Spartan Davros Tripod Head Review

View Original on Rokslide

By Justin Crossley

I have been a fan of the Spartan Quick magnetic attachment system since I first used a Javelin bipod a few years back. I like how easily the bipod attaches and detaches from the rifle and doesn’t need to be attached all the time. The fact it is so lightweight adds to my list of likes. It’s truly a great tool for the backcountry hunter. So, when I heard Spartan was coming out with the new Davros head designed to fit on any tripod, I knew I wanted to try one out. More info available here.

How Does It Work

The Davros head screws directly onto any 3/8” UNC threaded stud like you would find on a standard tripod such as the popular Outdoorsmans. That means you can use the tripod or shooting sticks you already have to shoot off of. You can also use the Davros with Spartan’s growing list of clamps for more versatility. With the addition of the optics adapters you can leave your normal tripod head at home to save weight on hunts.

Here is a quick intro video from Mr G himself

Davros Head Specs

Speaking of saving weight, the Davros head comes in at only 4.9 oz plus adapters. It is CNC machined from AL7075-T7351 aerospace grade aluminum. With 3/8 UNC threads, it fits standard tripods for use with all your existing equipment. The Davros uses the same 12mm magnetic system as the Javelin bipods for attaching to your rifle or optics.

Spartan Adapters

The list of adapters for the Spartan system is long and continually growing. They offer flush mounted Gunsmith adapters for a clean finished look on your rifle. The Universal Rifle adapter gives you the option to quickly replace your sling stud if you don’t want to mount something permanently into your stock. There are currently two types of optics adapters, the standard and heavy duty. The standard is great for binoculars or cameras and I recommend the heavy duty adapter for spotting scopes. Even if you have an M-Lok or Key Mod system on your rifle there are direct mount options for you.

Glassing

I’ve had a chance to use the Spartan Davros Head while glassing for bears and mule deer with my spotting scope and was pleasantly surprised how well it worked. This is not a pan head so you will be disappointed if that’s what you’re expecting. It works like a typical ball head except you twist the upper portion of the Davros to adjust tension instead of having a knob or lever like most heads. With a little practice I was able to get just the right amount of tension to support my spotter while glassing. It was also easy to apply just a little more pressure and lock the head down so the Swarovski ATS 20-60×80 was rock solid.

With the Sig Sauer Zulu 9 15×56 binoculars I felt the head worked very well. You can read Robby Denning’s review of those binoculars here. I could move the binos around with one hand on the Davros and one on the binos or could easily lock everything down when I needed a closer look. I didn’t use the Davros with smaller binos but it would be ideal for that as well.

Shooting With The Davros Head

The versatility of the Davros really comes to life when you pull your optic off and use the same head a tripod to execute a tough uphill shot. I always try to get prone and shoot off my Javelin bipod when I can but sometimes there is tall brush or a steep angle to deal with and a tripod is the only way to go. Being able to snap the rifle onto the tripod with the same magnetic adapter as my bipod is a huge advantage in my opinion.

I have just about unlimited versatility in shooting positions with the complete Spartan system from prone, to sitting, and even standing. And, the best part is the fact everything is extremely light weight.

Final Thoughts

The Spartan Precision Davros head is a tool with many uses. I was very happy with it for glassing and shooting and it will be in my pack the rest of the season. It’s sturdy and robust which gives me confidence it won’t let me down when I’m miles away from the trailhead. If you’re looking for a way to save space and weight in your pack and add to your shooting system versatility I think the Davros is a must have. Order yours here.

You can ask me questions or comment on this article here.