A lot came up and I still haven't pulled the trigger. Some day soon though.
I looked at all these, looked at RRS and I think I've decided on Field Optics Research Pro mil 32mm option --it's US made, 5.5lbs and supports 115lbs. and has locking legs ($700 something, they make one that'll support 145lbs. for $900something). But that either can support a fully grown man hanging from/standing on it and there are pics of that too ("rated for" I think includes stability). It's actually made for shooting and they're right down the street from RRS. I've talked to them before. They don't knock RRS like they do their competition, but do feel they're (RRS) overpriced for what they offer and whine a lot anytime they get criticized for that and I have to agree, they're just stating facts.
FWIW, FOR sent me a video of USMC testing one of them with a Barrett. It held it admirably and had the guy used the tripod right and got behind the rifle correctly it would have probably taken 100% of the recoil and not rocked up at all. As it was, one leg lifted a few inches but the guy was directly behind one leg, not leaning in and had a bad shoulder on the rifle --ie, he was half assing it. Still impressive.
They have tripods for less that are made here but with Chinese CF legs. They said the Chinese CF isn't quite AS good but it's a lot cheaper so that's how their non-mil models are so much cheaper. They also don't have the US patent locking leg deal either.
For spotting/optics, this lightweight super cheap on sale Sirui ($126 shipped?) Doug at Cameraland sold me has hit every mark. It'd actually support a small rifle, it's a fuckton tougher than it looks, but that's not what I got it for. Works in the prone, a must. Easy and fast. I think I'd like a pan/tilt handle on it now though but I wasn't sure when I got it so I got it as basic as I could until I knew what I wanted.
WAY better than the issue shit that used to come with these observation scopes (what they call a spotter when it's got a narrow FOV and based on a riflescope?).
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