The Tripod Thread
I thought this might be a useful resource as tripods and associated gear become more popular for precision rifle shooting.
Though my rifle is an entry-level rig, I've been into photography for a long time and have found my main camera tripod/head combo to be quite good as a rifle support.
The tripod is a Manfrotto 055, which seems to be a popular choice for this application. However, the Uniqball UBH 45 ballhead I am using is just becoming popular in photography circles but I have yet to see any links to it being used for rifle support. With the recent purchase of a Magpul Hunter 700 (and the nice flat area on the bottom of the forearm to mount a QR plate), I thought I would give it a try as a shooting platform.
What is "unique" about this ballhead - and quite useful for PRS - is that the main (outer) ball is used to level the inner ball; the movement of the inner ball is limited to panning and "elevation" adjustment only. Unlike all other ballheads, this keeps the optics and the bore level (and prevents the rifle from flopping over when the inner ball is loosened). Once the outer ball is locked in a level position (quick and easy to do), the rifle remains plumb (optic to bore line) regardless of any panning or elevation movement. So, the rifle can track both horizontally and vertically all while keeping the optics centered over the bore. :-)
The UBH 45 ballhead is rated for 88 pounds yet weighs only 24 ounces. Link to B&H Photo
Photos
The outer leveling (red) ball is locked down with the lever on the right. There is no "in between" friction on the outer ball, it's either locked or loose - you simply loosen the lever to level it then lock it down. The inner ball is controlled with the red knob on the top left. This knob can be set to place some drag on the inner ball, from lose to very tight (or locked down completely). Having used many ballheads over the years, the adjustment for drag on the inner ball is very good and can be set to provide smooth movement.
A closer view with my rifle mounted.
A universal QR plate (Arca Swiss style supplied with ballhead) secured to the bottom of the Magpul Hunter 700 stock.
The plate is held to the bottom half of the forearm with two screws that pass up through the bottom of the stock and through two steel plates inside the stock made from 1/2" wide by 1/8" thick flat stock, then secured with nuts and Locktite. The stock is actually quite beefy in this area with plenty of internal webbing. Additionally, this is where the forearm mounts to the stock's "chassis" (the three most rearward screws in the barrel channel) making this an ideal spot to mount the plate. Removing the two screws from each side of the stock by the magazine well and then the screws from the barrel channel area allows easy removal of the lower forearm section to mount the QR plate.
With rifle mounted, it is held very securely and can be moved smoothly target-to-target through the vertical and horizontal axis, all while keeping the optics level (and maintaining control of the rifle). I'll also be using a sling to further steady the rifle and plan to live-fire test this setup in the next few weeks.
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Originally Posted by USMC_Anglico
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