Tripod Feedback and my Purchasing

[2A2Dend]

Howdy Folks.

I've wanted to buy a rifle tripod for ages. Funny thing, "I should have bought one during the Black Friday sales."

I'm thinking a BOG Deathgrip Infinite or Sherpa model, with the chassis/stock clamping ability is a good choice, and they are also in my price range. Your opinions are welcome.

Don't tell anyone. It will be a Christmas gift.

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[RockaRolla98]

The Sherpa would be a good choice if weight is a major consideration. It also has a removable center post IIRC. They also happen to be available for roughly 10% less depending on where you shop for tripods. Either way you can't really go wrong!

 

[ORhutner]

I would be looking for a deal on a Leofoto carbon fiber tripod bundled with your head of preference. I had a saddle style tripod head (hog saddle) and didn't care for it at all after trying some of the other options. I now prefer the RRS Anvil-30 head or the Leofoto copy of it with the rifle directly attached. If I am not running an Anvil-30 I am using a tac table with the anvil-30 and a quality shooting bag on top like an Armageddon gear Schmedium with heavy fill.

 

[sealine]

Another tripod to look at that's close to that price range. However, I think it's a way superior tripod over the BOG. IMHO, it's a higher quality tripod and you could upgrade the ballhead later if you felt the need.

If you can get over the price difference, the RRS Anvil-30 that @ORhutner mentioned is by far, one of the most solid shooting platforms, especially when paired with a quality tripod like a Two Vets, RRS, or Fatboy.

I run the Anvil-30 with a Two Vets tripod. Yeah, it costs a little more, but in my opinion, it's worth it. Especially if you're potentially using it for hunting, where a cheap ballhead doesn't allow you to completely steady the rifle causing you to miss or worse, wound an animal that runs off.

SCO-ALPHA Carbon fiber tripod kit. - Santa Claus Optics

FREE SCO T-shirt

santaclausoptics.com

 

[2A2Dend]

I would be looking for a deal on a Leofoto carbon fiber tripod bundled with your head of preference. I had a saddle style tripod head (hog saddle) and didn't care for it at all after trying some of the other options. I now prefer the RRS Anvil-30 head or the Leofoto copy of it with the rifle directly attached. If I am not running an Anvil-30 I am using a tac table with the anvil-30 and a quality shooting bag on top like an Armageddon gear Schmedium with heavy fill.

I looked into them earlier. They're nice. Also above my budget.

 

[2A2Dend]

Another tripod to look at that's close to that price range. However, I think it's a way superior tripod over the BOG. IMHO, it's a higher quality tripod and you could upgrade the ballhead later if you felt the need.

If you can get over the price difference, the RRS Anvil-30 that @ORhutner mentioned is by far, one of the most solid shooting platforms, especially when paired with a quality tripod like a Two Vets, RRS, or Fatboy.

I run the Anvil-30 with a Two Vets tripod. Yeah, it costs a little more, but in my opinion, it's worth it. Especially if you're potentially using it for hunting, where a cheap ballhead doesn't allow you to completely steady the rifle causing you to miss or worse, wound an animal that runs off.

SCO-ALPHA Carbon fiber tripod kit. - Santa Claus Optics

FREE SCO T-shirt

santaclausoptics.com

View attachment 1996765

I looked into all of these aswell. Again, not in my budget. Thanks.

 

[ORhutner]

I looked into them earlier. They're nice. Also above my budget.

What is your budget? I assumed it was in the $300 - $400 range as that seems to be what the BOG Infinite tripod you mentioned runs from a quick google search.

While you certainly don't need a RRS tripod to get a rock solid tripod shooting system there really isn't any free lunch either when it comes to tripods. The only caveat being is if you don't care about size or weight you can get a cheap surveyor's or laser level tripod that will be rock solid as cheap as $50 or less if you buy used off craigslist or FB Marketplace. I suppose it also comes down to what you want to do with the tripod. If all you want is a stable shooting platform to hit steel at 100 yards with then probably just about any tripod will do.

