Hog saddle..... ?

[Achapa87]

I run a slik tripod with a pig saddle for coyotes and deer. I like it. Killed a whitetail at 500 and have taken numerous predators with it.

 

[Lpart]

I probably used an incorrect name. It is the device that most tripod heads have you attach to your spotter etc so you can easily clip it in and out of the tripod head.

 

[dmoon]

Thanks for all the information guys. OP I hope I haven't overtaken your thread. I have another question. What style stock/weight rifle have you guys used with the pig/hog saddle and/or that reaper rest? (The reaper rest looks interesting as well).

 

[Lpart]

My rifle is about 10.5 lbs

 

[Achapa87]

Mine ain't light

 

[dmoon]

That's what I was hoping. My lightest rifles are in the 10.5 lb range.

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

I use the reaper on my AR10 set up with thermal to eradicate hogs. Rifle weighs 13 pounds with the scope. I clamp the rifle in the reaper and carry the tripod over my shoulder when stalking. It's that strong and stable.

 

[geo4061]

Another couple of reasons for buying the Reaper. The jaws are slightly curved for a better hold. The jaws are also padded which is much kinder on your equipment. Especially if you still love the old school wooden stocks. The Hog or Reaper and Tripod set up is a great solution for PRS or sitting in a blind. When you throw mobility and speed into the equation the bipod or Primos tripod are better solutions for me.

 

[Lpart]

I find the rubbery coating on the Hog Saddle to be easy on the stocks.

 

[yobuck]

Be aware that all of the clamp type devices will be good for one shot. After which the gun will need to be realigned on the target. How much realigning is depending on the recoil of the rifle and the quality of the tripod, but there could be enough to cause you to lose the target, if it decides to move off after the shot, and especially in wooded or brushy types of terrain.
Follow up shots are sometimes very criticle, and the sooner you can get it off the better in most instances.
There are no easy solutions, and the best solutions are as a rule not the most conducive to be carried very far. Also be selective on the ball head you select for the tripod. Some will allow for up/down movement only, which is better than having the gun flop to left or right when loosening it. They can also be drilled and pinned to control that, but not all heads are strong enough for that.
We made our own setups, and used a device made for attaching a small vice onto to allow for different work angles. Wilton vice company at least used to make them, known as a power knuckle, we drilled and pinned those as I mentioned to allow for up/down only.
You wouldn't need any other type tripod head as they rotate 360 deg also. We also make our own connections for the gun, which allows for rear movement due to recoil. No clamping is involved, just slide the gun into the device, find the target and shoot. And again and again if necessary without losing the target from the field of view.
It aint always just about how good you are, so long as you can find a way to keep the lead in the air. lol

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

I don't find follow up shot to be difficult with the reaper. On many occasions, I've killed 10-15 hogs in a string of shots. It's the perfect setup for we when running and gunning.

 

[Punisher]

The reason we rest holds the rifle better.

but the pig saddle is made of steel, the hog saddle out of aluminum.

I would say strength is similar in both, but the stamped metal of the pig saddle may bend of you torque it heavily.

I've seen the hog saddle sell for around $350. There's no way I'd spend that when the reaper grip works as well as it does.

I don't even own the reaper grip, but I have used all three of these and that's just my opinion based off experience.

 

[TRG65]

I put direct attachment points on my rifles. for a stock its the same as adding a piece of pic rail, so I added a small section just in front of the lug.

 

[FEENIX]

Hopefully, @GetReel has made a decision on which one to go with already, esp. after nearly 1.5 years.