Cheap stable tripod

A

allghilliedup04

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 8, 2012
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Salem, Oregon
#1
Hey everyone, i am wondering what are some options out there that people have used or seen that make for a stable shooting platform from a tripod. im not talking manfrotto here i am talking something under 100 bucks that is stable and you can shoot from at ranges.

mostly i am looking for something stable but light, that isnt too tall. preferably used in the sitting or maybe kneeling heights for coyotes.
 
#6
Re: Cheap stable tripod

Another vote for PRS. It works great with my rifle and easily holds my 80mm spotter. I wish I had bought one sooner!

There are other tripod options,like the DCLW or any ol'Manfrotto, but they are all significantly more expensive.
 
#7
Re: Cheap stable tripod

Once you try shooting a moving critter from a TRI-pod, you will realize your mistake. Use either a BI-pod or a pair of crossed shooting sticks.
Go to Varmint Al's website, and he has instructions on how to build a great pair of shooting sticks. Cheap, easy to make and you really won't want to use anything else for coyotes...
 
#12
Re: Cheap stable tripod

I'm a cheap ass, so I built this. Only tools needed are a drill, hacksaw, and JB weld. Can probably do without the hacksaw too if you put the sheet metal on the outside of the pipe, would look cleaner too. Got the tripod at a thrift store for 5 bucks. A trip to Ace hardware and 15 dollars later, I had everything I needed. There's a brass bushing that fit over the top of the tripod I JB welded into the Bottom of the pipe, so it rotates smooth.

It doesn't go low enough to use in the prone...but thats what I have a bipod for! It goes high enough that I can sit in a lawn chair and blast away at prairie dogs. Plenty stable for my needs, if I keep the center post low enough there's no discernible wobble. And it rotates, so tracking left or right isn't an issue. Very lightweight. Yes I know camera tripods aren't built tough, and I've only used it on one 4 day trip, but it held my 20lb rifle no problem.
14dimw8.jpg

2b4mz5.jpg
 
#14
Re: Cheap stable tripod

Just received my PRS today, played with it a little inside the house and seems like a great piece of gear and holds up my 26 inch heavy barrel 300 up no problem. Plus you cant beat the CS that sharon and danel provide. Btw, theyre not "cheap" rather relatively inexpensive.
 
#15
Re: Cheap stable tripod

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike Casselton</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Once you try shooting a moving critter from a TRI-pod, you will realize your mistake. Use either a BI-pod or a pair of crossed shooting sticks.
</div></div>

I’m not following you, can you explain why a bipod would be better than a tripod for hunting? My experience has been different.

I admit, I don't hunt coyotes (yet).
 
#16
Re: Cheap stable tripod

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike Casselton</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Once you try shooting a moving critter from a TRI-pod, you will realize your mistake. Use either a BI-pod or a pair of crossed shooting sticks.
Go to Varmint Al's website, and he has instructions on how to build a great pair of shooting sticks. Cheap, easy to make and you really won't want to use anything else for coyotes...

</div></div>

i understand where you coming from, BUT as long as you have a good head that pivots are your tripod its much more stable. ive shot of tripods a fair amount and they work great, i jsut dont wanna drop 300 on a manfrotto (what we use) and then another 150 on the head.

that being said i asked for opinions and you gave me yours and im going to respect it and look into the shooting sticks, been awhile since ive used them but sometimes older methods work better than they are given credit for! thanks for the input!! i appreciate it
 
#17
Re: Cheap stable tripod

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pdogsbeware</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm a cheap ass, so I built this. Only tools needed are a drill, hacksaw, and JB weld. Can probably do without the hacksaw too if you put the sheet metal on the outside of the pipe, would look cleaner too. Got the tripod at a thrift store for 5 bucks. A trip to Ace hardware and 15 dollars later, I had everything I needed. There's a brass bushing that fit over the top of the tripod I JB welded into the Bottom of the pipe, so it rotates smooth.

