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Hunting & Fishing Hunting with tripod Q’s

trob_205

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Jul 11, 2013
    993
    728
    Coldwater, MI
    For those of you that hunt with your tripod are you guys finding ways to direct attach a RRS/Arca Rail to your lighter hunting stocks or are you using saddle/vyce devices? I have my CA stock for sale in the PX to get a stock more apt to work well with the tripod but starting to second guess the decision. Any help on direct attach mods? Or just get a saddle?
     
    Totally depends on you gun, how easy it is to add a rail of some sort, plus your preferences. The Vyce adds 17oz or so to my tripod package, which does not make me happy for field use. Some of my hunting guns have rails on them, but some do not and I don't want to add them. Figure out what you prefer and go from there. One of my hunting guns is a Blaser R8, so not super easy to add a rail to.
     
    Currently it’s a carbon composite Sporter style stock. It would take a fairly large stock mod to add a rail and I currently can’t find a plate that would work if I wanted to. My plan was to change it out for a KRG bravo stock and add a Short peice of rrs/Arca rail right by the magwell. Would be a bit heavier but probably less that adding a saddle or vyce.
     
    Frankly, I don't find tripods to be that useful when big game hunting. That is, the weight just isn't worth it for the shots I need to take. I prefer to work on "rifleman skills", rather then carrying extra equipment. Things like positional shooting, sling use, possibly a super light set of shooting sticks as a last resort.

    Now for predator hunting, or something where I'm not walking around much, different story. Also different guns.
     
    This is what I use, very compact, light, and easy to use:
    2eoxkjt.jpg


    More about it here if you are interested: Tripod for the People
     
    I’ve been walking around east TX and southwest LA with the Reapr vise and a CF tripod strapped to my backpack. Not the most expensive or fanciest rig, but works very well. Works great for longer shots when you have a second to setup.
     
    I’ve yet to do very much hunting. Where I have to pack everything in and out. With that said I was thinking about using a mpa lite chassis and a carbon fiber tripod. I wouldn’t think the added weight of the tripod would be that much of a burden.
     
    This is what I use, very compact, light, and easy to use:
    2eoxkjt.jpg


    More about it here if you are interested: Tripod for the People

    I have had a PRS tripod setup for year.. beat the crap out of that tripod and use it for photos and videos.. didn't realize he had come up with that new interface, I have the rifle cradle and it works well. but that would be slick for when I use my 6.8 thermal rig for pigs.
     
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    I think for most hunting a monopod trigger stick will do it. If you're doing a western hunt and you are more stationary making long shots then I could see having a nice tripod.
     
    I'm in the same boat as you, and I'm curious to see which stock you choose. Since, I haven't received the rifle yet, which is backordered, what is the barrel contour? I've heard MTU or Proof with slight modification from vendors.
     
    one piece of gear I will never leave the wire without for any hunting is my tripod. its not about rifleman this or skills that...its about the fact that it affords me the ability to be absolutely precise and 100% certain in any terrain or situation. its one of the variables I can control. so if it was me my lightweight hunting stock would simply get an arca rail mated to it.
     
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    Reactions: Covertnoob5
    one piece of gear I will never leave the wire without for any hunting is my tripod. its not about rifleman this or skills that...its about the fact that it affords me the ability to be absolutely precise and 100% certain in any terrain or situation. its one of the variables I can control. so if it was me my lightweight hunting stock would simply get an arca rail mated to it.

    Agreed. The weight is isignificant for the stability provided. This target shows body shots off-hand and kneeling at 100 yards (I obviously suck at it.) head shots are off my tripod with pig saddle at 200.

     
    call them:
    281-782-9538
    Same boat as above, the write up is intriguing, but the website doesn’t work for me.

    I plan on giving them a call, but do you have the medium or large tripod, and how well does the cradle work?

    What was the approx price?

    Any other options out there for a simple, non-attaching cradle? I’m looking for an aid for my young son while hunting, and an attached tripod seems like it would be too fiddly/complicated.
     
