Spotting scope stand ?

[rmist]

If your looking for a spotting scope stand for F TR or F Class what would you look for and why ? I can't tell them apart on the line...haven't really thought about getting one until now.
Thanks again

 

[OldManTA]

try Wayne McLeod at GearBuggy.com. Made in USA, built to last and terrific customer support.
Tom Alves

 

[DonnyJ]

/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ What OldManTA said!

 

[rmist]

Thanks... I'll look at those

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Polecat from creedmoor

 

[Damfino]

Another plug for Wayne McLeod at GearBuggy.com. Great stand and a good guy to deal with.

 

[Ringostar]

Creedmor sells a few different brands. The Polecat is very nice.

 

[memilanuk]

Ray-Vin F-base is very solid. I've had one since they first came out.

Another good option is to get a Manfrotto 055 or 190 tripod with a 322 pistol-grip head. Very nice, and good for more than just F-class.

 

[rmist]

I looked at the Ray-Vin's ...would the Eclipse be a better choice? I would want to use to score other shooters as well...it looks like it would topple over with the spotting scope at it's highest point. Just asking.

 

[memilanuk]

Typically it is never at its highest point, unless you're shooting 200yd Offhand or trying to score standing up. If you have it raised up and resting against the arm of your chair, it works just fine. If its windy out, lower the scope down before you walk away.

Generally speaking, I use the Manfrotto the most any more as it is wider/more stable - the center column comes up and over, so you can get the center of the base well away from your arm. The Ray-Vin F-base is the same idea, just purpose-built and a bit more compact. The biggest thing I use the F-base for these days is when I'm shooting Fullbore-style matches, i.e. two (or three) to a firing poing, where it tends to get a bit crowded and the Manfrotto takes up a lot of real estate.

Here's what the Manfrotto looks like all flipped over and set up in position... and when its converted for 'standing', it goes higher than I can use, and I'm 6'4".

 

[rmist]

Which one is better a 055 or a 190? What is in your picture? If I read correctly the 055 holds a bit more weight. Is yours aluminum or carbon fiber?
Thanks again

 

[memilanuk]

I believe mine is the 055... originally I got it because for a specific event I help out with, I needed to be able to coach from standing, on the backside of a berm on uneven terrain where a conventional HP type spotting scope stand fails miserably. The 055 is bigger (legs are longer), so it probably does hold a bit more weight - that said, a typical spotting scope isn't *that* heavy as far as these tripods are concerned.

All things considered, if I had to do it again, I'd probably get the 190 as its just enough more compact so as to be a bit more friendly on the firing line (each leg is a couple inches shorter in the fully retracted position), and it goes plenty high enough. I definitely wouldn't spend the extra $$$ on the carbon fiber models.

 

[rmist]

Thank you again for your time !!

 

[lawrence97]

Rmist, get ahold of Dave Holub. He can make whatever you need and his price is very reasonable.

http://newhighpower.com/hmr.html

His stand is very simple, won't break bank and works great. I've had mine for over a year and use it for fclass. All you need to ad is a Gary Eliseo scope head or a stallings machine "gold standard" head for your spotting scope.