It doesn't go low enough to use in the prone...but thats what I have a bipod for! It goes high enough that I can sit in a lawn chair and blast away at prairie dogs. Plenty stable for my needs, if I keep the center post low enough there's no discernible wobble. And it rotates, so tracking left or right isn't an issue. Very lightweight. Yes I know camera tripods aren't built tough, and I've only used it on one 4 day trip, but it held my 20lb rifle no problem.
14dimw8.jpg

2b4mz5.jpg
</div></div>

made something similar for sniper school stalking. 30 dollar tripod. for the head we would use decking U connecters (dunno actual term but you get the point) and we woudl just throw some iso mat and tap on it for padding it it worked well for stalking.. but we tried shooting off them and our guns were just too heavy to allow them to be stable. Mind you our a3's weigh 18.5 lbs and our a5's weigh 22.5 ...

how does it hold up with a lighter rifle? is it pretty stable or is it just stable enough for the money?
 
#18
Re: Cheap stable tripod

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: allghilliedup04</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
how does it hold up with a lighter rifle? is it pretty stable or is it just stable enough for the money?</div></div>
Well like I said, even with my 20lb rifle it works great. It's stable. It only starts to wobble if I extend the center stem more than 3 holes high (it IS a cheapo after all) Below that, the only movement is me moving the gun as it doesn't clamp into the rest (obviously).

You got me curious, as I've never used it standing up before (just never had a need). With the legs fully extended I can use it standing (I'm 5'10") But with a heavy rifle I dunno...just doesn't feel the most solid. With my deer rifle (sporter weight barrel, call it 9 or 10 pounds?) It's fine though.

BUT...I've never had the opurtunity to use a high quality piece. This is most likely a pile of dogcrap next to a PRS. I just wanted something to do, and, well, I'm a cheap ass haha I was surprised to see how inexpensive the PRSs are though. Great deal there.

By the way, 96C, that rifle looks awesome!
 
#19
Re: Cheap stable tripod

DSCI06542.jpg


Go PRS. You won't be disappointed. They are light weight, they work, but they dont clamp down the rifle. No biggie.

Mine holds my rifle fully extended. Quite stable.
 
#21
Re: Cheap stable tripod

Another PRS vote here.

Finally got one, it came the other day and will be perfect. I got the medium and it goes plenty low for prone. I also got an extra screw on center pole so I can shoot standing. I'm sure it's not as stable as the large would be for standing shots but I rarely shoot standing. Can if I need to now though.

I have a Manners T5 and Danel told me I needed the SSP-2 cradle, the wider of the two models. It does not squeeze the stock's forearm and that is how Danel said it needs to be. He likes for the gun to move freely during the recoil.

Here is a really good PRS review thread from 2010. Lots of good pics of height and adjustability.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">TBURKES PRS REVIEW <-- LINK</span>

 
#23
Re: Cheap stable tripod

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: allghilliedup04</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike Casselton</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Once you try shooting a moving critter from a TRI-pod, you will realize your mistake. Use either a BI-pod or a pair of crossed shooting sticks.[...]
</div></div>

i understand where you coming from, BUT as long as you have a good head that pivots are your tripod its much more stable. [..] </div></div>

I don't know a lot about tripods, but I find it hard to believe any decent one wouldn't pivot. Either way the PRS allows easy right to left movement even when the ball head is locked. It has the ability to offer even more movement if controlling the head’s tension with one hand, which becomes a similar position as used when holding sticks. Harris’ don’t offer any efficient movement. Atlas’ allow a lot of movement but still lack height. Unless shooting from a prepared area (or desert?), I can’t see a bipod having any advantages over a tripod in a hunting scenario.

A lot of my friends like shooting sticks, but I prefer the stability of a tripod. As the posted pictures show, even with the cradle types a rifle can be left on its own.
 
#25
Re: Cheap stable tripod

With a Tripod, you not only have to pivot the rifle on the tripod, but you also have to find a way to pivot yourself behind the tripod. (depending on the speed of movement of the critter)

With a Bipod, you become the only pivot point. A tripod can be used in the same manner as a bipod, but you have to be aware that if you move the tripod, one of the legs can fold up if it does not have leg locks.

Everybody has their own way of shooting, so there is no one correct answer. My decision to go bipod and my recommendation is based on hunting critters only. The OP's question was also based on coyote hunting...
 
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