Hi All,
If any of you would like to vote on this one it would be most appreciated.
Kind regards
Ian

Question:
In hunting situations what type of full length shooting sticks have you felt were most comfortable to shoot from?

Choices:
Bipod
Tripod

 

I've used sticks for most of my hunting for years, even in the States. Used a bipod for years and was perfectly comfortable with them. Used tripod sticks in Tanzania, as that was all they had. Made the switch and never looked back. Definitely more stable and not much harder to carry, even if you are carrying them yourself, which is never the case in Africa.

I've brought my Butler Creek tripods on two African hunts. The PH's liked them so much, I'm on my third set!

I voted tripod because in most circumstrances and particularly in the open they just make a steadier shooting platform. The but COMES when you are hunting in an area where the bipod can be used in conjunction with a tree. It then makes a rock solid rest. Difficult to explain but basically you have one leg of the bipod leaning hard against the tree with the notch just to the side of the tree. The bipod is totally supported by the tree. You hold the bipod as you ordinarily would and 200 yard shots are a slam dunk. Try it.

Mark

I do think that sticks are overused in Africa.

I've seen guys miss opportunities on close shots, (less than 30 yds), while someone is fumbling to set up the sticks.

Ian,

The other problem with sticks is that if made of aluminium tubing as many are now, they tend to have very thin wall thickness for weight considerations...........the result is too much flex and instability.

quote:

Originally posted by Mvu:
I do think that sticks are overused in Africa.

I've seen guys miss opportunities on close shots, (less than 30 yds), while someone is fumbling to set up the sticks.

if you need ANY rifle support for a 30 yard shot you either need to practice a lot more or quit hunting. there is basically no excuse for screwing up a 30 yard shot offhand. 30 yard bow shots are quite common and essentially never done with a rest- with little or no problem using an inherently less accurate weapon! if time allows to set up a tripod without undue commotion, then fine and dandy. otherwise, TAKE THE SHOT!!!

This is a trick question, right?

I like the wooden bipods because they are easy to set up and allow me more flexibility in aiming by merely moving the sticks forward or back. I prefer the wooden ones because they are more rigid than the aluminum "sticks".

That said, I'd prefer the tripod for long shots where I know that the animal is unaware of me and will probably hold still for a while.

Namibiahunter

Tripods. My experience has been exactly the same as Marty's. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:

quote:

Originally posted by Mvu:
I do think that sticks are overused in Africa.

I've seen guys miss opportunities on close shots, (less than 30 yds), while someone is fumbling to set up the sticks.

if you need ANY rifle support for a 30 yard shot you either need to practice a lot more or quit hunting. there is basically no excuse for screwing up a 30 yard shot offhand. 30 yard bow shots are quite common and essentially never done with a rest- with little or no problem using an inherently less accurate weapon! if time allows to set up a tripod without undue commotion, then fine and dandy. otherwise, TAKE THE SHOT!!!

At what distance would you deem a tri/bipod necessary?

Gentlemen, if you need to shoot from sticks instead of offhand then you need to go to a shooting class, not to Africa.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:

quote:

Originally posted by Mvu:
I do think that sticks are overused in Africa.

I've seen guys miss opportunities on close shots, (less than 30 yds), while someone is fumbling to set up the sticks.

if you need ANY rifle support for a 30 yard shot you either need to practice a lot more or quit hunting. there is basically no excuse for screwing up a 30 yard shot offhand. 30 yard bow shots are quite common and essentially never done with a rest- with little or no problem using an inherently less accurate weapon! if time allows to set up a tripod without undue commotion, then fine and dandy. otherwise, TAKE THE SHOT!!!

LOL - Well said!

I believe the tripod is a more steady rest but any movement of the shooter will probably result in side to side movement of the barrel muzzle. Bipod sticks, on the other hand allow the gun to move fore and aft. A bit of fore and aft movement won't affect accuracy much while side to side movement will. For this reason, I prefer bipods.

