PRS Tripods

C

Chaos

Member
Rating - 100%
19   0   0
Location
East Central Alberta
Hoping this is the right spot for this question. I have been researching on youtube the many options for PRS tripods - aluminum vs carbon, going ballhead vs none, hog saddle, etc. Can the CGN folks who use one recommend something? Can you get a QD attachment for a rail connection? While I am tossing around some participation in PRS style matches, I am also looking for my hunting applications.

Thanks in advance for any responses!
CHAOS
 
Check out the Really Right Stuff tripods if your looking into getting one super expensive but that's most of the PRS guys are using

I don't like the idea of tripods though I would rather keep it simple and just practice fundamentals

Before you go buy one maybe check out a few matches see if you would even want one after and I'm sure someone will let you check out theirs
 
Good point, hope to check out some of the Edson matches, from the hunting perspective, really like being able to sit with the rig locked into the tripod. I have a Bog, but there is still lots of error when stretching it out. Thanks.
 
Nordic Marksman has everything that you are seeking. There is a good discussion thread on the Nordic Marksman forum about the Carbon-Fibre PRST Tripod versus the Shadow Tech (eg. HOG Saddle) branded Aluminum Slik Tripod. Bottom line is that the PRST at $500(+) is a better deal for price and features than the Manfrotto Carbon Fibre offerings. Tbe Aluminum Shadow Tech Tripod is half the price of the PRST and aside from the materials offers all of the same features including a large load rating.

The decision regarding a Ball-head versus a Direct-Mount, versus a Levelling Base is the biggest choice with the bradest selection that you must make regarding your set-up. Personally, I go with a Levelling Base beacause it does everything that a Ball-Head does, excepting extreme angle shots. You can still make those occasional high-angle shots by adjusting your Tripod lEGS. The Levelling Base gives you 15 degrees of cant, which is plenty for most situations. The primary sdvantage of the Levelling Base over a Ball Head is stability of the rifle and better control over adjustments. But that's just me, and for every fan of Levelling Bases there are a dozen fans of Ball Heads. Or Direct Mounts. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages.

Your best bet aside from an expensive "Buy and Try" of each system, is to spectate a PRS-style match like the "Got Your Six" PTSD Charity Shoot at CHAS Gennessee Range near Edmonton this coming summer. There you can see competitors actually running the various systems and most are only too happy to discuss their choices and why. Attendance at a match also gives you a chance to rub shoulders with other shooters to discuss calibres, actions, stocks, optics, bipods, Kestrels, Ballistic Computers, and everything else under the sun. Most competitors will happily do a show and tell on their rigs and support equipment during down-time, and will even let you rtake a comparative look through their optics to give you a better idea of what is out there and what people are actually using. You can learn a great deal just watching and listening to the many conversations.

Just some food for thought. I shoot off a tripod because I am in a wheelchair and the system works for me. As an able-bodied shooter YMMV of course, but for long-range hunting they are just the ticket offering vastly-improved stability over other aides such as shooting sticks.
 
For actual PRS use, tripods are of pretty limited use. Stage time limits make it so that you never actually use a tripod as it's intended. The most you'll do is use it as rear support and that, if time limits are generous.

For field matches (like the Rifleman's Team Challenge, for instance) tripods are invaluable. Generally stages are blind and often organized in such a way that you can't see the targets from prone so you end up using your tripod a ton (and more often than not, having to set it up on the clock). The most inexpensive but effective setup is a Slik 700 with the ballhead or levelling head of your choice and a Pig Saddle. I ran that for a year of matches. I recently upgraded to a PRST only because I got a screaming deal on it from a buddy. It's more durable/tough and lighter than the Slik but no more stable. I also recently put a RRS (arca) dovetail on my rifle and direct mount it to the ballhead instead of using a saddle. It takes some of the slop out of the system. I'm planning on upgrading to the new RRS Anvil 30 ballhead when it becomes available as it is light, simple and includes a qr clamping mechanism that connects to both RRS(arca) rails and picatinny rails. Since all my rifles either have a RRS or a pic rail on the bottom, that's pretty practical for me.
 
