Leofoto tripod for NRL

[Wild Eyes Woodworks]

Good afternoon everyone. Recently shot the Sooner State Safari match and figured out some things I need to do differently for time management and deployment. My tripod ( a bog) is just not up to the job. Broke a tripod leg during a stage.

Picked up a cert for Leofoto and am just curious what others are using and what my best option would be from them. I appreciate input on tripods but am looking for a Leofoto since I have a cert and am poor. If you were shopping for one like me, what sounds good and why?

Also, a good recommendation for a tax table, plate bag and again what and why?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Sheldon N]

Leofoto SO-362CX, two section inverted, sturdy, fast to deploy, nice and tall. I use a RRS TA-3 leveling head in mine, but there are lots of options for different heads.

Tac table = DIY. Thick piece of 8x10 polycarbonate, drill two holes and mount an Arca rail section on the bottom. Cover the top with skateboard grip tape.

Plate bag is not needed for NRL hunter, just throw a gamechanger for the front and tripod rear for the few times you'll do it.

 

[1911Shootist]

SO-362 is the way. Fast deploy, super rigid, easy to adjust. Deploy to second notch for seated/kneeling positions.

Ball head like LH-55 for hands free panning when spotting during PRS style matches, or Anvil-30 for matches when you need to shoot off it. I have both, the Anvil only goes on for NRLH matches.

Skip the tac table. If you want to bag it, just place your bag over the top of the tripod head. Plenty stable without the need for a table.

 

[Sheldon N]

I could take or leave the tac table for shooting off of. I usually will just throw a bag on the top of the leveling head if I'm going to shoot from the tripod. The tac table is nice for glassing though, I throw a bag on top of the table (with bag oriented vertically) and binos on top of the bag. With just the head it's a little harder to balance both bag and binos.

 

[021411]

I have no affiliation with the following company and product but did pick one up. They have a version for the 75mm tripod for Leofoto and an arca version. I watched their video on YouTube and it makes sense. The curved top allows a bag to sit better on it.

The “HUMP BACK” Bag Saddle | crazycrowgunworks.co

Discover the "HUMP BACK" Bag Saddle at Crazy Crow Gunworks, your trusted source for hand-built precision rifles. This revolutionary alternative to a standard Tac Table allows your bag to contour to and grip your tripod while providing maximum surface area contacting your rifle. Whether your...

www.crazycrowgunworks.com

 

[Wild Eyes Woodworks]

Sorry for the late response everyone and thank you for your input. I really like the way the 2 sections deploy quickly. I just don’t like how long they are fully collapsed. I like to take my tripod out off my pack and kick legs out so I can glass immediately kneeling. I also want something less cumbersome to have on my pack for matches, hunting and different field style matches. I also RO a lot. I’m 5’9 so I don’t need a super tall tripod either. I don’t know if the shorter version of the two sections would get me about where I want to be but it still seems real long compared to a three section collapsed.

But I guess that’s my only downside is how long they are collapsed. how are you guys carrying them? I’m looking at some of their thick legged three sections. I really just want something that’s way quicker to clip into when I need to and more stable for the majority of time I’ll throw a bag on it. But I also want it to fit in/ on my bag.

 

[beetroot]

The Leofoto 4 section SA 364c is a nice tripod if you want a smaller package.
I'm not sure if a 2 section tripod would be very good for NRL Hunter, if you are shooting off steep angles the 2 section tripods can be a real pain.

The easiest way to carry a long tripod is in a pack with a scabbard, but if you aren't walking too far just carry it.
Short tripods will be easily attachable to the side of any pack, but you'll need to then pack your glass away, so again I just carry the tripod.

You can get tripod slings but I find then awkward if you have glass attached.
Prefer to sling my rifle and carry the tripod.

 

[1911Shootist]

OBi Link on a shoulder strap is the quickest and easiest way to carry and fast deploy, even with the long 2-sections. Deploy to the second leg notch for seated/low kneeling.

What makes a good hunting tripod makes for a poor competition tripod. I'd expect to get two different tripods for the very different roles, or be prepared to make noticeable sacrifices on both ends of the spectrum.

 

[strow]

Does anyone have experience with the new Leofoto "X Version Angle stops" compared to the older pull angle stops?

How much does the wider 75mm apex (SO-362CX) help with stability over narrower/ smaller apex (SA-364 CX)? Is it noticeable?

 

[wpeach1912]

Does anyone have experience with the new Leofoto "X Version Angle stops" compared to the older pull angle stops?

How much does the wider 75mm apex (SO-362CX) help with stability over narrower/ smaller apex (SA-364 CX)? Is it noticeable?

I have them on my 324 CLX. It’s just a spring loaded tab and I’d say it is quite a bit faster.The fewer sections should help with stability. My 404 with 100mm apex is rock solid. Especially compared to my 324

 

[strow]

I have them on my 324 CLX. It’s just a spring loaded tab and I’d say it is quite a bit faster.The fewer sections should help with stability. My 404 with 100mm apex is rock solid. Especially compared to my 324

Do you think the added stability of the 404 over the 324 has more to do with a wider 100mm apex or the tube diameter?

 

[wpeach1912]

Tube diameter Id say. The apex I think does help some though

 

[ECK]

Sorry for the late response everyone and thank you for your input. I really like the way the 2 sections deploy quickly. I just don’t like how long they are fully collapsed. I like to take my tripod out off my pack and kick legs out so I can glass immediately kneeling. I also want something less cumbersome to have on my pack for matches, hunting and different field style matches. I also RO a lot. I’m 5’9 so I don’t need a super tall tripod either. I don’t know if the shorter version of the two sections would get me about where I want to be but it still seems real long compared to a three section collapsed.

