Arca vs bag when shooting from tripod

[Elkman17]

I’m setting up a tripod to shoot off of, and I’ve been reading a lot on the subject. Ive read that clipping in with an arca plate can lead to missing high due to recoil. So my question is, does that actually happen and if so is it better to use a bag with a plate set up rather than clipping in via arca? Shooting a 300 WSM. Thank you!

 

[wpeach1912]

I’d say it is more situational dependent, but in theory it is more likely to pivot upwards on a clipped on tripod. A bag is maybe slightly better, but if your rifle is balanced behind 2-3” in front of the magwell, you’ll still have the problem. I prefer clipped since it’s one less piece of gear to manage while trying to shoot tripod. You can also splay one or two legs wider and backwards to mitigate the tripod wanting to rock back as much

 

[Poppaswish]

following

 

[Elkman17]

I’d say it is more situational dependent, but in theory it is more likely to pivot upwards on a clipped on tripod. A bag is maybe slightly better, but if your rifle is balanced behind 2-3” in front of the magwell, you’ll still have the problem. I prefer clipped since it’s one less piece of gear to manage while trying to shoot tripod. You can also splay one or two legs wider and backwards to mitigate the tripod wanting to rock back as much

Appreciate it. I want to use the clip in method so I don’t have to worry about bags. When slightly leaned into the rifle with rear support how often do those misses actually happen?

 

[DosAmigos]

I am currently running a RRS tfct 33 W/Anvil 30. We do lots of Nilgai/Exotic hunts in Texas, not everyone has arca plates on their rifles so ill run a tactical table with a bag. That being said I personally like to be locked in if the shoot is longer than 300 yards. Being locked in is rock solid, majority of my rifles sit in a manners stock and the ones that are not have Henderson arca plates installed. I recommend shooting the Kraft shooting drill and practice fundamentals. Lots of good videos on the do's and don'ts.

 

[wpeach1912]

Appreciate it. I want to use the clip in method so I don’t have to worry about bags. When slightly leaned into the rifle with rear support how often do those misses actually happen?

It’s mainly dependent on your ability to manage recoil. Put the buttpad more centerline on your body (roughly on your collarbone/upper pec) and square up to the rifle (bore is perpendicular to your shoulders) and you’ll minimize the vertical misses

 

[270-300]

I havent used an arca plate, but i do know putting a shotgun in a set of gripper sandbags makes slugs shoot 6" lower than holding it.

 

[Elkman17]

It’s mainly dependent on your ability to manage recoil. Put the buttpad more centerline on your body (roughly on your collarbone/upper pec) and square up to the rifle (bore is perpendicular to your shoulders) and you’ll minimize the vertical misse

It’s mainly dependent on your ability to manage recoil. Put the buttpad more centerline on your body (roughly on your collarbone/upper pec) and square up to the rifle (bore is perpendicular to your shoulders) and you’ll minimize the vertical misses

Minimize, or completely eliminate? It sounds like there’s too much of a chance of that happening with a higher recoil rifle for me to want to use this method hunting.

 

[Elkman17]

I’ve never seen or heard about this happening with a bipod. Does clipping in on the front of the foregrip instead of at the balance point just infront of the mag well make a big difference?

 

[wpeach1912]

Minimize, or completely eliminate? It sounds like there’s too much of a chance of that happening with a higher recoil rifle for me to want to use this method hunting.

It’s mainly a function of your ability to manage recoil. With a heavier recoiling rifle, imperfections in your fundamentals are magnified.

I’ve never seen or heard about this happening with a bipod. Does clipping in on the front of the foregrip instead of at the balance point just infront of the mag well make a big difference?

It happens with a bipod too if you don’t have a good rifle/shoulder connection and/or your rear bag isn’t supporting well. Like the rifle slips down the bag or down off your shoulder under recoil

 

[ID_Matt]

Some things to remember with clipping in... your gun is going to recoil towards the path of least resistance so if your tripod legs are not in line with your target it won't recoil straight back. Also, it is easy to try and force your reticle on target which torques the tripod legs then as soon as the gun recoils it will go back to its original position off target (natural point of aim). Both can be overcome but just something to think about when shooting.

 

[Elkman17]

It’s mainly a function of your ability to manage recoil. With a heavier recoiling rifle, imperfections in your fundamentals are magnified.


It happens with a bipod too if you don’t have a good rifle/shoulder connection and/or your rear bag isn’t supporting well. Like the rifle slips down the bag or down off your shoulder under recoil

Thank you. I appreciate the info

 

[Elkman17]

Some things to remember with clipping in... your gun is going to recoil towards the path of least resistance so if your tripod legs are not in line with your target it won't recoil straight back. Also, it is easy to try and force your reticle on target which torques the tripod legs then as soon as the gun recoils it will go back to its original position off target (natural point of aim). Both can be overcome but just something to think about when shooting.

Are you talking about 1 leg pointing towards the target? Thats how I normally set up. Or the target in between 2 legs with 1 pointing back towards the shooter?