Manfrotto 055XB suitable tripod for shooting off?

[Woodlander]

As title says, is the Manfrotto 055XB tripods any use for shooting off?

I have an old one and if the length of the centre column was reduced, it would be ok for shooting whilst sitting, if it’s sturdy enough.  It’s only rated for 7kg, though. 
thanks

[Woodlander]

Haha, a 7kg tripod, would certainly be sturdy enough and great if you’re shooting next to your vehicle. 
weight ratings vary and depends if it’s directly above, or overhanging, different manufacturers have different definitions. I’ve alwss as us found Manfrotto tripods very well made.  

[Barrelsniffer]

I was using a manfrotto 055XPROB with a pistol grip 322RC2 with monkey clamp for many yrs and that one is very sturdy, now sold on and using the Rekon as its carbon, but have a few mates who still use the manfrotto.

[Woodlander]

That’s good to know.  
How did they get on with the centre column?

How do you find your accuracy off a tripod, is it comparable to shooting prone off a bipod?

Thanks Barrelsniffer

[Andrew]

A friend of mine uses one for PRS shooting and brought it up to Montana for prairiedog shooting two years back. The grass was so high that it obscured the dogs unless you were standing. I tried it and pulled off some 300+ yard shots on a target roughly the size of a 16 ounce bottle. I was impressed. The following fall, however, he brought it for deer season. It seemed to be a cumbersome bit of equipment to carry off to the hunting ground and something I would never consider packing along. ~Andrew

[treetop]

Manfrotto works for me ! 

Had mine for years, as has a few of my shooting pals.

just fit a good ball head & Arca rail to your stock = bingo 

[ds1]

The 055 is a good heavy and big tripod, I had one for my AI AW.  You can get the same stability and less weight out of a carbon tripod such as a Gitzo mountaineer 2 series but it’s much more expensive. The weight limit is really set by the head to a large extent also - a cheap but good manfrotto 438 ball head puts the C of G down as low as possible and provides a big locking surface on the ball.

if you want it for sitting only think to make a trestle out of it.

pic 1 AXMC on light carbon tripod - trestle, very stable.

pic2 manfrotto 438 head.

[Barrelsniffer]

20 hours ago, Woodlander said:

That’s good to know.  
How did they get on with the centre column?

How do you find your accuracy off a tripod, is it comparable to shooting prone off a bipod?

Thanks Barrelsniffer

Its never going to be as "Good" as a solid prone position, but i use mine for foxing and stalking where i can leave the rifle on the tripod while I'm scanning with either spotting scope/bino/thermal and easily hit tgts out to 300 yds with ease, the monfrotto i had was a bit heavy to carry around hence why i sold and went carbon which is much easier.

I have tried the the primos trigger sticks that many rave about, had 2 both broke, luckily not with my rifle on, also use the viper quad sticks but much prefer the tripods as its a hands free operation until you go to squeeze the trigger.

[ds1]

Saddler....a home made picatinny bracket to an atlas bipod. It folds away like a normal tripod and bipod, without having to be removed from the tripod. You can use the QD mount if you wished to remover the bipod of course.

[Eric the Red]

Manfrotto 055 is fine for shooting off.  Don't be afraid to hacksaw the centre column to the shortest length you need - you should be able to go full prone with legs on widest extension and be no higher than 12in.  In terms of accuracy, we have shot sub MOA standing at 800m and numerous foxes over 250m.  The setup is very confidence inspiring.

[ds1]

Saddler before you do..... this is my current set up, not as stable but much neater. Tripod plus an adjustable strap attached to the tripod and  front of the rifle. You are not trying to support weight rather using it ( and what ever force you put on the cheek piece) to tension the rifle. Provided you don’t adjust the angle of the legs you won’t need to adjust the strap. The strap needs to be quick adjust- I use a hk mp5 sling but there will be better options. It is a very compact, light option for field use. 

[Woodlander]

Thanks for all the replies and good to see some interesting innovations, also good to hear that accuracy can be had with the right stuff.  I’ve been practising shooting off fence posts, with disappointing results, this should see a great improvement.