: the magnum field pod is great for a multitude of set-ups, whether that be an assistant to a seated position, standing, kneeling, what have you.for the most part, it hold the rifle dead still (and I am using a twelve pound rifle) and is easy to adjust in order to balance everything.the legs are extremely adjustable, allowing last minute adjustments to cant, tilt, or level.cons: its big and its heavy. its not something I would personally use as a hunter unless you 4x4 that sucker to your spot and set up. (shootin' sticks for the on foot huntsman)the forward and backward "rocker" adjustment does not get tight enough in my opinion. its enough to hold the rifle, but It should have some level of resistance to my physical input, instead it only takes a slight amount of pressure on the rear of the rifle to tilt it to and fro. even on lighter rifles, this is still a problem. because of this, I am forced out of my comfort zone and shoot awkwardly, (although efficiently) with all of my support hand and manipulation on the center of the rifle versus the toe which is standard practice for any kind of ELR. maybe it is just me who knows, that's why I am keeping it at five stars.awesome concept. I am glad I finally picked one up.