But I guess that’s my only downside is how long they are collapsed. how are you guys carrying them? I’m looking at some of their thick legged three sections. I really just want something that’s way quicker to clip into when I need to and more stable for the majority of time I’ll throw a bag on it. But I also want it to fit in/ on my bag.

Which 2-section model are you looking at? I have the 362CX, the 2-section compact model.

All folded up with the leg sections collapsed (and with ball head attached ) it is 33” long. Fully extended, it is 46” to the top of the apex, 51” to the top of the ball head, and 53” with a Schmedium resting on top of the ballhead to glass off of. I’m 5’10” and its comfortable to glass and shoot from, but not ideal to be glassing from for extended periods because it puts me into a hunched over standing position. If long periods of glassing are anticipated (i.e. RO-ing) I would set it at mid height and glass from a seated or kneeling position.

I used a 3-section tripod all last season, and while is a few inches shorter than even the 362CX when stowed, it is slower to deploy. I also find inverted tripods to be way faster to deploy and fine tune the height. The 362CX with the legs collapsed is at a good height to glass off of while kneeling, but if vegetation or terrain in the foreground is such that I need to be higher I just fully extend each leg to the 53” height and go from there. Turning the Schmedium on end would give me a few more inches of height.

As far as carrying, two ways: if hiking for an extended distance, I stuff the feet into a water bottle pouch that is attached to my pack and strap the tripod down with one of the side compression straps on my pack. But when I approach a stage, I do the poor-man’s OBI clip thing… Male end of a fast-tek buckle attached to my tripod w/ some velcro and webbing, and female end of the fast-tek attached to the load-lifter strap on my pack. So when attached to the pack it hangs in front of my left arm which I use to keep it from swinging around.

 

[1911Shootist]

How much does the wider 75mm apex (SO-362CX) help with stability over narrower/ smaller apex (SA-364 CX)? Is it noticeable?

I switched from the SO-362C to the PRSTF Dauntless, which uses a smaller apex with nearly identical legs. I do not believe a wider apex adds any meaningful benefit to rigidity. Bending of the legs is where the apex pivoting comes from, so it would make sense that a little wider apex is insignificant compared to 60+” long legs flexing.

 

[Ichi]

I use a Hazard 4 Plan-B sling bag to carry my SA-324C MA-40 tripod and gear from position to position on the range. It's large enough to carry a WieBad fortune cookie and other gear internally. The lower portion of two tripod legs will fit in the the side pouch and the straps secure around all three legs.

I made a tac table from an aluminum 4" x 8" cheese plate where all the holes are threaded, plus a few slots for straps. This gives me a lot of options for mounting other items.

Added an QD ARCA plate.

 

[strow]

Ichi, how do you like the MA40? How does it compare to other inverted heads or ball heads you have tried?

 

[Ichi]

Ichi, how do you like the MA40? How does it compare to other inverted heads or ball heads you have tried?

I like the MA-40. It's solid, easy to adjust and locks up tight. I like that the clamp on the MA-40 accepts both ARCA and Picatinny rails.

I've not shot off any other tripods or heads, so I cannot tell you how it compares to other heads.

 

[JR1200W3]

The big Leophoto inverted leg tripod does work well but you have to use an RRS head. The fake-Anvil they advertise with the tripod is shit. Lot's of wobble.

 

[strow]

Is there anyway to get the RRS Anvil 30 with a twist lock clamp instead of lever lock clamp?

 

[JR1200W3]

Is there anyway to get the RRS Anvil 30 with a twist lock clamp instead of lever lock clamp?

That sounds like RRS's original tripod head

 

[strow]

I was thinking more about the Arca/Pic clamp not so much the ball head. A twist lock for the Arca/Pic clamp portion instead of the lever lock. For times when you are switching between Arca and Pic rails that are slightly different widths. The twist lock is easier to deal with, but not as fast. Hopefully this makes sense.

 

[R_A_W]

The fake-Anvil they advertise with the tripod is shit. Lot's of wobble.

If you're talking about the MA-30, I don't agree. The Leofoto locks up just fine, very tight & zero wobble.

 

[JR1200W3]

I am referring to the STB-75 Rapid Lever Lock.

Just looked up the MA-30. I guess that head more closely resembles the RRS Anvil. You're the second person I heard speak highly about it. Maybe I should check it out.

 

[R_A_W]

Ah, I see. The MA-30 is almost an exact clone of the Anvil 30. The RRS Anvil 30 is nicer, but not by much. The biggest difference is RRS has a better seal & may perform better in dirty environments.

 

[1911Shootist]

My teammate and I have identical tripods with the RRS Anvile 30 on mine, and the MA-30L on his. I’ve used both. The MA-30L is too close to RRS’s design, so Leofot had to stop advertising it in the US. You can still get them through various vendors I think.

The RRS is definitely smoother, and the lockup is slightly different. Both are just as rigid when locked down, but the RRS has less stiction and more finesse at partial lock. We’ve had both in nearly identical conditions, and the MA-30L got gritty and sticky when the RRS did not. I tried flushing the MA-30 out, but couldn’t get it cleaned until I disassembled it. It’s all good now. The lever screw requires a 2mm driver to remove, and it was very soft - super easy to strip unless you have a precision ground driver (MIP tools or similar).