Carbon Fiber Tripod - Recommend me a setup

[BrentM]

Here is the weight of mine. Hard to beat this. I killed a yote at 1124 a couple weeks ago off this tripod and my bp for rear support. Was able to watch the trace and impact.

 

[Sending156s]

I am curious to know what you guys recommend for a packable carbon fiber tripod for hunting Elk, Mule Deer, etc, in rugged conditions.

I would like to buy one soon to start practicing off of this Spring / Summer.

Also, what QD system, if any, do you recommend to switch between mounting optics and the rifle on the tripod.

I want to get a nice one and don't want to regret what I buy.

Thanks for the conversation, in advance.

You best bet is to do like old military shooters did. Learn how to shoot your rifle using what nature provides as a support. The main standby you always have your backpack to use. Get away from all the gadgets and concentrate on becoming a shooter.
if you shoot different loads ..... stop it. Find one load that has a low es / sd that will accomplish your main objective and only shoot it. Learn to read wind. Your Kestrel is only good at your position. Let it supplement it with reading that cross canyon wind.

 

[BrentM]

You best bet is to do like old military shooters did. Learn how to shoot your rifle using what nature provides as a support. The main standby you always have your backpack to use. Get away from all the gadgets and concentrate on becoming a shooter.
if you shoot different loads ..... stop it. Find one load that has a low es / sd that will accomplish your main objective and only shoot it. Learn to read wind. Your Kestrel is only good at your position. Let it supplement it with reading that cross canyon wind.

Well that's a bit arrogant. Just because someone wants a tripod does not in any way make them a lesser shooter. Tripods are extremely versatile for western hunters not just for shooting. We use tripods extensively for glassing, spotters, and camera work. It's a tool that is much more versatile that just a bp and shooting various positions especially in open western slopes covered in grass or sage.

 

[mercerbear]

Here is the weight of mine. Hard to beat this. I killed a yote at 1124 a couple weeks ago off this tripod and my bp for rear support. Was able to watch the trace and impact.
View attachment 237324View attachment 237326

Wow, a coyote at 1124?

I'm not in your league but can at least have nice gear

 

[mercerbear]

You best bet is to do like old military shooters did. Learn how to shoot your rifle using what nature provides as a support. The main standby you always have your backpack to use. Get away from all the gadgets and concentrate on becoming a shooter.
if you shoot different loads ..... stop it. Find one load that has a low es / sd that will accomplish your main objective and only shoot it. Learn to read wind. Your Kestrel is only good at your position. Let it supplement it with reading that cross canyon wind.

Thanks.

I can shoot from general field positions pretty well. I'm not a new hunter or shooter.

I am mainly interested in learning about tripod options to create solid setups in the field quickly.

 

[mercerbear]

Well that's a bit arrogant. Just because someone wants a tripod does not in any way make them a lesser shooter. Tripods are extremely versatile for western hunters not just for shooting. We use tripods extensively for glassing, spotters, and camera work. It's a tool that is much more versatile that just a bp and shooting various positions especially in open western slopes covered in grass or sage.

Exactly. Prone off a bipod or bp is not always an option.

 

[BrentM]

Wow, a coyote at 1124?

I'm not in your league but can at least have nice gear

Ha ha, naw. It's just a tool that works very very well once learned. I shot a bit of long range practical and PRS and learned the value of a tripod. I set out on a mission to see how applicable it would be for general hunting. That tripod has killed a pile of yotes, 3 deer, a wolf, and lots of rocks and steel plates. This time of the year I hunt in a lot of snow and sage covered mountain sides chasing wolves. The tripod allows me to position in much better situations for follow up shots and moving if needed. I also use a BP with a frame and I carry a trigger stick. It's all stuff I've played with for a while to see how much precise I can be at long range vs just a BP, bipod, sling style, and looking for natural shooting platforms. Sometimes there is nothing available that allows a clear shot. Because I use this tripod for some much more, like glassing, I am fine with the extra weight to a degree. If its a huge hike in gnarly terrain, I leave it behind, it's just one tool of many. Generally it goes with me tho. I had a 9 day archery deer hunt a few weeks ago and used it every day extensively to score bucks. It's paid for itself 1000x over.

