Let’s be honest….accuracy off the sticks

[Russ16]

Here in the UK up to the 1990s we deerstalkers used a single stick to take virtually all shots off and rarely shot beyond 125 yards. In the early 90s some bipod sticks appeared and allowed us to consistently shoot a bit further, the late 90s tripods came along and 200 yds odd was achievable.

Around 2005 the first quad sticks appeared and currently I'd say 95% of all standing shots here (and in Europe) are now taken using quads. Many experienced stalkers will consistently take deer out to 300 yds off them. I can shoot 1" groups at 100 yds from them.

When I first hunted PG in Africa I found some of the ranges the PH set his tripod out for too rangey so I took my quad sticks the next time and was much steadier.

I hunted buffalo in Zim last year and was pleasantly surprised to find my PH had a set of quad sticks and said he'd converted quite a few clients from the US to them. I'd also taken my Viperflex Journey sticks (that fold down to go in normal baggage.) The advantage of my sticks over the PH's Stable4sticks is you can shoot off the Viperflex from kneeling (either angled or shortened) and that was useful in the thick bush we were hunting in in the Zambezi Valley. My PH was admiring my sticks but the import costs (from Denmark) were too steep.... so I gifted him my set. He has said since they have had a lot of work.

If you need a quick shot the sticks can be used as a mono or bipod of course.

If you haven't tried quad sticks I'd highly recommend giving them a go.

Are the viper flex the only model easily used sitting or kneeling?

 

[375Fox]

Are the viper flex the only model easily used sitting or kneeling?

No, GunStix are extremely adjustable anywhere between sitting and standing. 4 stable sticks mountain sticks are adjustable too, but aren’t easily adjusted at the time.

GunStix

 

[BeeMaa]

Are the viper flex the only model easily used sitting or kneeling?

I have the Viper-Flex Styx Pro To Go (3-section carbon fiber) and they are easily adjustable for sitting and kneeling.

However, I've found that most of the time when I'm in those positions, it's because I'm turkey or predator hunting. In those cases, I usually use a set of bipod BOG-POD sticks. They seem to fit the bill better for those specific purposes.

Obviously the VF sticks can be used as a bipod (or quad, or mono) and if I were forced to have just one set of sticks, those are the ones. I like the 3-piece sections because the breakdown small for easy travel. Carbon fiber because they are light, yet durable and don't chill my hand like aluminum in the colder weather.

For the record, I have the VF (quad) sticks, three sets tripod BOG-POD sticks, one set of bipod BOG-POD's and at least three different mono sticks/walking sticks. Who the hell just has one set of sticks?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

If sitting was an option, I wouldn't mess with sticks. Sling and traditional sitting position is quick to set up and very stable.

 

[Russ16]

Thanks. I have a chamois hunt in November and and looking for something that can be used in a variety of positions and uneven terrain and can collapse small enough to be strapped to my daypack.

I’ve also looked at the wiser precision quick stix attachment for tracking poles. They’re cheap and look like a nice option to have if you’re going to be carrying poles anyway.

Plan to pick something up soon so I can practice over the summer.

 

[thriller]

I would have liked to see your pics of the various types of sticks mentioned, bogs, quads, african, ect. I havent purchased any yet , but considering it , my PH used a quad set, but im more of a miniamlist.

I am getting bog pods soon

 

[3nyala]

No matter what, you have to be honest with yourself about range limitation for each shot. Under good conditions, with enough time and under minimal stress, I can, with a good accurate rifle, consistently keep POA/POI within the vital zone of an impala off regular tripod sticks that are commonly used to about 220 yards or less. Larger animal slightly farther, smaller animal slightly closer. Also after a hit, all bets are off so as many shots as needed while doing your best to shoot as accurately as possible. Very sad to see the current ego sniper trends where a few years ago 500 yards was the bragging threshold now has been stretched to 700 yards.

The bragging threshold should be how close not how far.

 

[Lancaster]

Are the viper flex the only model easily used sitting or kneeling?

