Mini tripod

Just recently getting a nice tripod setup for out on the farm for standing positions I realized just how versatile and stabile one can be using a tripod vs say a bipod shooting off of something. However the one I have is quite large and I wanted something I could use on a bench or prone easier than my large one. I was looking through a benchrest post from Centercut lately and saw he had a small tripod setup. I had been researching with nothing that really fit what I was looking for until I saw that. Contacted him asking what he had and very quickly responded with exactly what it was and was very helpful. This is what I ordered off Amazon

Leofoto LS-223C Portable Light Weight Carbon Fiber Tripod,Ranger Series,Center Column Not Included

INNOREL Low Profile Ball Head 52MM Ball Diameter All Metal Tripod Ball Head Panoramic CNC Ball Heads Camera Mount with Two 1/4" Quick Release Plates for Tripod, DSLR, Camcorder, Telescope,Max Load 66lbs/30kg

IMG_20210420_212108339.1619018808.jpg


For a hair over $200 delivered I have an extremely sturdy setup that's shorter than a 6"-9" Harris yet can go much higher. The versatility of these tripods are amazing. I don't think I'll be using anymore bipods from here on out. And with a rear bag it is absolutely rock solid like a vice.
 
Yup, works great... FYI, I got the information from @stoti

If you want to use it on a pic rail and don't have ARCA Swiss rail on your gun you'll need a pic rail to ARCA Swiss adapter. I used the Tough Tactical Tools - Picatinney Arca Swiss Adapter Tripod Arca Mount for Picatinney, from Amazon.com

Dillon, thats one bad ass looking little AAA Evol !!!
 
Yep - great setup. I just got the same table top Leofoto tripod a week or so back along with a head and some ARCA rail attachments. After seeing a few AGN member's setups in person I was convinced to do the research.

I would say the tripod is about 95% as stable as a bipod and rear bag setup. I can see using the tripod for 99% of my shooting, but in a true BR scenario I think a true front and rear support will yield the best results. 
 
Thanks Mike! Oh right forgot stoti pointed you in the right direction! 

Yeah I did forget that little info on the Arca adapter needed for the tripod. I had them on my guns already from my big tripod. 

stoti it really is an awesome setup! I will look into the feet for it as well. Not sure I'll need them but for $18 wouldn't hurt to try! 

ctshooter yeah I think more and more people will start going to tripods honestly. And I'd agree about the stability. Most my shooting prior was bipod off something with nothing in the rear. Pretty stable for my pesting needs but needed something to lay it on. With my large tripod can literally setup anywhere standing with the same amount of stability. With this off a bench or prone without a bag is definitely more stable. Add a bag and man crazy! I'd agree a machined benchrest would be best period but for the money hard to beat these tripods!
 
Agree - it does let you setup pretty much anywhere and have a stable shoot - thus my 99% ;) I'm loving how it lets you setup on just about any surface, level out, and hold POA across cocking the gun - rear bag always moved around for me when cocking and required some level of reset.

I don't have a full size tripod stable enough to mount a ball head on - most likely will down the road.
 
Thanks for bringing this up, as I wanted to ask a question with so many people going down this road lately... and you got a bunch of people together for me... They must work very well, and this question could sound really dumb as I’m not really sure how to word it...

How does the movement work with a tripod like this? Like shooting a BR card? Obviously a ball head, so it can move all over, so I’m really asking about how it provides stability with full movement available. Obviously it works, so just trying to understand how...

With a bag, you can freely move from target to target. With a fixed bipod, you can easily pivot vertically and still move horizontally while shifting the feet. With a Pan and Cant bipod, you can loosen those up to allow for those movements with no movement on the feet, but lose a bit of the stability if opening up the Cant. I usually set Cant and lock it, and with only Pan open, it is very stable and no pressure on the stock to affect harmonics or pressure on the action and barrel.

Obviously with a Ball head, you have full range of motion... so that is what my question is really about. It seems like it would work like a Pan and Cant bipod with both open. How does the tripod add extra stability if you have a free moving head? I know there are tensioners to allow movement, so what is it that allows it to maintain better support? Just trying to understand where the benefit comes. Obviously, you get major support when fully locked down (like a front rest), but then you cannot quickly move. Is that it? It is sort of like having a front rest with adjustments?

I hope you got where I was trying to go with that question. Be easy. I know it might seem like a dumb question, but I am truly interested in trying it out too.
 
Thanks for bringing this up, as I wanted to ask a question with so many people going down this road lately... and you got a bunch of people together for me... They must work very well, and this question could sound really dumb as I’m not really sure how to word it...

How does the movement work with a tripod like this? Like shooting a BR card? Obviously a ball head, so it can move all over, so I’m really asking about how it provides stability with full movement available. Obviously it works, so just trying to understand how...

With a bag, you can freely move from target to target. With a fixed bipod, you can easily pivot vertically and still move horizontally while shifting the feet. With a Pan and Cant bipod, you can loosen those up to allow for those movements with no movement on the feet, but lose a bit of the stability if opening up the Cant. I usually set Cant and lock it, and with only Pan open, it is very stable and no pressure on the stock to affect harmonics or pressure on the action and barrel.

Obviously with a Ball head, you have full range of motion... so that is what my question is really about. It seems like it would work like a Pan and Cant bipod with both open. How does the tripod add extra stability if you have a free moving head? I know there are tensioners to allow movement, so what is it that allows it to maintain better support? Just trying to understand where the benefit comes. Obviously, you get major support when fully locked down (like a front rest), but then you cannot quickly move. Is that it? It is sort of like having a front rest with adjustments?

I hope you got where I was trying to go with that question. Be easy. I know it might seem like a dumb question, but I am truly interested in trying it out too.

Well I'll try to answer best I think I can. The benefits I think come from being a tripod you know 3 legs vs 2. One is basically a leverage point where the other can support itself on its own. So there's that. The ballhead which shown here

IMG_20210421_141744551_HDR.1619042934.jpg


2 adjustments on this one being pan which is controlled via the small knob on the left. That can be set independent of everything else which is nice. Then the large knob controls the actual ball head which can also pan but also cant and tilt up and down really which ever way you want it. How I have the tension set on mine the pan will move and nor the ball head when panning. I also have the ball head set where it will hold the gun in place on its own. Then adding some pressure from myself it will move. But once I stop that's it it won't move.

IMG_20210421_141738686_HDR.1619043614.jpg

 
Thanks Dairy!

I didn’t realize it has two separate adjustments like that. Still makes me curious how the cant adjustment works, since with two legs I can still leave my bipod locked and still move vertically because the 3rd leg wouldn’t stop me.

I think you have officially cost me money with this post. I was already looking, so this only helps push me. I have been selling off some stuff, so why not a few more things. Maybe I’ll hold off selling my bipod until I can compare though. 
 
Yeah I mean it doesn't hurt to try! And with getting it through Amazon if you don't like it just return it. But I went through a recent sell off also. Still have a few bipods which I'm going to get rid of now though. I think once you try it you'll understand. I was quite skeptical with trying one of the bigger ones if they were really gonna help me and my uses. As soon as I did so I knew I needed a smaller one. Plus price wise this one is quite a bit cheaper than say my Accutac FC-G2 was. Or my Sierra S7. Or an Atlas. But they are bigger than an average bipod and do weigh more. Doesn't bother me for my uses for the added heft.
 
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