Tripod connection...rail or saddle/vice?

[Far0]

Making a tripod purchase very soon and struggling with connection options. The tripod will be used for optics and multiple rifles (bolt and semi). None of the rifles are equipped with any form of connection yet. Is it wise to run a saddle and have the ability to run any rifle, or spend more money and equip the rifles with rails?

 

[Nik H]

I use rails versus vice but I run an AI so it is easy to get the proper rail for the chassis.

I also use it with my Anschutz but it is equipped with a pic rail so that is east too.

Really gives you a super tight connection

 

[ZY100]

Rail all the way....

When you want to start using the bipod for a lot of other things, (Spotter, LRF, Binos, $200 .22 rifle) you have a lot of flexibility. Also at that point some of the $6-$20 ARCA rail segments on Amazon have their potential use.

ZY

 

[Random_Scrub]

Rail all the way....

When you want to start using the bipod for a lot of other things, (Spotter, LRF, Binos, $200 .22 rifle) you have a lot of flexibility. Also at that point some of the $6-$20 ARCA rail segments on Amazon have their potential use.

ZY

Just a warning but the Amazon arca rail dimensions are all over the place.

 

[45cal4life]

I also went with the rail mount. Zero slop once the clamp is tightened. More $$$ up front but I'd say it's the better option

 

[ZY100]

Just a warning but the Amazon arca rail dimensions are all over the place.

Fully agree....thats valid and a good input. But when I put one on my kids $100 chipmunk 22 so we can use the tripod, it’s not a $150 RRS rail. Fortunately the $5 Amazon ones—for me—lock up just fine—for this application—
in the RRS leveling head.

You get what you pay for for the most part...just saying there are options for some lower end applications too.

ZY

 

[LawnMM]

Rail is more stable, less great at dealing with recoil

 

[Crazy1323]

Area 419 rail and a RRS clamp. 100% the way to go.

 

[MarinePMI]

If you have the time, rail all the way. For hunting, or fleeting targets, rail+abel table/tac table+bag. Either way. Get the rail option.

 

[300ATT]

Did both. Rail is significantly better. Get a Saddle or vice if you have guilt and feel the need to provide a platform for other shooters.

 

[Far0]

Overwhelming nod to the rail systems. So my follow-up question is do you reach deep in your pockets and outfit all your rifles with a rail? Meaning all the rifles you are going to shoot off the tripod. Or are most of you guys particularly talking just about a single rifle off the tripod. Say I want to use 2 or so bolt guns and a gas gun. Will a singular rail mfr make a system to cover different chassis, foreends, etc and not total the cost of another rifle?

 

[45cal4life]

I mounted a rail on the 3 rifles I'll shoot off it. At the same time, I went cheap on the rails and so far, all good

 

[acudaowner]

never struggle pick one try it , save money try the other or a few others make a derision come back and tell us which you like and why . this was either way you get to have fun and barbie gets a new accessory .

 

[Crazy1323]

I went with area 419 rails on 5 rifles. They can be mounted a lot of sifferent platforms. RRS also makes plates for a lot of different platforms.

 

[MarinePMI]

I have them on almost all my precision rifles (so I have quite a few rails). Most are pretty good quality (Sawttooth, JAE, RRS, KRG, etc.) For you, I'd say get the full rails for the bolt guns, and on the AR, just get a pic rail adapter (to RRS). Runs like $50 or something on RRS's website. Then you can swap it around to other AR's when needed...(assuming you're running a pic rail of some sort on the AR's).