Finally, this past July, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on one. Now, I do say “fortunate” for a reason. These tripods are in high demand, to say the least. The tripod that I received came with not only the DCLW tripod, but also the DLOC-D head.
This allows the user to attach any weapon with a 6 O’clock picatinny rail directly to the tripod, in lieu of using the cradle head that the tripod comes with. AR-10s, Desert Tactical Arms, and rifles with McRee chassis are all perfect for the DLOC-D. Simply snap the weapon into the tripod head and you’re ready to go.
The tripod is a very simple design, with height adjustments which allow the user to shoot from a prone position up to a height of 28 inches for keeling or sitting positions. The legs themselves can be locked into four differing positions, so that the tripod can be utilized on flat or uneven surfaces. The width that the legs kick out when prone allows the tripod to support a rifle the rifle is clipped in toward the front of the chassis, where a bipod would normally be attached.
When shooting from the tripod, the first thing that I noticed was the stability of the set up. Regardless of where the rifle was clipped into the tripod, be it very front of the stock, or just in front of the magwell.
When shooting at movers, or multiple targets, this tripod is the absolute best game in town. We allowed a shooter who had never used this set up, to lock his LR308 into it. With instructions to engage 4 LaRue targets at 250 yards, the shooter was able to take down all 4 targets in a matter of seconds. With a normal bipod, this would have been next to impossible to perform within the same timeframe.
The Alamo Four Star DCLW also excels for use during overwatch situations. When I initially received the tripod, I placed my rifle in it, locking the McRee chassis into the tripod head at the very front of the chassis. Using a bubble level, I locked the rifle in perfectly horizontal. One week later, I checked the level. The rifle had not moved. For overwatch, when you’re on your rifle for hours at a time, this is perfect. This gives the shooter the option to step back off the rifle for a moment, to relieve eye and muscle strain without having to worry about where the reticle is, should a target appear, necessitating a quick shot. You will know that your crosshairs will be right where you left them.
I like that this tripod came in a small package. It fit easily in the side pocket of my Eberlestock Terminator, as well as in the side of my KarrimorSF Patrol 45 pack. I liked the function of the tripod, and the stability that it offered. I found the tripod to be an asset far superior to a standard bipod. Rapid follow up shots and a stable sight picture were immediately apparent to several untrained shooters at a public range we took the tripod out to. For coyote hunting, to designated marksman/sniper duties, the DCLW is well worth the price of admission. I highly recommend it as a great piece of kit to help your shooting.
For another perspective on the DCLW, and instructions on utilizing this system with a McMillan stock, see this write up on it as well:
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- P.C. Petersen
