Shooting sticks advice

Hey all. I came across a situation today where I could see two deer across a gully but the shooting rest options I had was tough with branches in the way plus about half a meter of undergrowth to contend with. As per standard, where there was a gap in the trees the ground was terrible and vice versa. My little Spartan bipod was pushing shit well up hill. Tried for a rest from off a branch but that wasn't good enough. If I was in a sitting position with a portable high rest I think I could have been in a much better place. I've looked at a few stories etc but never really thought much more about them. Anyone using these regularly and it would be great to get some feedback on what's good or bad if anyone has experience. Many thanks. James

I use homemade quad sticks for rabbit shooting. More stable than a tripod, although tripods are useful too, better in the sitting position. How much stuff do you want to carry around the hills?

I think they’re fantastic kit. Get the lightweight tent-pole style folding ones. Two-legged, not attached to the gun. Magic for shooting in steep or tussocky country.

Use bipod shooting sticks & these are a brilliant solution for situations as you describe or tall tussock. Good a hill stick too. Brand is Vanguard cost about $90 from memory.

I have a set of Viperflex Journey shooting sticks that my son uses and they are really good but do have some limitations. These are “quad” sticks which support the rifle at the front of the stock and just behind the pistol grip. The biggest drawback is they are not easy to adjust the leg length if you are on the side of a hill. Also quite expensive.

Shooting off sticks is a pretty specialized skill. If you do not practice it regularly, i'd say don't bother.

The Primos ones are good for hunting. Reasonably light, quick deploy etc.

Or you could look at a carbon PRS tripod and mount a short section of ARCA rail. I know some of the SI boys now take these on hunts. Super stable, but again, you need to practice with these and figure out the best way to "load" them and how to hold the rifle.

Four stable sticks, or their imported copies (Rudolph in Cambridge).
https://www.rudolphoptics.co.nz/prod...hooting-sticks

The best 170$ you ll ever spend.
To practice, get a 22 and start shooting hare, rabbits et possums of these.

This was a lockdown project the plastic half pipe can be unscrewed so the tripod can still be used with a camera. Cost was $0.00 as already had tripod, pipe, M5 nut and hot glue gun to hold nut in place. So far have shot 1 rabbit and 2 magpies with it, I have to be able to shoot over a bank from about 5m so this works perfectly, took some practice though as its totally different from prone with a bipod.

Attachment 177383

K2 Hunter pack.....sit it on ground and sit behind it resting rifle on frame with sandwiched hand between frame and stock....a hill stick works too,the trick is to hold stick and stock in off hand...takes a bit to get used to...with light recoiling rifle you can grasp stick and leave forend across wrist.

Made several sets out of garden stakes, the steel with plastic covering, 4 - 5mm nylock nuts and bolts. Can't photo as a Mate burrowed them and never gave them back.

A pair of trekking poles can also double-up quite nicely as shooting sticks with a bit of thought.

Further to my comment, I use sitting/kneeling height ones just like these, provided the link works right -

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKEvXm3

Light, pack away small. Not ultra strong, so use with a bit of care. Easy to just sit the legs closer together or further apart to adjust shooting angle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

K2 Hunter pack.....sit it on ground and sit behind it resting rifle on frame with sandwiched hand between frame and stock....a hill stick works too,the trick is to hold stick and stock in off hand...takes a bit to get used to...with light recoiling rifle you can grasp stick and leave forend across wrist.

---

As @mickyDuck says: sit behind your K2 pack and use the frame, I have a section of hard foam u shape (the blue bit) that the ali joiners use to transport windows and doors, squeeze it over the frame and poke a hole for the cable tie through. On hill sides, over high tussock, good for sniping hoppers out to 300 and you can hide in plain sight.
Attachment 177412

A mate has got a set of these. They’re pretty good but a bit cumbersome. I think they’re better for more open country or where you would not need to carry them too far.
He got them for small game shooting and they’re excellent for that.


https://a.aliexpress.com/_mq6aMk7

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigc

A mate has got a set of these. They’re pretty good but a bit cumbersome. I think they’re better for more open country or where you would not need to carry them too far.
He got them for small game shooting and they’re excellent for that.


https://a.aliexpress.com/_mq6aMk7

---

I bought what I assume are the same ones cheaper from xHunter in Aussie. They've been pretty good for farm shooting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MB

A pair of trekking poles can also double-up quite nicely as shooting sticks with a bit of thought.

