Backpack hunts and shooting tripods

[Jordan Smith]

Looks cool, I don’t use a spartan so would just put an arca plate on it. I need to practice clipping in a little more but I’m not a big fan of that and this seems like a good solution if I can’t get the hang of clipping in.

A Gamechanger/Schmedium right over the tripod head works awesome. I assume the Molinator would work great, as well.

And if you want to clip the bag to the tripod, there's this:

https://www.cole-tac.com/product/flat-bag/

https://www.cole-tac.com/product/backbone-bag-frame

About 1 lb, total.

 

[justinspicher]

Is it the Spartan Ascent? Do you make use of it as trekking poles, or does it end up more of a backup thing?

It’s a sentinel, and I have used it as a set of trekking poles. Not one single issue.

 

[Muleyobsession1]

I'm pretty well attached to my shooting tripod. I know there's other options for shooting and I play with those too.
All of my experience since I started taking my rifle hunting more serious has been prairie whitetail and ambushing. Not going more than a couple miles in. It's nice having the gun locked in and ready when ambushing.

But elk hunting this fall I'm wondering if it's worth taking in my light shooting tripod and a light glassing tripod.

It's pretty steep country. I'll probably be packing in a spike camp too.

Would I be better off just practicing this summer shooting off the Wiser trekking pole thinger and my pack as a rear rest? To a point where I can be as good as if off a tripod. 600 off the tripod sitting is a high percentage shot for me.

I just know that sometimes prone isn't an option.

I’m in a similar spot, I’m putting full arca/pic combo rails on both my rifles and I can’t decide if it’s worth it to pack my trigger sticks with an arca ball head plus a Revic Hunter tripod with a ball head, one to shoot from and one for the spotter with the Ollin. I’ve been looking at the gunwerks elevate bipod to slim down weight where I can carry just one tripod for the spotter and if needed to shoot from, but im also not a backpacker, I go on horses or SXS mostly.

 

[wind gypsy]

Looks cool, I don’t use a spartan so would just put an arca plate on it. I need to practice clipping in a little more but I’m not a big fan of that and this seems like a good solution if I can’t get the hang of clipping in.

I have that plate/bag on my tripod to start NRL stages and glass off to find/range but often take it off and clip in actually for shooting.

I am planning on trying this, this year on ambush style hunts like you mention. For true spot and stalk and getting animals killed your "seconds" take more like "minutes" (which isn't always a bad thing).

With practice a guy can get pretty dang quick. 4 minute NRL stages with finding and ranging first and 4 shot positions off tripod is doable which tells me it doesn't take minutes to get setup if a guy practices it. I'm pretty sure id actually be slower connecting a tall spartan bipod and positioning a pack for rear support but that is largely because I haven't practiced that as much.

 

[wind gypsy]

A Gamechanger/Schmedium right over the tripod head works awesome. I assume the Molinator would work great, as well.

I find a notable difference in stability between heavy fill and git lite fill GCs. I'd imagine the molinator is at least as big a gap below the git lite fill as the git lite is below heavy for that purpose. They are pretty spongy.

 

[Jordan Smith]

I find a notable difference in stability between heavy fill and git lite fill GCs. I'd imagine the molinator is at least as big a gap below the git lite fill as the git lite is below heavy for that purpose. They are pretty spongy.

Oh yeah. I definitely agree. I haven't used the Molinator, but I suspect it's similar to Git lite. Shot the NRL-Hunter Willow Creek Washout match this last weekend, and used my Innorel RT90C tripod with Schmedium heavy bag directly over the tripod "bowl" on almost every stage.

Didn't bother clipping in, as the heavy Schmedium on that tripod is so stable.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

I carried a 4 lb tripod, and a triple pull all over the Idaho and Oregon mountains last year. But that's just me. I practice shooting a lot, and am very good at tall bipod front tripod rear. I need to practice tripod front backpack rear. Had one awkward position last weekend at a match that I had issues getting as stable as I should have.

Ken

 

[hereinaz]

Clipping in vs bag on top is caliber and position dependent for hunting.

Magnums tend to tip the tripod and make for vertical stringing if the tripod is square. If you are on a side hill or the tripod set up wonky, it makes for other weirdness.

When shooting off a bag, you get more even recoil with magnums or in wonky situations with tripod not square.

