Tripods

[Wambli Ska]

Ok, I'm less overwhelmed than I was before... After re-reading all your posts and watching a buttload of YouTube videos on the subject the consensus is there is little consensus out there

So as usual I will listen to the folks HERE that I trust and I know have the most practical experience on the subject.

What I have distilled from all this is that heavy rifles and Arca tripod rigs work well together and a fixed ARrca mount is great for gas guns and heavy bolt guns with brakes and/or cans that do not recoil to the point of damaging a mechanical link between the tripod head, the plates and the stock/chassis.

Soooooooo, my original idea of a lightweight Arca rig with the Kimber as the main rifle will not work because it's a relatively heavy recoiling rifle since it's weight and the stock are not suitable for reinforcing and mounting a plate directly on to it, and even if I did that the recoil of the gun would probably lift the whole thing off the ground when I press the trigger, not ideal.

So for the Arca stationary rig, for lack of better terms, I should use a heavy tripod, a ball head with the necessary heft to handle a 30-40lb load or such and think in terms of my AR(s) or one of my heavy barreled bolt guns in the over 12+lb category with muzzle devices that mitigate recoil, like breaks and or cans.

For my light spot, hike, stalk rig with the Kimber I really need either a suitable pack or a super light tripod with a bag attachment readily available so I can take spot/stalk and then swiftly take the Spotting scope or binoculars off the tripod ball in swiftly (Arca mounted) and then just throw the bag over the tripod and use it as a stable platform for a shot and let the light rifle recoil as needed unimpeded. Basically Ernie's setup for his SPs.

Am I on the right track?

[Zee]

IMG_4846.jpeg (19.7 KiB) Viewed 3445 times

[Wambli Ska]

[Japhy]

Wambli
depends on what your are hunting. My nephew uses a monopod with a notch rest for elk, collapsible, light weight sets up quickly to standing height. Used with a light weight Tikka T3X 300 WM. I can attest to the significant recoil.

[Wambli Ska]

Yep, and Centermass likes his BOG which other folks here have stated they do not. Everyone has their level of expectation and priorities. For many years I just hoped for a nearby branch or tree trunk to lean against.

[Zee]

All depends on expectations and ones willingness to compromise.

[Wambli Ska]

All depends on expectations and ones willingness to compromise.

Bingo...

[Gila]

Wambli
depends on what your are hunting. My nephew uses a monopod with a notch rest for elk, collapsible, light weight sets up quickly to standing height. Used with a light weight Tikka T3X 300 WM. I can attest to the significant recoil.

That's exactly how I do it with my Model 70 300 Win Mag...

[Wambli Ska]

I need to spend a few days trying out options to really define my needs. For now I bought a nice Arca tripod head with 44mm ball that will handle 66 lbs and a handful of different adapters to play with so I have options.

I mounted it on my old Carbon fiber photography tripod, a rather sturdy and definitely NOT light affair, that is stable enough to do time lapse and long exposure photos even in relatively windy conditions (I’ve done it), and right now it’s holding the new Vortex Razor spotting scope rather securely. I’m putting Arca plates on my Nikon SLR camera and looking for a bag too. I do have a commercial level aluminum monopod that I mounted a rifle cradle type rest on and it doubles as a walking stick rather nicely so I’ll play with that too.

Things will get upgraded as I refine my needs and address shortcomings I find along the way. Thanks guys!

[Japhy]

Dont know what you are hunting /shooting but in the AZ scrub in the central or northern part of the state visibility is severely limited if not in a standing position. A stable tripod at that height ain’t light and requires about a 3ft radius of clear ground. Ergo the monopod

[CPJ 2.0]

Dont know what you are hunting /shooting but in the AZ scrub in the central or northern part of the state visibility is severely limited if not in a standing position. A stable tripod at that height ain’t light and requires about a 3ft radius of clear ground. Ergo the monopod

You’re incorrect.
Not light compared to a monopod, but quality carbon fiber tripods aren’t too heavy to not carry.

