Rear rest when shooting from tripod?

Tullis94

Tullis94

WKR
Joined
Jan 9, 2016
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My dad had back surgery this winter. It has made it difficult and painful for him to lift his head high enough to shoot prone. We are looking for the most steady way to shoot off a tripod from the sitting position. Does anyone have any advice? Some kind or rear support? I've done some research but not finding a ton. Thanks for any help!
 
The outdoorsman makes a rear rest that attached to one of their tripod legs. I’ve used my backpack as a rear rest while sitting also.
 
I use a trekking pole or two sometimes for long shots. Or use the sitting position with my elbows on my knees, and that is usually steady enough off a tripod out to 350 yards, with practice...
 
Use the cross strap between the load lifter stays coming out of the top of my pack. Adjust angle of bag for height. Like shooting off of a sled. Front & rear supported.
 
Maybe look at a pump pillow to take up the negative space under the butt of the rifle. I've used one of these and a bag on top a tripod and it can be a very steady set up with some practice.

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This is the one I have. There are different sizes and brands to fit different situations.
 
Thanks everyone for the ideas. I will look into them. I don't know why I never thought of the trekking poles!
 
download.jpg
It all depends on how fast you need to be but I have seen guys run a tripod in the front and then a tac table in the rear with a bag attached to it. Armageddon gear has their light fill bags which will be better suited than the one in the picture. It would be pretty slow to get set up but once you are it is almost as stable as prone! But like what @TK-421 mentioned above a good tripod and an Anvil 30 will get you almost as stable with far less clutter! A lot more user-friendly too!
 
Buy a very sturdy tripod with no center column. Attach a head that is solid and won’t move under recoil. Use a lightweight rear bag for support. Use your packs, jackets, bags and everything else to build support for legs and arms.

I can shoot as good as prone. Here is a video of a field shot.


Here is a video showing why I was 100% confident in that field shot. I practiced that same position and had my gun zeroed to it. It tends to shoot “high” from a fully supported bench rest position, but that is why I zero in that position even on the range.


There are several good tripod shooting threads on Rockslide we have talked through it.
 
hereinaz said:
Buy a very sturdy tripod with no center column. Attach a head that is solid and won’t move under recoil. Use a lightweight rear bag for support. Use your packs, jackets, bags and everything else to build support for legs and arms.

I can shoot as good as prone. Here is a video of a field shot.


Here is a video showing why I was 100% confident in that field shot. I practiced that same position and had my gun zeroed to it. It tends to shoot “high” from a fully supported bench rest position, but that is why I zero in that position even on the range.


There are several good tripod shooting threads on Rockslide we have talked through it.
Click to expand...
I seen the thread on here with these same videos. Definitely seems to be the best option. Why do you suggest a tripod without the center column? More steady or just in the way?
 
Tullis94 said:
I seen the thread on here with these same videos. Definitely seems to be the best option. Why do you suggest a tripod without the center column? More steady or just in the way?
Click to expand...
They are far more steady. And, yes, it gets in the way when I use my tripod.

I don't have RRS money, but this is the tripod that I use. The legs are longer, but I pack it on the outside of my pack and that I use it for glassing and in place of a tripod. It is faster and the legs stay cleaner. But, there are times when the legs are a little too long. It depends on how you would use it.

 
hereinaz said:
They are far more steady. And, yes, it gets in the way when I use my tripod.

I don't have RRS money, but this is the tripod that I use. The legs are longer, but I pack it on the outside of my pack and that I use it for glassing and in place of a tripod. It is faster and the legs stay cleaner. But, there are times when the legs are a little too long. It depends on how you would use it.

Click to expand...
Just to clarify, as I have never used a tripod without a center column. Is it more steady even when the center column is all the way down? We are going to go this route and learn as we go. Thanks for the help! Any recomendations on a ball head?
 
Up or down. Look at the weight ratings. Basically, tripods are built for steadiness for camera work, and they are only just now beginning to be made for shooting. You can look at the weight rating, just buy a tripod with as high a weight rating as fits in the tradeoffs.

As for ball heads, the best is RRS Anvil 30 and is easiest to use. As with tripods, just find one that has a high weight rating.

Usually, I like to have a minimum weight rating over 50 pounds for both.
 
TK-421 said:
I think 50 pounds is probably a good general weight rating. But I will say that there is no industry standard for testing or establishing a weight rating. One tripod my look at lateral loading at a joint while another looks at longitudinal loading of the leg, while a third just makes it up. I just say that so the OP doesn’t try to use weight rating as a comparative metric.
Click to expand...
Yeah, at best it is a "minimum" standard I use. I think most are just made up...
 
Juan_ID said:
This has only been utilized once for us but a couple years ago I setup my wife on the tripod and used a pair of hiking poles as a rear rest. It made for a very stable platform, I would not hesitate to do it again. Here’s a pic just before she took the shot.
View attachment 415798
Click to expand...
I assume that your spotter was on tight, or you may hesitate to do that again.
Note: that looks like the outdoorsmans fluid head. I just used mine for the first time. Took a little getting used to over their micro pan head, but I foresee it getting a lot of use.
 
As others have mentioned, the RRS is the gold standard. I didn't want to spend that much so I bought one from two vets. It is amazing.

Before I had the Sirui that is well liked here. It is good but the stability is no where near as good as the better tripods. I shot out to 800 yesterday standing and it was easy.

Don't forget the head is important too.
 
Rich M said:
Is there any way he can lay cross a pack to raise his body for a prone shot?

I've got one of these and it's not too bad.

https://www.amazon.com/BOG-Stabilit...&keywords=bog-pod&qid=1654117931&sr=8-13&th=1

Can always use a tripod with a rail.
Can also use a tripod and a triggerstick for the back.

I'm good with triggerstick and my elbows on both knees.

Hope you can get dad figured out.
Click to expand...
This is a very good option as well. It all depends on the factors on the shot. If it is inside 300 yards, lots of positions can work. Past that the extra stability of a tripod is helpful, I think.

IMO, the tripod is just a simple button, because you can practice it and use it everywhere and it shoots very much the same in lots of positions. And, it can be used to the practical limits of the rifle.

All of my long range shots have been off a tripod, and I have had multiple shooters practice dry fire off the tripod for 20 minutes on the day of the hunt. And, each time the hunter killed from 430 to 1100 yards. The hunter could press the trigger without disturbing the rifle and I did everything else, including helping them build the position. I have noted that the first shot has been over the back if it is beyond 600 yards, but I favor that and then dial into it if they got a good trigger press. I think that I have better rifle and recoil control so I shoot lower.

Makes me want to test it the next time I go shooting at the range with a bunch of guys.
 
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