Usage, what to look for, and what the best option is

When it comes to your shooting skills, long range training is a favorite amongst any shooter, whether you are a civilian that likes to shoot in their free time or someone who needs to be a marksman for professional reasons. Sure, you can do your tactical training and practice all the cool stuff like close quarters combat and clearing rooms, but there is something special about looking through your scope, positively identifying a target, and pulling the trigger. That being said, there are many different tools to help you with your long range shooting. We are not talking about things like suppressors or rifle slings, or even the sling tabs, but instead we are talking about tripods. That’s right, rifle tripods are largely important pieces of equipment to add to your gear checklist.

We are going to break down what exactly rifle tripods are, what to look for, and what our favorite choice is.

What is a Rifle Tripod?

The value of a quality tripod can not be overstated, photographers know this just as well as skilled shooters. When it comes to taking out a target, you have to keep in mind that even the slightest movement in the wrong conditions can absolutely sabotage the shot, throwing off your accuracy, which in some cases could be life or death, or in hunting cases this could mean you won’t be eating. This is where you will see the value of rifle tripods, especially at extended ranges, as they can make your shot ten times more achievable.

Rifle tripods can level the playing field, or give you an advantage, making difficult or almost impossible shots in uncomfortable positions a lot more manageable to take. They are not like bipods where you only have support in the front of the rifle, but tripods can be used as rear supplementary support as well. They allow you to control your recoil a bit better and really make sure that you have the utmost accuracy with your shots. That being said, there are a few must-haves when it comes to picking out which rifle tripod you would like to go with.

Let’s take a look.

Must-Haves

Stout legs - You do not want weak tripod legs, as they can buckle under the pressure of a rifle or recoil. That being said, you want strong legs and stiff legs, as they often go hand-in-hand. A rifle tripod needs to support a fully loaded rifle and any weight the shooter puts onto it while stabilizing the shot.
Easy adjustments - Holding a rifle and making sure it is zeroed in properly is stressful enough, meaning you don’t want a complex rifle tripod that needs to be adjusted in ten different ways. You want knobs, levers, and dials that can be quickly operated and adjusted one-handed without stressing.
Counterweight point - Many rifle tripods tend to feature a counterweight point, and they are most often in the form of a hook or loop located directly under the head. However in order to make accurate shots, you are able to tie off any point, including yourself as a shooter
Multiple leg angles - As the name states, “tri” means three, so there will be three legs. You want these legs to be able to be adjusted depending on the position, meaning these can be used in any combination for variations of prone, kneeling, and standing shots.
Proper Feet - You don’t want metal feet on a rifle tripod, instead you want rubber feet. This is because rubber is a shock absorber, and as such, rubber feet on the ground help absorb and distribute recoil, making for more accurate shots.
Good Clamps - Clamps on rifle tripods are used to secure the 1.5-inch wide dovetail rails and provide fast and secure mounting options for rifles.

Our Favorite Rifle Tripod

*Image Courtesy of Two Vets Sporting Goods*

Now that we have discussed what rifle tripods are and what to look for when shopping for them, let’s take a look at our favorite rifle tripod, which is The Infil, from Two Vets Sporting Goods.

The Infil is great for backwoods country shooting, hunting, or just having a day on the range. It is designed by shooters, for shooters, meaning the people who designed it have tried and tested many different options when it comes to rifle tripods. Let’s take a look at the product features of The Infil Rifle Tripod.

Features

The Infil Rifle Tripod has some great features that are definitely worth checking out if you want to make more accurate shots.

Rubber Twist Locks new and improved rubber twist locks
Vented tubes for faster deployment with no airlock when deploying or collapsing the tripod
1/4 turn twist locks for easier and smoother deployment of the tripod
Leg stopper design which stops the legs from crossing when collapsing the tripod
Inverted Spikes inside of the rubber feet so no more carrying spikes in your pack or pocket
Spring loaded angled adjustment tabs for a more positive lock when choosing the angle you wish to set the legs at
CNC Machined Parts for the strongest structural integrity and stability
Set screw in the V2 series head with non marring material to stop ballheads being able to loosen under recoil or use
1/4 Inch Threaded inserts on leg collars to allow you to mount accessories to your tripod
Attachment loop on the bottom of the tripod to allow you to be able to weight your tripod down on windy environments

Dimensions

55MM Dual Tension Arca
55MM Dual Tension Area 419 Clamp
44MM Dual Tension Arca
44MM Dual Tension Area 419 Clamp

Price: $415

Where to Find Long Range Training

Throwing a tripod on your rifle is one thing, but actually putting it to the test, getting familiar with it, and becoming deadly as a long range shooter is essential. You can do that at the gun range, but you can also check out some tactical training courses at Core Vision Training, to see how you really react in different scenarios. When it comes to finding good tactical training, Core Vision Training offers a wide variety of tactical courses that will help you get used to your gear and maneuvering through different situations.

The best part is, they offer training in many different areas of the country. Core Vision offers some awesome LPVO training, as well as medical training to get you used to utilizing a first aid kit if you were to ever need one. Core Vision Training also offers some great close quarters courses. This can be extremely beneficial when it comes to defending your home, which hopefully you never have to do.

There also are multiple states that Core Vision Training is in, offering tactical training courses in:

Wrap Up

Overall, when it comes to checking out rifle tripods, there are some key things to look for. There are so many things to take into consideration to make sure that you are getting a quality rifle tripod that truly helps you remain accurate. That being said, we highly recommend The Infil from Two Vets Sporting Goods.

Will you be giving it a try?

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Header image courtesy of @milkmakaz

What to Look for in a Rifle Tripod