They are the only brand I know of where you can do so. It's via two ways: A. they can be positioned so they spread all the way out and B. (if you have more time) they have multiple adjustable studs so you can reduce their length

 

[CBeck]

OK for those of you that use the quad sticks tell me something…

I have been using the quad sticks in practice and they are definitely, considerably more accurate/steady.

But that said I find getting on target a little more cumbersome than the traditional tripod shooting sticks.… It seems getting them set up. I struggle to get into position on to target.

Hopefully that will rectify with practice, but what I can’t seem to get past is that they want to spread.

Let me see if I can explain this. The backend obviously goes on the butt stock and the front end goes on fore end, but even with it’s sitting on the checkering, it seems that the front wants to slide outward towards the barrel… Does that make sense?

Maybe it’s my technique for holding the rifle maybe I should be holding it in front of the fore end piece maybe I should be holding the foreign piece itself I don’t know.

Does any of that make sense?

Do any of you use the quad sticks experience this?

 

[375Fox]

OK for those of you that use the quad sticks tell me something…

I have been using the quad sticks in practice and they are definitely, considerably more accurate/steady.

But that said I find getting on target a little more cumbersome than the traditional tripod shooting sticks.… It seems getting them set up. I struggle to get into position on to target.

Hopefully that will rectify with practice, but what I can’t seem to get past is that they want to spread.

Let me see if I can explain this. The backend obviously goes on the butt stock and the front end goes on fore end, but even with it’s sitting on the checkering, it seems that the front wants to slide outward towards the barrel… Does that make sense?

Maybe it’s my technique for holding the rifle maybe I should be holding it in front of the fore end piece maybe I should be holding the foreign piece itself I don’t know.

Does any of that make sense?

Do any of you use the quad sticks experience this?

I can’t say I have that problem, but I also only try to shoot off the with a sling. I put the sling in front of the sticks and hold the front two sticks and sling with my left hand to control the rifle instead of the forearm. This lets me control recoil, pivot, and use thumb to slide left and right on the flat front.

What sticks did you buy?

 

[CBeck]

I can’t say I have that problem, but I also only try to shoot off the with a sling. I put the sling in front of the sticks and hold the front two sticks and sling with my left hand to control the rifle instead of the forearm. This lets me control recoil, pivot, and use thumb to slide left and right on the flat front.

What sticks did you buy?

The ones you recommended…4stable sticks..I get what you’re saying about sling but mine have barrel bands… not insurmountable just an inconvenience. The biggest thing I don’t like is lining up on a target is not as intuitive as the tripod.

I think accuracy makes up for any misgivings

 

[375Fox]

The ones you recommended…4stable sticks..I get what you’re saying about sling but mine have barrel bands… not insurmountable just an inconvenience. The biggest thing I don’t like is lining up on a target is not as intuitive as the tripod.

I think accuracy makes up for any misgivings

They definitely take some practice to get fast. I also shoot my 375 with a barrel band from them, but find my other rifles with a sling swivel on forearm are easiest to shoot.

 

[jimbo1972]

OK for those of you that use the quad sticks tell me something…

I have been using the quad sticks in practice and they are definitely, considerably more accurate/steady.

But that said I find getting on target a little more cumbersome than the traditional tripod shooting sticks.… It seems getting them set up. I struggle to get into position on to target.

Hopefully that will rectify with practice, but what I can’t seem to get past is that they want to spread.

Let me see if I can explain this. The backend obviously goes on the butt stock and the front end goes on fore end, but even with it’s sitting on the checkering, it seems that the front wants to slide outward towards the barrel… Does that make sense?

Maybe it’s my technique for holding the rifle maybe I should be holding it in front of the fore end piece maybe I should be holding the foreign piece itself I don’t know.

Does any of that make sense?

Do any of you use the quad sticks experience this?

Here’s what I do.
I place the front Y of quad behind the front sling post on the rifle. Then on the rear it goes in front of the rear sling post. I reach up and grab rifle and front Y pulling into my shoulder.

 

[One Day...]

