Wiser BT-20 Ridge Warden

[sndmn11]

Does anybody have a comparison between the this and the tricer LP as far smoothness when glassing ?

Mine came late today and I don't think it will give anything up to the LP. I have an ATC and 14x NLs, my bigger spotters are long gone.

 

[flyfisher117]

Anyone amble to compare to the RRS Anvil?

Thats kind of an Apple vs Sirloin comparison. Anything specific you’re curious about comparing them?

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Mine came late today and I don't think it will give anything up to the LP. I have an ATC and 14x NLs, my bigger spotters are long gone.

Sorry I’m most likely just misreading the “it will not give anything up to the LP”.. could you clarify your meaning ?

 

[sndmn11]

Sorry I’m most likely just misreading the “it will not give anything up to the LP”.. could you clarify your meaning ?

Not lacking
Not a downgrade
Isn't inferior
Shant be bested

I think if a person bought this just to glass, in the lightest weight ~$300 range, they would be happy.

*Added--> unless I uncover a durability problem

 

[chukwithak]

Thats kind of an Apple vs Sirloin comparison. Anything specific you’re curious about comparing them?

I’m about to pull the trigger on a RRS tripod. Just debating getting the Anvil vs the Wiser.

I understand the Anvil is probably a better quality product (Nothing against wiser, I use many of their items) and if it had a front handle for glassing, I probably wouldn’t even consider anything else. My thoughts also are that it’s more of a shooters platform.

I feel that the Wiser is probably a better glassing platform with the ability to shoot from.

I don’t want to add another piece to the Anvil for glassing if I don’t need to. We hike pretty deep into the Frank and while I consider my self in great shape, less is better. Not necessarily a weight weenie, but it adds up.

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Not lacking
Not a downgrade
Isn't inferior
Shant be bested

I think if a person bought this just to glass, in the lightest weight ~$300 range, they would be happy.

*Added--> unless I uncover a durability problem

Would you say is any smoother than the lp strictly for glassing ?

 

[ID_Matt]

I’m about to pull the trigger on a RRS tripod. Just debating getting the Anvil vs the Wiser.

I understand the Anvil is probably a better quality product (Nothing against wiser, I use many of their items) and if it had a front handle for glassing, I probably wouldn’t even consider anything else. My thoughts also are that it’s more of a shooters platform.

I feel that the Wiser is probably a better glassing platform with the ability to shoot from.

I don’t want to add another piece to the Anvil for glassing if I don’t need to. We hike pretty deep into the Frank and while I consider my self in great shape, less is better. Not necessarily a weight weenie, but it adds up.

If shooting is the priority, the anvil always wins. If you spend a majority of time glassing, you’ll be disappointed you packed the heavy thing miles in to the frank though.

 

[6.5x284]

I removed all the grease and used a graphite lube and liked it better. The screw for the tension was always in the exact wrong place for me so I loosened the knob until i could push the hex nut out and change the timing and then retightened. Feels like a different head. Very happy with it currently. I also have the Tricer LP and the Wiser Knighthawk and the Asiak Ridgeline along with the Backcountry. For backcountry elk hunts and day trips where I won’t glass as much I’ll run the Ridgeline system. For all other hunting I’ll use the Backcountry tripod with BT-20 head and move my other mini heads to window mounts.


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[IrkedCitizen]

Mine came late today and I don't think it will give anything up to the LP. I have an ATC and 14x NLs, my bigger spotters are long gone.

You can come grab one of my STS65 this weekend if you want

 

[chukwithak]

If shooting is the priority, the anvil always wins. If you spend a majority of time glassing, you’ll be disappointed you packed the heavy thing miles in to the frank though.

If I need to worry about 1lb difference, I have bigger problems. And we have goats.

 

[awcopeland]

If I need to worry about 1lb difference, I have bigger problems. And we have goats.

It sounds to me your mind is already set on the RRS. Go buy it and enjoy it.

 

[sndmn11]

Would you say is any smoother than the lp strictly for glassing ?

In the ten minutes I played with it, it seemed similar. For me, I just need it to move half a FOV and then stay without backlash. It will take a little more playing around with for digiscope tracking and take getting used to as a user since tension adjustment is different between the two. I think a lot of that has to do with the tripod being used; how much it vibrates/flexes, weight, if it is anchored, etc. I had it on the little Aziak unanchored and on concrete yesterday, and nothing jumped out at me as being deficient.

I need to go find some pronghorn this weekend and will have a better idea of functionality then.

 

[chukwithak]

It sounds to me your mind is already set on the RRS. Go buy it and enjoy it.

If I was set I wouldn’t be here. Weight isn’t the issue. Versatility, tracking, quality for shooting AND glassing is what I’m looking for. Someone, I forget who, said something about the weight. I’m not concerned about that If I check all the boxes for an extra lb.