    Off my pack 928 yards. 10-15mph right to left switchy wind. First shot right shoulder #2 left shoulder - used #1 as aiming point. #3 head shot about 1/3 mil hold. I really need a tripod for glassing and ranging. I have a pathetic tremor issue so I do require external help.

    If I need the height I use a tripod / RRS VYCE and use my backpack for the rear support. Often hunting critters whether 2 legged or 4 is very fluid and dynamic - so I improvise with whatever is available for a steady 100% confident shot or I pass.

    I climbed into juniper to get the angle on this bedded bull @ 571yds last year - heart/lung impact and he rolled over.


    Practicing field positions and dry firing regularly will put you ahead of the game when seconds count.

    F4C5F6C4-6AB9-4680-82DC-DF9682A464CF.jpeg
    86017671-3397-49DA-8243-529CEC7E44C0.jpeg
     
    Feisol 3342 + RRS Anvil + Any pic rail your gun has = win

    Stows easily lashed on the left side of my ruck.

    Guten Tag, got a pic of this setup? I've got a 3342 and am looking to move away from the Pig Saddle. Trying to work out exactly what i need to order, did you get the - 'Anvil-30 Head Only and mount that direct to the Feisol plate?
     
    Last edited:
    Same boat as above, the write up is intriguing, but the website doesn’t work for me.

    I plan on giving them a call, but do you have the medium or large tripod, and how well does the cradle work?

    What was the approx price?

    Any other options out there for a simple, non-attaching cradle? I’m looking for an aid for my young son while hunting, and an attached tripod seems like it would be too fiddly/complicated.

    I have the medium, I think the large would only be needed if you plan on shooting from a standing position. The cradle works great, you can tension up the ball head, so it stays nice and stiff. My son shoots from it all the time.

    If I recall it was around 135$
     
    I have the short Pig tripod. I started out with a Pig saddle on top of it. It's small enough to keep on the pack, and has been useful for seated and kneeling shots in the field, as well as clamping in my Leica rangefiner binocs. Minimal weight, minimal investment, and comes with the understanding that I don't have ballin' out of control rock steady standing shot capability.

    I recently replaced the Pig saddle with a very lightweight Able Table. Part of my mandatory kit is a mini fortune cookie. it gets used a lot for truck doors, blind windows, rear bag, etc. I have been experimenting with throwing the bag on top of the table and shooting like that. From dry fire, it almost appears to be more stable than a cheap clamp (pig saddle), weigh less, and is definitely faster to get into position and move around.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Covertnoob5
    I have the short Pig tripod. I started out with a Pig saddle on top of it. It's small enough to keep on the pack, and has been useful for seated and kneeling shots in the field, as well as clamping in my Leica rangefiner binocs. Minimal weight, minimal investment, and comes with the understanding that I don't have ballin' out of control rock steady standing shot capability.

    I recently replaced the Pig saddle with a very lightweight Able Table. Part of my mandatory kit is a mini fortune cookie. it gets used a lot for truck doors, blind windows, rear bag, etc. I have been experimenting with throwing the bag on top of the table and shooting like that. From dry fire, it almost appears to be more stable than a cheap clamp (pig saddle), weigh less, and is definitely faster to get into position and move around.

    I also switched from a reaper grip to an Abel table/bag combo. I use the sap run n gun and I prefer that combo as well
     
    one piece of gear I will never leave the wire without for any hunting is my tripod. its not about rifleman this or skills that...its about the fact that it affords me the ability to be absolutely precise and 100% certain in any terrain or situation. its one of the variables I can control. so if it was me my lightweight hunting stock would simply get an arca rail mated to it.
    Agree 100%
     
    For those of you that hunt with your tripod are you guys finding ways to direct attach a RRS/Arca Rail to your lighter hunting stocks or are you using saddle/vyce devices? I have my CA stock for sale in the PX to get a stock more apt to work well with the tripod but starting to second guess the decision. Any help on direct attach mods? Or just get a saddle?

    Make sure you attach a rifle to it. You have to get real close and swing that thing really hard if you just use the tripod.