I kind of like the bipods they put together with inner tube and sticks from the veld in Africa. In fact, I made my own with straight willow sticks of the proper length to use while sitting on my bucket looking out over the back 50 for varmints. They're held together with parachute cord since I didn't have any old inner tube. Mine aren't real pretty but they're light and, if I ever lose them, I might be out 10 cents.

As far as the need for bipods or tripods, I would agree that with a rifle in a competent rifleman's hand, any shot inside 100 yards could be done off hand with nondangerous game. With dangerous game, I would opt for sticks any time they're available from 50 yards up since the stakes are a bit higher.

I'm thinking "quad-pod", maybe just carry a Samsonite folding card table with you and set it up prior to every shot, so you're really steady.

I shot offhand, with a Harris bipod (waste of time) and off sticks( bi and tri).
Anything that helps you get steady is a good idea. I prefer offhand and made about half my shots offhand. However, when appropriate, I used the tri-pod sticks. If Boddington uses them, then I am happy to.

Depends on the situation. I shot off wood sticks twice in Namibia. Distance and terrain were conducive. One shot was about 125 yds(kudu); another about 250(Oryx). Used a tree for my Zebra(250 yds). Offhand at other times for other critters. I do not think they are always needed. I can only recall one occasion where I needed long shooting sticks. It was a long uphill shot at a Mule Deer buck after a tough uphill gambit. I was in the midst of brush and could not get a rest. Long shooting sticks would have given me a rest to shoot over the brush. I think shooting sticks in No. Amer. have limited application because of our game's characteristics and the terrain. But, hey, its your hunt. You would be foolish not to take any advantage you can in order to cleanly take the animal, regardless of how good a shot you think you are. I think this is the view of African PH's, plus they want their clients to be successful and their experience is that their use leads to success. I would use them for any shot over 100 yds unless I had something steadier. Another factor: whats your age? How steady are you? I am 73 and still hold fairly well but not as well as I used to. What's your physical strenth? These are the kind of variables that go into the issue.

Tripod every day and twice on sunday! much more steady.

Brett

Carry a set of very light weight Stony Point folding Safari Sticks on my belt.
That said , a tripod if available or better yet something more solid.

I had to vote for bipod since I have never had the chance to shoot off of tripod sticks. Seems like they would be a bit more steady. I of course prefer a tree or rock, then sitting on my butt with my elbow on my knee and of course up close and when the need arises offhand.

Of course growing up and hunting deer in IL & WI on public land helps you learn how to shoot fast, at moving targets and without a rest. Plus those deer drives If you missed at a running deer your buddies would hound you all week.

BigB

I used a handy dandy tree limb on a 250 yard shot at an angling away Kudu. I prefer sticks because I use them as a walking stick. I agree on anything 100 yards or less, provided we are talking about springbok/whitetail sized game, they are not neccesary. For long shots they are a must for me. I'm not as steady as I was 20 years ago.

I've shot off both, but believe for quickness the wooden African bi-pods are the best. I have made my own wooden bi- and tri-pods as well and still prefer the bi's to the tri's. By the way, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that using the pods is much better than off hand shooting any day, any where,, and using the pods does not mean that you need a shooting class; it just means that you're much smarter than others

Tripod for me. I've tried many times, but I can't seem to overcome an up/down wobble with bipod. It is faster for closer range use, but I get more stability and more range from a tripod. Here's a hint: Next time you're at the range have a buddy (WITH HEARING PROTECTION!) grab the tripod and offer a shoulder for your supporting elbow. Makes a huge difference, can just about double the range you can effectively use sticks for. Not my idea; I learned this from Dirk de Bod! Regards, C

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, I was a USMC dedicated M-60 machinegunner (0331). It came with an integral bi-pod and was tri-pod mountable. There is absolutely no question that a tri-pod supplies a more stable shooting platform, which leads to more accurate direct fire. It's an incontrovertible fact.

In more recent times I've used both with medium and large bore rifles in a number of African countries and I find the old lesson still holds true.