Primos Trigger Stick Mk 2 Tripod- I just sent it back.

[Hodmedod.one]

I have been using a 3 section X3M1 tall tripod for a few years now. I think I paid about £35 quid for it. I use it for deer stalking and foxing. I normally have the legs fully extended. It is very stable and there is no play in the leg joints. I have taken many foxes at over 200yds with this tripod supporting my .243 with nightvision/scope/moderator weighing 18lbs. The only real complaint I have about the tripod is that the the "V" that the rifle stock rests in does not rotate (as it is formed by the top sections of 2 of the legs).

After a few frustrating events whilst foxing with night vision when I ran out of sideways movement and had to start repositioning the tripod etc. I decided to bite the bullet and buy a tripod with a 360 degree rotating head. The cheapest I could find a Primos Trigger Stick Mk2 tall tripod was for £110 off Amazon.

Before deciding to make the purchase I read several reviews and watched a few videos. The tripod was supposed to be rock solid.

Here is what I think of it.

It looks quite impressive but also a bit flashy (probably because that is what the US Market likes).
The rubber feet are nowhere near as good as metal spikes.
The maximum extended length of the legs at 62 inches is too short.
The pistol grip top section flexes slightly.
The 2 section legs flex badly at the joints.
The swivel head was stiff.

The play in the pistol grip and front leg can be taken up by leaning into the tripod slightly. This is fine until you try to rotate it and then lean into it- the 2 front legs take the pressure and the back leg comes off the ground.

Don't waste your money on one.

 

[Eric the Red]

May I recommend Bogpods as a replacement? Very stable in exactly the way you talk of - and with a swivel, interchangeable head. Well worth the money by comparison.

Thanks for your review - useful

 

[dazz]

ive got a primos tripod,and cant fault it at all..........

 

[woodmaster]

My mate's had 2 now. The concept is great and at first they worked fine. Ideal to carry around closed up then just hold and pull the trigger for the legs to drop. If ground is un-even legs just drop till they touch ground so no fussing around or having the rifle on the gimp.
However after only 1 season both have developed the problem that the legs no longer slide down on their own, and have to be pulled. They've been cleaned etc but just don't work as they did. So the main feature of them is now useless.

 

[Hodmedod.one]

Thanks for the info Eric.
I will have a look at the Bog Pod CLD-3 when I am in Canada in September

 

[TonyC]

My mate's had 2 now. The concept is great and at first they worked fine. Ideal to carry around closed up then just hold and pull the trigger for the legs to drop. If ground is un-even legs just drop till they touch ground so no fussing around or having the rifle on the gimp.
However after only 1 season both have developed the problem that the legs no longer slide down on their own, and have to be pulled. They've been cleaned etc but just don't work as they did. So the main feature of them is now useless.

Take the handle apart and re set the pressure plate by winding it down and grease it, as the trigger is pressed over time it it slowly winds the plate and rod unit (blue if I remember right) up so that it eventually will not reach the internal leg rod and so they stop working. I did mine a couple of times over the years. I think they work fine with this little bit of maintenance.

 

[Orion]

As per TonyC above plus use a dry Teflon type spray on the sliding legs from time to time. WD do one but don't confuse it with their devil's brew WD40 which will gum up anything once the propellant evaporates.

 

[kevhumps]

Had the legs on mine apart, as rain water gets in, the internals were mucky and a bit rusty, so cleaned them, oiled them and back together. You have to twist the plastic Colette's off the top of the lower legs, as they're glued on. They'll come off with a pump pliers, and can be glued back on. I'd have another pair, just for the ease of putting them up and down, when using the truck!
Kev.

 

[ravanelli]

Had one.....
but not for long. Sold it.
Nuff said.
Rav