Shooting Tripods

[Rick in Oregon]

*** I did not see a subject line on this new forum for field gear, so posting here....hope it's okay.

This subject is fairly new to me. I've pondered it for a while, and after seeing the USSS using them in Butler PA when Trump got shot in the ear, I looked into them further.

I see shooting tripods running from el cheapo to 'professional grade' costing over a grand. Now being into 'geezerhood', getting down into prone and staying there for extended periods of time using a bipod puts a real cramp into my neck, not to mention an old guy getting back up from laying down (not a pretty sight). And I've had trouble lately with bipods not able to get over high grass where I shoot rock chucks, so a tripod started to make sense.

In the end, I opted for the BOG Death Grip tripod. Seemed like a good option as I didn't need to add an ARCA rail to any of my Cooper's with nice Clarlo wood stocks, and even my Phoenix model Cooper gets clamped in solidly. Problem was leveling the rifle. The only way was to move the legs......time consuming and not ideal when shooter movement needs to be minimal.

Answer: The neat ball-head conversion from Little Crow Gunworks. They offer a complete kit to modify the Death Grip using a 40mm ball-head. With a small portable camp stool, it may be the answer, but I've not had a chance to try it out in the field yet, being fall and recovering from surgery last month.

So....looking for others experiences with shooting tripods, good ones, ones to be avoided, and overall field impressions.

 

[Bullseye69]

I got the SLIK PRO 700 DX Heavy-Duty Tripod with the NightSnipe NS67 ball head and Picatinny Rail to Arca-Swiss Adapter. Then the NightSnipe Shooting Saddle on top.
So far has held everything very nicely and no marring of the stocks.
Only down side is it's heavier than most I've tried.
I still use the heck out of them.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Bullseye, got any pics of your setup to share? Sounds like you've got your system dialed well.

 

[Bullseye69]

Last time in Montana and last year shooting squirrels with the 17khornet.

 

[BrianM]

Amazon.com: FANAUE ST-65 Carbon Fiber Tripod for Hunting with Arca Swiss QR Plate, Camera Tripod Stand for Photography, 360 Rotate Ball Head Adapter, Rifle Rest Saddle Mount : Electronics

Buy FANAUE ST-65 Carbon Fiber Tripod for Hunting with Arca Swiss QR Plate, Camera Tripod Stand for Photography, 360 Rotate Ball Head Adapter, Rifle Rest Saddle Mount: Complete Tripods - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

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I bought one of these tripods to have a back up for my main tripod for night time coyote hunting . For the price , this is pretty impressive! I bought a 2 section model but they also sell a 3 section model amd the ball head is built in . I am a fan of the upside down leg adjustments , they seem to be faster to set up for me . If you want a clamp, sunwayfoto has a clamp that attaches to the arca top of a ballhead for like $50 if I remember correctly.
My main tripod is a fatboy tripod and it's nice but a good bit more expensive. These Fanaue tripods offer a lot of tripod for the money and mine is really solid !

 

[Old Hickory]

I use camera tripods and they work good. You can pick them up at yard/garage sales for a couple of bucks.

 

[M_Strohmeyer]

*** I did not see a subject line on this new forum for field gear, so posting here....hope it's okay.

This subject is fairly new to me. I've pondered it for a while, and after seeing the USSS using them in Butler PA when Trump got shot in the ear, I looked into them further.

I see shooting tripods running from el cheapo to 'professional grade' costing over a grand. Now being into 'geezerhood', getting down into prone and staying there for extended periods of time using a bipod puts a real cramp into my neck, not to mention an old guy getting back up from laying down (not a pretty sight). And I've had trouble lately with bipods not able to get over high grass where I shoot rock chucks, so a tripod started to make sense.

In the end, I opted for the BOG Death Grip tripod. Seemed like a good option as I didn't need to add an ARCA rail to any of my Cooper's with nice Clarlo wood stocks, and even my Phoenix model Cooper gets clamped in solidly. Problem was leveling the rifle. The only way was to move the legs......time consuming and not ideal when shooter movement needs to be minimal.

Answer: The neat ball-head conversion from Little Crow Gunworks. They offer a complete kit to modify the Death Grip using a 40mm ball-head. With a small portable camp stool, it may be the answer, but I've not had a chance to try it out in the field yet, being fall and recovering from surgery last month.

So....looking for others experiences with shooting tripods, good ones, ones to be avoided, and overall field impressions.

I have a bog pod. Haven't used it yet. Still using my trigger stick. Light weight and quick acquisition for those unexpected moments. Will be using the bog for coyotes this year.

