Tripod question

TC338

TC338

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Sep 13, 2015
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Location
Central Oklahoma
Is it worth stepping up to an ARCA style tripod and mount over something like a hog saddle? I've got the clamp style tripod for my son, but I'm wondering if I would be better served in my own long range shooting with the other style. What experience can you guys share?
 
The method in which the rifle or accessories clamp isn't a big deal. The arca is just more standard.

If you've been to a PRS match, you'll see us with a tripod and a tree of gear on a tray. That will have our spotters stuff, kestrels, rangefinder etc which all fits on a adapters usually ARCA.

That said, the HOG or PIG is just fine. Many have went through sniper school with those. We've proven them in combat. They work A ok for simply hunting. Go whatever way you want.
 
dfanonymous said:
The method in which the rifle or accessories clamp isn't a big deal. The arca is just more standard.

If you've been to a PRS match, you'll see us with a tripod and a tree of gear on a tray. That will have our spotters stuff, kestrels, rangefinder etc which all fits on a adapters usually ARCA.

That said, the HOG or PIG is just fine. Many have went through sniper school with those. We've proven them in combat. They work A ok for simply hunting. Go whatever way you want.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info. Have you seen any difference in stability between the two systems in your personal use?
 
TC338 said:
Thank you for the info. Have you seen any difference in stability between the two systems in your personal use?
Click to expand...
Stability is more a question of the tripod head and tripod base. The ARCA would be more mechanically connected since its metal to metal caming that holds the weight vs a single thread with spring tension. That said, again, the HOG is battle tested. It's not like it's fragile.

It's not something that really talked about, but the head needs to be able to handle the total weight of the rig plus and loading you put on the rifle. That's where you get out the slop.

Then of course the base needs to have stability too.
 
I recently picked up a Little Crow kit to make mods to mine. I am getting ready to put it to use. There are videos of the change on their site. The main reason was the better panning ability and uneven ground set up that it will give for shooting running hogs. The head has adapters that convert the original head to ARCA which makes it pretty versatile. Now it will clamp ARCA, pig or picatinny.
 
I personally would focus more on my shooting technique for steadying the rear stock for standing and sitting/kneeling shots via a mono pod or your pack. In most "real world" situations, the target is subject to moving after initial set-up so you have to have the ability to make immediate POA adjustments and then re-establish your hold.
 
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This has proven to me to work much better than a vise style like the Hog saddle, I have an RRS that is like the other vise clamp units that will work well on guns without rails, just not as well as Arca rails with a quality head and tripod. I modified my 55 RRS ball head by flipping it upside down, which in my opinion makes it better for panning, as the tripod can be in any un-level position. Just set up the tripod, level the rifle using the ball head and scope level, and you can pan on the horizontal plain.
 

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If you have a bog with the clamp you can get a ball head and arca conversion that includes an arca attachment for the clamp. It's a good compromise so you don't have to add an arca plate to all your rifles. Having a ball head makes a world of difference. I happen to be sitting in the blind with my son now and have both in front of me.
 

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TC338 said:
Is it worth stepping up to an ARCA style tripod and mount over something like a hog saddle? I've got the clamp style tripod for my son, but I'm wondering if I would be better served in my own long range shooting with the other style. What experience can you guys share?
Click to expand...
All we use here is arca. Buddy had a hog and it was ok. Sold it
 
For a shooting tripod setup, its important that the shooter not
lose the target due to the recoil of the gun, even with the heavy recoil types.
And thats especially true in wooded terrain, and when hunting alone with no one spotting shots for you.
Allowing the gun to slide rearward during recoil is necessary in order to eliminate excessive muzzel movement during recoil.

A ball head can be a drawback at times due to the possibility of the gun tilting to the side when loosening the tension on the ball.
Up/down and traverse are the only movements of the muzzel required when shooting and followingan animal.
Leveling can be accomplished with the tripod legs.
Pinning of the ball eliminates the flopping to the side, but many of the pot metal ball heads wont permit that.
 
TC338 said:
Is it worth stepping up to an ARCA style tripod and mount over something like a hog saddle? I've got the clamp style tripod for my son, but I'm wondering if I would be better served in my own long range shooting with the other style. What experience can you guys share?
Click to expand...
I do not want to assume anything, but if you are referring to the BOG Death Grip Tripod and already have it, IIRC, @FNA3G, a site sponsor, make an adapter for it if you want to upgrade from the clamp set-up.

ADDED:

I found it: https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/bog-deathgrip-tripod-ball-head-kit.365099/
 
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I've had very good success with RRS tripods and their Anvil ball head which is Arca. Almost all my rifles have an ARCA plate. I also have a HOG saddle. The metal version of the saddle is well made and sturdy but I much prefer the Anvil/Arca plate. I like the arca setup enough that I swapped out a Manners ultralight classic stock for a Manners EH1 on my favorite rifle because the former couldn't take an Arca plate. My range finder, binoculars and spotting scope all are Arca compatible as well.

The RRS gear is expensive but I have yet to hear complaints about it beyond the price.
 

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