Oh!
You got it reversed! The Y part of the 4StableSticks should go under your buttstock right behind the pistol grip where it will stay secure. The short horizontal shelve should be under the forearm, near the tip.

If you do it this way:

1. the rifle is remarkably stable when held behind the pistol grip by the Y. It essentially stands upright on the stick just by itself.
2. the legs are spread apart to their maximum between front and read rests and do not slide;
3. the thick rubber of the front shelf does not slide under the forend, but still allows some traverse adjustment for the shot;
4. it is very easy to pivot the entire setup by just grabbing the front shelf and forend, leaning to a side, and pivoting the entire things on one of the two feet.

Admittedly, it is even easier when the forend has a slight schnable, and it becomes rock-solid with the Blaser bipod adapter forend tip that has a short column popping under the tip.

 

[jimbo1972]

Oh!
You got it reversed! The Y part of the 4StableSticks should go on your stock right behind the pistol grip where it will stay secure. The short horizontal shelve should be under the forearm.

Here’s a video of me taking 15 animals from 20 to 420 yards with quad sticks in Eastern Cape last year. Average shot was over 250 yards. Only change I would make is I had a habit of putting my finger on the side of the barrel which caused slight (a few inches) horizontal stringing. Noticed this after watching the video. Only issue I had was my PH wanted to buy them but after all the work he put in I added them to the cash tip.

Don’t over think it. Find what works for you. I started with a 22 and shot a ton of rounds mixed with a lot a dry fire practice.

 

[CBeck]

No, the “y” is in the rear as it should be but the front “slot” is almost made out of some kind of slippery silicone rubber that doesn’t even grip to the checkering on the rifle. Unfortunately, my rifles don’t have a front sling stud. That is what I’ve been doing on my practice rifle, but on my hunting rifles, they all have barrel bands.

 

[375Fox]

No, the “y” is in the rear as it should be but the front “slot” is almost made out of some kind of slippery silicone rubber that doesn’t even grip to the checkering on the rifle. Unfortunately, my rifles don’t have a front sling stud. That is what I’ve been doing on my practice rifle, but on my hunting rifles, they all have barrel bands.

Interesting maybe something has changed to cut costs. My sticks don’t seem to have any issues gripping the forearm.

 

[shootist~]

Using a sling does help with a quick and stable set-up.

The 22 I practice with does not have a sling - which is good practice as well. Being a bit more deliberate (slightly slower) is necessary. Not a huge deal though since it does have a stop point (sling stud) as a forward resting point.

On my recent Nilgai hunt (first hunt with quad sticks) my very experienced guide got me onto his Quad sticks about as fast as an African PH setting the tripod. Then, knowing exactly how to adjust as needed - thanks to practice, was a big plus.

Edit to add: In my use, the rear yoke of the sticks goes all the way back to the rear sling/sling swivel. IIRC ViperFlex mentioned this was optional, but can be more accurate. For me it seems to be.

 

[jimbo1972]

The ones you recommended…4stable sticks..I get what you’re saying about sling but mine have barrel bands… not insurmountable just an inconvenience. The biggest thing I don’t like is lining up on a target is not as intuitive as the tripod.

I think accuracy makes up for any misgivings

Maybe this will help. This is my Blaser R8 with 375 Barrel. Luckily it was still daylight and I could go outside and take some photos. These are the carbon Quad sticks available on Amazon and weight a little over a pound and tough as nails.

 

[One Day...]

No, the “y” is in the rear as it should be but the front “slot” is almost made out of some kind of slippery silicone rubber that doesn’t even grip to the checkering on the rifle. Unfortunately, my rifles don’t have a front sling stud. That is what I’ve been doing on my practice rifle, but on my hunting rifles, they all have barrel bands.

Interesting maybe something has changed to cut costs. My sticks don’t seem to have any issues gripping the forearm.

Yeah, mine neither. The front shelf on mine is covered with a thick non-slide rubber that is quite effective. Also, having them already spread at their maximum front/rear helps.