Tripod help for newbie

[WtxShooter]

So I'm looking to invest in my first tripod, but not positive I wanna break the bank for a RRS set up to start. I've seen that you can buy their head system and can use it with other tripod bases. If I want to keep cost down, what is the best option to go with? The RRS setups are amazing looking, and reviews are awesome for them, but it's gonna be hard to pitch that option to the wife since they cost more than most rifles I've bought. Any budget saving options that you guys have seen that are working for you? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Shadow0341]

The PIG0311-G field tripod recently came out about a month ago and a lot of people have had great experiences with it, including myself. It's about $150 shipped. Not as light or steady at a RRS or feisol but a good budget tripod that can support up to 26lbs.
There is a thread about it, farther down the page in this section.

 

[Dougie308]

Check out my recent threed on my new tripod and triclawps clamp.

 

[BA226]

Consider the used camera supply market. Folks change gear, change hobbies, etc. Ive found many a deal on ebay and then purchase the mounts and anything else I can't find.

 

[NewsShooter]

As a photographer for nearly 30 years I have four tripods, multiple heads, including one that would hold me and my rifle.... Never used one for shooting yet.

 

[chorizo]

I use tripods extensively for varmint shooting (very small rodents at 200-300 yards) and for deer hunting (out to 650 yards) as there are some longer shots across canyons and few shots if any can be accomplished from prone. I have a heavier duty tripod (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) with a fluid head and a triclawps or rail clamp in an interchangeable head for stationary (or minimal movement) shooting and also a lighter weight slik 150 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) with a leveling head with a rail mount that I use as a mobile platform for hunting. Both serve me well for the purpose and have held up well. There are quite a few tripod snobs who will recommend high dollar outfits and I would follow their lead if I were using them for real work, for serious competition or for long range beyond 700 yards. I do not and the money I have saved goes to ammo. Much of the shakey tripod syndrome is overcome with the use of a bipod or monopod to rest the stock on.

Lightweight rig set up for dry firing practice over a hedge at a target 837 yards out [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4421\/36499981422_7d50de9c35_n.jpg"}[/IMG2]

tri light by ChorizoUSMC, on Flickr

Mid-weight rig with fluid head and triclawps for rock chucks [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4436\/36623207206_e1cfccb84f_n.jpg"}[/IMG2]

rem 7 by ChorizoUSMC, on Flickr

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4408\/36623198286_fe813d46ff_n.jpg"}[/IMG2]
rem7gemtech by ChorizoUSMC, on Flickr

Seems to work fine for me. Click on "slow hit 3" for video
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4333\/36670606415_bdf30059fa_o.jpg"}[/IMG2]
slow hit 3 by ChorizoUSMC, on Flickr


Watch this video for some insight: https://www.triclawps.com/aaron-davi...-for-shooting/

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Support gear like tripods is really a buy once cry once deal. The only tripod related items that seem to retain good resale value are the HOG saddles, other than that you take a huge hit when its time to upgrade or you end up keeping something you don't need because you don't want to take a huge loss. Regardless you end up having more cost in the setup than buying what you really want from the start. If you have a change of heart the premium cutting edge gear is what sells the easiest used and for the most return.

I've got a Manfrotto CF setup with HOG saddle that I bought long before RRS came along with their SOAR line. It works well for lighter rifles and is small but it's nowhere near as stable as RRS regardless of whether the rifle on it is light or heavy. I won't sell it because I can justify having two, but if I was buying in todays market I'd just go for the RRS from the start. Yes they're expensive but people don't buy them left and right just because they have extra money laying around.

 

[chorizo]

Support gear like tripods is really a buy once cry once deal. .

Disagree. Define your needs and "mission" use and match your equipment to it. Too many people repeat and repeat the "buy once, cry once" refrain without really first defining their "mission" then buying equipment to match. Quite frankly, I have NO need to spend $500-700 on a tripod for my uses.

Spending money on the best regardless of your needs may not be the best approach. Now I am not advocating buying cheap-ass gear, simply because it is cheap. What I am saying is not everybody needs to buy the highest speed-lowest drag equipment on the market.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Disagree. Define your needs and "mission" use and match your equipment to it. Too many people repeat and repeat the "buy once, cry once" refrain without really first defining their "mission" then buying equipment to match. Quite frankly, I have NO need to spend $500-700 on a tripod for my uses.

Spending money on the best regardless of your needs may not be the best approach. Now I am not advocating buying cheap-ass gear, simply because it is cheap. What I am saying is not everybody needs to buy the highest speed-lowest drag equipment on the market.

Anybody shooting a rifle off of a camera tripod and then going to something solid and designed for rifle work will notice a difference. The price is irrelevant, only function.

I've had a lot of tripods over the years, I currently have two PRS's and a Manfrotto a RRS makes them seem like a wet noodle.

 

[chorizo]

Price is only irrelevant if you have unlimited funds. Most (at least the OP and I) don't have what seems to be your unlimited funds. Is there $300 of stability difference between the two........I think not....but then again I am not competing, shooting on the battlefield, stretching my shots beyond 700 yards.

But I will concede that it is obviously worth it to you for your chosen shooting regime.