Arca vs bag when shooting from tripod

[Elkman17]

Watched this vid today and found it useful.

Appreciate you sharing that, good info

 

[smithjd]

Another good one:

 

[schmidty3]

I havent practiced clipped in enough this year. Bit me at the last NRL.

Pretty sure Chris way shoots as many shots as he can clipped in. Even over prone. He wins.

So I think its up to personal preference.

I havent tried off of a plate/bag yet. I just picked this up (they are good dudes).

The “HUMP BACK” Bag Saddle ARCA Swiss Edition | crazycrowgunworks.co

Revolutionary alternative to a standard Tac Table. The "Hump Back" allows your bag to contour to and grip your tripod while providing maximum surface area contacting your rifle. Works even when your tripod is at an angle and aids in transitioning with your bag. This model includes an integrated...

www.crazycrowgunworks.com

For $20 that's a super cheap way to try a "plate"/bag. My wiebad fortune cookie fits it perfectly.

I was struggling getting the gun perfectly level under duress at the last match. The bag eliminates that concern.

 

[VirginiaBeach]

I have tested this and in my testing, the heavier your system is- rifle, bag, tripod, the better it works on a bag on top of the tripod. If you get lighter with your rifle and keep a heavy bag, the bag still beats out the anvil. Once you go light on the bag ie gitlight fill, the anvil pulls ahead with clipping in. I don’t know exactly where the transition takes place but for NRL hunter style weights, the bag has been better for me. When I am actually hunting I clip in because I don’t carry around a 9 lb gamechanger.

This was tested with an rrs 33, rrs 14L both with anvils, and a leofoto inverted 2 section with their knockoff anvil with and without plates and gamechangers with heavy sand and git light fill.

Your experience may be different. I would love to read what made a difference for you guys.

Also, I did find the anvil to dampen wobble noticeably faster than the leofoto version although neither would have caused me to miss a big game animal at reasonable hunting distance.

 

[Treelineasassin]

@VirginiaBeach interesting on your thoughts of the anvil vis leofoto clone. I have both the RRS and Leo MA30. Shot from both quite a lot, and have found minimal differences. This is the Leo head that was pulled from US markets due to RRS persuing legal action. Tripod of choice seemed to have the most impact on clipped in stability.

I will say that shooting from a heavy bag on Tripod, rifle tracks better. I typically clip in, and lock the anvil up with the target approx 3/4 mil above the crosshair. Apply a lil down pressure in in the rear with my shoulder connection and it tracks pretty flat. The leg orientation also plays into this, I've found it best to have a single leg straight back from target. If the single leg is straight towards target, Tripod rocks back more under recoil.

 

[Kurts86]

When I put an arca plate on my 7mm Mag the results were a way worse than with my 6.5 cm and smaller because the recoil moves the tripod legs. Following up to spot impacts was almost impossible.

It is definitely better to use a tac table and bag with a magnum so the recoil doesn’t move the tripod legs.

 

[VirginiaBeach]

@VirginiaBeach interesting on your thoughts of the anvil vis leofoto clone. I have both the RRS and Leo MA30. Shot from both quite a lot, and have found minimal differences. This is the Leo head that was pulled from US markets due to RRS persuing legal action. Tripod of choice seemed to have the most impact on clipped in stability.

I will say that shooting from a heavy bag on Tripod, rifle tracks better. I typically clip in, and lock the anvil up with the target approx 3/4 mil above the crosshair. Apply a lil down pressure in in the rear with my shoulder connection and it tracks pretty flat. The leg orientation also plays into this, I've found it best to have a single leg straight back from target. If the single leg is straight towards target, Tripod rocks back more under recoil.

The Leofoto head I’ve got is the STB75x. I did not put the leofoto head on the rrs legs so it definitely could be the legs making the biggest difference. I did test the ability for the leofoto head/leg combo (which was on 36 mm legs at the same height as the rrs 14L and anvil) to dampen micro movements compared to the rrs. At the same height (kneeling) the rrs dampened more micro movement. I am not sure if that leofoto head is their best competitor to the anvil.

I did not have the legs in that orientation. I could see that working well on flat ground but my thought was that it’s more difficult to get two legs that are further away positioned properly on sloping terrain than it is just the one. However, I will need to give that a try because the time added to get the legs positioned properly might be time neutral if it’s faster shooting clipped in- or being able to stay clipped in and move during an NRL hunter stage.

 

[tysonES]

I shoot almost exclusively clipped in on an Anvil30 with a 2vets tripod. For me shooting 10 shot groups on paper at 100 clipped in has always been more accurate than running a tac table/ bag from every standing, kneeling and sitting.

I shot the Oregon Blue mountain big game hunter NRL match recently and over 2 days and 20 stages I shot every target clipped in off the tripod. I was very happy with my first time performance and I think I only regretted using the tripod on one stage.

Being clipped in makes everything easier, theres no bag to worry about, your gun is never going to fall off, and if you need to move for a shot you simply pick the entire system up and move it.

I think a lot of the pushback against shooting clipped in comes from people not having anvil 30s, and not training enough with the system. Finding the right place to clip in, and then fine tuning just how much tension you need on the ballhead takes practice and thats it.

I'm not an exceptional tripod shooter but I can consistently shoot standing and sitting clipped in 10rd groups at 100 under 2 inches.

I think the speed and ability to shoot over/under/on top of trees, rocks, deadfalls, etc makes the clipped in tripod the way to go.

 

[badjujuu]

We shoot NRLH mostly by clipping into the tripod (anvil/rrs). At least my partner does. I try running triple pull and use Tripod as rear support on stages that call for it. But it's a practiced thing and I don't always remember to use it. Clipping in at a balance point.
I can see purpose to just running a tac plate and a bag to shoot from, especially if you have to pan a lot (1 position 4 targets) but anvil is just as quick..

 

[G&W]

I shoot primarily off my Anvil 30/RRS 34L, probably 95%. No issues with shooting high. Gripping the apex and pulling the tripod strongly downward while using light shoulder pressure seems to limit my wobble, but there is still some timing to do at longer ranges. I use more shoulder pressure for closer shots (500 and in).

Getting ready to order the PRSTF bag deck so curious how shooting bag-off-a tripod will go compared to clipping in. I can see it being faster to set up.

 

[Tanner]

No issues being clipped in, so far with an 8lb rifle on a sub 2lb tripod out to 800. It’s been a fun learning experience and really makes a lot of sense for many hunting scenarios.

 

[wind gypsy]

Also, I did find the anvil to dampen wobble noticeably faster than the leofoto version although neither would have caused me to miss a big game animal at reasonable hunting distance.

Is the anvil in RRS legs integrated into the apex? I feel like i'm seeing similar with dauntless + Anvil compared to my prior TFCT 24L but I feel like that wobble is play in the multiple components more than it is anything flexing.

 

[OverInfinite]

I shoot mostly clipped in. however, I am working on bag shooting more. Twice this year I should have unclipped and tossed my bag over the head.
My last Coues hunt, I was on an extremely steep hill side and shot at an awkward angle where each leg was wonky. Shooting my 9lbs 6.5CM the recoil shifted the legs and I lost all sight picture. The shot was close enough that a bag would have been fine and the gun could have slid without putting impulse in the whole system. I don't necessarily think a tac table is necessary, but I definitely think being versed in both supports is helpful.

 

[earrow]

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!

In Eagle Ballistics app there is actually a tripod mode to correct for this