Shooting sticks or similar setup suggestions

Sharpyshoot

I’m looking to get some shooting sticks possibly quad sticks but think the bipod setup would suffice. Mainly vermin control and walking a lot so some light easy to go cause when Charlie appears he don’t hang around.
Are quad sticks more for deer stalking?

The pigeon man

Sharpyshoot wrote: »

I’m looking to get some shooting sticks possibly quad sticks but think the bipod setup would suffice. Mainly vermin control and walking a lot so some light easy to go cause when Charlie appears he don’t hang around.
Are quad sticks more for deer stalking?

Quad sticks sound perfect for your use case as you move around alot and need to get the gun shouldered quickly.

Tripods are best suited for sitting still and calling foxes. Not great for lugging around.

cookimonster

I used double sticks for a few years (homemade) then converted them over to quads. I would use them for foxing, rabbiting and deer stalking (deer stalking mostly on farm land).
Whether you use them as quads or doubles they are easy to deploy with a bit of practice. For quick shots you can use them as a single shooting stick, for a little bit more time obviously doubles but you can't beat them in full deployment. Only two points of contact on the ground so you can easily pivot on either leg left or right. The butt is supported and elevation and distance can be easily achieved by leaning forward or backward. Handy if you stop and are scanning, glassing, lamping as you can keep the rifle in a ready position with one hand.

I also have a tri-pod that I would mostly carry in wooded conditions as these are height adjustable and very suitable if you are going to set up in a spot for a while. Highly adaptable to sitting kneeling or standing. Theres great tutorials on body positions using them and once you start doing so you'll get a good steady stance . A good trick with the bipod or tri- pod is to put them on the far side of a gate and use the gate as the forth leg, otherwise a gate post, tree , knee or person can be used for supporting your strong arm.
Most tripods come with a simple strap to hold the third leg in place on long bounds keep that leg strapped so you now have a bipod / double sticks easier to move and easy to deploy for a quick shot. A handy tip is be aware of how you carry the sticks, will the open naturally if you lift them up and release one side, some open in one direction more naturally or some like quads need to be the righ way around. For my tripod I will gently trap a finger between the two main legs, this stops rattling, aids opening and if I'm going to use the third leg keeps everything in the right direction.

The height of the sticks is important, generally if the top of the stick is at your eye level or slightly higher then you are good to go. Some lads keep the sticks at shoulder height and forget that when they deploy them you loose a considerable amount of height as the legs spread apart. You want to keep your torso up right so not to effect your breathing or strain your muscles. If you need height adjustments simple bending at the knees, leaning forward etc will usually get you on target. Set the height of the sticks when deployed and you are comfortable.

Sharpyshoot

Thanks for replies a lot of info to digest. I would need to be independent as no gates or ditch to aid me in the places I’m at the moment. I have a 13-27 bipod rifle mount on loan at the moment but at best I’m still half lying down to take the shot. As above as they angle out loose height.

cookimonster

If your happy to lay down (there's so many who don't like to get dirty) try various sitting positions with your feet out in front of you, rest the feet of the bipod on the inside of your feet and lean slightly forward. Not a position I can maintain too long as there is too much material in the mid riffs.



Place the bi-pod like so.


I have similar sized bipod as yourself and use it mostly when shooting over particular mountain permission that is covered in heather and is handy to raise the rifle up out of the vegetation.
IMO this length is neither fish nor fowel and is just a little too long for normal prone position on flat ground and then a little too short for a good sitting or kneeling position. It is very good for shooting off banks as you can place the feet on the far side of the bank and support your body etc over the top of the bank.
My go to bipod is a 6-9 that suits my general use.

corelokttikka

make you stick from bamboo or even better Hazel sticks, they last years too. u can make them to suit what ever height you want to shoot from. Sitting, kneeling or standing.

Sharpyshoot

I made some before but found them awkward trying to adjust height depending on the terrain. I saw swagger lite sticks there and saw a YouTube video on them. They seem very versatile and fold up neat and deploy fast.

garv123

I wouldnt go out deer stalking or foxing without my quad sticks.
Really has changed shooting. Rock solid, even better if you have a bit of back support like a stake or tree.
I still have the bipod on the gun but most of my shots are off sticks.

corelokttikka

garv123 wrote: »

I wouldnt go out deer stalking or foxing without my quad sticks.
Really has changed shooting. Rock solid, even better if you have a bit of back support like a stake or tree.
I still have the bipod on the gun but most of my shots are off sticks.

this is important in that if your using sticks your probably shooting longer distances for steadier shots and that might impact your choice of optics too.
i used the quad sticks just for rabbits where as with deer i shoot off hand as close as possible..

JP22

I'm a magpie (says the other half) and being wallet deficient I hate throwing out stuff or paying for something I can easily make myself.

Pretty easy to make your own tailored to yourself and your shooting style.

If your unlucky to be off work due to lockdown, its a project to keep the mind/hands busy.

https://www.littleloveliesbyallison.com/diy-shooting-sticks/

clivej

DIY quad sticks here, short set for kneeling. Made from green covered aluminum garden poles.
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=100802990


Here is what I did with a set of tri-sticks. Put a fishing rod rest on the back leg. Makes for a very steady setup.




IMG_0820.jpg

J.R.

I made a monopod from an old crutch.
Hospitals refuse to take back crutches so decided to use it.
The crutch is robust, adjustable and lightweight.
It also closes down to a small size to aid transportation.