tripod vs bipod

[LaHunter]

Question for the experienced daytime predator (coyote) hunters; Do you prefer a tripod as your primary rifle rest or a bipod?
I have a good tripod / ball head setup, but I know I am giving up some ability to adjust quickly as the coyotes come in from the worst possible angle. What bipods are you guys using and why and what is your realistic effective range while sitting on the ground with the bipod? I read good stuff about the Tricer RP, but wanted to hear from the experienced coyote hunters on here.

Thanks for info

 

[M44]

I suppose like a lot of fellers, I started off using sticks. Over the years I tried sticks from 3 different manufacturers. All 3 had adjustable aluminum legs and all 3 had the same problem. Get those legs wet during freezing conditions and sometimes they would fail to lock after extended. You walk a quarter of a mile into a stand only to discover your sticks don't work. Not good . I finally became aware of Vern Howey sticks and never looked back. No legs to extend, very versatile, and easy to reposition side to side.

As I got older, it became apparent to me I was not as steady on the sticks as I once was. Time to find an alternative if I was going to keep my confidence level. I had hunted with a couple guys who used tripods and knew that was not the route for me. I didn't want to pack them in and the versatility seemed lacking. So a bipod fastened to my rifle looked good.

First I tried a Harris bipod with all the doo
dads to pan and tilt. However , where I hunt, I need to be able to shoot down at a steep angle as well as up at an angle . I remember a couple shots where I was practically laying on my back. The Harris lasted one season.

Next was the Tricer. A very solid unit, but same problem. It lasted half a season. Finally I discovered Rok Stedi with an actual ball head. Now this thing did what I wanted. Left. Right. Up. Down. Tilt.
Light and easy to drag in order to reposition. I keep the ball head unlocked all the time and just use the lever to keep the tension I want for the particular stand.
Off my butt, confidence is high to 300. Beyond that I go prone and use the same bipod. If the situation allows it.

 

[Jtb.kfd]

My family uses tripods with either a yoke or sometimes a clamp. I can keep my gun up in the ready position and still run the caller. Depending on the terrain we are hunting I bring a tripod that will adjust for prone, sitting and or standing. I have tried a lot of different bipods over the years, but now I just use tripods for both big game and predator.

 

[flyfisher117]

I started out with wood shooting sticks. Basic 1x3 that I routered the edges on and bolted together. Screwed a lag bolt into the end and cut the head and sharpened on a grinder.

I have since moved to a Hatch bipod. I like that I can just leave it in the rifle and carry both. I had a sitting height swagger bipod but with the springs on top I hated that thing.

I have tried using tripod. It worked I just didn’t like having to carry it, a rifle, and a call. It was just a PITA. Though I could remedy that buy using a small backpack.

 

[hairloom56]

Depends for me... i usually rock a bipod. Though if i'm gonna be sat stationary a lot then i bring out the tripod.

 

[dirtytough]

I use both. If the terrain/vegetation allows I lay prone.

If I can’t lay prone I sit with a tripod. I use an Anvil-30 and clip in. For a bipod I use a LW Ckye pod with some aftermarket pieces.

When walking in my rifle is attached to the tripod and bipod. The tripod rests on my shoulder and the rifle hangs off of it.

 

[Skerhunter]

Both work, sometimes a bipod will be easier to get along with, other times a tripod would be a better solution.

Calling farm country (Midwest) I’m just taking a bipod (triple pull that goes higher than needed on level ground no pivot just cant). Shots will be close/easy, but happen super fast. I will be crossing fences and in/out of the truck a lot, so bipod is just easier (less stuff to carry).

Taller vegetation or longer shot opportunities in bigger country open country is when a tripod comes into play.

 

[JacksonBush]

I’ve watched numerous videos of guys rocking a tripod on day hunts. Prone with a Harris bipod was my go to for years. The older I get the less mobile I am and it seems super awkward to me to try and shoot from a tripod unless I’m standing……and unless you’re well hidden dogs are gonna bust you every time. I can’t hit the broadside of a barn from my butt off a bipod but dogs rarely get away from me at night standing off a tripod. I have a Tricer bipod now that I’ll try at some point I think, but checking out that Rokstedi tripod M44 mentioned looks like something I might give a whirl if the Tricer doesn’t work for me. The ball head is genius for guys like me that are used to hunting off a tripod at night.

 

[cwitt]

For a bipod, I think it’s hard to beat the swaggers for the price and maneuverability. At first I used their original Hunter 42 and then switched to the QD42 as I found it’s more convenient and less clunky. I used them a ton and had no problem out to 300 seated with that system.

A little under a year ago I bought a ball head and put it on an old slik tripod to have as an option for clients to shoot off on rifle hunts. This winter I decided I wanted to get more comfortable shooting off a tripod so I’ve been using it for coyotes. I know it’s nothing new, especially for night hunters, but so far I have been really impressed. I’ve just set the tripod up with two legs out front similar how a bipod would be, with the third at my side under my arm pit. Killed 15 or so coyotes off of it this year and it’s seemed almost as maneuverable as a bipod/sticks while being much more stable for runners and longer shots. Also feel like it keeps the movement down having the rifle already up, locked into the ball head. Planning to get a more purpose-built shooting tripod soon. One with inverted leg sections for sure.