If I can get into some of my favorite positions, like sitting with feet downhill and a tripod leg extended behind me as support for the butt with the ARCA locked way out front, clipping in is awesome.

 

[wind gypsy]

Oh yeah. I definitely agree. I haven't used the Molinator, but I suspect it's similar to Git lite. Shot the NRL-Hunter Willow Creek Washout match this last weekend, and used my Innorel RT90C tripod with Schmedium heavy bag directly over the tripod "bowl" on almost every stage.

Didn't bother clipping in, as the heavy Schmedium on that tripod is so stable.

Molinator is close to Schmedium size but weighs 6 ounces. The smaller pint sized GC with git lite is 16 ounces. Its got ultralight spongy fill, not in the same class as git lite in weight or stability.

 

[hereinaz]

I have that plate/bag on my tripod to start NRL stages and glass off to find/range but often take it off and clip in actually for shooting.


With practice a guy can get pretty dang quick. 4 minute NRL stages with finding and ranging first and 4 shot positions off tripod is doable which tells me it doesn't take minutes to get setup if a guy practices it. I'm pretty sure id actually be slower connecting a tall spartan bipod and positioning a pack for rear support but that is largely because I haven't practiced that as much.

I think many underestimate the speed at which one can clip in and shoot. I can often make the timed shots if it is say do a thing in 60 seconds from stowed to shot. But, for pure speed, alternatives off the pack, bipods, etc. I can be beat.

In the end, I am fast enough and more accurate, so it if is a matter of tens of seconds, I don’t get to take the shot.

For fast shots, I think that the decision to shoot actually can take more time for some people that I can make up because I am ready to go for it faster.

That is among my sample of people I have hunted with and extrapolate from other experiences.

I like NRL hunter, and the stress is awesome. The focus of hunting is easier for me to process. I don’t get the same anxiety hunting. I can get super focused on the hunt.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

If you’re interested in trying something different and that is easily 4-5 times faster than setting up any tripod, the Spartan bipod with long legs works quite well.

I carry mine pre-set to my sitting with pack as a rear rest height, strapped to outside of my pack. It can be unclipped from pack and snapped into rifle stock foreend in seconds.

I am nearly as stable in this position as I am prone and this shot here represents roughly 70% of my kills every year.

View attachment 900368

I like that, may have to duplicate it.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I like that, may have to duplicate it.

Worked this morning for a game of “ HORSE”.

Requirements were…

.30 Seconds.
.Seated Shot.
.Support Allowed
.100 yards.
.Start with pack on, rifle in hand, nothing in chamber, safety on.
.3 shots before timer goes off.
.Video
.NRA target for scoring.

I recommend more folks get in on this “game” and have some fun and learn…

Post in thread '100 yard game of HORSE'
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/100-yard-game-of-horse.411096/post-4227695

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

With practice a guy can get pretty dang quick. 4 minute NRL stages with finding and ranging first and 4 shot positions off tripod is doable which tells me it doesn't take minutes to get setup if a guy practices it. I'm pretty sure id actually be slower connecting a tall spartan bipod and positioning a pack for rear support but that is largely because I haven't practiced that as much.

I have yet to see somebody, on a one minute drill, starting with pack on, rifle in hand or strapped to pack, tripod folded up and stored on pack as if hunting, have enough time to…

Range Target
Pack off
Setup Tripod
Stabilize gun
Load gun
Get shot on target

2 minutes is about the quickest I’ve seen in person but I’m sure somebody here could show me the way.

I’m tripod curious, it’s always just been cumbersome and slow (likely user error) and I’ve found much quicker ways to build similar positions using different gear.

 

[hereinaz]

I have yet to see somebody, on a one minute drill, starting with pack on, rifle in hand or strapped to pack, tripod folded up and stored on pack as if hunting, have enough time to…

Range Target
Pack off
Setup Tripod
Stabilize gun
Load gun
Get shot on target

2 minutes is about the quickest I’ve seen in person but I’m sure somebody here could show me the way.

I’m tripod curious, it’s always just been cumbersome and slow (likely user error) and I’ve found much quicker ways to build similar positions using different gear.

Yeah, I don’t know if I could do it in one minute, I never practiced it for that speed.

