Shooting from sticks

[R.M.C.]

Interesting comments about the quad sticks. I can certainly see how stable they are but way less maneuverable than a bi or tripod. Sort of goes against the idea of a quick set up stick for me as a noob to the idea.

They're about one second slower than a regular tripod and they actually have quite a bit of side to side movement. You control up and down by leaning back or forward. Its really fast after about a ten minute practice session. I actually think it's a little easier to set up my stable sticks than it is to set up a tripod while holding a rifle. You should try them, I was resistant to the idea until I got them in my hands. They're a game changer as far as maximum shooting distance. I shot a two inch group at 100 yards with them, which is pretty darn good for me lol

 

[Tanks]

... I actually think it's a little easier to set up my stable sticks than it is to set up a tripod while holding a rifle. ...

In Africa, it is the PH that is setting up the sticks and sometimes one has mere seconds to line up and shoot. On my last hunt the PH practiced throwing out the forward leg and settling it up quickly when I gave him my sticks to use for out hunt.

 

[BeeMaa]

In Africa, it is the PH that is setting up the sticks and sometimes one has mere seconds to line up and shoot. On my last hunt the PH practice throwing out the forward leg and settling it up quickly when I gave him my sticks to use for out hunt.

My wife and I practiced this with our PH and tracker at our range session prior to hunting. It was time well spent.

 

[375Fox]

They're about one second slower than a regular tripod and they actually have quite a bit of side to side movement. You control up and down by leaning back or forward. Its really fast after about a ten minute practice session. I actually think it's a little easier to set up my stable sticks than it is to set up a tripod while holding a rifle. You should try them, I was resistant to the idea until I got them in my hands. They're a game changer as far as maximum shooting distance. I shot a two inch group at 100 yards with them, which is pretty darn good for me lol

Glad to see you’ve converted to quad sticks. I’ve been using 4 stable sticks since 2017 and really think they are faster than a tripod with practice. The practice session at start with PH is key though, also knowing your PH needs to be on your right if you are right handed. My last safari had extremely short shot windows, I didn’t miss any of them for being too slow.

 

[R.M.C.]

Glad to see you’ve converted to quad sticks. I’ve been using 4 stable sticks since 2017 and really think they are faster than a tripod with practice. The practice session at start with PH is key though, also knowing your PH needs to be on your right if you are right handed. My last safari had extremely short shot windows, I didn’t miss any of them for being too slow.

Yes I've been successfully converted lol and I agree, tossing out the quad sticks is about like opening a bipod, then the top splits and you're in business. I highly doubt I'll lose any time with the ph sitting them in front of me. The final adjustments are then left to the shooter, just like getting on a regular tripod.

 

[R.M.C.]

In Africa, it is the PH that is setting up the sticks and sometimes one has mere seconds to line up and shoot. On my last hunt the PH practiced throwing out the forward leg and settling it up quickly when I gave him my sticks to use for out hunt.

Yep I understand the ph puts the sticks up but with quad sticks you kinda have to adjust them yourself real quick when you put the rifle on. Its fast

 

[Robmill70]

I bought the Primos shooting sticks and I really like them, the quick height adjustability is awesome.

Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 Tripod Shooting Stick 24 to 62 Ground Swat

Like every Trigger Stick, the Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 adjusts to your desired height with just one hand and the pull of a trigger. The Locking Leg...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[BeeMaa]

I bought the Primos shooting sticks and I really like them, the quick height adjustability is awesome.

Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 Tripod Shooting Stick 24 to 62 Ground Swat

Like every Trigger Stick, the Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 adjusts to your desired height with just one hand and the pull of a trigger. The Locking Leg...

www.midwayusa.com

They do work great initially. It's when they have some wear on them or get dirt in the mechanism that things seem to go awry. Keep them clean and use a dry lubricant for best results. Our PH had a set and he was about to break them over his knee at one point.

 

[shootist~]

I liked my Primos sticks until one of the legs fell off.

