Manfrotto Review
I have M190 and M055 both aluminum, 3 sections. For me there is no functional difference, I can run the .300WM(24) off either which is the heaviest gun I run off the Manfrottos. Empty (Barrel, action, chassis) is 15 pounds. Field weight is 20-23 pounds depending on day/night setups.
I also often use the 6.5G(18) of the Manfrottos.
6.5G(18) on the left on M190 and .300WM(24) on the right on M055.
THe 6.5G(18) is on 322rc2 head, the .300WM(24) is on RSTA (APO) Head. I've relegated the RTSA to the parts box because the lock/unlock mechanism no longer works. I got a second 322rc2 head.
When standing I push down on the top of the gun with my support hand and pull in to my shoulder with the pistol grip. With about 0-8 MPH wind, standing shooting 12x24 silhouoettes (ISPC-D) at 500yds or under has gotten boring ... day or night .. clang, clang, clang. I get 100% on most 5-10rd strings. Average is around 95% over past 9 months.
Now from 10-15 MPH and 600yds plus it gets harder for me ... more wobble with more wind ... moving me around ... seeing 12 inches of wobble on both sides of the steel and must time the shot. Averaging around 50% hit rate above 600yds from 10-15 MPH.
The farthest I've tried with these set ups is 700yds, I've only shot 3 rds and got 2 hits, that was 9 MPH, but was very consistent.
The only issue I've had with the Manfrottos is the second 322rc-2 head does not retain tension. I tighten the "friction" knob as much as I can and it gets better, but then soon it slips and gets loose. Nothing has fallen over, but the other head works way better, very tight. Maybe I got a lemon.
The manfrottos are portable. I got a carry bag from APO that is nice and it can tie in to MOLLE. I've done a recent practice creek walk where I walk in my woods and creeks up and down the hills and creek banks ... and then setup ... deploy the tripod and scan about, then pack up and move again. Not a problem to carry, setup, take down in rough terrain.
I've used these for zeroing and while not as tight as prone, very usable. It is tough to find 100yd flat spots with clear line of fire and safe backstop during some periods during the year.
I use McRee pic rail interfaces on all three of my rifles I shoot off these tripods. I also have 2 PIG saddles I use for zeroing my three carbines and .22LR.
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Spec-Rest Review
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I got the Spec Rest for the .50BMG(32). At 32 pounds, this tripod is heavy. It has a "gross" elevation adjustment knob which you loosen to adjust elevation and tighten when done. There is also a "fine" elevation adjustment dial.
For deflection, there is a lock/unlock lever. Functionally this is similar to the M3 tripods we used with the M2s in the Army I was in.
The Spec-Rest tripod however is designed for use standing only. There is a $300 add on, a quad-pod, that you can use for sitting.
I started off like this, with the magnetospeed.
The first two shots, the gun came "out of battery" ... and had I not been pushing down, would've jumped itself on to the ground. After some noodling, I decided to remove the bipod and slide the yoke into the chassis slot for the bipod. This worked well, significantly less felt recoil. Now the tripod was transmitting much of the recoil to the ground. And no "out of battery".
Next problem was the groups were too wide. I decided on a new strategy for aiming.
I would first aim with the tripod 100% unloaded. Lock in the elevation and deflection without me touching any part of the gun or tripod other than the levers. This process would lock in a neutral position for the gun/tripod part of the firing system.
THEN, I would load the gun/tripod. Loading is necessary to help take the recoil, because the yoke system does not provide a hard mount. Loading with the shooter shifts the system out of the neutral position established by locking in the gun/tripod. So by loading, I was muscling out of NP but the goal then was to muscle back to the same NP that was locked in. Doing this before firing dramatically tightened up the groups. For bones only prone shooting of normal bolt guns, I was taught, first establilsh NP and then shoot. Essentially I was doing exactly that with the .50VBMG, the SPec-rest and the shooter. It is just that the Spec-Rest is now a very critical component of the firing system and has significant input into the NP of the system, so it should be locked in first. One effect of this sort of activity, is that it dramatically reduces the aimed rate of fire of the system.
The third issue is shooting from side of hill. I live in the Flint Hills of Kansas. And around here we have lots of hills! The guy who I talked to at Lone Star Field Productions (who sell the Spec-Rest) told me to "put one leg to the rear". I replied I had been taught to put 2 legs to the rear. He said "try it". I have been using 2 legs to the rear and so far, so good. He had also said, "recoil will feel like a .300WM off the Spec-Rest, when shooting a .50BMG". Well, I'm shoot my .300WM off manfrotto and shooting the .50BMG off spec-rest definitely was different. But my .300WM is heavy. Maybe he shoots a light one.
So when shooting the .50BMG off the side of a hill on the spec-rest with 2 legs back, the tripod tries to "jump" down the hill under recoil. I've also noticed that .30 cal plus rifles I am shooting prone bipod try to jump down hill under recoil off side of hill. By repositioning the spec-rest legs to better support the downhill effect, I hope to be able to slightly mitigate the downhill jump. Haven't tried this yet.
Spec-Rest also sells a quad pod module that only works from sitting position but the guy says is "sub moa". I want to try that. I'd say I am about 2 moa now. Which is useful out to 500yds but not to ELR distances. Our ELR stage is 1200-2400yds.
A side benefit of the spec-rest is that it is gREAT for zeroing other rifles. Almost eliminates need to go prone. And around here, going prone is not that easy. So I now have far more shots off the spec-rest zeroing 5.56(18), 6.5(18) and .300WM(24). I switch ammo between hunting and target shooting and for inventory management, so I am rezeroing often.
With the .50BMG, the spec rest does not allow observation of the hit/miss. The tripod moves under recoil and the firing system is no longer on target. The whole NP aiming process needs to be followed to get back on target. No rapid follow up capability with the .50BMG on there in my experience.