 

[brcfo_outdoors]

Not one of the more main stream names you see at least in the shooting world, but I run a FLM CP30-S4 II tripod and have been quite pleased with it. Rated for 44 lbs and will go from 3.6" up to 53.4". These series II tripods are all made in China, but the other components like the head area all German (I have their ball head and Arca clamp). Run you about $375 right now for just the tripod.

 

[Okanogan]

Another vote for RRS. I had a 2 series with Markin ballhead and switched over to the Anvil head. Liked it so much that I went ahead and also got a 3 series with an Anvil ballhead. I have most of my precision rifles set up with swiss arca plates but occasionally use a Hog saddle on rifles that don't have the plate. Just sent my last GAP rifle back to change out the Ultra classic stock for a EH1 because the Ultra classic didn't have enough meat in it to accept a plate and I wanted a plate badly after getting used to using them on my hunting rigs. (Note not all stocks will necessarily accept the t-nuts for a plate)
I'm getting old enough that shooting sitting is much more enjoyable than prone, especially in field type conditions out west. My granddaughter can whack steel at 350 yds in the backyard with the Valkyrie off the tripod with no problem.

 

[David Urasky]

Look into the meFOTO tripods. I have one that I travel with in the pack. Mine is aluminum but they make one carbo fiber. It's solid and light weight. I can also use it for my chrono.

 

[mercerbear]

Another vote for RRS. I had a 2 series with Markin ballhead and switched over to the Anvil head. Liked it so much that I went ahead and also got a 3 series with an Anvil ballhead. I have most of my precision rifles set up with swiss arca plates but occasionally use a Hog saddle on rifles that don't have the plate. Just sent my last GAP rifle back to change out the Ultra classic stock for a EH1 because the Ultra classic didn't have enough meat in it to accept a plate and I wanted a plate badly after getting used to using them on my hunting rigs. (Note not all stocks will necessarily accept the t-nuts for a plate)
I'm getting old enough that shooting sitting is much more enjoyable than prone, especially in field type conditions out west. My granddaughter can whack steel at 350 yds in the backyard with the Valkyrie off the tripod with no problem.

Would you mind posting a picture of one of your hunting rifles with the plates mounted?

I'm getting a custom 300WM built by Straight Jacket Armory and need to make sure I get the stock features correct.

Thanks

 

[David Urasky]

Won't be home for a few weeks. If I remember I'll get back to you.

 

[mercerbear]

Another vote for RRS. I had a 2 series with Markin ballhead and switched over to the Anvil head. Liked it so much that I went ahead and also got a 3 series with an Anvil ballhead. I have most of my precision rifles set up with swiss arca plates but occasionally use a Hog saddle on rifles that don't have the plate. Just sent my last GAP rifle back to change out the Ultra classic stock for a EH1 because the Ultra classic didn't have enough meat in it to accept a plate and I wanted a plate badly after getting used to using them on my hunting rigs. (Note not all stocks will necessarily accept the t-nuts for a plate)
I'm getting old enough that shooting sitting is much more enjoyable than prone, especially in field type conditions out west. My granddaughter can whack steel at 350 yds in the backyard with the Valkyrie off the tripod with no problem.

Do we have any "go-to" vendors on the forum that would put together a package?

 

[BrentM]

mercerbear, you can get arca plates and clamps off amazon super cheap. RRS stuff is top notch but way expensive unless you need the qd clamp.... which is bad@$$. The plates are nothing special. I just buy cheap plates and find the rifles natural balance point and attach them to the stock. I run a chassis mostly but my traditional stock rifles have a plate too. I also use the plates to attach to my camera, spotting scope, and made a bino plate. See my pictures posted earlier.