I changed from a Gitzo ball head that was pretty solid to a RRS levelling base and due to fortunate circumstances RRS had a Arca mount for my rifle. What that did is lower my rifle by 4" and puts me closer to the CG (center of Gravity) Dave is right, you lose some of the flexibility but in my case I gained a lot of stability. With a sling from the front of the rifle through the tripod to the stock I can minimize the movement a great deal.

There is no perfect setup for every shot. Sometimes you will be better with the ball head. Sometimes you will be better with the levelling base. The trick is to know what the right decision is before you get to the line. Experience is the only thing I can think of that will help you make the right call.

Hog/pig saddles are great when you need them and they will serve you well. They are not the only answer. Get one and go shoot. You might find you should have used a table attachment and a game changer on your tripod for the last stage rather than the hog saddle. It is what the competitions are about.

I shoot 3000 rounds a year and compete against guys that shoot 10000 rounds a year. Gear is not the limiting factor, rounds are...
 
Magoo22 said:
I changed from a Gitzo ball head that was pretty solid to a RRS levelling base and due to fortunate circumstances RRS had a Arca mount for my rifle. What that did is lower my rifle by 4" and puts me closer to the CG (center of Gravity) Dave is right, you lose some of the flexibility but in my case I gained a lot of stability. With a sling from the front of the rifle through the tripod to the stock I can minimize the movement a great deal.

There is no perfect setup for every shot. Sometimes you will be better with the ball head. Sometimes you will be better with the levelling base. The trick is to know what the right decision is before you get to the line. Experience is the only thing I can think of that will help you make the right call.

Hog/pig saddles are great when you need them and they will serve you well. They are not the only answer. Get one and go shoot. You might find you should have used a table attachment and a game changer on your tripod for the last stage rather than the hog saddle. It is what the competitions are about.

I shoot 3000 rounds a year and compete against guys that shoot 10000 rounds a year. Gear is not the limiting factor, rounds are...
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the advice gang, well noted. Will be getting out to catch some PRS in AB this summer!
 
Tony1320 said:
Where is everyone getting the bullets lol Bergers are dried up everywhere
Click to expand...

I shoot Hornady and SMK for most of my practice. 175 Berger for matches so far. I only have 700 of them left and not sure what will be available from there.

The 178 ELDM at a 1/3 less is likely what I will shoot in the future. I buy big quantities when they are on sale. Not an Accountant so I don't mind keeping inventory.
 
rugbyDave and Magoo22 know what they are talking about.

I started dong RTC and PRS last year. I had a decent manfotto aluminum tripod and a manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ball Head for my spotting scope so I got the Pig Saddle for my rifle when I started the RTC/PRS events. I thought that would be good enough, wow was I wrong.

The Manfrotto aluminum tripod was too weak/sloppy, so that was the first to go. My RTC partner bought the Nordic Marksmand Carbon Fiber tripod, that stiffened things up a lot.

Next dealing with the pig saddle in competition was too cumbersome, took too much time, and would get progressively looser grip with every shot (not such a big deal for a hunter, who only takes a shot or 2). So we mounted the manfrotto RC2 quick release plate to the rifle directly. This made is quicker and easier the get on and off and it wouldn't twist or move after the shot like it did in the pig saddle.

Next the head was our most sloppy part. I was lucky and won a APO RSTA-II tripod anvil head. This thing is a tank, the head had no flex in it, completely solid and awesome piece of kit. But the problem was the manfrotto RC2 connecting plate had lots of slop in it. Loved the APO RSTA-II head but the RC2 connecter had to go.

I needed to switch to the Arca Swiss connector, the RC2 is just to sloppy. So I found a used RRS CF 3 series tripod with a RRS BH-55 head and RRS Arcs Swiss QD on eBay for a great price. Picked that up and it's way way stiffer then anything else I've run so far. We mounted Arca Swiss QD plates on the bottom of the rifles, much much stiffer. 400m standing @8" plate is an easy shot.

