spectr17
11-06-2002, 07:01 PM
NEGLECTED SHOOTING STICKS -- Jim Matthews column-ONS -- 06nov02
Shooting sticks save the bacon
Most of us don't shoot very well in the field. Why? Rests are uncertain, we've just hiked up steep hills, we're excited at the sight of game, and we never practice as much as we should.
http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/images/shooting-sticks-hoots-jim-m-.jpg
I recently missed a wild hog no more than 100 yards away. I know why. I took a hasty kneeling position, which wasn't all that stable since I'd just jogged up a gentle slope, and I was afraid the hog was about to run. I jerked the trigger pretty badly sending the big bullet at least a foot in front of his nose. The adrenaline was churning pretty good, too.
Yet a couple months before I was on another hog hunt, under nearly identical circumstances, and the pigs were even further away. But I dropped one with a single shot. The difference? Shooting sticks.
They are one of the most useful, least used items for hunters. Next to a sling, I can't think of a single accessory items that is more valuable. There are a variety shooting sticks and rifle-mounted bipods on the market. All have slightly different features that suit them to different hunting situations. I lump them into four categories.
Rifle Mounted Bipods: These include the popular Harris bipod and others like it. They attach to the front sling lug and have legs that fold up along the barrel when not in use, and then snap down to form a bipod for shooting. There are short models for use from the prone position, off shooting benches, or vehicle hoods, and there are taller models for use from a sitting position.
The advantages are a nearly rock-solid platform for shooting. For varmint hunting where you can get set up, they are exceptional. The disadvantages are that they are heavy and make for awkward use when you need to take a quick shot. Under ideal circumstances, they can work very quickly, but their lack of quick adjustability can make it hard to get set up on a steep slope or adjust to moving game. But from a stand or single position, they are the best.
Non-Folding Shooting Sticks: There are wide range of shooting sticks that hinge open, allowing for the shooter to quickly stab them into the ground and drop the forearm of the rifle into the V created by the sticks. To raise or lower the elevation, you can spread the legs further apart or move them closer together. You can find them made from wood, plastic, and aluminum from very light to very heavy. They all suit different needs.
With a little practice, they are all extremely fast to use on just about any terrain, which is the advantage of sticks. The heavy versions are more stable than the more flexible models, but all of them steady the shooter by great magnitudes. With all of them, except those with leather or cloth rifle forearm supports, I set my forearm-gripping hand in the V of the sticks and rest the rifle in the meaty web of flesh between my thumb and forefinger. This not only cushions the rifle, but allows minute adjustments by merely slightly changing the squeeze or position of the hand.
The disadvantage of these full-size sticks is carrying them around in the field. I have a buddy who made a very simple, but clever, holder out of PVC that he's attached to his day pack like an arrow quiver.
Collapsible Shooting Sticks: They are God's gift to the walking hunter. Most are designed like tent stakes that have a bungicord-like material through their center. Some you simply shake than they snap to full size, and other you can quickly joint up and be ready for action. They have all the advantages of regular sticks and the added advantage of being fairly handy. Many come with belt sheaths or are small enough that they can be stuck in a pants or jacket pocket.
Mono Pods or a Walking Stick: If you hunt where there's a lot of brush and you have to shoot offhand a lot, there is nothing better than a simple walking stick for giving you an added measure of stability. I have a very nice wood one that was designed as a wading staff for fishermen, and there are a host of lightweight mono pods on the market that are designed for shooters and photographers. You can shoot off the top of them from a standing position, or grip them lower down and brace against them from sitting or kneeling positions. They should be from 4 1/2 to 5 feet long, although some people like sticks that are longer than they are tall.
The walking sticks have a versatility that goes beyond just shooting, too. My two boys don't give me as much trouble when I have the big walking stick. It's long enough to fend off rattlesnakes. I can knock out-of-reach pine cones out of pinons during good nut years. But most of all, I have a tendency to lean on mine a lot, catching my breath.
Shooting sticks save the bacon
Most of us don't shoot very well in the field. Why? Rests are uncertain, we've just hiked up steep hills, we're excited at the sight of game, and we never practice as much as we should.
http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/images/shooting-sticks-hoots-jim-m-.jpg
I recently missed a wild hog no more than 100 yards away. I know why. I took a hasty kneeling position, which wasn't all that stable since I'd just jogged up a gentle slope, and I was afraid the hog was about to run. I jerked the trigger pretty badly sending the big bullet at least a foot in front of his nose. The adrenaline was churning pretty good, too.
Yet a couple months before I was on another hog hunt, under nearly identical circumstances, and the pigs were even further away. But I dropped one with a single shot. The difference? Shooting sticks.
They are one of the most useful, least used items for hunters. Next to a sling, I can't think of a single accessory items that is more valuable. There are a variety shooting sticks and rifle-mounted bipods on the market. All have slightly different features that suit them to different hunting situations. I lump them into four categories.
Rifle Mounted Bipods: These include the popular Harris bipod and others like it. They attach to the front sling lug and have legs that fold up along the barrel when not in use, and then snap down to form a bipod for shooting. There are short models for use from the prone position, off shooting benches, or vehicle hoods, and there are taller models for use from a sitting position.
The advantages are a nearly rock-solid platform for shooting. For varmint hunting where you can get set up, they are exceptional. The disadvantages are that they are heavy and make for awkward use when you need to take a quick shot. Under ideal circumstances, they can work very quickly, but their lack of quick adjustability can make it hard to get set up on a steep slope or adjust to moving game. But from a stand or single position, they are the best.
Non-Folding Shooting Sticks: There are wide range of shooting sticks that hinge open, allowing for the shooter to quickly stab them into the ground and drop the forearm of the rifle into the V created by the sticks. To raise or lower the elevation, you can spread the legs further apart or move them closer together. You can find them made from wood, plastic, and aluminum from very light to very heavy. They all suit different needs.
With a little practice, they are all extremely fast to use on just about any terrain, which is the advantage of sticks. The heavy versions are more stable than the more flexible models, but all of them steady the shooter by great magnitudes. With all of them, except those with leather or cloth rifle forearm supports, I set my forearm-gripping hand in the V of the sticks and rest the rifle in the meaty web of flesh between my thumb and forefinger. This not only cushions the rifle, but allows minute adjustments by merely slightly changing the squeeze or position of the hand.
The disadvantage of these full-size sticks is carrying them around in the field. I have a buddy who made a very simple, but clever, holder out of PVC that he's attached to his day pack like an arrow quiver.
Collapsible Shooting Sticks: They are God's gift to the walking hunter. Most are designed like tent stakes that have a bungicord-like material through their center. Some you simply shake than they snap to full size, and other you can quickly joint up and be ready for action. They have all the advantages of regular sticks and the added advantage of being fairly handy. Many come with belt sheaths or are small enough that they can be stuck in a pants or jacket pocket.
Mono Pods or a Walking Stick: If you hunt where there's a lot of brush and you have to shoot offhand a lot, there is nothing better than a simple walking stick for giving you an added measure of stability. I have a very nice wood one that was designed as a wading staff for fishermen, and there are a host of lightweight mono pods on the market that are designed for shooters and photographers. You can shoot off the top of them from a standing position, or grip them lower down and brace against them from sitting or kneeling positions. They should be from 4 1/2 to 5 feet long, although some people like sticks that are longer than they are tall.
The walking sticks have a versatility that goes beyond just shooting, too. My two boys don't give me as much trouble when I have the big walking stick. It's long enough to fend off rattlesnakes. I can knock out-of-reach pine cones out of pinons during good nut years. But most of all, I have a tendency to lean on mine a lot, catching my breath.