I do think the S2H methods are faster, if that is a priority. My priority is precision and stability, and the tripod gives me that.

I will practice in my yard and see how fast I can get. Let’s shoot late July and August so you can document my fastest times and accuracy.

I can’t actually think of a situation like that in my few years of hunting. I’m mostly serious when I say it is because I am a lazy ambush hunter. I would be at a disadvantage on a quick draw situation.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I have yet to see somebody, on a one minute drill, starting with pack on, rifle in hand or strapped to pack, tripod folded up and stored on pack as if hunting, have enough time to…

Range Target
Pack off
Setup Tripod
Stabilize gun
Load gun
Get shot on target

2 minutes is about the quickest I’ve seen in person but I’m sure somebody here could show me the way.

I’m tripod curious, it’s always just been cumbersome and slow (likely user error) and I’ve found much quicker ways to build similar positions using different gear.

Worked this morning for a game of “ HORSE”.

Requirements were…

.30 Seconds.
.Seated Shot.
.Support Allowed
.100 yards.
.Start with pack on, rifle in hand, nothing in chamber, safety on.
.3 shots before timer goes off.
.Video
.NRA target for scoring.

View attachment 901178

View attachment 901179

View attachment 901180

I recommend more folks get in on this “game” and have some fun and learn…

Post in thread '100 yard game of HORSE'
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/100-yard-game-of-horse.411096/post-4227695

I'd love to participate but I'm unfortunately in the city and my playground I spend time in is at the coast where I don't take any good rifles. I may slap a scope on a beater AR and try though.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Yeah, I don’t know if I could do it in one minute, I never practiced it for that speed.

It’s a lot to ask I would say.

I do think the S2H methods are faster, if that is a priority. My priority is precision and stability, and the tripod gives me that.

Yeah I don’t know what the S2H methods are as I’ve never been. I also prefer precision/stability which is why prone is ideal but not always feasible. I’ve shot from and been very precise with tripods obviously time and other factors leading me away from them for actual hunting.

I will practice in my yard and see how fast I can get. Let’s shoot late July and August so you can document my fastest times and accuracy.

Sweet! I already have gongs hung in steep terrain simulating hunting type shots.

I can’t actually think of a situation like that in my few years of hunting. I’m mostly serious when I say it is because I am a lazy ambush hunter. I would be at a disadvantage on a quick draw situation.

Ambush hunting is great way to get animals killed and often times allows for plenty of time to get setup and get a BOAL killed. Often times it also doesn’t.

 

[Bluumoon]

It’s a lot to ask I would say.

Yeah I don’t know what the S2H methods are as I’ve never been. I also prefer precision/stability which is why prone is ideal but not always feasible. I’ve shot from and been very precise with tripods obviously time and other factors leading me away from them for actual hunting.

Sweet! I already have gongs hung in steep terrain simulating hunting type shots.

Ambush hunting is great way to get animals killed and often times allows for plenty of time to get setup and get a BOAL killed. Often times it also doesn’t.

@hereinaz won’t admit it, but he had fun w the quick setups stations on my course .

I saw another post today that made me realize why I’m drawn to improvised positions, it’s how I grew up. Growing up East Coast on a farm, I can’t remember a time ever shooting prone, it was usually off handing chipmunks/ ground hogs/deer who were about to run away.

 

[justinspicher]

For most of the shots I’ve taken with a tripod on the course that @Bluumoon has set up, I don’t even take the tripod off my pack. I take my pack off, put my rifle on the tripod and shoot. It’s fast, but my stability could definitely be improved.

 

[hereinaz]

You can have speed and compromise on stability and precision OR you maximize stability and precision and compromise on speed.

There is no right or wrong, per se. It’s just a decision you make.

And, the amount of “compromise” depends on you and your skill. Someone like @mxgsfmdpx who practices is gonna be fast and still more stable and precise than most, including me a lot.

In the end, practice a bit of both and make a decision to go for it based on what fits you and your ability and style.

 

[mtnbound]

Molinator is close to Schmedium size but weighs 6 ounces. The smaller pint sized GC with git lite is 16 ounces. Its got ultralight spongy fill, not in the same class as git lite in weight or stability.

The Molinator and the GCs both use Spexlite fill. Are you swapping out the fill to Git Lite?