Quick release plates are an integral part of any good tripod head and my advice here is to find a tripod head that is either RC-2 or Arca Swiss compatible. It doesn’t really matter what type of tripod head you get, just make sure that it meets your needs and more importantly that it can support the weight of the rifle. Sirui’s GX and KX series as well as the Benro IN2 heads offer good performance for an economical price but if you want to go all in check out the heads from Really Right Stuff. There are a lot of different kinds of ball action heads so it’s important to select one that can fully support the weight of a precision rifle so be sure to check the specs and avoid the cheaper, light duty ones. Easily supporting heavy precision rifles, both grip action heads offer a wide range of motion for even the steepest shots. The Manfrotto 322RC2 may be more popular but the 3265 is still going strong. The Manfrotto grip action heads were very popular for a number of years and are still in use by a lot of precision rifle shooters. Ball action heads are versatile, lightweight, strong, and easy to manipulate with one hand. Ball action heads have been around for a long, long time and are probably the most popular type of tripod head on the market and rightly so. Their only downside is that they are pretty heavy so if you are an-ounces-equals-pounds kind of person you may want to look at this next option. They have a large range of motion, more than enough for steep angles, and they can support a healthy amount of weight without any issues. ![]() Grip action heads like the Manfrotto 322RC are pretty commonplace with many setups because they’re built to last a lifetime and have been used for years by professional rifleman. The only downside is that leveling bases don’t have much tilt so in very mountainous terrain where you may have to take 30 degree shots this may not be the best option. This Sunwayfoto leveling base can support a lot of weight, easily carrying my heavy 6.5 Creedmoor precision rifle yet still glide smoothly to get in position. A disadvantage to leveling bases is that even though they can spin 360° their maximum tilt angle is only about ☑5°, so they’re probably not the best option for mountainous or urban terrain. These types of bases can also support a lot of weight without slipping so it’s no surprise that they are getting used more and more to support rifles that weight upwards of 17 lbs. In photography, these bases are used to level the camera, pan around in a fluid motion, and also lock the camera firmly in place for panoramic shots. Leveling bases are probably going to be almost unheard of except to those that are also really into photography but they are becoming a popular option with some precision rifle shooters. My first piece of advice when looking for a tripod head is to avoid any that use plastic extensively at contact points and joints such as locking latches and plates since these will most likely fail under hard use. You might see the occasional pan-tilt head but those are few and far between amongst serious users. Generally, you’re probably going to find three different types of tripod heads amongst the more experienced shooters: Grip Action, Ball Action, and Leveling Bases. The tripod head is a very important component because it’s the link from the tripod to the rifle that allows for fine-tuned adjustments and locks the rifle into position. Spikes such as these can help dig in the surface for some added stability. Some tripods have optional spikes either built into the rubber pads or that you install later after you remove the rubber feet. Quality lever locks, like the ones on my Manfrotto, actually grip the tripod leg around most of its circumference and can be adjusted for more tension if necessary using a socket. The less expensive lever locks will usually have a rubber pad that engages the leg at a single point and in some situations, say under the weight of a precision rifle, the leg will slip. ![]() Keep in mind that not all lever locks are the same. Twist locks are a fast way to adjust the length of the tripod leg however as far as overall durability goes lever locks will probably win out. The method used to adjust the length of the legs isn’t a huge deal so I will just say that you’re typically going to see either latches or twist locks. Cheaper camera tripods have nowhere near the amount of adjustability since their tripod legs can only swing out so far and are limited to a certain sized footprint. ![]() ![]() This allows the tripod to get stable and level, even if it was on a hillside.Įach tripod leg needs to be independently adjustable so that it can be set up to accommodate the shooter’s needs and terrain. A suitable tripod for precision rifle use will be made from strong materials like aluminum or carbon fiber with independently adjustable legs.
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