Surveyor tripod to rifle tripod ?

[JJBat150]

Have an old surveyor's tripod - metal base with metal legs and wooden inserts to adjust height.   Includes the nice bright yellow and orange paint scheme.

Anyone ever use one as a base for a rifle tripod?   pictures or suggestion welcome.

Seen tripods with saddle clamps to secure the rifle, and also seen ones with just a sandbag as a rest.  Pro or cons to each design?

 

 

[Bolt Action]

I did something similar. I had an old shop light with the two lamps on top. And the tripod at the bottom. I took the lamps off along with the crossbar. I then took a piece of inch and a half PVC screwed a hole in the bottom of it and cut it in half so it was kind of like a cup screwed on to the top of this. Then I painted the whole thing black. Works perfect. I'll see if I can find a pic

[Meatball]

I haven't made my own tripod, but did buy a redhead one that can be used as a single stick. My buddy used it as a single and lost my yolk hiking. So he bought this for me as a replacement. I just ordered a yoke off Amazon to get it back to what I wanted. 

But to help answer your question, just about every tripod is the standard 1/4"- 20 thread. Or the accessory comes with a bushing to adapt to it. All you need to do is drill a hole and put a quarter inch 20 bolt sticking up high enough that you can thread on whatever you want ( yoke, rest, cameras, etc.  Double or triple nut it so it doesn't come off of your tripod and leave enough that you can get on your accessory, and use the tightening screw on the accessory to stop your yoke from spinning. 

[cas]

What are you trying to accomplish, meaning what's the goal?  Years ago I made a block of wood to adapt an "owl ear" sandbag to a regular camera tripod. Originally for single shot handgun hunting, later using it for rifles.  The only trouble I would have is when I would try to leave the rifle balancing up there and I'd bump it and knock it off. 

 

More recently I spent a lot-o-bucks on a large carbon fiber tripod with a head that adapts to Acra rail and pic rail.  

 

BUT....   a number of times when I wanted to shoot "regular guns" off them (ones without rails on them, which is about 96% of them lol) I've just removed bowl and set a sand bag on top of it and shot off it. 

 

If you're not looking for something to lock the gun in by trying to adapt a ball head or a "hog saddle" to it, that might work just fine. 

 

There's lots and lots of different style bags marketed towards PRS matches that might work. Some with straps on them , usually made to strap to the gun, but you might be able to use it upside down and strap it to the tripod. But that stuff's not cheap generally, unless you buy Amazon knockoff stuff. 

https://www.amazon.com/S2Delta-Shooting-C-Shape-Precision-Barricades/dp/B09ZVLVP75?th=1

https://www.cole-tac.com/product/waxed-tricorne-bag/

https://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/prs-bag/

I'll admit I have thought about what you're talking about a time or two when I saw them cheap on Craigslist or wherever. 

 

Edited September 18, 2023 by cas

[cas]

Something like this is easier to swallow price wise. 

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/caldwell-hunters-blind-bag

Edited September 18, 2023 by cas

[Moho81]

Can you get something like this to mount up on the tripod? 
 

Limited-time deal: BOG DeathGrip UltraLite with Arca-Swiss and Switcheroo Capability, Lightweight Construction, Shooting Rest Head, and Universal Gun Clamp for Hunting, Shooting, Target Practice, and Outdoors,Black/Gray https://a.co/d/4DzKfrP

 

[Bucksnbows]

I use a Bog Pod myself. I own two surveyor tripods for work, but they are colored “loudly” and are ten times the weight of the Bog Pod. I suppose you could make one work for a ground blind. But I wouldn’t want to carry it in and out each time. 

[GreeneHunter]

I lean against a tree ... does it for me !

[grampy]

Primo's Tri Pod Triggerstick works for me. Light, easy and fast, to set up on uneven ground, very sturdy too. 

Also have the Bi Pod, and the Mono Pod models that cover just about any of my set ups. 

[Bolt Action]

Adding a visual for what I tried to describe above.

I unscrewed the horizontal bar at the top that has the lights on it. This cut back on weight quite a bit. I then took a 2 inch section of 3 inch PVC and cut it in half leaving a sort of cup. I drilled a hole in the bottom that i could put on the screw that was exposed when I removed that bar. This essentially gave me something to rest the gun stock in. It folds down nice and small, and is telescoping to accommodate a seated or standing shooting position. I painted mine flat green with some black splashes on it to break up the outline. Didn't cost me a thing and gets the job done. 

[dbHunterNY]

last i knew those weren't very light at all. i like a bipod more because it can be kicked out to adjust length on the fly and there's less going on. i either plan on sitting or standing and have it adjusted prior to expecting a shot. that's easily enough figured out depending on cover around you and if i'm on the move.

[dbHunterNY]

38 minutes ago, grampy said:

Primo's Tri Pod Triggerstick works for me. Light, easy and fast, to set up on uneven ground, very sturdy too. 

Also have the Bi Pod, and the Mono Pod models that cover just about any of my set ups. 

i have a bipod trigger stick now but i don't think i like it as much as the simpler gandermountain bipod i had. mainly because it kept the legs from spreading apart at some point. i had the one trigger stick leg kick out and caused me to fumble a bit a couple times when things were happening fast. i was still getting used to it.

[Bolt Action]

2 hours ago, dbHunterNY said:

last i knew those weren't very light at all. i like a bipod more because it can be kicked out to adjust length on the fly and there's less going on. i either plan on sitting or standing and have it adjusted prior to expecting a shot. that's easily enough figured out depending on cover around you and if i'm on the move.

Totally agree. There are models out there that are much lighter and easier to use. I just couldn't justify spending the money on one when i could DIY something that was just about as functional.

[dbHunterNY]

58 minutes ago, Bolt Action said:

Totally agree. There are models out there that are much lighter and easier to use. I just couldn't justify spending the money on one when i could DIY something that was just about as functional.

my comment was to the original poster and using a surveyors tripod. same for yours too i guess but i get what you're saying.