With only only thirteen and a half months left to plain my first african hunt I can say I'm enjoying every minute of it.

I keep hearing mention of shooting sticks. Is this something I should get and start practicing with and if so where would I find them.
I have looked in Cabelas and saw bipods etc. but no sticks. Some of those looked like they would take a lot of time to adjust.

I also keep hearing about placing your ammo in plastic cases and then putting that inside the factory box. Where do I find these? The ones in Cabelas look to big for this.

Thanks again for all the help.

I'm sure someone will post some pics of shooting sticks for you but all they are are a tripod or bipod to give you a shooting rest....and yes, it is worth practising. Personally, I find the bipod a better idea as they're faster to use. The shooter adjusts the height by moving backwards or forwards slightly whereas the tripod has to be adjusted for him or he has to make the best of whatever height they're set at.

According to aviation law, ammo has to be either packed in it's manufacturers packaging or in other packaging that keeps each round seperated from it's neighbours..... most people use those green plastic boxes. Some airlines also require that the ammo and box then be locked in a seperate/additional metal container and you'll have to ask your airline or travel agent about this. Each passenger is allowed a maximum of 5 kgs of ammo.....If you do a serch on this forum, you'll find it's been discussed plenty of times before.....

Hope that helps.

From the Tips & Packing List

Shooting sticks are widely used in Africa. Some PHs use bipod shooting sticks and some use tripod shooting sticks. You can make your own and acquire invaluable practice before you go. Go to a home improvement store or garden department and buy five bamboo poles (6 feet long poles) along with a two vacuum cleaner belts (Eureka F&G size). Your total cost should be well under $20.00. To make the tripod shooting sticks, put three poles together and wrap one of the belts around the poles three times. Roll the belt down about 6 inches from the top. Use the same procedure for the bipod set, just wrap the belt around the poles four times.





You may want to wrap the top portion of the shooting sticks with something soft (leather, cloth, etc.) so as to protect your rifle. I have also seen tripod sticks where one of the poles (above the belt) has been cut off, so as to make it easier to support your rifle.


Also see Long Grass Shooting Sticks

Regards,

Terry

If you can pick up a set of Stoney point Polecat Three legged sticks here in the states to practice with you can bring them with you and use them in Africa. That gives you a way to practice with what you will actually use. They are strong stable and collapse down to packable size nicely. I have been using these in my camps now since late last year. I have two sets to bring with and leave there for 2006 now.

They are the best "factory made" sticks I have ever used.

Thanks for the question elkfitter, I was wondering exactly the same thing about sticks.
Thanks too terry for the pics spot on!

Im 15 months from my first time in safari.
I found out in the weekend that unleashing a 375 on turkeys is good pratice especially when they're on the run!!
The only real disapointment I had was that the rifle could only hold 5 rounds! by the time ya reload the buggers are 50 yrds further away.
Like i said though good pratice.

Is there anything everleft of the turkey? studdog

Elkfitter,


I would also suggest lots of practice shooting offhand. If you are comfortable with offhand shooting your shot opportunities increase greatly.

Doug

Elkfitter:

Dougaboy said it just right. Sticks may be OK for shooting at plains game but on DG you will have your PH's respect if he finds that you can shoot accurately offhand -and so he'll trust his hide more to your shooting. That alone will give more opportunities. I was determined on my one and only trip to Africa (for Cape buff) not to shame myself in front of my PH and trackers. I probably fired over 1500 rounds from my Ruger 375 H & H offhand before I ever saw Africa. It definitely paid off - not only for my own self respect but in the way that the PH and trackers treated me. I urge you to do nothing but off hand shooting in practice before you come.

Since all I shoot is reloads, I was worried on my trip last year to Zim/RSA about the "factory box" thing. I used the slide top 20-round plastic boxes with a piece of soft foam in the top to prevent the bullets from rattling and taped shut. I made computer labels (to look more official) for the caliber, bullet, etc that stuck to the top of each box. I then found a plastic toolbox that had a place for a padlock and would hold two boxes of .375 RUM and three boxes of 7mm, my knife and some cleaning gear. That all fit in my suitcase.
No problems at all with TSA, the airlines (Delta, SAA) or customs.

Guys, boxed my reloads in the 20 round plastic boxes...puter generated labels, foam to stabilize bullets in boxes, and vaccumm packed them...They looked really officially sealed....


Mike

My practice shooting sticks are some 6' pieces of willow saplings about 3/4" in diameter wrapped in black friction tape. Taper the bottoms to a blunt point with a knife then char the bottom tips with a propane torch (the trackers use the bottoms of their shooting sticks to poke the fire). They look exactly like the ones I used in Zimbabwe. Excellent suggestion to practice shooting offhand.Also pratcice shooting sitting, kneeling, up against a tree, you never know what kind of awkward position you may have to take a shot from. The most common complaint I heard about clients was that they were poor shots. You can't pratice enough.

You guys have been great. Thank you for all the advice. I'm sure I will have many more questions, half the fun of a trip is planning it.

quote:

Originally posted by T.Carr:
From the Tips & Packing List

Shooting sticks are widely used in Africa. Some PHs use bipod shooting sticks and some use tripod shooting sticks. You can make your own and acquire invaluable practice before you go. Go to a home improvement store or garden department and buy five bamboo poles (6 feet long poles) along with a two vacuum cleaner belts (Eureka F&G size). Your total cost should be well under $20.00. To make the tripod shooting sticks, put three poles together and wrap one of the belts around the poles three times. Roll the belt down about 6 inches from the top. Use the same procedure for the bipod set, just wrap the belt around the poles four times.

I just built mine - here was the cost:

Home Depot: A) Three 6' banboo sticks @ $1.27 ea.
B) 2 pack of Vaccuum cleaner belts @ $3.97

I tried them and they take some practice, but they work!!

The Long Grass sticks are avaialbe through our office. They are just a manufactured and improved version of the standard African tripod arrangement except they breakdown and are made of hardwood. I also looked at some metal sticks in Reno made by ULTREC. They were very light at 23oz., quite stable and they collapsed for easy packing www.ultrec.com

Mark

I'm not very agile so I find the 3 legged setup more time consuming to 'setup'. The bipod is quick for me and very accurate after you get a little practice. The 3rd leg on the tripod always seems to be in the wrong place for me especially if the animal moves. Slip a little section of hose over the top for protection of the forearm. Haven't tried the Stony Point's but they look good. I've only used the homemade ones in Zim.

[long poles) along with a two vacuum cleaner belts (Eureka F&G size). Your total cost should be well under $20.00. To make the tripod shooting sticks, put three poles together and wrap one of the belts around the poles three times. Roll the belt down about 6 inches from the top. Use the same procedure for the bipod set, just wrap the belt around the poles four times.

[IMG]
Home Depot: A) Three 6' banboo sticks @ $1.27 ea.
B) 2 pack of Vaccuum cleaner belts @ $3.97

I tried them and they take some practice, but they work!![/QUOTE]

Just bought my sticks adn belts too.

NOTE.. get Belts that are ROUND not flat. Eureka Upright 1200 series UPC 75638 31100

The Eureka F&G Size are round belts.

Regards,

Terry