Tripods

[CPJ 2.0]

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.

I think a GC on a TP for an SP would be the way to go.

[Zee]

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[Zee]

Tripod struck again tonight. 195 yrds kneeling. In a Huey?

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[Wambli Ska]

NICE!!!!!!! I like all these ideas. Thanks!

[Zee]

Shot from thermal video on tripod.

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[Zee]

I would say that 90% of my hunting involves a tripod these days. Could I do it without one? Yes. Would I be as efficient? No.


Just because you don’t use one……doesn’t mean it won’t make you more efficient. It’s a choice. Better your position. Or not.

[Zee]

Never accept mediocrity.

[Ernie]

A good tripod with accessories gives you so many ways to work outside the box or to create more boxes to work within.
It adds to your field rests and stand options, if you are willing.

[GrapeApe]

For the vast majority of my shots, I have a front bag in the stand's window and am seated in a chair.
I built my stands/blinds with a 2x4 framed window at the correct height to use as a rest. Since I hunt from a fixed position, I am fairly certain my "rest" is every bit as stable as a tripod, if not moreso, since I'm seated

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ETA: That's my custom 7x57 that JSD built in the top photo, and my 799 6.5 grendel in the lower one

[Wambli Ska]

Nice! And when I get my property and build myself hunting suite (yes it's going to be totally over the top comfortable) I'll make sure it's set up for minimum effort and maximum results. For now I need mobile solutions for spotting and shooting at long distances.

[Zee]

Honest question. So, the animals you’ve posted that were poorly hit or lost………were they a rest issue or a you issue?

Edit: Question was for GrapeApe. Enzo was faster to respond than me. I’m getting old.

[Ernie]

What do you do for rear support?

I can't tell how the rifle is being supported in the bottom picture.

Now you have me curious...Have you ever grouped your rigs by using your hunting field rests on paper or steel at 200 yards (Max hunting distance?) or at any other distance?

[Ernie]

Nice! And when I get my property and build myself hunting suite (yes it's going to be totally over the top comfortable) I'll make sure it's set up for minimum effort and maximum results. For now I need mobile solutions for spotting and shooting at long distances.

Arca is a fast way to switch out things.
Make sure you have the same rails on anything you are going to use, because there is tolerance differences from brand to brand.
For your light weight rifle a hog/pig saddle type clamp/vise can be purchased, that is set up for ARCA.

Definition of LR in terms of distance, from your comment above?

[GrapeApe]

Honest question. So, the animals you’ve posted that were poorly hit or lost………were they a rest issue or a you issue?

Honest answer, ME issue most of the time, though there's been a couple that were bullet issues

What do you do for rear support?

I can't tell how the rifle is being supported in the bottom picture.

Now you have me curious...Have you ever grouped your rigs by using your hunting field rests on paper or steel at 200 yards (Max hunting distance?) or at any other distance?

Can't get 200 from either stand, Wife's has a 92 yard max and the one pictured has a 155 yd max.
I HAVE set me 11x17 "mini man" steel at the top of the far "ridge/roll/terrace" and put normally put 3 into ~2"
I use me, seated in an office chair, for a rear rest, which I'm willing to bet is more stable, being seated in a chair, than most people are STANDING behind a tripod. Feet on floor, butt in chair, left hand on either on window frame, or supporting right hand working the "bang switch"

[Zee]

I respect that answer.

[Ernie]

Honest question. So, the animals you’ve posted that were poorly hit or lost………were they a rest issue or a you issue?

Honest answer, ME issue most of the time, though there's been a couple that were bullet issues

What do you do for rear support?

I can't tell how the rifle is being supported in the bottom picture.

Now you have me curious...Have you ever grouped your rigs by using your hunting field rests on paper or steel at 200 yards (Max hunting distance?) or at any other distance?

Can't get 200 from either stand, Wife's has a 92 yard max and the one pictured has a 155 yd max.
I HAVE set me 11x17 "mini man" steel at the top of the far "ridge/roll/terrace" and put normally put 3 into ~2"
I use me, seated in an office chair, for a rear rest, which I'm willing to bet is more stable, being seated in a chair, than most people are STANDING behind a tripod. Feet on floor, butt in chair, left hand on either on window frame, or supporting right hand working the "bang switch"

Yes, the description you give, should be steadier than a tripod.