---

Yep - throw the wrist strap of each pole over the handle of the other to create a cradle.

Quicker to set up than dragging a set of shooting sticks out of your pack.

I strike that problem a lot hunting wallaby James. Both Brian and I use this solution which covers off pack versatility too. You can attach all sorts of packs, and carry big loads (or a small day pack). The frame has a rifle notch on the top. The bottom pic with the deer is using the small day pack and the deer under the meat shelf.

Brian just bought the Frame and used clips to attach his old canvas meat bag. Works fine.

https://outdoorsmans.com/collections...s/frame-system

Attachment 177422

Attachment 177423

Attachment 177424

Harris S25C bipod with podloc and spiked feet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Phil_H

Can you give us a bit more detail on these @Friwi. The quad sticks interest me. Ease of use, heights they are adjustable to, use when sitting down in camp chair or kneeling, how easy to carry and most importantly how easy and quickly can they be set up? $170 seems like a good price if they do the job.

Cheers
Phil

---

Hi Phill,
This is the website of the original designer:
https://4stablestick.com/about-us/?lang=en

The Rudolph one is a good copy with a few improvements like the foam padding on the legs that stop the noise and make it easier to carry on cold days.
It also seems to extend and retract better than mine, although mine is an older model. Yes you can shoot from a chair if you want. I am only using it for possum shooting here in the north Island , but if I lived in south Island on the flat land and open country I would use one definitely .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pommy

Harris S25C bipod with podloc and spiked feet.

---

Fuck that. Even the small ones are heavy

Just stand up and shoot it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Friwi

Hi Phill,
This is the website of the original designer:
https://4stablestick.com/about-us/?lang=en

The Rudolph one is a good copy with a few improvements like the foam padding on the legs that stop the noise and make it easier to carry on cold days.
It also seems to extend and retract better than mine, although mine is an older model. Yes you can shoot from a chair if you want. I am only using it for possum shooting here in the north Island , but if I lived in south Island on the flat land and open country I would use one definitely .

---

Strangely the Rudolph ones have no specs about size or weight? Or maybe I'm missing something obvious ...

@Norway made a good video on them @Phil_H

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cld...hannel=THLR.NO

Just retired mine after I saw my mates ones from last night. Caught my finger in them:O_O:
Attachment 177515 they are light and standard practice in the uk.
These are the ones that my mate has.
Attachment 177516 the trigger grips the fore stock and you can also rotate left right and up down. Very nifty. Not for bush stalking but rabbit busting or across valley yep sure.
There’s also these.
Attachment 177517 now you don’t need to buy seeland ones. But they are good. Your foot goes in the lop which makes the rear stock very stable.
You do need to practice shooting off these. But a couple of nights out rabbiting and you will have the hang of it.

The only bad in the reviews on line is the trigger sticks rust in side. But a bit of marine crc and that will sort that. Hope this helps.

Yeah if you google quad sticks shooting you'll find the standard type used in the UK. Heaps of DIY ideas too. I've used them and they are incredibly stable and easy to use. They just don't seem so applicable to most of our shooting situations in NZ - too bulky to carry around. For on the hill the pack idea is better

Greetings All,
I got a set of the Primos sticks a while back. I can't shoot prone with a bipod so these are just an aid to sitting shooting. I have been practising with them from time to time and are certainly better than sitting alone. Extra light too.
GPM.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hewie

Yeah if you google quad sticks shooting you'll find the standard type used in the UK. Heaps of DIY ideas too. I've used them and they are incredibly stable and easy to use. They just don't seem so applicable to most of our shooting situations in NZ - too bulky to carry around. For on the hill the pack idea is better

---

I use them when culling in forestry.

Happily shoot Roe out to 300odd meters with them.

Work much better with no bipod or sling attached to the rifle as that shit gets in the way. Moderator helps because having some weight forward of the second (forend) rest keeps it stable.

I carry a lumbar pack (Kifaru Scout) and run a Kifaru Gunbearer on it. Quad sticks in left hand, carried with the rest that supports the rifle butt facing upwards.

