When it comes to accurate rifle shooting, a stable position is the bedrock upon which all other fundamentals rest. Just as a custom home on top of a crumbling foundation is worthless, the best breath control, sighting system and trigger-manipulation technique won’t do much for a shooter who can’t steady his or her rifle. Effective rifle support is integral to this element, and like most things in the shooting world, equipment options that help achieve it are steadily evolving.
The static accuracy testing I often do demands rifle rests that can provide consistent support during long-duration firing sessions. Over the past two decades, I’ve tried various styles of mechanical rests in hopes of finding a good solution that doesn’t set me back a month’s income for something that is only useful on a flat range. The disappointing results are evidenced by a pile of weighted sleds, hydraulically dampened rests and other rifle-securing contraptions gathering dust in my storage shed.
I’ve found that regardless of how firmly a rifle is clamped down or how solidly these rests are held in place, I spend ridiculous amounts of time fidgeting with screws or handwheels to get my rifles back on target after each shot. I’m sure it’s just me, but in the end, a rear sand sock and a front support that loosely cradles a rifle’s handguard, such as lobed-style heavy bag or benchrest-type front rest, is the most effective combination I can find.
Although these less sophisticated supports give me the best results on flat ranges, their practicality is limited to that environment. Supports that offer the most precision-shooting mobility away from the range, such as bipods and field-expedient rests, figured heavily into my former military life and are still the tools I default to in the field.
However, when there are ground-level obstructions between shooter and target, each of the above methods requires an elevated platform or bench. The result is a void for fluid situations where multiple long-distance, precise shots are required over tall grass, scrub brush, debris or uneven terrain. This is where shooting tripods enter the scene to save the shot, if not the entire day.
While heavy machine guns have been perched atop tripods since the late 1800s, three-legged rifle supports have typically been limited in options and practicality. But, thanks to modern, long-range precision-shooting sports, the non-adjustable or shaky tripods of past decades have been supplanted by mobile, stout and highly adaptable supports that are equally at home on flat ranges, field courses and rough-country hunts.
Unlike the simple, wooden or flimsy aluminum camera tripods used in the past, today’s shooting tripods feature heavy-duty aluminum or carbon-fiber legs. Rapid adjustments can be made for length and wide, rubber-capped feet are often replaceable. Many models allow multiple angles for standing, kneeling, sitting and (sometimes) prone use.
Entry-level tripods intended for hunting often feature a yoke-style head on which to balance the rifle. These are easy to use and great for situations that call for more stability than a support arm, but don’t allow for locking a rifle into a more rigid mount. Precision-shooting tripods with quick-adjusting ball heads make it easier to fine-tune rifle alignment and transition to new targets.
This latter type is most commonly found with either side-clamping or ARCA/Swiss rifle mounts. Clamping heads are a practical choice when attaching a rail to the rifle’s handguard is either impractical or undesirable. The ARCA rail system is a better fit for long-range precision work and can be attached or detached with relative ease. Add-on ARCA rails are also widely available.
Basic, yoke-topped models start in the $75 to $200 range. That price point includes repurposed camera tripods as well as dedicated hunting models that will work when quick, elevated support is needed. Moving up to the $300 to $800 range, legs get beefier and models come with a wider range of rifle-attachment methods, features and accessories.
My tripod needs fall into the occasional-use category, so springing for a high-end model wasn’t in the cards. I ended up with BOG Deathgrip Infinite that I found on sale. I’ve had it out for a few sessions and find that it’s great for use in challenging shooting positions, and It does well for accuracy grouping in static settings. While it isn’t as steady as my regular prone and bench-top rests, it’s adaptable to a wider variety of environments and can go wherever I can lug it.
If you’re jumping into the tripod game, there are a few features worth considering. Twist-lock leg extensions and multiple, rapid-adjust leg angles speed the process of fine tuning over uneven terrain. A counterweight hanger will lower the whole ensemble’s center of gravity and increase stability. A built-in bubble level helps to ensure windage and elevation holds (or adjustments) are accurate at long ranges. A robust ball head (larger than those used on camera tripods) is a must for holding a heavy rifle on target for more than just a couple shots.
Lastly, tripods are neither instinctive to use nor a replacement for solid shooting techniques. Therefore, training for different positions on less-than-perfect ground conditions will make things much easier when you’re far away from a pristine rifle range.
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