Really Right Stuff PT Scout Pan-Tilt Tripod Head Review

This versatile pan-head offers a secure, stable platform.

May 02, 2025 By Tom Beckstrand

Managing optics is something we all do differently. Some hunters like to have a spotting scope and binoculars, some prefer to only use binoculars, and everyone has their preferred magnification ranges and objective lens sizes. Factor in favorite optic brands and then all the support gear needed to use those optics and there’s no shortage of opinions and options.

However, one good principle we can all get behind is to choose quality gear that can accomplish more than one task whenever possible. One piece of gear that embodies this concept is the new PT Scout Pan-Tilt Head from Really Right Stuff (RRS). This device weighs seven ounces, attaches to just about any tripod, and makes glassing and shooting from a tripod a snap.

The PT Scout is made in the USA and machined from 6061 aluminum billet. The bottom plate is four-way ARCA with a 3/8 threaded hole. The user can thread the PT Scout directly to a tripod or snap into any ARCA-compatible mount. The bottom plate extends up into a ball over which an aluminum saddle sits.

The large lower thumbscrew on the side of the saddle controls tension for panning. It is large enough that the shooter can fine-tune tension to allow for panning, while remaining immobile once the optic or rifle is oriented in the right direction. Opposite the panning knob is a plastic cover that snaps in and out of position. Removing the plastic cover allows the shooter to completely unscrew the panning knob from one side of the PT Scout and thread it in the other side. The panning knob is completely reversible. Once the knob is in the right place, the plastic cover snaps into the opposite side.

Positional Set-Up

tripod with head tilted — The PT Scout's handle can be set up to protrude forward or backward depending on personal preference. (Photo courtesy of Tom Beckstrand)

The small handle that protrudes away from the PT Scout’s body is equally customizable. The hunter can set up his position with the handle protruding to the front or to the rear, whichever is most convenient. Loosening the handle’s body releases tension on the PT Scout’s tilt, allowing the head to tilt up or down, as desired.

There is a separate threaded polymer knob that sits just above the handle and looks like it’s part of the handle. It is not. That knob, once loosened, allows the handle to extend away from the mount, adding up to almost two inches to the handle’s length. The metal hexagonal rod that attaches the handle to the PT Scout’s body threads into the saddle. When loosened until there is zero tension on the head’s tilt, the handle and rod still need to be pulled away from the head while simultaneously loosened in order to separate it from the aluminum head because there is a second set of threads. RRS did this so that the handle couldn’t inadvertently loosen and fall off the mount.

The top of the PT Scout saddle has two screws that attach the ARCA mounting clamp. These two screws are the ARMS-17 pattern, so there are plenty of aftermarket options in addition to the clamp that comes on this ball head. Each PT Scout ships with a BTC-Pro attached. This is a simple clamp that accepts either picatinny rail or ARCA. It opens and closes with a large thumbscrew adjacent to the clamp. Hunters desiring a throw-lever clamping system can use the RRS SC-ARC or even the AMRS-17 clamp if only mounting to picatinny rail.

I tested the PT Scout head with heavy rifles, spotting scopes and binoculars. Even when a rifle’s weight exceeds 20 pounds and the rifle isn’t balanced on top of the tripod, it is still a simple task to adjust panning and tilt tension to use the PT Scout like a fluid head. I could move my rifle from one point to another and, when released, it would stay in place. Balancing the rifle on top of the head made this task even easier.

Easy To Swap

tripod head resting on pant leg — Users can mount the PT Scout to their tripod of choice via direct threads or ARCA-compatible mount. (Photo courtesy of Tom Beckstrand)

Swapping back and forth between rifles and optics was as easy as expected. Shooting a rifle off the PT Scout is just like shooting off of any quality ARCA mount, even though this one only weighs seven ounces. I spoke with RRS to see what kind of testing they did with the PT Scout and they said: “We shot a .338 Lapua off of it, free recoil, to see if we could get anything to break. We couldn’t.” I don’t know any lightweight ball heads that can make that same claim.

There’s no shortage of great hunting rifles and optics available today, but the challenge has been how to integrate both for seamless use with a tripod without being overly cumbersome or fragile. The PT Scout fills this role beautifully. It is ideal for use with optics and rifles, can handle recoil, is lightweight and configurable.