Shooting from sticks

[Hank2211]

Lots of great advice here. Mine is as follows:

1. Most PHs have tripod sticks, not bipods. Tripods are steadier, obviously, and if your PH doesn't have some, you should ask him to make some. Takes three strong sticks and some old inner tube. I prefer these more "rustic" sticks to many, if not most, of the commercial ones. Many of the commercial ones have too much "flex" or 'bow" in them. You need firm sticks that don't bend under the weight of your rifle.

2. You can actually improve shooting sticks by finding a rest for your trigger had arm. On longer or more difficult shots, it's worth looking for a rest to steady that elbow. In a pinch, I've used my PH's head. In fairness, he was kneeling, and I found his head quite flat. Even a strong tree branch can help.

3. Don't put your barrel on the sticks. Stock only. On a short shot it might not matter much, but it's not a good idea to interfere with the movement of the bullet through the barrel. If you have a sling, you can throw the sling around the sticks so the stock is on the sticks, or keep the sling along the stock and rest the gun on the sling. Either way works. You can hold the gun with your free hand, or hold the sticks. Again, your choice. I use at least a finger over the stock when I shoot larger calibers (.404 and above) to reduce the muzzle flip and give me some control over the recoiling rifle. If you look at the picture from sheephunterab above, you can see if he holds his hands lichee is, he could move a finger or two to touch the rifle and add some stability, if he chose to.

4.. Practice, practice, practice. I see that AustinKroe show a 1.5 inch group at 100 yards with a Lott. That's good shooting. He's probably mildly concussed, but he's got great numbers.

5.. When you get to Africa, the PH will have you shoot off a bench or some other rest to check your zero (and to see how you handle a gun). Take the opportunity to try out his sticks at the range, and let him see how high you want them set up. Playing with them when the first trophy you have in your sights is a 60 inch kudu is not a great idea, nor is not playing with them and shooting from the wrong height and wounding that kudu.

Have fun!

 

[Austinkroe]

Here is the target I was talking about. This target was shot with my solids load at 100 yards. My solids shoot higher than my softs.

I've fired about 800 rounds through my Lott in the last 4 months and this is the best group I've shot at 100 yards yet. I'm pretty proud of it since I was using a red dot off sticks. I've only fired three rounds off a bench with this gun and that group wasn't as nice as this one.

 

[Royal27]

Just to be different, I actually grip the shooting stick with my left hand and place my thumb or index finger up the side of the forestock to steady the rifle if the rifle has no sling. If the rifle has a sling attached, I actually grip the sling and shooting stick in my left hand. This method works remarkably well for me.

I put my hands similar to this. I like your sling trick and have done something similar when the rifle has a bipod. Pop done the left leg assuming you are right handed and grip the stick leg and pod leg. Makes it really steady.