In recent weeks I hunted Zimbabwe. When I first arrived I saw how unsteady I wqas when shooting from shooting sticks. My whole body was introducing movements into the scope picture. For several days I tried to come up with a better and better way to hold the rifle to improve steadiness. I think it was helping me. Here is the style that seem to work best for me, described from the point of view of a right-handed shooter.

I definitely use and like the tripod sticks. They are quite stable and reliable. When I need to make a shot, first I put the extreme fore-end of the stock in the cradle of the sticks. (I like that better than putting the barrel on the cradle.) This gives me that all important fixed point in space that I can rely on, and so then I don't have to think about the forward end of the gun any further. Now I just have to create another steady point at the butt end of the stock in order to achieve success.

My right hand holds the grip firmly and steadies the stock while squeezing the trigger gradually until the gun goes off. However, the most important hand in the aiming process is the left hand. My left hand holds the rear end of the stock from beneath, and rests firmly against my shoulder and pectoralis muscle at the same time. In this way my left hand holds the stock firmly against my body, making minor movements of the stock for scope sight adjustments as needed while the trigger is being squeezed. The left hand both steadies and aims the gun.

It takes a bit of practice because I'm more used to aiming with movements of my shoulder or ankles or feet or waist. All that changes in this technique. The goal is to keep the feet reasonably wide-based to add stability. It is important to avoid any movements of ankles, hips, torso. This lets the left hand make any and all minor scope point-of-aim adjustments while the trigger is being pulled.

If you are like me you will be surprised at how that wabbly scope settles down for you, even on those tough 150 yard shots.

Bill,
Interesting, I too suffer from performance anxiety when having to use the sticks on long shots. I agree that 150 on medium sized animals is tough off sticks. Hitting the animals is usually not the problem its where I aimed vs where I hit. I wrap my right hand (Im a lefty) around the sling and sling swivel and incorperate the top of the sticks into that hold. The fore end of the rifle is steady but my lower body seems to sway like a drunken sailor.I once shot a Black Lechwe in Bangweulu at 305 off sticks and made a perfect shot. I promise I was the most surprised guy there.
Chipolopolo

I have used 2 stick sticks pretty well and do not put the sticks straight up, rather lean them back toward me a bit. Then I grab the X of the sticks with my thumb onky and ring fingers and wrap my first finger over the barrel lightly. I put the far end of the checkering on the V. Then I kind of squeeze the whole thing together, works fo rme.

I practise this very often and get the best results as follows:
1. stand as upright as possible with the weight on your back foot get over the sticks dont lean into them
2. put your left arm through the sling so it pulls the rifle into your shoulder
3. grab the sling with the left hand at the sling swiwel it must feel like you are tucking in the rifle are upright and very compact

4. put the left hand in the x of the tripod in the upright position the key for me is to be over the stick giving you all the support from underneath and not leaning into the sticks giving you a 3 force to deal with

it took me a year to figure that small detail out the result is i can shoot 10 shot in a 10cm sirkel at 150m now

This was problem for me on my safari in September. I had practiced shooting with the forearm of the rifle in the V. The PH insisted that we shoot with the barrel in the V. I did not like that.

Just remember you must walk very briskly for at least 100 yards before you put your gun on the sticks. Anything else is not real world Africa.

If you can do that and shoot 10cm at 150 m you are a stud shooter.

sprig

I've only used the tripod sticks, but found them very easy to shoot off from the git-go. I place the stock in the Vee, not the barrel. I place my left hand on the end of the stock, thumb under the stock, and my left index finger pressing along the edge of the stock (against the barrel) to give a "soft" grip. My hand is gripping the sticks, and the index finger is "gripping" the stock. Hard to describe, but it works for me.

This year with strong wind and after running some distance to get in position, I found myself unable to make a steady hold on a sable at 125 yrds. Hours later, after a discussion with the PH, I took a good sable at 200 yards off the sticks. The additional aid I got on that shot was that the PH positioned himself extremely close on my right side, and I placed my right elbow on his left shoulder. The hold was rock-solid.

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the PH positioned himself extremely close on my right side, and I placed my right elbow on his left shoulder. The hold was rock-solid.

+1

I also made a 348 yd shot on a Gemsbok that wouldn't let us get closer by having my PH set up the tripod sticks, then I sat down with one tripod leg in front of me and I used the standard sitting position (elbows resting inside my knees, with tight sling) and holding the tripod leg with my left hand, resting the stock forend on top of my left hand. Rock solid.

I can shoot equally as well with bipod sticks or tripod sticks. Forget monopods. I can shoot equally well offhand as with a monopod.

The sticks (bipod or tripod) cause me to modify my offhand shooting stance a little. In offhand, I am standing perpendicular to the target. With the sticks, I need to be more open, facing more toward it.

The sticks cause me to shoot a bit left.

I would NEVER rest the barrel in the sticks, just the stock. I don't want to shoot high.

My left hand is in contact with both sticks and rifle stock. The jplacement depends upon the sticks, how cushioned they are, etc.

My favorite sticks were a tripod made so that the sticks don't actually cross. Instead, a stiff wire holds them in place about six inches aparet. this is then wrapped with strips of inner tube, giving a soft area on which to rest the rifle stock.

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Originally posted by 375 fanatic:
I practise this very often and get the best results as follows:
1. stand as upright as possible with the weight on your back foot get over the sticks dont lean into them
2. put your left arm through the sling so it pulls the rifle into your shoulder
3. grab the sling with the left hand at the sling swiwel it must feel like you are tucking in the rifle are upright and very compact

4. put the left hand in the x of the tripod in the upright position the key for me is to be over the stick giving you all the support from underneath and not leaning into the sticks giving you a 3rd force to deal with

it took me a year to figure that small detail out the result is i can shoot 10 shot in a 10cm sirkel at 150m now

The sticks my PH uses have a web of material across the top. I rest the back of my hand in the web and grip the forearm. I keep my point of balance back and just use the sticks to take the wobble out of the shot.

Shot this 300yd group today(black target) using my 308 and my naturally occuring shooting sticks.Glad to see the barrel is still good.It was HOT TO THE TOUCH.[URL= ]sighters[URL= ]300yds[/URL] Hope to do some big bore shooting now that there are less hunters at the range.Maybe next time on safari,I'll really impress them and the africans remember me as a SHOOTING LEGEND!

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I'll really impress them and the africans remember me as a SHOOTING LEGEND!

Shootaway, you are definately a LEGEND IN YOUR OWN MIND,eh?