Lightweight Option for Day or Night Hunting
Spotting scope on tripod.
Leupold doesn’t only manufacture and sell riflescopes—they also offer accessories such as bipods, tripods, and other items. I recently used the Leupold Carbon Fiber Tripod Kit on a coyote hunt with good success. Normally, carrying a tripod to the field means many pounds of extra weight. This tripod is heavier than a quality bipod, but it still only weighs 2.5 pounds. In spite of its low weight, the height range is broad from a low of just under 23 inches to a high of just over 58 inches.
Author’s predator hunting rifle mounted to the Leupold Carbon Fiber Tripod kit.
On this trip, I hunted both day and night, and by dumb luck, there was only a sliver of a moon out. With intermittent cloud cover, the nights were nearly pitch black. Because of this, I stood to call coyotes at night and the tripod was just the right shooting platform for this method. In this position, the unit was very stable for being so lightweight. The tripod may also be used from a seated position, similar to how one would use shooting sticks or a high bipod. The leg shafts are where the carbon fiber is used, and the height adjustment was fast and silent – simply turn the rubberized knurled knobs on each leg, extend or compress, and twist again. Some tripods use a clamp for adjustment, these knobs are better. The kit comes with optional spike feet, but I used the included rubber feet with no issues.
The tripod comes with rubber feet as well as spiked feet. The rubberized adjustment knobs are strong and quiet.
The head on the tripod comes with a handle to assist with panning and tilting. The handle is useful with a spotting scope, but I removed it because with the rifle mounted it is not needed. It is easily reattached. There is also a small ring on the side of the head that I removed because it gave an ever so slight rattle and I wanted complete stealth. Presumably, this ring is for mounting a sling to carry the tripod or something similar. Other adjustments I made were to remove the stickers and put a piece of black Velcro over the shiny Leupold emblem. I would have preferred that the main bolts were painted flat black, but that didn’t cause any problems and it can be fixed later. The top of the head has a plate with a 1/4×20 threaded stud to mount binoculars, rangefinders, or spotting scopes. The plate slides into a dovetail in the head and is then tightened down with a lever. This dovetail mount is simple, quiet, and secure. Overall the adjustment knobs for tilt, rotation, etc. are well designed, compact, and functional. The entire unit is well made, with a high-quality fit and finish.
Spotting scopes and other items may be attached to the dovetail mount for use on the tripod.
My current predator night hunting rig (above) is the same as my daytime coyote rifle–a Cerakoted gas rifle chambered in .223 Wylde, with a US Optics B-10 scope in a Warne scope mount. For a variety of reasons (another article) I shoot suppressed and use the Hurricane Ti by Doug Melton at SRT. This set up has been sub-MOA for many years. For night hunting I add a Steiner D2 Dual Beam Aiming Laser/Illuminator. The D2 is an impressive unit, with an outstanding return to zero when attaching and detaching (I remove the D2 for day use). Helmet mounted twin PVS-14 night vision completes the night hunting package.
A quick detach adapter made by Accu-Shot (BT56-L: LD ¼-20 Lever Adaptor) made attaching the tripod to a Picatinny rail on the rifle handguard fast and easy.
After using the Leupold Carbon Fiber Tripod kit for several days both day and night I can say I am impressed. Without a doubt, it will last for years and it has several applications – predator hunting, spotting, precision rifle competitions, photography, etc. With an MSRP of $449.99 and a street price of about $380, it is not the least expensive tripod option. However, when one considers the utility, lightweight, and quality features, it is a very good value.
The tripod extension range is 23 inches to 58 inches.
Interested in the Leopold tripod, Price , how to get it . etc.
Looks like it is $380 -$450. Probably even available at Amazon or your favorite online firearm gear supplier.