I developed shooting systems from a tripod about 10 years ago and hunt exclusively from a tripod and have experimented extensively both hunting and competitive shooting. They actually work better towards the front of the stock on most guns. The reason being is that anything mounted on the stock near the bottom metal will interfere with any off hand shooting and carrying of the rifle. Although it will support the rifle better in the location as far as balance goes it doesn’t really offer any more stability in terms of actually accuracy. Generally most often when shooting from a tripod the shooter will be seated or kneeling and or possibly even prone. Shooters should use elbows, knees, packs and other objects (bino harness, rocks, logs, ect) to stabilize the rear portion of the stock/rifle to create additional “points of contact” for more accurate shooting. This is especially true for larger, heavy recoil calibers. Large caliber rifles with heavy recoil that have the tripod mounts close to the bottom metal will suffer drastically with accuracy as a result of the recoil during the shot. Obviously there are a number of factors that can contribute to this including any type of muzzle brake/suppressor device and the type of ports they have. Specifically, in my experience heavy recoil calibers will experience muzzle bounce when shot from a tripod. When a rifle is mounted to a tripod near the bottom metal this shooting style eliminates the ability to “preload” the tripod and uses a very effective “free recoil” style of shooting. Free recoil is great and very accurate for heavy or light recoil calibers. Not so much for light weight, heavy recoil, large caliber hunting rifles!
I have several videos on my YT channel showing various shooting positions and how to set up hunting rifles for tripods.
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I hear you. Iv come up with ways to mitigate some of e complaints you noted. Specifically the size of a hook up. On hunting rifles Iv been using a piece of picatinny rail, it’s almost not noticeable on the rifle but locks into a tripod when I need it. A bag fully eliminates any attachment methods and can be used with any rifle.
Iv used my current and previous lighter tripods all kinds of ways, clipped in front and rear, on a bag, a clamp, as a rear support. In all the shooting Iv done on them including on the clock and at animal, it has been easiest to clip in near the mag well or throw a bag on it and position the rifle so the head is nearest the mag well.
Reason being is time. With the fulcrum near the mag well I have a lot of movement I can make with no adjustment to the tripod. Up front the tripod works like a bipod, I need to make big moves or adjust the tripod to make it work. On top of that, the tripod is now 2 feet away from my body, making adjustment even more of a chore. I can barely reach my head, and legs are out of reach without breaking my position. In the field I’m in charge of my own gear, I have to be able to manage it myself.
On top of the above, clipping into a tripod near the front of the rifle is much much less stable, unless as you eluded to, have solid a rear support. Iv found creating solid rear support to be a pain in the field, especially under time constraints. I can sit there and pile up gear or use what not to support the back of my rifle with it clipped at its balance point as well, but when it comes down to making a shot, I rarely have time to monkey around. Hence the bag, nearest the shooter. It allows a reasonably stable platform, is quick and is adjustable on the fly by the shooter.
As far as free recoil you lost me. I don’t free recoil my rifles. I don’t only shoot my match rifles off my tripod. I can preload the tripod to the point I’m picking the back leg/legs off the ground entirely clipped in near the mag well or with a bag. Though I do see some Muzzle control advantage when making your footprint wider essentially by placing by your tripod far out, you loose the ability to adjust on the fly, and it requires a solid rear support, something that is not always available. Muzzle bounce is directly related to how you are on the gun. On a tripod you can’t get away with poor recoil management like you would in the prone, or with a heavy gun. I manage recoil regardless of where my foreend lands on the tripod. This is where a bag shines even more, you won’t get the tripod bounce because you are not directly attached. On top of that, having the attachment being farther out means the muzzle is going to have more effect on the bounce. During recoil with many of the hunting style stocks we see, the front of the rifle is always mocking more than the midline or rear.
Just bringing up some points for you to try.
To play with it again, I’ll shoot as you mentioned at the range today. I’ll give myself 60 seconds to setup and break a shot, and compare it to a bag on the tripod seated. Always good to practice different ways.