 

[ID_Matt]

If I was set I wouldn’t be here. Weight isn’t the issue. Versatility, tracking, quality for shooting AND glassing is what I’m looking for. Someone, I forget who, said something about the weight. I’m not concerned about that If I check all the boxes for an extra lb.

If the weight isn't a concern but shooting and glassing is, I would get the Anvil with the PT scout head to put on top. For a quick glassing session or to verify something in the spotter, the anvil isn't bad but for anything more than that it isn't ideal.

 

[Juan_ID]

Got out again to shoot with the wiser/aziak combo last night. Was hoping to compare it to my nrlhunter tripod with the ma-30 but my nrl tripod was not in my truck. I did have my old brunton truck glassing tripod and ma-30 so I shot off that to compare. Wiser/aziak weighs 2lbs 11oz, brunton tripod with ma-30 weighs 4lbs 12oz.
This was shot seated with no rear support, 9.75lb rifle clipped in just in front of the mag well at 475 yards. Top 5 were the brunton bottom 5 were the aziak. I did not see or feel a huge difference in stability in the 2 setups. The odds of me or anyone in my party taking a 500 yard shot off a tripod with no rear support are basically zero. This all may mean nothing as I’m definitely no tripod pro but it was interesting to shoot them side by side just for my own info.

I will be practicing seated tripod with trekking pole rear a fair bit this summer, much prefer that to pack rear support. I did just do a quick 5 round zero before shooting these 10 so the low impacts may be a combination of that and me not properly loading the tripod when behind the rifle. Not entirely sure, if this head holds up I think it’ll be a winner, may try cleaning the grease out and doing graphite as @6.5x284 did at some point.

 

[chukwithak]

If the weight isn't a concern but shooting and glassing is, I would get the Anvil with the PT scout head to put on top. For a quick glassing session or to verify something in the spotter, the anvil isn't bad but for anything more than that it isn't ideal.

Appreciate that response.

 

[6.5x284]

Got out again to shoot with the wiser/aziak combo last night. Was hoping to compare it to my nrlhunter tripod with the ma-30 but my nrl tripod was not in my truck. I did have my old brunton truck glassing tripod and ma-30 so I shot off that to compare. Wiser/aziak weighs 2lbs 11oz, brunton tripod with ma-30 weighs 4lbs 12oz.
This was shot seated with no rear support, 9.75lb rifle clipped in just in front of the mag well at 475 yards. Top 5 were the brunton bottom 5 were the aziak. I did not see or feel a huge difference in stability in the 2 setups. The odds of me or anyone in my party taking a 500 yard shot off a tripod with no rear support are basically zero. This all may mean nothing as I’m definitely no tripod pro but it was interesting to shoot them side by side just for my own info.

I will be practicing seated tripod with trekking pole rear a fair bit this summer, much prefer that to pack rear support. I did just do a quick 5 round zero before shooting these 10 so the low impacts may be a combination of that and me not properly loading the tripod when behind the rifle. Not entirely sure, if this head holds up I think it’ll be a winner, may try cleaning the grease out and doing graphite as @6.5x284 did at some point.
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Small sample size but I’ve had 3 ball heads go down before (2 hunting, 1 match) when ran with factory grease. In really cold weather they run sticky as well. In my small sample size I have found graphite to be more reliable in the field and cold.


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[evergreenfrenzy]

Appreciate that response.

I’ve ran RRS tripods/heads for over a decade between photography and shooting, and although expensive, they really are the best of the best. I’m a huge fan.

Like others will say, the Anvil is by far the best shooting head if you’re not concerned about weight, but for glassing I don’t like it. I do have the PT-Scout that I’ll throw on top of the Anvil and it’s much better for glassing, but it isn’t super smooth for tracking which is my biggest complaint.

I’m considering the Wiser Precision (either Nighthawk or Ridge Warden) mainly as a replacement for the PT-Scout “put it on top of the Anvil for glassing” scenario.

If the Ridge Warden also works well enough for shooting off of, I would potentially only take that head on trips where I’m more concerned about weight.

 

[chukwithak]

I’ve ran RRS tripods/heads for over a decade between photography and shooting, and although expensive, they really are the best of the best. I’m a huge fan.

Like others will say, the Anvil is by far the best shooting head if you’re not concerned about weight, but for glassing I don’t like it. I do have the PT-Scout that I’ll throw on top of the Anvil and it’s much better for glassing, but it isn’t super smooth for tracking which is my biggest complaint.

I’m considering the Wiser Precision (either Nighthawk or Ridge Warden) mainly as a replacement for the PT-Scout “put it on top of the Anvil for glassing” scenario.

If the Ridge Warden also works well enough for shooting off of, I would potentially only take that head on trips where I’m more concerned about weight.

I was actually going to come back and ask that exact question to @ID_Matt. If I go with Anvil, would you consider the Nighthawk over the PT scout?

 

[JDMBEND]

Anyone amble to compare to the RRS Anvil?

The Anvil is great to shoot off, terrible to glass off off.