Ray-Vin Scope Stand question

[Flybuster]

I am looking to buy a quality spotting scope stand that will last awhile. I plan on using this scope stand for Palma and High Power 3 position shooting matches. I’ve seen quite a few Ray-Vins on the line and other nice ones. The main question is how many 24” tube extensions will be necessary for standing position? Can I get away with one 24” extension since I’m only 5’6”? I plan on buying this model:

Also do you find it worthwhile to add the Ray-Vin Outrigger Attachment? Especially for the prone position? Seems like you wouldn’t bump your stand as often, and closer position to the scope = less movement.

Any ideas and or suggestions?

 

[jayded1]

If you find any let me know! I'll take one too ) . I don't think you'll need the outrigger attachment as you can just rotate the scope so the eyepiece is away from the tube....unless you dont have an angled eyepiece.

 

[fullersson]

http://www.championshooters.com/store/product.php?productid=783&cat=283&page=1

This is the stand my shooting partner and I use. Neither of use shoot high power, but a good friend of ours who does shoot high power is the one who recommended this stand. We have been very pleased with this stand and with the extensions for this stand. My shooting partner shoots from the prone position a lot and uses this stand in the same manner as a high power shooter would use it and he doesn't seem to have any problem getting the stand into the positions he needs it to be. When I spot for him I add the extension so I can spot sitting on my stool and the extensions seem to be very sturdy. Brian Brown.

 

[Flybuster]

If you find any let me know! I'll take one too ) . I don't think you'll need the outrigger attachment as you can just rotate the scope so the eyepiece is away from the tube....unless you dont have an angled eyepiece.

Creedmoor Sport has Ray-Vin: http://www.creedmoorsports.com/store/product.php?productid=889858

The way I understood it, the original owner does not make them anymore due to health; someone else bought them out. But don't quote me on that.

 

[Flybuster]

http://www.championshooters.com/store/product.php?productid=783&cat=283&page=1

This is the stand my shooting partner and I use. Neither of use shoot high power, but a good friend of ours who does shoot high power is the one who recommended this stand. We have been very pleased with this stand and with the extensions for this stand. My shooting partner shoots from the prone position a lot and uses this stand in the same manner as a high power shooter would use it and he doesn't seem to have any problem getting the stand into the positions he needs it to be. When I spot for him I add the extension so I can spot sitting on my stool and the extensions seem to be very sturdy. Brian Brown.

That looks like a great deal. It comes with the extensions, I might go that route. I remember seeing those at the last match. Good price, looks solid and high quality. I have the rotating band on my scope, so the zoom head is the way to go. Thanks for reminding me of those.

 

[juniorARshooter]

Absolutely a GREAT stand! solid and dependable -
as for height, if you do shoot high power, sort of depends on how you stand and address the scope - if you want it at eye level so you have minimum movement you may need the longer extension. Recommend you measure your eye height using whatever your approach to the spotting scope will be.

Ray Vin is #1

 

[Flybuster]

Absolutely a GREAT stand! solid and dependable -
as for height, if you do shoot high power, sort of depends on how you stand and address the scope - if you want it at eye level so you have minimum movement you may need the longer extension. Recommend you measure your eye height using whatever your approach to the spotting scope will be.

Ray Vin is #1

Roger that.

 

[Erud]

The Ray-Vin stand is excellent and I think it's the best one available. The way the adjustment works is pretty ingenious and only requires moving one handle to adjust all directions, unlike some of the other models. I have used mine for well over 100 HP matches since 2007 and have not had a single problem with it. I do not use it for the off-hand position as I can see the spotter and value disk well enough with my naked eye. I also own the outrigger attachment and find it useful for prone-only matches. in any other position, it makes the stand too lopsided and much more likely to tip over. I take it off for over the course matches.

I must say that when I bought my stand in 07 it seems like it was a lot cheaper than Creedmoor is now selling them for - seems like it was closer to the $200 range, but I could be mistaken...