My Bogpod Adrenaline sticks are lighter, more compact (by far) - and have been 100% reliable thru lots of practice plus one safari.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

The wife and I have been spending quite a bit of time on the range prepping for our trip next week and we dry fire practice on the sticks at the house quite regularly. I bought one of the gunstix last year. I have not been able to warm up to it. I kept it thinking the wife would like it, but she does not. She shoots a lot better from a bog pod tripod. I shoot about the same from both, but I am much slower using the gunstix. We gave it our best try these past few days and decided it is not for us.

Jim of African Sporting Creations made us a custom set of his fine 3-piece sticks with extra parts for the huge height difference between me and the wife. I called him last Thursday and they were at our door when we got back from the range today. Great service like always. We were playing with them in the living room and like them a lot so far. Will let you know after they get some range time, but I think they will be fine. They are just a classy and more durable version of the synthetic/aluminum tripods.

Safe shooting!

 

[Rare Breed]

Please forgive me if I sound like a dummy here.
Reading about going on safari and one of the things that popped up was getting used to and practising shooting from sticks. I know what it is but it isn't something that hunters in NZ do that much. Our topography and style of hunting doesn't usually allow carrying sticks about.
Not a lot around to try either for probably much the same reason.
Whats the go in this situation? Make your own or just not worth the pain?

The single most important thing I learned was not about what type of sticks to use…it was how to shoot off sticks. There is no finer example of teaching than our very own ONE DAY…everyone should checkout his post on AH…it made me look like a great shot tganks to him when in reality I am but an average shot

 

[Rare Breed]

The single most important thing I learned was not about what type of sticks to use…it was how to shoot off sticks. There is no finer example of teaching than our very own ONE DAY…everyone should checkout his post on AH…it made me look like a great shot tganks to him when in reality I am but an average shot

@one day

 

[Angelo_orygun]

Another vote here for quad sticks.

After using a them in April, I purchased a set on my return from Roudolf. A week after payment, I heard nothing and sent an email. I received a prompt response saying they would ship that day or the next, and then nothing. A week later they showed up.

Horrible communication, but they are as I used in SA and way more stable than any of the other options I own.

 

[Woodcarver]

There's a prairie dog town that has sprung up not far from my backdoor, and on the path I take out to a friend's ranch where I spend time hiking. Normally, I will only get one, maybe two shots before they are all underground and I continue on my way. Today, with the wind kicking around 12-18mph, they apparently weren't hearing the shots and allowed me to expend all 8 rounds I had with me.
Closest shot was around 140 yards, the longest about 185. Went 6 for 8, with one of them managing to get back to his hole (or the hawk flying around got him). Standing, with a 25-06, Gunstix quad sticks. That crosswind did make it tougher to get steady, but I felt way more comfortable than when I've shot in this kind of breeze with just a tripod.
Hawks were happy. In the time it took to go back to the house and grab some more ammo, they had taken possession of 2 of the 5 carcasses. When I came back by an hour later, there was only 1 carcass still there. Bet it's gone by now.
These quad sticks are what they claim, steadier than a tripod, light weight, easy to use. Be fun to use them and see what the 9.3 or 375 does on a prairie dog.

 

[Proneshooter]

@one day

Cannot find the thread.

 

[thriller]

Please forgive me if I sound like a dummy here.
Reading about going on safari and one of the things that popped up was getting used to and practising shooting from sticks. I know what it is but it isn't something that hunters in NZ do that much. Our topography and style of hunting doesn't usually allow carrying sticks about.
Not a lot around to try either for probably much the same reason.
Whats the go in this situation? Make your own or just not worth the pain?

I made a 3 legged set out of bamboo one time and out of saplings another with zip ties and a drill. They are not very good to carry but at the range they were good enough to practice off of.

 

[CBH Australia]

To anyone still reading Buy them or make your own if you don't have experience with them before traveling.
They use them in SA and willm expect you to use them

 

[BeeMaa]

Cannot find the thread.

