A leveling ball, or "ball-head" provides much more adjustment angles; but they need to be very large and heavy (even Magnesium balls) to be as secure as the leveling base like the RRS. But the leveling bases only provide a limited amount of angular adjustment. Ball-heads are also, all else being equal, much more expensive.
The RRS leveling base with QR really is a good balance of stability, price and adjustment. Generally you can cant the tripod legs if you need more angle than the leveling base provides, or if paired with a hog, slip the stock in the saddle, images below.
As a side note: Not all leveling bases are created equal.
The Feisol leveling head is really heavy and is very disappointing in that it is
either locked or just to floppy... and it
takes away from the min height - being able to use the tripod slammed down onto the ground... image at very bottom.
There are also mounting options with either. Direct mount on ball or leveling base; or either with a saddle. If you go with a saddle and leveling base, you can use either option as needed. Here's a few pics I have on my iPad showing ball with saddle, ball direct and leveling bases in both ways.
Below are images - each with a different gun (some look similar) to show some of the differences and versatility. Hope this helps.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170527\/b30370d713cd4fb3b99f3d5a37bbdc50.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Above ball head and saddle - most versatile, but the least stable
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170527\/63d7a8c31bce2960a79b469864fc194c.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Above Ball head Direct, better 1 lbs weight savings
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170527\/9bb8c46d4cd710a6e2a71e443f7a34a3.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Above RRS Leveling base direct, most stable and lightest
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Above saddle is less stable than just the leveling base but better than the ball head, but can provide more angle by slipping the stock when used with a leveling base.
I actually dropped down a size from the super stiff carbon tripod legs I had and I choose the much lighter and smaller CF, so I could pack it easier.. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170527\/e356357be7fb8a98a143fbec9253b23a.jpg"}[/IMG2]
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Above Ball-head vrs RRS leveling head. The leveling head is 3" above the legs and even the smaller ball-head is 4"
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The RRS leveling head has a very large thru QR that makes in and out FAST and trouble free.
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Adding a saddle as an option is easy just to make sure the tripod plate is not too large and offset to one side so that you have access to the quick release handle and the tension handle of the saddle.
Below nifty looking but do not work well - [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170527\/b1f9a491e0b604331f9f7674cf4febf6.jpg"}[/IMG2]
DIY ELR Target Cam with DVR - well proven 2000m+ 2 camera, multiple monitors - link below
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/forum/...vr#post6291944