We also mounted an Arca Swiss QD clamp on a old manfrotto head and put that on the Nordic Marksman Carbon fibre tripod. We use that when we need both rifles mounted to tripods at the same time. It works fairly well, the manfrotto head has the majority of the movement but we can hit 8" plates at 400m from standing, just takes a bit more work.

The RRS CF 3 series tripod is stiffer then the Nordic Markman CF tripod, but I'm not sure it's worth all the extra money (especially if you buy new).

The Nordic Marksman CF tripod with a cheaper manfrotto head and a Arca Swiss clamp on the head with the Arca Swiss QD plate attached directly to the rifle we found to be the best stiffness/$$$ spent. The ball heads get really expensive and we found the clamp (RC2 vs Acra Swiss) and the tripod (aluminum vs CF) had a bigger influence on stability then the tripod head does.

I'd say Arca Swiss adapter with the QD plate mounted directly to the rifle is #1 best money spent.
Second would be a good solid tripod.
Third would be a tripod head.
 
Hello

I am looking for advice and guidance to get a good quality and affordable shooting tripod for long range shooting in practical hunting conditions. I have seen a few pictures of nice rifle setups on this board that show a mounted base plate on a rifle the slips into a matching receiving plate on a tripod and is locked in. It appears to have a swivel and up and down vertical range of movement capability. I do not even know how much these tripods cost ... or where to get one.
 
Carbon12 said:
Hello

I am looking for advice and guidance to get a good quality and affordable shooting tripod for long range shooting in practical hunting conditions. I have seen a few pictures of nice rifle setups on this board that show a mounted base plate on a rifle the slips into a matching receiving plate on a tripod and is locked in. It appears to have a swivel and up and down vertical range of movement capability. I do not even know how much these tripods cost ... or where to get one.
Click to expand...

For value, look at Leofoto Carbon fiber tripods.

You can pick up the L324 Ranger series with a ARCA ball head for around $600.00.
I bought one through Go Big Tactical and have been very happy with it.
 
this guy has some of the best prices in canada for leofoto. I am running the 364 and love it. Definitely not a have to have piece of equipment for shooting with but is nice to have. Use mine a lot for spotting but still heavy enough to shot off of. Actually use it as a stage prop for most matches I run. The 364 has held up well.

https://prophotographygear.com/coll...gIlGYnecbzJedyGqXmGzmCdIMSMhfh6gLxcreS8gd8vSE


cheers
Ryan
 
Ryan_mcle said:
this guy has some of the best prices in canada for leofoto. I am running the 364 and love it. Definitely not a have to have piece of equipment for shooting with but is nice to have. Use mine a lot for spotting but still heavy enough to shot off of. Actually use it as a stage prop for most matches I run. The 364 has held up well.

https://prophotographygear.com/coll...gIlGYnecbzJedyGqXmGzmCdIMSMhfh6gLxcreS8gd8vSE


cheers
Ryan
Click to expand...

We have these too, and will always be competitive on price. It's always good to support business that support the sport, right Ryan?
 
Skullboy said:
For value, look at Leofoto Carbon fiber tripods.

You can pick up the L324 Ranger series with a ARCA ball head for around $600.00.
I bought one through Go Big Tactical and have been very happy with it.
Click to expand...

Thank you Skullboy for that information. I now have a reliable place to start my research.
 
Check out the Innorel tripods on Amazon. They get good reviews from the photo community. I picked up an RT-85c with a 44 mm ball head for 250$ on Amazon.

51oMPYstcbL._AC_SY400_.jpg
Has 32mm legs and rated at 55lbs. They also make a 40mm model rated for 88lbs. Hoping it will hold my rifle, if not should still be ok for my spotter.
 

Attachments

  • 51oMPYstcbL._AC_SY400_.jpg
    51oMPYstcbL._AC_SY400_.jpg
    28.4 KB · Views: 260
For 250$ shipped I'm impressed.
Included the ball head and a table top tripod.
Holds my rig with no issues. See how it holds up with some field use. Got it in 5 days via DHL.
IMG-20190820-195908.jpg
I
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom