Before anyone flails their arms at a cheap tripod, I already have a Manfrotto 055 with the bike handle pivot head. It works well, I like it, it just adds weight. The weight itself isn't the issue, its that when I bring the tripod out its usually when I am out somewhere all day and have way more stuff along than I would for just going out to shoot 50 rounds; the weight adds up fast and its ANOTHER 5 pounds.
Enter the cheap tripod. Made in China. Can be had for like $12 and with a quick spray of Krylon, you can't see it from space while out in the desert. I'm going to put the Manfrotto handle/head on it and all of the things I use with it have the Manfrotto QD plates attached to them already (HOG saddle, Leupold spotter, Terrapin, etc) so any change outs should be the same as before.
So here is the experiment. Shooting normally during the day at steel/paper is one thing. But I go distance hunting and now that the weather isn't retarded hot during the day, this is pretty much going to be a 3-4 day a week thing for a few hours a day. Instead of taking the 055 with me, I am going to strap the newly CHICOM tripod to the side of my ruck and drag it out with me into the mountains/desert here in southern Utah/northern Arizona. If you aren't familiar with the terrain, its rocks, sand, bigger rocks, dirt, giant rocks, loose gravel, mountain rises/cliffs/canyons, and more rocks. Everywhere. How I haven't died hunting at night in the dark here is beyond me.
So how long are we betting the tripod will last (will it make it out of the Jeep? lol) getting dragged around as well as having to hold either a Mk12Mod1 or a 17lb M24A2? Does anyone use the CHICOM tripods and do they hold up surprisingly well, or am I going to be shooting off my sling the first day already? lol
Enter the cheap tripod. Made in China. Can be had for like $12 and with a quick spray of Krylon, you can't see it from space while out in the desert. I'm going to put the Manfrotto handle/head on it and all of the things I use with it have the Manfrotto QD plates attached to them already (HOG saddle, Leupold spotter, Terrapin, etc) so any change outs should be the same as before.
So here is the experiment. Shooting normally during the day at steel/paper is one thing. But I go distance hunting and now that the weather isn't retarded hot during the day, this is pretty much going to be a 3-4 day a week thing for a few hours a day. Instead of taking the 055 with me, I am going to strap the newly CHICOM tripod to the side of my ruck and drag it out with me into the mountains/desert here in southern Utah/northern Arizona. If you aren't familiar with the terrain, its rocks, sand, bigger rocks, dirt, giant rocks, loose gravel, mountain rises/cliffs/canyons, and more rocks. Everywhere. How I haven't died hunting at night in the dark here is beyond me.
So how long are we betting the tripod will last (will it make it out of the Jeep? lol) getting dragged around as well as having to hold either a Mk12Mod1 or a 17lb M24A2? Does anyone use the CHICOM tripods and do they hold up surprisingly well, or am I going to be shooting off my sling the first day already? lol