Now if you are wanting to group a rifle or engage targets at distance then rigidity and stability are key to minimizing movement. Proper shooting form is another critical component with use of a tripod. This is where the entry level tripods get left behind by the mid-tier and higher tripods. Rigidity and stability also are important factors if your going to use your tripod for other purposes such as glassing or if your spotting.

I mentioned Leofoto because they white label their tripods to a number of other well known tripod brands such as Two Vets, Leupold MK5, etc... If I was in your shoes and assuming your budget is in the $300 range, I would go with a Leofoto like this for $263: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1842419-REG/leofoto_ls_364cx_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

and a cheap chinese ball head (I didn't do any research just grabbed the first cheap reasonable looking example off amazon so do your own due diligence if you go this route) $49: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5WTPVH..._0?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aref=sRTBbINkGp&th=1

The cheap ball head would be to just get you by for a while as I would save a little bit and then upgrade your tripod head in the future to something like the Leofoto MA-40x or RRS Anvil 30. If you start with a quality tripod base from the start, you can upgrade your head at a later date when budget/funds permit.

 

[2A2Dend]

What is your budget? I assumed it was in the $300 - $400 range as that seems to be what the BOG Infinite tripod you mentioned runs from a quick google search.

While you certainly don't need a RRS tripod to get a rock solid tripod shooting system there really isn't any free lunch either when it comes to tripods. The only caveat being is if you don't care about size or weight you can get a cheap surveyor's or laser level tripod that will be rock solid as cheap as $50 or less if you buy used off craigslist or FB Marketplace. I suppose it also comes down to what you want to do with the tripod. If all you want is a stable shooting platform to hit steel at 100 yards with then probably just about any tripod will do.

Now if you are wanting to group a rifle or engage targets at distance then rigidity and stability are key to minimizing movement. Proper shooting form is another critical component with use of a tripod. This is where the entry level tripods get left behind by the mid-tier and higher tripods. Rigidity and stability also are important factors if your going to use your tripod for other purposes such as glassing or if your spotting.

I mentioned Leofoto because they white label their tripods to a number of other well known tripod brands such as Two Vets, Leupold MK5, etc... If I was in your shoes and assuming your budget is in the $300 range, I would go with a Leofoto like this for $263: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1842419-REG/leofoto_ls_364cx_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

and a cheap chinese ball head (I didn't do any research just grabbed the first cheap reasonable looking example off amazon so do your own due diligence if you go this route) $49: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5WTPVH..._0?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aref=sRTBbINkGp&th=1

The cheap ball head would be to just get you by for a while as I would save a little bit and then upgrade your tripod head in the future to something like the Leofoto MA-40x or RRS Anvil 30. If you start with a quality tripod base from the start, you can upgrade your head at a later date when budget/funds permit.

This is stretching my budget. I don't necessarily have a need for the 60Lb capacity.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1843664-REG/leofoto_sa_364cx_mk_40x_gs_3_sa_364cx_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

 

[WAYNO]

deleted...

 

[2A2Dend]

I also found this one? I like the price.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1843649-REG/leofoto_sa_324clx_mk_40x_gs_3_sa_324clx_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

 

[2A2Dend]

There are many surveyors tri-pods available for less than $100, even on Amazon. I had one and it worked well. The only thing, you'll have to decide what kind of cradle you'll want, either home made or purchased. Mine had a simple shovel hanger installed.

My goal is to buy once and not fark around. For as much as I could "piece" things together, I'd rather not. I want it to serve the purpose when received.

 

[Ginocide]

The BOG deathgrip is good to go. They also sell separate tripod heads if you already have a tripod body that you like; you can essentially frankenstein yourself a great tripod by using separate components for the legs, the ball tightener (my nomenclature is failing me here), and the head.

