Ray-Vin Scope Stand

[ocabj]

I finally upgraded my scope stand from the generic Creedmoor Sports scope stand to the Ray-Vin. I found it waiting for me at home after I got back from the range yesterday.







Haven't had a chance to use it yet in actual live fire. That'll come this upcoming Saturday at Camp Pendleton.

As you can see, I also bought the tow kit for it, which makes it easier to stow, so-to-speak, with the cart.

I'm going to have to get pictures of my Creedmoor stand so I can sell it along with that Konuspot 80 I bought just to write a review on.

[Pthfndr]

This reminds me, I need to get a new handle kit for my cart.

I like the Ray-Vin stand. Not so crazy about the scope mount. It's "ok" as long as one always leaves the scope on the stand. Otherwise I find it inconvenient.

Could you take a couple close up pics of the stand clip (tow kit) on the cart handle and post them. I might want to get one of those also. I'd like to hear an AAR on how well the stand clip keeps the stand in place when you're dragging it around the Wilcox range.

[ocabj]

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the Ray-Vin scope head, but the way it works is that you can remove the whole scope head with scope attached from the stand. You basically loosen the head so you can move the head to the top cap. Tighten the scope head. Then turn the entire scope head / scope clockwise to unscrew the top cap (see photos; black plastic section at top). That is actually threaded on.

If that's not to your liking, you can get the the Bogen Manfrotto quick release adapter kit, which I didn't get. I may get it from B&H Photo or Adorama the next time I need to order some photo gear, but the QR adapter Ray-Vin resells uses the Bogen RC(1/2) quick release design. I use this system on my Bogen Manfrotto 055XPROB and 488RC2 tripod and ball head combo for photography as well as my Bogen Manfrotto 680B bipod and 3229 swivel/tilt head combo.



I don't have any good close ups of the heads, but the quick release adapter is not only solid, it has a safety feature. The main lever allows the spring release piston to eject the plate, but it won't work if the safety switch is flicked off. So if you accidentally hit the lever, the safety prevents it from releasing.



The blue arrow indicates the release lever. The red arrow indicates the safety switch.

I'll try to get some close ups of the tow kit in sunlight. It's a pretty simple kit. Bottom cap replaces the default and adds a plastic grip end that grips the axle and the hook attaches to the handle of the cart using a hose clamp.

As far as how the stand and tow kit actually performs, we'll see. I don't anticipate any real issues. I don't think I'd actually be *pulling* the cart through soft dirt or tall weeds by the scope stand. I bought the tow kit as a better means of transporting the stand from line to line. I was using the Creedmoor deluxe tripod/stand which I would transport from line to line by breaking it down into two halves and then laying them on the rifle rest hooks on my cart (I would keep my rifle in the same hooks, but in the Creedmoor rifle case). I'll take pictures of my cart in match ready state on Saturday at Camp Pendleton before the the 80 round XTC starts.

[Pthfndr]

I'm familiar with how the scope attaches. At least the one a friend has. Takes an allen wrench through the clamp tube. PITA. But I do like the stand.

I have one of the 1st generation Big Blue stands and I like the ease of moving the scope up and down on the rod with the T handle friction lock. Has never slipped on me. What I didn't like about it was the scope could be bumped and it would pivot up or down irrespective of the adjustment. Sucks when you go to look through it after the mag change and it's pointing at the sky or ground. I guess that's why they changed the head design. I just pinned mine and it works fine.

Are you going to the Service Rifle championship in April at Coalinga? Finances prevent me from going this year.

[ocabj]

I'm familiar with how the scope attaches. At least the one a friend has. Takes an allen wrench through the clamp tube. PITA. But I do like the stand.

I have one of the 1st generation Big Blue stands and I like the ease of moving the scope up and down on the rod with the T handle friction lock. Has never slipped on me. What I didn't like about it was the scope could be bumped and it would pivot up or down irrespective of the adjustment. Sucks when you go to look through it after the mag change and it's pointing at the sky or ground. I guess that's why they changed the head design. I just pinned mine and it works fine.

Are you going to the Service Rifle championship in April at Coalinga? Finances prevent me from going this year.

Yes, you attach the scope to the head via an allen screw, but you don't need to ever remove the scope from the head to take it off the stand. The head and scope will come off the stand in one unit. Or as I indicated prior, you can use a quick release adapter system such as the Bogen so you can keep the head on the stand and just remove the scope.

Yes, I'll be at the SR championships the weekend after this one. I'll be shooting in both the 80 round aggregate on Sat and the EIC on Sun. I'll also be at the 80 round aggregate this Saturday at Pendleton. I'll need the warm-up for Coalinga since I have shot in an organized XTC match since January.

[Pthfndr]

The quick release would be the way to go. I don't leave my scope attached to the head when transporting, or storing at home.

[ocabj]

Here are more pictures as requested:

[ocabj]

And pictures of the scope head cap mechanism:

[Pthfndr]

Thanks. I was wondering what was on the bottom of the scope stand to hold it onto the cart.