looked at these on amazon. i have no idea what set up i need to have for a rifle ARCA rail. anywhere local to go see and buy , in person?

Amazon or B&H is all I came up with

Thanks !!

So arca is a bit of a generic term that could encompass a metric ton of different actual rail sizes. In the precision rifle world, I would suggest you stick with stuff that is made to a Really Right Stuff (RRS) standard dovetail size.

As far as the tripod/rifle shooting thing..... don't fool yourself into thinking it's going to be an ultra-stable shooting platform unless you spend some money. The only hope of getting semi-stable is to get the largest one (364 i think?) with the big apex and the 75mm bowl. Then get a leveling base from RRS with a lever clamp on top. RRS Leveling Base This is just like anything else, you get what you pay for. I have tried a lot of different cheap(er) tripods and heads. You CAN get away with the Leofoto 364 and save a few bucks, but DO NOT go cheap on the head. A leveling base gives you 360 rotation, and 15 degrees up and down movement. It doesn't sound like much but it's more than enough for any field application, and the center of gravity is much lower than a ball head so it is more stable for less money. If you don't want to spend big money, don't even consider a ball head.

Also, I'd advise not going cheap on the arca clamp. If you want good equipment that actually works 100% of the time out in the field, just spend the money up front and get RRS gear from the start.

And one more thing.... take a look at the Feisol 3372 vs the Leofoto 364. It's the same (or larger) weight rating and not a whole lot more money, but it's quite a bit lighter.

Thanks Crews, that is a sweet AI rig you have !!

I don't shoot PRS (you've seen pictures of me) maybe if I could just sit in one spot all day

RRS is the best I've heard

It is the best for a reason, in my experience the cheaper stuff is just a waste of money. YMMV

Buzz,I went with the ZRODelta head on my tripod setup. I like that it uses a picatinny rail mount instead of an ARCA rail. It locks in any position that you need it to with a small cam lever underneath the main platform. It's quick,smooth,and holds tight.These heads aren't cheap,but they are really good.
I went with a Benro Mach 3 series tripod,for the money they are hard to beat. Mine is aluminum,I couldn't justify the price difference for the carbon fiber since the weight difference wasn't much at all for the same tripod. Mine is rated for a 35 lb load,so it has no problem supporting a 12-17 lb rifle.