[GrapeApe]

I am, in no way shape or form "anti tripod". Just don't see a need for one in my personal situation
If I wanted "long range" hunting, I could build an elevated stand ~550 yards away to hunt the field pictured. I have no desire to add 400 yards to my shots, just to say I did it.

[GrapeApe]

I respect that answer.

No reason to not be honest.
We have all made mistakes/bad shots, some more than others, but we've all done it.

[GrapeApe]

Ernie, to give you perspective, the front right edge of that greenfield is ~100 yards. The pine tree @ 11:oclock behind the feeder is a lased 155. The rolling hills go down past that, and I've only ever seen/shot 1 deer n the other side of it. A buck stuck his head/neck up over, looking for a doe, and a .224" 64gr Nosler Bonded Performance" ruined his day.
This is how he was laying when I found him

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I have to get ready for 2 DRs appts. TTFN
ETA:
Have enough time to add: That shot lased 181 from his closest point to the shooting house. Still my longest ever shot on game

[Wambli Ska]

Nice! And when I get my property and build myself hunting suite (yes it's going to be totally over the top comfortable) I'll make sure it's set up for minimum effort and maximum results. For now I need mobile solutions for spotting and shooting at long distances.

Arca is a fast way to switch out things.
Make sure you have the same rails on anything you are going to use, because there is tolerance differences from brand to brand.
For your light weight rifle a hog/pig saddle type clamp/vise can be purchased, that is set up for ARCA.

Definition of LR in terms of distance, from your comment above?

My definition is not yours

I’m a Norteast woods hunter. On my land a “long” shot was still sub 200 yards and I could do those offhand if needed because I practiced all year long.

Now I’m preparing myself for this whole “out west” thing and I’m pretty comfortable with my abilities to shoot supported to 400 yards which I know for you and Zee that distance is a pop shot. I’ll be looking to maybe increase that a bit but really don’t see myself doing much more than 500 yards. I remember Zee mentioning that’s the distance that separates men from boys because factors like wind become much more critical and I don’t know that I’ll shoot enough at 500+ to become field proficient.

[CPJ 2.0]

To Ernie’s point on different ARCA rails, they ARE different. I had three different ones on my clamp, all three slightly different sized.

[Ernie]

Nice! And when I get my property and build myself hunting suite (yes it's going to be totally over the top comfortable) I'll make sure it's set up for minimum effort and maximum results. For now I need mobile solutions for spotting and shooting at long distances.

Arca is a fast way to switch out things.
Make sure you have the same rails on anything you are going to use, because there is tolerance differences from brand to brand.
For your light weight rifle a hog/pig saddle type clamp/vise can be purchased, that is set up for ARCA.

Definition of LR in terms of distance, from your comment above?

My definition is not yours

I’m a Northeast woods hunter. On my land a “long” shot was still sub 200 yards and I could do those offhand if needed because I practiced all year long.

Now I’m preparing myself for this whole “out west” thing and I’m pretty comfortable with my abilities to shoot supported to 400 yards which I know for you and Zee that distance is a pop shot. I’ll be looking to maybe increase that a bit but really don’t see myself doing much more than 500 yards. I remember Zee mentioning that’s the distance that separates men from boys because factors like wind become much more critical and I don’t know that I’ll shoot enough at 500+ to become field proficient.

It doesn't really matter what other hunters skill sets are....I just wanted to know what distance you had in mind for yourself.

With a good tripod set-up and practice, 400-500 yards will be something doable, once you figure out how to get steady, not considering wind at this time.

The main thing is, if you are going to get a tripod to shoot off of, get one that has proven itself to work for that.
Then, start committing yourself to practice off of it, like you have in the past with sub-200 yard offhand shooting.
Discover what works for you.
Embrace the wobble (that stays inside the kill zone). Standing with a tripod is way more stable than standing offhand without one.

[Wambli Ska]

Sounds very sensible. Thank you sir!