This is a really good post. @One Day... does his research.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/recoil-mitigation.59272/post-701625

 

[Ridge Runner]

To anyone still reading Buy them or make your own if you don't have experience with them before traveling.
They use them in SA and willm expect you to use them

It's Your Choice.

I make my own. Twenty minutes or less.

No experience really needed they are fairly simple to make.

Get 3 sticks roughly the same diameter and length or dowel rods 5/8 to 3/4 inch in diameter from your local lumber yard, Lowe's, etc. Use a binding long enough that allows about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide wrap: para chord, bungy chord, zip ties, etc, Place the 3 pieces of wood together to form a triangle. I recommend start out at about or just above shoulder level and wrap the 3 pieces snuggly together. (Snuggly as you will have to adjust the binding to your height/comfort)

Next spreading the legs equally apart, about 20 to 30 inches.
Placing your rifle in the fork of your tripod adjust your binding up or down to get the right height and spread the legs in or out for stability.
Once you have the correct and comfortable height for you, place a mark above and below the binding to ensure you don't alter the binding's location as you (not overly) tighten the binding and as a reference for when you have to tighten the binding as it will eventually loosen from use.

Options:

To help protect your rifle from any dings get a piece of foam pipe insulation or cut a piece of scrape rubber hose you might have and place a piece around each of the top prongs.

Depending on how long the top prongs are: You might find it more accommodating to cut one or all 3 of the top prongs about 3 - 6 inches above the binding or perhaps one prong flush with the binding and securely cover with a very thick (old T shirt) piece of cloth or any other soft material for padding to help protect against dings on your rifle. Especially if your rifle has a free floating barrel.

Note:
Never place a free floating barrel directly on the sticks it affects your rifle's accuracy. (Always place the forestock of free floating barrel on the sticks)

You also might find it beneficial to cut a sort of dull point on the ground end of the legs to help stabilize the legs.

OR

You could do as others have mentioned spend as much as you want on any one of the number and types of factory product shooting sticks.

 

[CBH Australia]

It's Your Choice.

I make my own. Twenty minutes or less.

No experience really needed they are fairly simple to make.

Get 3 sticks roughly the same diameter and length or dowel rods 5/8 to 3/4 inch in diameter from your local lumber yard, Lowe's, etc. Use a binding long enough that allows about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide wrap: para chord, bungy chord, zip ties, etc, Place the 3 pieces of wood together to form a triangle. I recommend start out at about or just above shoulder level and wrap the 3 pieces snuggly together. (Snuggly as you will have to adjust the binding to your height/comfort)

Next spreading the legs equally apart, about 20 to 30 inches.
Placing your rifle in the fork of your tripod adjust your binding up or down to get the right height and spread the legs in or out for stability.
Once you have the correct and comfortable height for you, place a mark above and below the binding to ensure you don't alter the binding's location as you (not overly) tighten the binding and as a reference for when you have to tighten the binding as it will eventually loosen from use.

Options:

To help protect your rifle from any dings get a piece of foam pipe insulation or cut a piece of scrape rubber hose you might have and place a piece around each of the top prongs.

Depending on how long the top prongs are: You might find it more accommodating to cut one or all 3 of the top prongs about 3 - 6 inches above the binding or perhaps one prong flush with the binding and securely cover with a very thick (old T shirt) piece of cloth or any other soft material for padding to help protect against dings on your rifle. Especially if your rifle has a free floating barrel.

Note:
Never place a free floating barrel directly on the sticks it affects your rifle's accuracy. (Always place the forestock of free floating barrel on the sticks)

You also might find it beneficial to cut a sort of dull point on the ground end of the legs to help stabilize the legs.

OR

You could do as others have mentioned spend as much as you want on any one of the number and types of factory product shooting sticks.

@Ridge Runner , sorry I was meaning if you don't have experience shooting from sticks.

Yes, simple enough to make if you have basic knowledge and basic equipment.

As far as shooting from sticks a bit of practice or previous Expy won't hurt before the first safari.