Tripods?

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L.Leon

L.Leon

Member
Aug 29, 2018
8,501
9,419
NY, Ulster County, United States
I've noticed some fellow shooters use tripods. It took me a long while to recognize the benefits of a bipod. But now, for me it's an essential piece of kit. Tripods to me, seem more suited to crew served platforms. So to those of you who use tripods regularly. Some pros and cons vs. a bipod would be appreciated. Whether target shooting or field use. 
 
I just started to get a feel for tripod shooting using a Spartan Ascent (Davros Pro head). The two main draws for me getting into tripods and choosing this specific model center around hunting in high open alpine terrain. This thing is very light and rugged, and what sealed the deal for me was being able to quickly turn the carbon fiber legs into trekking poles. Quality is nothing short of superb IMO.

Shooting from a tripod is a different ballgame though. It's F'ing hard to adjust to in a full standing position, but it will provide me with significant advantages and versatility for setting up for quick technical shots in rugged / rocky sloped terrain. It'll be exceptionally handy for big horn sheep hunting or any hunting scenarios where I want my weapon or glass pointed at a specific area for extended periods of time, where I can easily adjust positioning to take a shot.

The quick attach | detach (magnetic) system on this head was another huge draw for me. It's rock solid, and I don't fumble with it like I do with Arca or the other QD systems that I've tried to adapt to.

Other than this, I played around with 3 sets of Accu-Tac's bipod leg extensions connected to the PC-5 bipod. I really like shooting off of it, it's a bit steadier and does not take as much getting used to as a tripod, but I found it to be a huge hassle in the field.
 
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After not shooting for years and not having a place to shoot I bought an air gun. Have neighbors pretty close so no fire arms. Tried to shoot off this and that and that did not work too good. I was at the Goodwill with my lovely and saw a tripod for three dollars. I bring it home,mount a flat piece on top and placed a thick piece of closed cell foam to protect my guns.

I used it now for about a year even after I made a shooting bench. I have to go out of my yard to shoot further than thirty yards. So a bucket and my tripod and I am set. It would work for hunting cause it is flat black,no glare.

I don't have any big names to throw in,poor folks have poor ways.

God Bless

Bobby
 
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I use a Caldwell Magnum Field Pod for shooting ground squirrels at my permission. I do a lot of shooting from a standing position and this is perfect. It had pointed metal pegs on the feet to dig into the ground and it's nice and steady. It can be adjusted to shoot anywhere from prone to standing. It's easy to move around with the carrying strap
 
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Tripods have weight ratings on how much weight they are designed hold without oscillations causing them to get out of hand with wobbling around. Also I've found carbon fiber legs to lessen oscillation vs aluminum legs. Basically you want as heavy duty a tripod as you can stand to carry around.

Of course the head makes a big difference too. Same thing applies as far as stability, get a head that's appropriate to the tripod. 

If asked which head, even though it's pricey, I'd get a RRS Anvil30, it's too good a product that people rave about and are glad they spent the extra money on. 

Too give you and idea of how steady a RRS 40mm leg tripod and Anvil30 head is - I can hold my friends rifle on a 22 cal hole at 50Y while standing! It's one awesome kit for precision shooting but very expensive.

If anybody wants a Manfrotto 055 tripod with pistol grip head I'd sell mine for $250, it's a good set up but nothing like the RRS combo I mentioned which is $1400 new. 

The absolute #1 advantage of a tripod is leaving the rifle attached while doing other things. 
 
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I have a couple 30 or 40 year old Bogen (Manfrotto) tripods I picked up at thrift stores. After some repairs, they work well. Many ways to get a decent tripod. 

Do be aware of the heads though. One has a "Fluid Head" which seems to be designed for cinema cameras. There isn't a good way to level the gun except to change leg height as the head only pans and goes up and down. It doesn't have the ability to level the rifle side to side. I love the heads as they are stable, but that is a drawback. I believe most people are using ball heads. Easy to manipulate and position.

I've got adapters for either a Picatinny rail or Swiss Arca rail. You can also use the tripod to hold your gun while working on it. That's a HUGE plus as you can move it to almost any angle.


 
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