Bog Death Grip, your thoughts?

[BigBore72]

A few days ago PSA had the tripod combo shown below for just $120. I know it's not a $350 tripod, but to those of you who have used this model can you please share your experiences, good and/or bad? What do you consider its strengths and weaknesses? Forget the ear muffs, but what would you consider to be a fair price if a person was buying just the tripod?

 

[DuckDawg22]

I bought that exact combo, no brainer for the price. The vice itself weighs a shocking amount, ditching it for a ball is a must. I bought this ball head and this conversion kit for about a third of what hunting brands want to charge for theirs. Haven't shot off of it yet but it holds a 10 pound AR rock solid, and is great for my spotting scope.

 

[BigBore72]

Thanks for that info. How much would you consider "a shocking amount" to be? I've never seen one of these in person to be able to make any sort of guess.

 

[DuckDawg22]

I haven't weighed it but google says the aluminum version is 8.5 pounds, I'd bet the vice is 2-3 pounds of that. Significantly lighter with the ball head and way more balanced.

 

[BigBore72]

Good info, thanks!

 

[MO00]

For the money they are pretty good. I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up upgrading in a couple years. If you get the opportunity to use a premium tripod and head it’ll kind of spoil you.

 

[CHSD]

I've used a few thermal hunting for coyotes. If you are talk the back ache can get rough if you are looking down your scope off the tripod for an extended period of time.

 

[BigBore72]

TBH I typically use a bipod when hunting, not a tripod. However, having used el-cheapo tripods for other things such as chronographs, spotting scopes, digital cameras, etc. I'm sick of dealing with garbage and would like a decent one that's budget friendly. Might possibly adapt it for handgun hunting, though. Sounds like this one could fill that niche.

 

[EdP]

I can't address the tripod because mine is mounted on a different tripod, one that is very stout. The death grip part has some plusses and minuses. The soft rubber jaw liner will deposit on your stock and make a mess. I cut pieces of leather to cover the jaws. Neither of the jaws swivel. Both are fixed in a parallel position so they will only work well holding a rifle where the sides of the stock are parallel. It would be much better if one jaw would swivel. The death grip does help steady the rifle when properly clamped.

 

[BigBore72]

I can't address the tripod because mine is mounted on a different tripod, one that is very stout. The death grip part has some plusses and minuses. The soft rubber jaw liner will deposit on your stock and make a mess. I cut pieces of leather to cover the jaws. Neither of the jaws swivel. Both are fixed in a parallel position so they will only work well holding a rifle where the sides of the stock are parallel. It would be much better if one jaw would swivel. The death grip does help steady the rifle when properly clamped.

Thank you, that's good to know.

 

[DuckDawg22]

I went and weighed the vice head earlier on my super scientific luggage scale. 2.1 pounds. Feels like more because of what it does for the balance of the collapsed tripod.

 

[McCrapper]

Nothing wrong with these except the weight. No reason to miss with one of these, I use it with my young shooters/wife.

 

[blacktail434]

I bought one a few years ago on sale. My kids like using it and it's been great as they're learning to shoot. Heavy, but it does work well for what it is. I'll eventually get something else (fat boy, two vets, ??)... something with inverted carbon fiber legs.