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We bring you a review of a premium shooting tripod that ranks among the very best currently available in its particular class.
Title photo: SpringBok Tripod by Spartan Precision Equipment.
The British brand Spartan Precision Equipment is not particularly well known in our part of the world and only entered the Czech market relatively recently, but it has a great deal to offer. The backbone of its product range consists of shooting supports specifically designed for hunters. This means an emphasis on minimum weight, a specific range of features, simplicity, and speed of use. The range includes several bipods led by the award-winning Javelin model, several types of tripods, shooting sticks, and a wide selection of accessories. In this article, we will focus on the Springbok Tripod.
The heart of the design is a flexible silicone hub that replaces a heavier and more complicated system of joints.Innovative Construction
With supports that allow shooting from a standing position, we usually have to accept compromises between stability, speed of deployment, and size/weight. Folding shooting sticks can fit on a belt, but they fall well short of heavy, bulky tripods in terms of stability. The Springbok Tripod aims for a middle ground, and although this inevitably involves some compromises, it is one of the best hunting supports I have ever tested. At the heart of the design is a solid silicone hub that connects the firearm mounting interface to three telescopic legs made of lightweight yet exceptionally strong carbon fiber that will not take a permanent bend. The remaining components are made from 7075 aluminum alloy and stainless steel, and the overall build quality is genuinely premium. The flexible hub gives the tripod unprecedented simplicity and speed of setup. There are no locks or catches to operate, nor do you have to contend with a bulkier and more complicated system of joints. As soon as the legs are released, they spread apart on their own and stay in place. Need a lower shooting position? Simply spread one or two of the legs farther apart. It is extremely fast, completely intuitive, and straightforward. Once positioned, the assembly stays in place through a combination of load, flexibility, and the legs bracing against the ground. It provides excellent purchase on virtually any terrain, from mud and forest floor to rock and shooting-range surfaces. On some surfaces, you can improve grip by screwing in the stainless-steel spikes supplied with the tripod, but generally, unless you intend to shoot from smooth ice, you will have no problems. The support can also be easily adapted to slopes and uneven terrain. The mounting interface allows unrestricted 360° rotation, while the flexible hub allows the rifle to be tilted by as much as 90° against moderate resistance. Each leg has a single twist-lock mechanism with a rubberized surface that is completely silent and allows height adjustment. Thanks to the flexible nature of the design, there is very little to be stressed under recoil, and the system also absorbs some of the recoil in an interesting way, without any sharp bounce. For increased stability, the manufacturer recommends twisting the hub to preload and lock the assembly together. This works well and allows you to lean more firmly into the rifle, although you can also shoot with your hand on the stock. Panning and tilting are completely smooth and silent.
Pros / Cons
+ exceptional combination of low weight and high stability
+ versatile
+ fast, intuitive setup
+ MagnaSwitch interface
- still somewhat long when folded.
Detail of the rubberized, silent locks on the telescopic legs and the connecting frame.
The maximum height allows comfortable, stable shooting without having to crouch unnaturally.„The flexible hub gives the tripod unprecedented simplicity and speed of setup. There are no locks or catches to operate, nor do you have to rely on a bulkier and more complicated system of joints!“
Mount it and you’re ready to shoot
You do not even have to hold the Springbok—the tripod can support the rifle on its own, which can be useful when waiting for game for extended periods or simply when you need to set the firearm down. With the legs fully spread, you can position the barrel just 10 cm above the ground, while the maximum height is 160 cm, with anything in between readily achievable. At my height of 177 cm and my colleague’s 183 cm, neither of us had to crouch when shooting from a standing position. It is comfortable to shoot from virtually any position imaginable—prone, standing, kneeling, or seated—with the ability to change height and shooting position very quickly. Personally, I would feel confident using it from a standing position at 300 m, although depending on the shooter’s skill, its potential range may be considerably greater.
Despite its excellent stability and versatility, the manufacturer has managed to keep the weight down to just 788 g. When folded, the Springbok has an overall length of 90 cm. That is not exactly compact, but it can still be attached to a backpack without interfering with movement. The only real issue might arise in extremely dense vegetation, but in that case the tripod can be carried bundled together with the rifle. Another option is to use the tripod as a walking stick. The design incorporates a collar that holds the legs together for this purpose.