Erik

 

[Flybuster]

The Ray-Vin stand is excellent and I think it's the best one available. The way the adjustment works is pretty ingenious and only requires moving one handle to adjust all directions, unlike some of the other models. I have used mine for well over 100 HP matches since 2007 and have not had a single problem with it. I do not use it for the off-hand position as I can see the spotter and value disk well enough with my naked eye. I also own the outrigger attachment and find it useful for prone-only matches. in any other position, it makes the stand too lopsided and much more likely to tip over. I take it off for over the course matches.

I must say that when I bought my stand in 07 it seems like it was a lot cheaper than Creedmoor is now selling them for - seems like it was closer to the $200 range, but I could be mistaken...

Erik

Very good point, at 200 yard off-hand & kneeling you don't really need a scope, because you can see the spotter with your naked eye. I'll probably only need the scope for 300 yard and further, which will be shot prone; that means I'll probably only need one extension for a total of 36" off the ground, mainly for scoring other shooters from a chair.

I think your right, the Ray-Vin is solid. I've been impressed from the ones I've borrowed. I like the head, very adjustable, but a two handed job.

The whole cost thing sort of has me debating though. I can get a Ray-Vin for $322.90 with one extension, with the outrigger that's an extra $102.95 for a total of $425.85.

The Freeland Heavy Duty runs for $225.00, and includes extensions; unfortunately it does not have an outrigger option.

But the difference between Ray-Vin and Freeland is $97.00 just for the tripods themselves. Really not that much difference I guess. Buy once cry once?

 

[Erud]

The Ray-Vin stand is excellent and I think it's the best one available. The way the adjustment works is pretty ingenious and only requires moving one handle to adjust all directions, unlike some of the other models. I have used mine for well over 100 HP matches since 2007 and have not had a single problem with it. I do not use it for the off-hand position as I can see the spotter and value disk well enough with my naked eye. I also own the outrigger attachment and find it useful for prone-only matches. in any other position, it makes the stand too lopsided and much more likely to tip over. I take it off for over the course matches.

I must say that when I bought my stand in 07 it seems like it was a lot cheaper than Creedmoor is now selling them for - seems like it was closer to the $200 range, but I could be mistaken...

Erik

Very good point, at 200 yard off-hand & kneeling you don't really need a scope, because you can see the spotter with your naked eye. I'll probably only need the scope for 300 yard and further, which will be shot prone; that means I'll probably only need one extension for a total of 36" off the ground, mainly for scoring other shooters from a chair.

I think your right, the Ray-Vin is solid. I've been impressed from the ones I've borrowed. I like the head, very adjustable, but a two handed job.

The whole cost thing sort of has me debating though. I can get a Ray-Vin for $322.90 with one extension, with the outrigger that's an extra $102.95 for a total of $425.85.

The Freeland Heavy Duty runs for $225.00, and includes extensions; unfortunately it does not have an outrigger option.

But the difference between Ray-Vin and Freeland is $97.00 just for the tripods themselves. Really not that much difference I guess. Buy once cry once?

If you're going to get the Ray-Vin, I'd say hold off on the outrigger until you are sure you want or need it. I used mine without one for almost 5 seasons and never had any trouble. I got my outrigger used for about half the cost of a new one so I think it was worth it, but I honestly don't think it's worth $100 as I only use it during prone-only Mid-Range and Long-Range matches. If I only shot OTC matches I wouldn't use it at all and it's stay in the back of my truck.

One of the major selling points when I bought my stand was that I also use the Ray-Vin cart kit so the scope stand was made to attach to the cart and be used as a handle to pull it with. When Ray-Vin was still making and selling the stands directly, the stand came with a long pole. The pole is probably 4 1/2 or 5' long so no extensions are necessary. The way Creedmoor has changed it to the short pole with extensions for extra $ I don't think is a positive change. I guess I should clarify my original post to say that I think the old version from Ray-Vin was the best available when you factor everything in. The Creedmoor version I'm sure is still pretty darn good, but with the changes they've made and what they are now charging for them I can't say I'd buy it over any of the others if I were just starting out now.

Hope this is helpful.

