Arca rails on hunting rigs
- Thread starter redneck09
- Start date
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
I have been fooling around with this concept for a while and have come to prefer a 4-6" ARCA rail out front.
Less snaggy than a pic rail and easier to keep clean.
Rides a bag or improvised front rest better, and can slide into a bipod or tripod as required...
This video changed how approach shooting from a tripod
Still my go-to seems to be seated of shooting sticks though
Less snaggy than a pic rail and easier to keep clean.
Rides a bag or improvised front rest better, and can slide into a bipod or tripod as required...
This video changed how approach shooting from a tripod
Still my go-to seems to be seated of shooting sticks though
ScottMisfits
CGN Regular
I have arca rails on pretty much everything. I have my bipod, and my tripod. Coming from the comp shooting I have a plate with a sand bag that is great for fence posts or downed limbs. Granted, I almost never take that plate hunting, mainly due to weight.
The other thing it gives you is a nice, flat, wide surface. I have a smaller shooting back, filled with really light fill, the MDT Peanut Lite, which has many purposes while out hunting. Front rest on a fence or tree, rear rest when shooting prone, under your arm as a spacer if shooting standing, a kneeling pad if you're shooting from a nasty ground situation, etc.
In short, yes, arca rails are worth it to me.
The other thing it gives you is a nice, flat, wide surface. I have a smaller shooting back, filled with really light fill, the MDT Peanut Lite, which has many purposes while out hunting. Front rest on a fence or tree, rear rest when shooting prone, under your arm as a spacer if shooting standing, a kneeling pad if you're shooting from a nasty ground situation, etc.
In short, yes, arca rails are worth it to me.
100% I use one.
I bought a 3" one on amazon that works flawlessly.
Obviously it depends on your bipod but if you use an ARCA bipod (I use an MDT GRND POD) , then why wouldn't you want to have an arca rail on your rifle?
I hve mine right at the front for a bipod so i wouldnt want to use it on a tripod.
On some of my chassis, i have arca just for’ard of the magwell. That runs well off a tripod. Most of those are in the heavy aide for hunting but Ive done it.
I bought a 3" one on amazon that works flawlessly.
Obviously it depends on your bipod but if you use an ARCA bipod (I use an MDT GRND POD) , then why wouldn't you want to have an arca rail on your rifle?
I hve mine right at the front for a bipod so i wouldnt want to use it on a tripod.
On some of my chassis, i have arca just for’ard of the magwell. That runs well off a tripod. Most of those are in the heavy aide for hunting but Ive done it.
I have the same on two rifles. Works great. No complaints.
Think it depends on what type of hunting you like to do. I have lots of arca rails laying about from my PRS rifles and all the bipods, etc... but for hunting I like walking around in the bush and the last thing I want is something cold on my rifle adding weight. If I want extra support for a shot, there are trees around. That being said, if I was sitting above a clearing or in a blind with a tripod it would likely be worth it it to me! One day, I will likely get a carbon fibre stock and at that point I will likely get one with an arca rail built in as it will address my concerns... but that is a couple years down the road, haha!
ScottMisfits
CGN Regular
I realized in my post that I didn't say which ones I'm using.
If the stock has M Lok, such as my MDT Field Stock, I am using the 10.1" full length arca rail.
If the stock doesn't have M Lok, I'm using the AREA 419 rail, both that I have are the ones with the barricade stop.
I picked up the MDT LSS Gen 3, in the Worker configuration. I am putting the 3.3" rail on that one since it has a VERY short fore end, but I still want bipod/tripod compatibility.
If the stock has M Lok, such as my MDT Field Stock, I am using the 10.1" full length arca rail.
If the stock doesn't have M Lok, I'm using the AREA 419 rail, both that I have are the ones with the barricade stop.
I picked up the MDT LSS Gen 3, in the Worker configuration. I am putting the 3.3" rail on that one since it has a VERY short fore end, but I still want bipod/tripod compatibility.
Give the SRS arca/pic rail a look. It fits rounded hunting stocks and only weights an ounce. It mounted towards the front of the stock so no issues with your hands getting cold.
Nice! I have mounted a small, flat rail to a cheap Hogue stock before and that worked well. This curved unit would work well on one of my wood stocks, I would just need to get the courage to mount some threaded inserts. I have done that on a flat forend wood stock before.
I have a hard time finding places to use a bipod. The areas that I hunt don’t have a lot of them. When I do I usually lay down my pack and shoot off of it with a rear bag. I can shoot almost as good as off a bench in this position.
I was thinking of using a tripod while sitting still. For hunting I have imposed a limit on my shooting of 300 yards. I can hit consistently off of trekking poles at that distance but sometimes it’s nice to get surgical and make a guaranteed perfect shot.
My concerns are if I have to take it out of the tripod and shoot quick. Will it be slow? Will it be loud? Then there is the chance of snagging, the extra weight and that thing rubbing on me and my equipment when I pack it around for miles. Good to hear people are using them and liking them.
I was thinking of using a tripod while sitting still. For hunting I have imposed a limit on my shooting of 300 yards. I can hit consistently off of trekking poles at that distance but sometimes it’s nice to get surgical and make a guaranteed perfect shot.
My concerns are if I have to take it out of the tripod and shoot quick. Will it be slow? Will it be loud? Then there is the chance of snagging, the extra weight and that thing rubbing on me and my equipment when I pack it around for miles. Good to hear people are using them and liking them.