The MagnaSwitch mounting interface consists of a short stud on the tripod that fits into a socket mounted on the firearm, with a magnet holding the two components together. It works perfectly: thanks to the lead-in and overall design, the two parts engage quickly, there is nothing to tighten or adjust, and you can operate it by feel, even while wearing gloves. At the same time, it is an extremely minimalist solution in terms of both weight and dimensions, without sacrificing durability. There is virtually nothing in the design that could be damaged even by particularly rough handling. The competing Arca-Swiss system provides a more rigid and stable connection, but at the cost of significantly greater weight and bulk, and it also requires a screw clamp. The socket can admittedly become packed with dirt, but ordinary debris does not tend to accumulate inside, has little effect on function, and in the worst case there is enough room to scrape mud out with a key. The manufacturer offers the MagnaSwitch socket in several versions compatible with M-LOK, Picatinny, KeyMod, and UIT mounting systems. Do not have any of these on your rifle? There is also a version that can be screwed directly into the fore-end and even includes a short Picatinny rail as a bonus, as well as an adapter for direct attachment to a sling swivel stud. There is no need to drill into the stock, and the adapter incorporates a replacement sling attachment point. The MagnaSwitch interface is used on most Spartan supports, allowing you to switch quickly and easily between lightweight bipods, the Springbok, and heavier tripods. Mounting systems are also available separately for binoculars or anything else using a standard 1/4"-20 camera thread.
Weighing just 788 g, the tripod can securely support a hunting rifle entirely on its own.
Detail of the MagnaSwitch interface, which provides an exceptionally fast and simple connection.
It is comfortable to shoot from virtually any position imaginable—prone, standing, kneeling, or seated—with the ability to change height and shooting position very quickly.
The mounting interface allows unrestricted 360° rotation, while the flexible hub allows the rifle to be tilted by as much as 90° against moderate resistance.Virtually Unrivalled
If a bipod is sufficient for your needs and you are willing to sacrifice some stability for lower weight and reduced bulk, you can unscrew one leg and leave it at home. In fact, in addition to the tripod, the manufacturer also offers the Springbok Bipod. The design is identical, and the mounting interface and legs are interchangeable; only the silicone section branches into two legs rather than three. Each individual leg is strong enough to provide support while walking over difficult terrain. Speaking of alternative uses, combined with a tarp or a Stribog camouflage net, the Springbok can be turned into a decent hide for waiting out game or an emergency shelter in no time.
Drawbacks are difficult to find. When shooting prone, a conventional bipod is slightly more stable; if you are shooting at distances well beyond 500 m, a heavy tripod with locking mechanisms will be a better choice; and among shooting sticks, some users may prefer a cradle-style design such as the Blaser Quad Stick based on their individual preferences (Spartan also offers a similar model). As an all-round solution, however, the Springbok is virtually without competition. It is exceptionally lightweight, extremely practical, and surprisingly stable. It is worth practicing deployment a little. If you are in a hurry, the legs can occasionally knock together, producing a sound that carries surprisingly well, but this is a negligible issue and one that can easily be avoided. The only aspect that gives me some concern regarding long-term use is the service life of the hub. After all, it is not a conventional joint whose durability can be estimated with reasonable confidence. However, given the manufacturing quality, the brand’s reputation, and feedback from third parties, I do not expect any unpleasant surprises. In the worst case, a replacement hub can be purchased separately. We will see how it holds up after a few years of use and report back in a future review. In practical terms, the only real obstacle may be the somewhat higher price of CZK 9,583 (CZK 5,254 for the bipod). When weighed against its utility, however, the price is still very reasonable, and it is certainly worth the money.
With the legs fully spread, the barrel can be positioned just 10 cm above the ground.The Springbok Tripod, along with other products from Spartan Precision Equipment, is available from STROBL.CZ s.r.o. More information can be found at strobl.cz or directly on the manufacturer’s website at javelinbipod.com.
Photo credits: Author’s archive
Author: Tomáš Prachař
This article was originally published in Lovec magazine by Extra Publishing
