Ballhead choice predator hunting

D

Dayandnight

Private
Minuteman
Dec 26, 2018
38
8
Colville Washington
#1
Hey fellas I just registered the other day after reading quite a few threads on tripod setups.

I hunt day and night for predators and up until now I have been using a Chinese setup with good success. I want something more now. I need a little extra confidence to make those shots happen when I’m not feeling locked in. A lot of nights I have chances at multiples so I want to be able to go from tight to be swinging smoothly right after. I guess my goal would be to have a head that makes smooth adjustments. Not just tight or sloppy. Am I making sense?

Looking at Feisol 3472 or 3372 and pva comp 40 with anvil 30

Thanks for all your help
 
#2
Either Feisol would be good, just depends on if you want 3 or 4 leg section. I owned the 3372 and it was nice. No Name Tactical has a nice tripod as well as Patriot Valley Firearms. Both of those are similar to the Feisol and comparable on price. As far as leveling base I would buy RRS TA-3LC, it will work on the Feisol no problem, had the same setup for a while.

The Anvil 30 is AMAZING, I sold my RRS leveling base and put the Anvil on my RRS legs. It is so simple to use, rock solid, and slightly more compact, and more range of motion than the leveling base. I am not sure on weight between the two but they are both less weight than a true ballhead.

I find RRS stuff just slightly better quality than Feisol, yes it comes with a higher price point but it also retains value very well.
 
#3
simpy16 said:
Either Feisol would be good, just depends on if you want 3 or 4 leg section. I owned the 3372 and it was nice. No Name Tactical has a nice tripod as well as Patriot Valley Firearms. Both of those are similar to the Feisol and comparable on price. As far as leveling base I would buy RRS TA-3LC, it will work on the Feisol no problem, had the same setup for a while.

The Anvil 30 is AMAZING, I sold my RRS leveling base and put the Anvil on my RRS legs. It is so simple to use, rock solid, and slightly more compact, and more range of motion than the leveling base. I am not sure on weight between the two but they are both less weight than a true ballhead.

I find RRS stuff just slightly better quality than Feisol, yes it comes with a higher price point but it also retains value very well.
Click to expand...
What kind of steadiness do you feel you gave up going from the leveling base to the Anvil?
 
#4
Sogan said:
What kind of steadiness do you feel you gave up going from the leveling base to the Anvil?
Click to expand...

I don't think I gave up any steadiness going to the Anvil. I DID feel I gave up steadiness going from the leveling base to a ballhead but the Anvil affords all the benefits of a ballhead but with the steadiness of the leveling base. The Anvil is pretty special in how it works and what it does, it looks like it will not work well at all but somehow it holds more secure than a leveling base.

If I could afford it and find one I would go with the Anvil, and good alternative would be the TA-3-LC, as long as you were not needing high angles to be achieved on your mount.
 
#8
Eustice said:
I want to follow this. In the market myself and can’t decide between a ball head or leveling base.
Click to expand...

I owned both the BH55 and the TA-3-LC RRS heads and my go to was the leveling base for shooting. I would also use it at matches with my Leica Geovid LRF binos and never needed the extra movement of the ballhead. Both are incredibly sturdy but the leveling base just allowed a lower CG right near the apex of the legs.
 
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#14
I received my anvil 30 with series 3 adapter. The tension was pretty rough to start but I’ve been working it and cleaning working it and cleaning... I ended up using a little bit of machine gun lube to get the squeaks out and make it smoother. I had to re time the lever a bit so I had a wider range to work with based on my load. I think it’s a winner! I can see how if you didn’t have a quality tripod you could twist it to death with too much tension.

Which brings me to tripods. I know someone who sells a version very similar or the same thing as the no name tripod 2 vets sell. I intend on using this setup for longer range elk/bear hunting as well as the primary use of predator hunting at night. Most rifles will be lighter suppressed ARs to mid to heavy barreled rifles. Mobility is important but also is being sturdy. Not sure if those can go hand in hand. Is the no name tripod a suitable tripod or should I be looking at different ones? You guys are such a great help and thank you
 
#15
Dayandnight, not knocking the two vets no name tripod, which many consider a copy of a Gitzo but have you considered the Feisol 3372 as an alternative. Also with regards your Anvil 30, did you buy it new or used, you mentioned the tension was rough, was the Anvil 30 not smooth in movement?
 
#16
The anvil was new. The ball didn’t seem very polished. It also almost felt like the screw that attaches to the handle was galling as I tightened. I cleaned it up and it feels correct now. I just kinda figured like it needed to be worked a bit.

I was considering the Feisol but I may have backed myself into a corner with this other tripod. I don’t know if it’s the same tripod or not just based off remembering the looks. The price the fella mentioned was in that ballpark tho. He has to order it and who knows when it will arrive. I see 2vets has theirs backordered so maybe I will have an out if he can’t get them in either.

I think I was looking at the 3472 if that sounds right. You think I’d be happier with the end result? I had no idea that there was so much rebranded import products out there. I was kinda bummed especially if I need replacement parts
 
#17
Two vets no name is a Chinese product, not knocking it, seems very decent for the money. Honestly I've fixed a few tripods at matches over the years, and a Feisol wasnt one of them. I've used a variety of setups over the last decade or so, but in the end up they are seconds compared to the RRS stuff imho. Not a great pic, but a 16ln rifle hanging off the end of a tvc-24 and levelling base. 20181214_140054.jpg
 
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