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Proper position on sticks
The proper position on sticks is NOT a matter of personal opinion or comfort, it is purely a matter of geometry and application of forces in order to achieve a single purpose: reducing the movements of the barrel.
Tripod
Position of the rifle on the tripod
Incorrect - A rifle positioned on the sticks toward the middle of the stock will amplify the effect of the shooter's body movements on the barrel movements. It creates a central pivot point that allows the rifle to swing freely in every direction (right/left, up/down)*.
* we are not discussing here rifle-vise heavy tripods capable of carrying the entire weight of the rifle for sniping duties, but lightweight hunting tripods.
Correct - A rifle positioned on the sticks toward the end of the stock will minimize the effect of the shooter's body movements on the barrel movements. Observe that the same body sway as illustrated in both positions, results in a significantly smaller barrel movement in the correct position than it does in the incorrect position. This is purely a result of geometry.
Position of the hands when using the tripod
Incorrect – The forend hand risks being cut under recoil by the sling stud, and the forend hand will kick the sticks out of alignment, and possibly down, during recoil with heavy-recoil DG calibers.
Correct – The forend hand is protected by the sticks from the sling stud, and can recoil up with the rifle without kicking the sticks out of alignment during recoil.
Position of the feet when using the tripod
Incorrect - The feet aligned with the center of the tripod do not provide a stable support triangle and will induce sideways body sway.
Correct - The feet positioned to form a wide support triangle with the tripod center will reduce sideways body sway. This is purely a result of geometry.
Angle of the body when using the tripod
Incorrect – A straight back balancing on the legs does not stabilize the shooter’s body and induces sway.
Correct – Leaning forward heavily on the tripod stabilizes the shooter’s body and reduces sway. By leaning on the tripod, the shooter rests the upper body weight against it and reduces the upper body movements. This is purely a result of gravitational forces application.
Quadpod (Quad Sticks)
The quadpod offers a significant advantage compared to the tripod. While the tripod supports only the front end of the rifle, allowing the rear end to sway with the body of the shooter, the quadpod supports both front and rear ends of the rifle, eliminating sideways sway entirely.
However, frontward/backward sway is still mechanically possible and the feet positions must be different from those of the tripod position to mitigate it.
Incorrect - Feet positioned in a box with the quadpod legs will induce forward/backward body sway and will cause the rifle to tilt downward/upward as the quadpod pivots on the two points where the four legs join.
Correct - Feet positioned in line with the rifle and in a triangle with the quadpod legs will reduce forward/backward body sway and rifle tilting down/up. This position is the opposite of the correct position with the tripod, because the quadpod allows forward/backward sway. This sway is limited by the shooter's feet being positioned in the front/back axis, while sideways sway is eliminated by the quadpod front and rear support.
This is why the "quadpod with a fifth leg", the quintpod to call it correctly, provides additional mechanical stability because its fifth leg, illustrated here under in yellow under the front of the rifle, prevents the quadpod from rocking forward/backward on the two pivot points where the four legs join.
The drawback for the quintpod total lateral and longitudinal stability is a slower deployment and the awkwardness of adjusting the quintpod position once deployed.
Best stability but slow deployment - the fifth leg (yellow) of the quintpod adds longitudinal stability to the quadpod lateral stability.
Final words...
Regular practice is critical, and shooting form is not acquired only with expensive-to-shoot hunting rifles. A good quality .22 LR will provide all the shooting form training required, directly translatable to center fire rifles.
A well practiced shooter will reliably shoot 2 MOA from quad sticks, which translates in hunting ethically the smallest of big game with a 6" vital area out to 300 yards from the sticks.
The proper position on sticks is NOT a matter of personal opinion or comfort, it is purely a matter of geometry and application of forces in order to achieve a single purpose: reducing the movements of the barrel.
Tripod
Position of the rifle on the tripod
Incorrect - A rifle positioned on the sticks toward the middle of the stock will amplify the effect of the shooter's body movements on the barrel movements. It creates a central pivot point that allows the rifle to swing freely in every direction (right/left, up/down)*.
* we are not discussing here rifle-vise heavy tripods capable of carrying the entire weight of the rifle for sniping duties, but lightweight hunting tripods.
Correct - A rifle positioned on the sticks toward the end of the stock will minimize the effect of the shooter's body movements on the barrel movements. Observe that the same body sway as illustrated in both positions, results in a significantly smaller barrel movement in the correct position than it does in the incorrect position. This is purely a result of geometry.
Position of the hands when using the tripod
Incorrect – The forend hand risks being cut under recoil by the sling stud, and the forend hand will kick the sticks out of alignment, and possibly down, during recoil with heavy-recoil DG calibers.
Correct – The forend hand is protected by the sticks from the sling stud, and can recoil up with the rifle without kicking the sticks out of alignment during recoil.
Position of the feet when using the tripod
Incorrect - The feet aligned with the center of the tripod do not provide a stable support triangle and will induce sideways body sway.
Correct - The feet positioned to form a wide support triangle with the tripod center will reduce sideways body sway. This is purely a result of geometry.
Angle of the body when using the tripod
Incorrect – A straight back balancing on the legs does not stabilize the shooter’s body and induces sway.
Correct – Leaning forward heavily on the tripod stabilizes the shooter’s body and reduces sway. By leaning on the tripod, the shooter rests the upper body weight against it and reduces the upper body movements. This is purely a result of gravitational forces application.
Quadpod (Quad Sticks)
The quadpod offers a significant advantage compared to the tripod. While the tripod supports only the front end of the rifle, allowing the rear end to sway with the body of the shooter, the quadpod supports both front and rear ends of the rifle, eliminating sideways sway entirely.
However, frontward/backward sway is still mechanically possible and the feet positions must be different from those of the tripod position to mitigate it.
Incorrect - Feet positioned in a box with the quadpod legs will induce forward/backward body sway and will cause the rifle to tilt downward/upward as the quadpod pivots on the two points where the four legs join.
Correct - Feet positioned in line with the rifle and in a triangle with the quadpod legs will reduce forward/backward body sway and rifle tilting down/up. This position is the opposite of the correct position with the tripod, because the quadpod allows forward/backward sway. This sway is limited by the shooter's feet being positioned in the front/back axis, while sideways sway is eliminated by the quadpod front and rear support.
This is why the "quadpod with a fifth leg", the quintpod to call it correctly, provides additional mechanical stability because its fifth leg, illustrated here under in yellow under the front of the rifle, prevents the quadpod from rocking forward/backward on the two pivot points where the four legs join.
The drawback for the quintpod total lateral and longitudinal stability is a slower deployment and the awkwardness of adjusting the quintpod position once deployed.
Best stability but slow deployment - the fifth leg (yellow) of the quintpod adds longitudinal stability to the quadpod lateral stability.
Final words...
Regular practice is critical, and shooting form is not acquired only with expensive-to-shoot hunting rifles. A good quality .22 LR will provide all the shooting form training required, directly translatable to center fire rifles.
A well practiced shooter will reliably shoot 2 MOA from quad sticks, which translates in hunting ethically the smallest of big game with a 6" vital area out to 300 yards from the sticks.
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