i've done it, and also used a theodolite, as well as a spotting scope- all different scopes for different jobs- with the rifle scope mounted on the tripod,i found while it was light and mobile, it was also more subject to vibration and developed a sore neck very quickly- and this was with a geodesic tripod,(survey) not a camera tripod- it's really quite more substantial - like x3- the best compromise i found was to mount the spotting scope on a camera tripod and you gain much more magnification and light gathering- far more than the average riflescope