Field / Tactical Competition Tripod

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I started messing with tripods for shooting supports about 15 years ago. Then the choice really came down to a Manfrotto 055 or  lighter 190. Fast forward to now about the best setup for a static OP or car to firing point is a Spec Rest and something like a Gitzo 4553-S for the legs. But they are not what you want to be dragging any distance.

 

So the best that I have come up with is a Gitzo 2540-T and one modification ( the Manfrotto 190 GO could be the value option). So why this particular  Gitzo- the 2545-T is the latest version. The T is for traveler, meaning the legs fold over the head, the M series - Mountaineer don’t and so don’t fold so compact but have more leg angles. So with the 2540 / 2545 T series you get a 43cm folded tripod at about 1.5kg that is very stable and will fit into a 25L backpack. This starts to be useful for tactical comps and bunny bashing where you are dragging all your stuff with you.

 

The issue with using tripods is that even with a hog saddle or direct plate mount or v-v bars for the rifle to sit in you end up with one point of contact between rifle , ball head and tripod legs. So you get some vibration or movement. The solution has been traditionally to use your rucksack as a rear support or pump pillow or another tripod or think outside the box making the tripod into a trestle or using the tripod at the rear with a long sitting or standing bipod up front. I have tried all these and more - nothing that is easy, quick to set up,  light and stable in all shooting positions from sitting to standing.

 

So the 90% solution- thinking laterally, rather than using something to stop you pushing down on the butt of the rifle ,like a rear bag in prone, or rucksack in sitting how about controlling how much the front of the rifle pushes up when you push down on the butt. It’s easy, no real added weight and works in all positions - a simple adjustable strap. Pic shows my AI  with front QD stud and part of a hk mp5 sling for the quick adjustment. If you use the tripod centre column for the strap attachment point then it is easy to adjust between sitting and kneeling positions without a change of strap length. However if you adjust the angle of the legs you need to adjust strap length so a quick adjust strap is desirable. Pic shows the legs now all at 20 degrees and the strap not adjusted ( in sitting and kneeling position the legs were 20,20 and 70 degrees).

 

Attachments are by QD swivels. Minor point, you need to let the tension off the strap before trying to QD it from the rifle easiest way being to tilt the ball head down a bit. It’s an easy solution to gain a lot more stability using a tripod. Setup time for the tripod from bag to rifle mounted is less than 1 minute - important in some comps.