Gun mount?

[BTLowry]

Any suggestions for a good entry level/economical tripod type mount?

I don't even know the correct term to search

Would be used for AR with ATN X-sight for my daughter to shoot off of

[Horitexan]

I'd get a Caldwell Field Pod. They're great for kids that aren't shooting a really long way and won't break the bank. We used one with a lot of success until we upgraded to a real ($$) tripod system.


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[SC-Texas]

Why not a
1. Hog Saddle
2. kopfjager reaper grip?
Fair much more sturdy than the cheaper options. If you can swing it, you buy once cry once.



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[Lawhorn]

I second the Kopfjager Reaper. It does an amazing job of stabilizing your weapon. I was also amazed at how much recoil was reduced because of the rig. I too use it with an ATN


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[oneisnone]

PM sent, BT

[Horitexan]

If you can swing an actual tripod and a mounting system, the PIG Saddle is a lot cheaper and the same design as the Hog Saddle and you'd only notice a difference out past 600-700yds. Kids wouldn't know the difference. Sean's advice is solid in terms of those systems being superior; but for most people, they aren't "entry level" in terms of price. That Caldwell system worked jus fine for a LOT of kids that used it for guns and crossbows.

If you're looking for something inexpensive to enable your 6-10 year-old to shoot a deer or a pig out to 100yds or so, without spending a lot, get the Caldwell. If you have money to blow, jump straight into a tripod system. It's the tripod system that I'd recommend buying the best - buy once, cry once. They're expensive if you want quality and don't want to drag around a ton of weight. I could buy a darn nice rifle for what I have in my tripod system.


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[SC-Texas]

. . . but for most people, they aren't "entry level" in terms of price. That Caldwell system worked jus fine for a LOT of kids that used it for guns and crossbows.

If you're looking for something inexpensive to enable your 6-10 year-old to shoot a deer or a pig out to 100yds or so, without spending a lot, get the Caldwell. If you have money to blow, jump straight into a tripod system. It's the tripod system that I'd recommend buying the best - buy once, cry once. They're expensive if you want quality and don't want to drag around a ton of weight. I could buy a darn nice rifle for what I have in my tripod system.


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I don't disagree with this. I haven't used the Caldwell field tripod, but my grandfather-inlaw has one it seemed a little flimsy for my 7 1/2 and 6 year old boys. It would certainly be better than nothing.

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[BTLowry]

My "baby" just turned 18

We might just do the buy once, cry once route and be done

[Horitexan]

My "baby" just turned 18

We might just do the buy once, cry once route and be done

One other route you can go, depending on the gun you're shooting, is to direct mount the gun to the tripod or ball head using an Arca-Swiss plate. I love my Hog Saddle but I'm going to be installing plates on a couple of rifles, including the custom I just finished, so that I can direct mount. This is SUPER easy if you're shooting an AR or any rifle with a handguard because there are adapters made to bolt the plate directly to the bottom of the handguard. With a traditional style stock, though, it requires some stock work to have inserts installed for the Arca-Swiss plate to get installed into. I talked to Hill Country Rifles about doing it for me and it's only going to run about $35.

The saddles are great but they're heavier than just a plate, the plate lowers the center of gravity which always increases stability and it's a more solid connection. Not to mention, it's cheaper. $20ish for the plate and $30ish for the GSing is a lot less than what I paid for my Hog saddle.

If you want the flexibility to articulate the rifle to all sorts of angles, you're going to want a ball head; and like most things, you get what you pay for. Ball heads are not all equal. This is why I went with a Hog Saddle rather than a Reaper Rest - the ball head on their system, while it works, is not a high-end ball head with a high weight rating. I bought a Sunwayfoto XB-52DL that's rated for an amazing 132lbs! Obviously it'll never see the weight but, because it's designed to work under that load, it's incredibly smooth to pan and tilt a rifle. Non of the herky-jerky, grab and then jump movement that can often occur with ball heads. It's almost as smooth as a fluid head, if you are familiar with them. Even so, I find that MOST of my shooting doesn't require much tilt. Certainly not enough to require a ball head. I'm glad I have it but I COULD have gone another route (had I known more when I bought my tripod system) that would have been lighter and less expensive; and that would have been perfect for most of my shooting. Lol!

The Really Right Stuff TA3 Leveling Plate. This thing provides you panning and 30 degrees of adjustment while allowing you a direct attachment point to your tripod - particularly with a Arca-Swiss style QD attachment bolted to the Leveling Plate. This is absolutely THE most stable and sturdy method of attaching to a tripod AND the lightest weight! Of course, it doesn't give you all the movement the other systems offer, as I mentioned. If I was going on a sheep hunt or somewhere extreme angles would be required, I wouldn't take this setup; but Texas hunting is made for this setup!

Here's a video that illustrates what I'm talking about except that the guy is using the RRS attachment rail instead of an Arca-Swiss plate. The RRS attachment is cool but is only offered for a few rifles and the Arca plate cane be made to work in most any rifle. Either way, it's cool and ROCK solid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBJJSshJeTA&sns=em

Sorry for the lengthy post. Just figured I'd REALLY make the decision more difficult! Lol!




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