Shooting off Sticks?

sageadvice · Nov 12, 2014

It must be a skill that needs lots of practice. Last year, i met a couple buddies out at the range who wanted help in learning to shoot off sticks. They had made a set of sticks, African style, from instructions off the internet and they looked like they would work. How i got involved, not sure, yet they thought i might be able to help so out i went.

Target set up, 100 yds taped onto a 16" square cb box. Both guys sighted their rifles with decent shots off the bench before progressing to the sticks. Once on them, all bets were off, they hardly even hit the box let alone the big black bull in the center.

I tried my hand at it as well with one of my hunting rods that i know shoots at least as well as i can. There may have been some improvement over what i can usually do off-hand but not much. I see on TV these guys and gals making longish shots off the sticks and i must conclude that they must have put in a lot of time at practice. It's not as easy as it looks! No?

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

440sixpack · Nov 12, 2014

I can't make them work unless I'm backed up to a tree or something . I don't even carry them anymore.

For me it's a bipod or nothing, I just use a pack find what I can for a rest.

Stay thirsty my friends

sageadvice · Nov 12, 2014

Yeah, i can do most anything for a rest but prefer shooting over my day pack.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

hntbambi · Nov 12, 2014

I prefer using stix for hunting. I have the Stoney Point Safari Stix that allow me to shoot standing up on my hind legs. I added a tripod leg to it and it is super rock solid. I also use them while walking and glassing. I rest my binos on the stix and have a look around. I have used the BOGgear BOG-POD? Red Legged Devil? Shooting Pods and I hate them. The Safari Stix are much easier for me to use.

sageadvice · Nov 12, 2014

hntby, Did you take to them right off?

If a guy was a decent shot otherwise, how long would you think it would take to have/gain the confidence in the long sticks like you have now?

I have used a staff a couple times to take game and i could see where using Safari type stix would greatly help on a lope hunt...

That little session at the range last year proved to me that i'm just not very good with them at this point.

Fact is, thinking about my next antelope hunt is what caused me to inquire about this topic. Thanks!

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

projp · Nov 12, 2014

Since I don't use a fixed bipod the first choice is over the pack.
Second choice is a Snipe Pod. It clips on quick and the sitting position usually clears the brush I hunt in. I usually don't hunt where I would have to stand up to shoot.

sageadvice · Nov 12, 2014

pro, My very first Antelope hunt was in 1987, i drew a Calif Antelope tag and had a no doubt about it booner buck at 250 yards but with the sage in the way, there was no shot except a standing off hand shot. That buck gave me plenty of opportunity but i held off for the one sure shot i'd need with my Browning single shot...it never came!

I'd not been in that situation before and may never again but what a gorgeous Buck he was and if i had been with some kind of rest that i could shoot standing, my name would be resting in the upper third of the lope listings BnC. Looking back, i could have dumped him easy enough off hand, i think, but i wanted to know for a fact that i could and i not only didn't get the shot that day but never saw that buck again. Stuff like that haunts a guy.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

projp · Nov 12, 2014

We could start a thread titled
Shots/opportunities that haunt me.
I have a few.

hntbambi · Nov 12, 2014

When I was working up a load for a few of my guns, I always take a very accurate 22lr with me. I used the sticks between "sets" waiting for the bigger gun to cool down. I would shoot at a 200 yard target with the 22 and after a few sessions I can keep my shots in about a 6" target while standing. I shoot at 100 yards with the 22lr offhand just for working on technique. It is great practice. Once the load is worked up and the scope is where I want it for the hunt, I shoot most of the time from sticks. Kind of like the military, train like you fight. I train like I hunt.

mtmuley · Nov 12, 2014

My kids both used sticks to kill their antelope this year. Without them in the tall crp there was no shot. My 12 yeat old made a 237 yard shot, his first animal. I prefer my pack but sticks have their place. mtmuley

Calif_Mike · Nov 13, 2014

I have been using sticks now for about 15 years. They are kind of like the Stoney Point sticks but I make them myself. I always use them sitting down with my elbows on my knees. Have made some great shots with them. Takes some time getting used to but you couldn't take my sticks away now.

projp · Nov 13, 2014

I shot this management buck a few years ago at a little over 400 yds off of a snipe pod while sitting.
If I can lean my back into something it shrinks my groups dramatically.

sageadvice · Nov 13, 2014

Thanks for all the replies and to projp for that nice pic!

I think hntbambi nailed it if a guy really wants to use the taller, standing up type of sticks. The idea of using a 22lr in the off season to sharpen skills is not near a new idea to me but to use one in conjunction with the taller sticks is. I could see how a guy could and does get better and better with that kind of practice.

Now i got to go shopping for more 22lr ammo and wish me luck with that. I've had several friends, buddies, and a guy down the street leave my home with 22 ammo that i probably shouldn't have given away but my generous nature got the best of me again. The guy down the street got 4 boxes of reg 22 shells and a box of stingers. I charged him $10. and didn't even want to charge him that. If you know where i can replace them for that price, kindly let me know!

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

ZIGGER · Nov 13, 2014

I can shoot damn near as poorly off hand as I can with sticks.......I too find something to lean on......pack being the best usually...

But......I do know.....put the stock against the sticks....not the barrel

"As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron."
- H.L. Mencken, the Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

Zeke · Nov 14, 2014

Uncle sage,
I've shot some off sticks. Shot several critters in Africa with them.
Sticks are OK but I've noticed that I have to really work on trigger control. It takes a super light touch on the trigger or the shot is easy to throw off.
State-side I do not use a rest-aid while hunting except the usual; rock, tree, pack, truck window when I'm poaching (that last part was for your entertainment).
I elk hunted with a friend who insisted on carrying his damn sticks. They did nothing but make noise and get in the way. He ended up killing his elk at, 400 yards, the old fashioned way, in a good solid sitting position!
I'd rather practice the sitting position shot since I always take my arms and azz with me when I hunt!
Zeke

sageadvice · Nov 14, 2014

"But......I do know.....put the stock against the sticks....not the barrel"

Abolutely! some good advice there for those who don't know!

Zeke, So you take your azz with you? I generally do too but like in the case of that Big ol lope standing off looking right at me, he had my azz and then handed it back to me!

This has been i good thread i'm thinking. For a good while now, i carry with me a 6' piece of 3/4" copper pipe with both ends duck taped off to keep it quiet on the rocks. I have used it to help walk the terrain and to steady shots. It does help. The idea of a full set of the taller sticks just doesn't set that well with me but i do appreciate others gainful use of them. It's been some good food for thought, Thanks!!

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"