What Tripod head get

[RWSGunsmithing]

Purchased a tripod last week and now I'm having a hard time deciding/finding a tripod head for it.

1- Has to be able to support a 13lb rifle plus some for added recoil and me holding it. So the way I'm looking at is at least 18lbs. I plan to run a hog or pig saddle with it as well as a spotter.

2- The physical size of the unit is also a concern as is the weight of the unit, as I've seen some weigh as much as the tripod itself. I plan on occasionally packing it around.

3- Easy/fine tune adjustments. I would like to be able to fine tune a spotter. I played with one in TN this year that had what I think was a manfrotto ball head on it and with the weight of the spotter made it difficult to to do minor adjustments.

Any suggestions and pictures of your set up is always appreciated.

 

[AMTeam4]

I think the best tripod head on the market is the Manfrotto 054 Magnesium Ball Head. It's rated for 22+ lbs and is super smooth when transitioning to multiple targets.
The tension adjustment knob gradually adjusts the tension, instead of the on/off tension experience a cheaper ball head will give. I leave my 054 head on about 80% tension and don't mess with it afterwards.

That being said, many users of the HOG/PIG Saddles are beginning to abandon the use of heads and are mounting the saddles directly to the tripod. Not ideal for spotting but works just as well with a rifle. Worth trying out. You might safe some money.

 

[DIBBS]

Thanks for the recommendation. Which quick release system are folks running with this?

 

[AMTeam4]

Most people are using the Q2 Quick Release system. 054 Magnesium Ball Head With Q2 Quick Release MH054M0-Q2 - 054 Series | Manfrotto

The head I personally use doesn't have a QD plate. The saddle threads directly to the head. My Leupold Mk4 spotting scope fits in the HOG/PIG Saddle so I don't need the QD option.