[Zee]

And you don’t need clear ground. The legs of a tripod fit through brush like the leg of a monopod. While providing dramatically more stability. Slightly more weight. But, not stupid. Depending on the carbon fiber model you get.
As I said before, it just depends on your expectations and willingness to compromise.
How light do you need to pack? How stable do you need to be? All about options and choosing the one you need.

[Zee]

But again, not downing anyone’s method if it meets their needs and works.

[CPJ 2.0]

My new take on the BOG:

By buddy who I drug down to pig land got to use a good tripod setup for the first time. First time thermal hunting, first time with a pod. I tried, but knew he’d end up buying a BOG. Good stuff ain’t cheap, for the most part, I get not wanting to drop a good chunk of a rifle purchase on a tripod.
Anyway, we farted around with it the next night. The clamp was a bit better than I expected. As was the tripod.
EXCEPT, two axis rotation sucks donkey wang . If your legs aren’t level, as you pan your gun goes diagonal. Not so with a ball head. You move it any which way you want.

And, they are heavy in comparison.

Is that an issue for him? Probably not. He will mainly use it in a static position. So it’s not as much of an issue. But moving around and not being able to make sure stuff is level. That’s right out. Non-starter for me. I’d still choose the bag and plate over the clamp that’s not on a ball head.

The BOG is heavy. Even the carbon fiber one.

[CPJ 2.0]

But again, not downing anyone’s method if it meets their needs and works.

I’m downing people not thinking panning heads are where it’s at.
Because panning heads, are where it’s at.

[Zee]

I used to use them for cameras. We will see how it goes for rifles when I get one. I see its use. Just not sure it’s the only answer.

[GrapeApe]

In thinking back through all my hunting, I can think of exactly 1 time a tripod, monopod or even a sitting height bipod would have been useful. Prone wasn't an option due to terrain and vegetation.

That doe got missed and I learned how fast I could run a bolt gun.

Those of you that like & use them, God bless ya. I can't say that I have a need for one though

[CPJ 2.0]

I used to use them for cameras. We will see how it goes for rifles when I get one. I see its use. Just not sure it’s the only answer.

[CPJ 2.0]

Forum software has gone goofy.

[CPJ 2.0]

So….trying the 4th time…


The cool thing about the panning, is you can lock it when not needed. I agree the options on those heads have knobs, and knobs suck wang. Me and the ginger were discussing that. Pan needs a knob, head needs a lever.

[Zee]

In thinking back through all my hunting, I can think of exactly 1 time a tripod, monopod or even a sitting height bipod would have been useful. Prone wasn't an option due to terrain and vegetation.

That doe got missed and I learned how fast I could run a bolt gun.

Those of you that like & use them, God bless ya. I can't say that I have a need for one though

Not for everyone. Not for everything. But, I can attest that varmint and pig hunting at night, they are the bomb!! And, apparently in Africa as well. All depends on how one hunts.

[Zee]

So….trying the 4th time…


The cool thing about the panning, is you can lock it when not needed. I agree the options on those heads have knobs, and knobs suck wang. Me and the ginger were discussing that. Pan needs a knob, head needs a lever.

I agree.

[CPJ 2.0]

Kinda surprised at the lack of “well by gawd! My grandpapy was the best shooter known to man and he used nothing but a sling! Yall ain’t real marksman! Probably using them thar tell-oh-scopic sights! “

[GrapeApe]

Those of you that like & use them, God bless ya. I can't say that I have a need for one though

Not for everyone. Not for everything. But, I can attest that varmint and pig hunting at night, they are the bomb!! And, apparently in Africa as well. All depends on how one hunts.

which is why I ended my post the way I did
I understand that others' needs can vary from mine.

As the old axiom says, "There's more than one way to skin a cat"
My way works FOR ME, and your way, apparently, works FOR YOU (I'm guessing, since I ain't in your shoes. Or barefoot in your case )

[Ernie]

I used tripods the majority of the time in Africa...If I get to go again in a year plus from now (Summer of 2026), I will be using a much better tripod, and a much faster and steadier way of doing things.
At night it is so useful.
Even in a box blind or ground stand they have benefits.
For Africa, my main test is going to see how light of a Game Changer bag I can use standing and keep it on steel (10") every time out to 400 yards. I will practice further than that, but I want 400 to be a given.