Can be deployed with one hand whilst you unhook and place the rifle with the other. With practise you can get an accurately placed round off in under 10 seconds.

Idly Googling. These look interesting. If I used trekking poles, I would give them a go, or try to make something similar.

https://www.wiserprecision.com/colle...ck-stix-system

Looks alittle quicker and easier then threading them through the handles

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Friwi

Four stable sticks, or their imported copies (Rudolph in Cambridge).
https://www.rudolphoptics.co.nz/prod...hooting-sticks

The best 170$ you ll ever spend.
To practice, get a 22 and start shooting hare, rabbits et possums of these.

---

Better bring them next time @Friwi.

Yep I will :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tahr

I strike that problem a lot hunting wallaby James. Both Brian and I use this solution which covers off pack versatility too. You can attach all sorts of packs, and carry big loads (or a small day pack). The frame has a rifle notch on the top. The bottom pic with the deer is using the small day pack and the deer under the meat shelf.

Brian just bought the Frame and used clips to attach his old canvas meat bag. Works fine.

https://outdoorsmans.com/collections...s/frame-system

Attachment 177422

Attachment 177423

Attachment 177424

---

Yep stand the pack up and shoot off the top. Thats how I shoot all my deer. Thar is on to it :thumbs:

A couple of lengths of wooden dowl and some cord. You can also use fibre glass tent poles with the Elastic so they fold up. Or just like old 2 piece tent poles.

https://youtu.be/cN5FSYJvP9k

That knot is the beez neez

Cut a bicycle tube about 4 cm long. Roll it on itself. You will get some sort of rubber donut ring. You can slip it on one of the two poles to stop them banging against each other's.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Friwi

Four stable sticks, or their imported copies (Rudolph in Cambridge).
https://www.rudolphoptics.co.nz/prod...hooting-sticks

The best 170$ you ll ever spend.
To practice, get a 22 and start shooting hare, rabbits et possums of these.

---

I took @Friwi advice..took delivery of them last week. Had a session with 22 in my bubble on lifestyle block. They felt strange at first but I quickly settled into them. I want them as a walking pole as well. In that respect they feel strong enough when locked together. I would like two changes to them. I don't see them as a quick deploy solution for a fast shot, more for a distant shot where you have time on undisturbed game, or your setting up to wait. So the first thing I can change myself which is to add a second velcro locking strap to make them more rigid as a walking stick. The second thing is to do with the first locking position when deployed. Its too high for me. Can't remember but there is probably a shorter option. Being 6ft I went with the tall one which may yet prove to be a good decision in the field. The issue is not the height when shooting, that is easily adjusted by extending the legs. I want to leave them in the first extended shooting position when I close them up as a walking stick..it works, but its about 15cm too high. So I'll probably drill another set of holes to change that.

But I agree, like all kit, need heaps of practice so you just deploy them without thinking. Same as any gear really.

Dont laugh but a sketch easel like this is better than you might think and telescopes to tiny. Mine only weights 5or 600 grms https://www.warehousestationery.co.n.../W2648953.html

Re: DIY quadsticks, covering them in cloth tape, either the camo stuff or sports/medical tape like Coban makes them much nicer to hold and quieter to deploy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Phil_H

Damn, definitely not laughing @Moa Hunter.
I didn't even realise something like this existed at that price point. I could put one of those to good use in multiple applications.
How sturdy is it in your opinion? I can imagine a NV spotter on that.....what about a rifle?

Cheers
Phil

---

Hi Phil,

Very sturdy in my opinion, artists dont want their canvas flapping around. For shooting it depends how far the centre is extended. If it has long legs the centre doesnt need extended far upwards. My one is not the model linked, that is just to give you the idea. Good thing is the legs have locking clips at the telescope junctions which are quick and silent.
Havnt thought about it before but with a few pencils it could make a great cover for a poaching mission

That is a bargain Moa Hunter,we have a warehouse stationary in Timaru.Il have a look next week.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by flock

Made several sets out of garden stakes, the steel with plastic covering, 4 - 5mm nylock nuts and bolts. Can't photo as a Mate burrowed them and never gave them back.

---

Pictures
Attachment 179038
Attachment 179039