Erik

 

[Flybuster]

The Ray-Vin stand is excellent and I think it's the best one available. The way the adjustment works is pretty ingenious and only requires moving one handle to adjust all directions, unlike some of the other models. I have used mine for well over 100 HP matches since 2007 and have not had a single problem with it. I do not use it for the off-hand position as I can see the spotter and value disk well enough with my naked eye. I also own the outrigger attachment and find it useful for prone-only matches. in any other position, it makes the stand too lopsided and much more likely to tip over. I take it off for over the course matches.

I must say that when I bought my stand in 07 it seems like it was a lot cheaper than Creedmoor is now selling them for - seems like it was closer to the $200 range, but I could be mistaken...

Erik

Very good point, at 200 yard off-hand & kneeling you don't really need a scope, because you can see the spotter with your naked eye. I'll probably only need the scope for 300 yard and further, which will be shot prone; that means I'll probably only need one extension for a total of 36" off the ground, mainly for scoring other shooters from a chair.

I think your right, the Ray-Vin is solid. I've been impressed from the ones I've borrowed. I like the head, very adjustable, but a two handed job.

The whole cost thing sort of has me debating though. I can get a Ray-Vin for $322.90 with one extension, with the outrigger that's an extra $102.95 for a total of $425.85.

The Freeland Heavy Duty runs for $225.00, and includes extensions; unfortunately it does not have an outrigger option.

But the difference between Ray-Vin and Freeland is $97.00 just for the tripods themselves. Really not that much difference I guess. Buy once cry once?

If you're going to get the Ray-Vin, I'd say hold off on the outrigger until you are sure you want or need it. I used mine without one for almost 5 seasons and never had any trouble. I got my outrigger used for about half the cost of a new one so I think it was worth it, but I honestly don't think it's worth $100 as I only use it during prone-only Mid-Range and Long-Range matches. If I only shot OTC matches I wouldn't use it at all and it's stay in the back of my truck.

One of the major selling points when I bought my stand was that I also use the Ray-Vin cart kit so the scope stand was made to attach to the cart and be used as a handle to pull it with. When Ray-Vin was still making and selling the stands directly, the stand came with a long pole. The pole is probably 4 1/2 or 5' long so no extensions are necessary. The way Creedmoor has changed it to the short pole with extensions for extra $ I don't think is a positive change. I guess I should clarify my original post to say that I think the old version from Ray-Vin was the best available when you factor everything in. The Creedmoor version I'm sure is still pretty darn good, but with the changes they've made and what they are now charging for them I can't say I'd buy it over any of the others if I were just starting out now.

Hope this is helpful.

Erik

Erik, thanks for taking the time to follow up on my question. Getting your equipment second hand is great, I doubt I'd be lucky enough to score a used Ray-Vin stand. I agree the change to sell poles separately on not one piece decreases the total value for the guy paying the $$$, but what can you do. The Freeland is obviously the better value with their extensions included, at no additional cost. I just think the Freeland has too many screws in the base, compared to the Ray-Vin. But, it's a tried and true model as well. I don't think you can go wrong with it. Thanks for helping me finalize my decision.

 

[1953Longrangesniper]

Hi Guys
I don't know whether any of you are interested but here is a second-hand Kowa Scope + micro adstable freeland stand on ebay ! 8)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270836952620?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648 Not a bad buy at the moment ! good luck !


Regards
Steve

 

[Flybuster]

Hi Guys
I don't know whether any of you are interested but here is a second-hand Kowa Scope + micro adstable freeland stand on ebay ! 8)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270836952620?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648 Not a bad buy at the moment ! good luck !


Regards
Steve

Thanks for the heads up Steve. Good price once I converted it to USD, 2 days left someone grab it up.

 

[woolenmammoth]

how do any of the stands mentioned here compare to the creedmore tripod stand? For $200 its a screaming deal compared to other prices and looks to place the scope pretty far off the pole. Looks pretty decently made judging from the video on their site. Anyone have any first hand experience with one?

 

[Flybuster]

how do any of the stands mentioned here compare to the creedmore tripod stand? For $200 its a screaming deal compared to other prices and looks to place the scope pretty far off the pole. Looks pretty decently made judging from the video on their site. Anyone have any first hand experience with one?

That's a good looking stand for a reasonable price.

 

[Rtheurer]

Dont forget First Strike.

http://www.first-strike-products.com/


RussT