 

[DamDave]

Bog is my choice, 3 years and they work great for prairie dogs

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Dave, can't tell from the pic, as it's a bit dark for detail, but did you upgrade your Death Grip tripod with a ball-head?

Once I got my DG tripod, leveling the rifle was a real chore, as the only way to do it was adjusting the legs. That turned out to be a real hassle, so as mentioned above, I used the conversion kit from Little Crow Gunworks and now it's a snap and perfect rifle/scope leveling is quick and easy.

There are other ball-head conversions available, but this one worked very well for me, just passing it on.

 

[DamDave]

Dave, can't tell from the pic, as it's a bit dark for detail, but did you upgrade your Death Grip tripod with a ball-head?

Once I got my DG tripod, leveling the rifle was a real chore, as the only way to do it was adjusting the legs. That turned out to be a real hassle, so as mentioned above, I used the conversion kit from Little Crow Gunworks and now it's a snap and perfect rifle/scope leveling is quick and easy.

There are other ball-head conversions available, but this one worked very well for me, just passing it on.

I bought it with the ball head, they are death grip infinite, I wouldn't buy anything without a ball head

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I bought it with the ball head, they are death grip infinite, I wouldn't buy anything without a ball head

Was not aware. Had I known that prior to purchasing, I would have opted for the Infinite model. Good tip!

 

[rickiesrevenge]

I've been shooting off of a leofoto tripod. I prefer a bag on top vs a clamp. I've used a few different clamps, hog saddles, pig saddles, etc. But a game changer bag or the claw bag from W-Gear on top of the tripod works better for me. Makes a flat stable platform to shoot off of. Some guys run a plate with a sandbag on it.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I've been shooting off of a leofoto tripod. I prefer a bag on top vs a clamp. I've used a few different clamps, hog saddles, pig saddles, etc. But a game changer bag or the claw bag from W-Gear on top of the tripod works better for me. Makes a flat stable platform to shoot off of. Some guys run a plate with a sandbag on it.

Got any field pics of that setup?
Always interesting seeing what others use.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Here's a picture with one of my xp-100's on top.

 

[Tiratore]

the McFadden served me well. Not all that portable, however.

 

[Varmintknockers]

Here's a picture with one of my xp-100's on top.
View attachment 193

Now that's interesting

 

[MTPaul]

I too have come face to face with the grim reality of advancing age coupled with the sometimes excruciatingly difficult exercise of righting myself after spending time lying prone behind a pair of bipods. Like Rick in OR mentioned previously, I found the solution to this problem with the BOG Pod Death Grip tripod system and I too modified it with a ball head attachment. Not only did this solve the problem of extracting myself after lying prone, but with the ball head I no longer had to use the legs to adjust the level. I further modified the tripod by wrapping bicycle handlebar wrap to the legs giving me something to grip while set up. This isn't a light carbon fiber option, but I am not so concerned with packing this tripod over long distances into the backcountry. This same tripod was used this most recent deer season while hunting near the Crazy Mtns here in MT with my 30-06.

This picture shows the finished tripod being used while hunting Rock Chucks in the Big Horn Mtns of WY. It's firmly holding my Cooper MTV 204R.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Paul, nice setup, sweet Cooper MTV in beautiful country to boot!
Great photo, and I'm sure the rockchuck is pleased to be posed in such a nice setting too. lol

The upcoming season is approaching, and I'm looking forward to deploying my now finished tripod setup identical to yours for rockchucks here.
Question for you....what suppressor are you running on that Cooper MTV? I'm considering taking the suppressor plunge also.

 

[Bullseye69]

Paul, nice setup, sweet Cooper MTV in beautiful country to boot!
Great photo, and I'm sure the rockchuck is pleased to be posed in such a nice setting too. lol

The upcoming season is approaching, and I'm looking forward to deploying my now finished tripod setup identical to yours for rockchucks here.
Question for you....what suppressor are you running on that Cooper MTV? I'm considering taking the suppressor plunge also.

If you haven't yet you need to!! What a game changer . No irritating ear protection and you can hear your buddy next to you, if your hunting in pairs.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

If you haven't yet you need to!! What a game changer . No irritating ear protection and you can hear your buddy next to you, if your hunting in pairs.

I'm sure looking into it. Been resisting it for years now, but it appears with the new suppressors available that do not require threading the barrel, it's a viable option. I sure don't want to bugger up any of my nice Coopers by threading the muzzle.

So what's the consensus on suppressors that don't require any machine work on the rifle?