Davros Pro (Gen 2) Tripod Head - Shooting

[JSol]

I just received my new tripod head and overall first impressions were good. It's light, built well, easy to operate, and I am a huge fan of the magnetic quick release. I mounted both the classic rifle adapter to the front rifle sling screw on my stock and also installed the gunsmith adapter just in front of my magazine.

First, I want to say the javelin bipod is perfect. No complaints about this one, it is just lightweight and solid. I cinch to attach and detach. Plus, you can throw it in your pocket instead of it getting tangled in tree branches.

I'm less impressed by the Davros Pro head. First, it doesn't have the same "shoulder" built into the stud that is on the Javelin bipod which locks it solid to prevent panning. Maybe I just received a bad unit, but there seems to be a lot of movement in the magnet quick attach socket, which is necessary to some degree to have the ability to connect and detach easily. The smooth head on the Davros Pro head allows for the rifle to spin with no way to lock it. You can lock the pan on the base of the tripod head, but the rifle is still free to rotate on the male portion of the magnetic socket where it attaches to the rifle. This created a shake for me since I couldn't find a position that would allow me to load up the tripod. I can put tension against the ball head to moderate the up-and-down shake, but I haven't found a way to control the side-to-side. It's almost like my rifle is wagging its tail!

I have emailed Spartan Precision to see if I could purchase a male adapter with the shoulder built in, but I have yet to receive a reply.

A couple of questions for you tripod shooters. Does anyone have experience with the system I am using and advice on improving the equipment or myself?

I also want to point out that I am not saying the Davros Pro Head is a bad head or to not buy one. I did a lot of research and for how I backpack hunt, it seemed to be the best choice for an "ultralight" system. I really want to like the system but currently shooting 6 moa with it on a tripod at 100 yards. For reference, I'm shooting 2 moa off trekking poles and moa off shooting bags or Javelin bipod at the same distance.

 

[lil_g]

Did you ever get to a happy place with this system or hear back from Spartan? I’m having the same experience with a lot of lateral play in the connection between the gunsmith adapter and the Davros Pro 2. The magnetic connection is great, can basically pick up the whole tripod with the gun, but same issues with ‘wag’ with the mount in front of the magazine on a Bergara 6.5 PRC.

 

[JSol]

There was no resolution with Spartan on this system, so I ended up selling it and replacing it with the Wiser Precision Quick Sticks system. I still have the Davros Picatinny adapter in my stock. My system uses the Wiser Picatinny quick connect attached to a set of carbon trekking poles. I'm really happy with this system and even opted to get the Wiser panhead for optics only. I find the carbon trekking poles offer enough resistance when twisting to allow me to line up shots for consistent shooting.

I still have the Davros lite bipod and am really happy with it for a quick deploy shooting mount.

 

[lil_g]

Ah, dang, I’m sorry it didn’t work out! Reckon I’ll keep fiddling with mine. Glad you found a system you like!

 

[TheViking]

Bummer to hear this. I just bought a used gun that has the gunsmith adapters installed right by the mag well and near the front. I was thinking about running the bipod + a davros head for tripod shooting.

Sounds like you two didn’t have much luck with it. They also make an arca adapter plate that plugs into the gunsmith adapter, then you can put it on any arca compatible tripod head. Sounds like I might have to go this route.

Arca to Spartan 12mm Converter

Now shooters that have already invested in a third party Arca-compatible ball or pan head can exploit the benefits of the Spartan magnetic rifle attachment system. Made from CNC machined 7075-T7531 aluminium with a durable hard-anodised finish, the Arca to Spartan Converter attaches quickly and...

javelinbipod.com

 

[lil_g]

Can't say that arca adapter is gonna make a huge difference; the post looks the same as the Davros, so the wag/lateral swing may still be there? No experience with that one, though, so maybe worth a shot?

I did give it a second try, and I'm not ready to give up on it yet. Yes, the lateral wag is still there if I let it, but I did wrap a piece of medical tape around the post, which made maybe some difference (or it was a placebo, whatever). Way better shoot overall. Was able to group within MOA out to 300 yards, sitting, with a Revic Stabilizer tripod. Standing, probably 1-2 MOA. My Gunsmith mount is in front of the magazine. Did this out in the wild on some BLM land, too, instead of a public range, so much quieter.

Doing another dope shoot out to 400, maybe 600 yards this week, and will be doing some side by side comparison with the Davros and a Tricer GC gun cradle, same tripod. Shot with the cradle on a separate shoot but don't find it as easy to pan or adjust and notice it flexes a bit.

The Javelin Pro Hunt bipod is awesome, though. Easy within MOA while prone, very stable. That side post on the shoulder of the bipod is money, like OP mentioned.