 

[ORhutner]

This is stretching my budget. I don't necessarily have a need for the 60Lb capacity.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1843664-REG/leofoto_sa_364cx_mk_40x_gs_3_sa_364cx_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

The only significance the weight rating on a tripod has for those of us who are going to utilize it for a stable shooting platform is as a rating to its stability and rigidity. The higher the weight rating, the more stable and rigid the tripod is going to be. Why does this matter? The less rigid and stable tripods, especially when you put a heavy rifle on it, will flex. This flexing makes it feel like you have springs counteracting your efforts to minimize the movement of your rifle.

I was lucky enough to get to try out most of the top carbon fiber tripods and heads two years ago before I bought my current setups. I initially had a nice Manfroto carbon fiber tripod with a hog saddle and thought it was ok. Once I tried out the options from RRS, Leofoto, Two Vets and Leupold with various ball heads I couldn't go back to my old setup. I ended up with a RRS with anvil-30 head and a Leofoto SA-364X+MA-40x which is basically just the Leofoto knockoff of the RRS tripod I got. The RRS is my primary shooting tripod and the Leofoto is my primary spotting tripod but I switch both around regularly as someone in our long range shooting group will often be borrowing/using one or the other while were on the range. I have zero regrets with either purchase.

I personally do not care for the saddle style mounts. If I am using a rifle I don't want to rigid mount via pic rail or arca rail then I will use my tac table with a shooting bag on top. I have actually found myself using the tac table with shooting bag much more as I feel I get an even more stable shooting posiition.

FYI: Leofoto is still having their black friday sale with the coupon BF24 that gives you 20% off and the site says shipping is free in the US.

 

[2A2Dend]

@ORhutner thanks for explaining the capacity. Makes sense. I'm currently looking at the Leophoto website.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

I woudl go with arca Swiss mount. They are awesome.

If you get a ball head get one with high weight rating. Sirui makes great ones that aren't too much. If you get a gimble there is a knockoff one for $60 that is great (see video below).

As far as tripod don't limit it to guns. If you want really heavy will never move a surveying tripod will work. In the camera world people use these for astro photography which has really high demands for stability. They are really heavy though. Second most stable is a good carbon fiber tripod. 3rd is aluminum.

This gimbal setup below was $60 for new gimble head, $10 for arca Swiss plate (it's just velcroed to cheap .22 for the piss of it) and $35 for the used tripod. For those unfamiliar with gimbals you can lock it down so it won't move. or you can unlock to allow for stabilized movement as shown in the video. I use the same gimbal for photographing birds in flight. For a real gun application (not like this video) you would put an arca Swiss plate on the gun that would mate to the arca Swiss quick detach mount on the ball head or gimbal.

If you just go with death grip type head instead of arca Swiss (I wouldn't recommend it) there is an amazon knockoff that's just as good if not better for way cheaper cost.

FullSizeRender.MOV

• ilikegunspdx
• Jan 1, 2023

 

[2A2Dend]

I ordered the ST-364CX with the ARCA/Pic head, 3-piece leg wraps and two ARCA Adapters for my KRG Bravos.

 

[Caveman Jim]

+1 for the BOG Deathgrip, love mine!!!
Sorry that I did not read the whole thread so I will ask you if you prefer the clamp or the picatinny attachment?
I have the clamp version that is rock solid with an aluminum free float rail.
In the pic I had a basic bushmaster rifle with plastic forearms and had to squish it perty tight to hold on its own.

 

[2A2Dend]

+1 for the BOG Deathgrip, love mine!!!
Sorry that I did not read the whole thread so I will ask you if you prefer the clamp or the picatinny attachment?
I have the clamp version that is rock solid with an aluminum free float rail.
In the pic I had a basic bushmaster rifle with plastic forearms and had to squish it perty tight to hold on its own.

View attachment 1997948

Hey there. I recognize that background. I strongly considered the Bog Deathgrip, then I found where people were upgrading the head. Next thing I knew, I drifted into other brands. Leophoto nabbed me.

 

[Caveman Jim]

Thanks for the information, I may just stay with the head I have in the BOG, it works for now.