i guess I'm really out of touch. my old shooting sticks are 3 old dowels held together with a rubber band. My new SCI catalog has a set in it for only $329.00. I guess I'll have to get in an order quick before I leave for zambia. I'd hate to be out of style while trying to sight in on some old buff.

Yea, right

Those sharpened bottoms are really "high tech".

Butch-
Did the add say that the new sticks would take the side to side movement out of the equation?
I seem to have a problem with the side to side movement in my site picture when on the sticks. What is the solution to this? I'd hate to have to put my trigger side elbow on the PH to make a shot.
If the add states that this would not be a problem, I'd go in with you and split a set. You could have the third stick and I'd could use the two stick set up.

quote:

Originally posted by JBoutfishn:
Yea, right

Those sharpened bottoms are really "high tech".

On second look, it could be the Zebra Tops?

I thought all African outfitters furnished them?
I have never hunted with a Safari company that didn't have the tracker carrying sticks..I don't use them, but they are there if I happen to change my mind...

The good old native cut 3 poles with an inner tube strip around them that Ray is talking about is the best kind. Everything else is just a way to get your money!
Rich Elliott

I made mine from 3 bamboo poles from Home Depot and rubber bands and then wrapped the tops with some electrical tape. They work great.

If anyone wants a set I'll be happen to make and send them to you for $329 Shipped and I'll even sharpen the bottoms if you like.

Cheers,
Andy

I made the same type as adrook, except I used the much more innnovative vacuum cleaner belts to attach the tops.

In the spirit of competition-I will sell my superior product for $328.99 shipped and custom stencil your name on them with a Sharpie for an additional $19.99 while supplies last. If you order now I will include my secrets to removing side wobble free in the first 1000 orders

Perry

But wait, there's more...

This is where you need that obnoxious guy from Oxy Clean to be yelling at you.

Adrook, i made my sticks out of bamboo poles but i used a vacuum cleaner belt (giant round rubber band) to hold them together, left 2 longer & put pipe insulation on them

I need to make some myself and the pipe insulation idea is a good one. Of course, the ones in Africa will be different so maybe you need to keep that in mind.

I hear Waffenfabrik Hein will make you one for 327.99 and a promised 16 month delivery...jorge

I did the bamboo pole, vacuum cleaner belt, and I've now bought tennis racquet grip for the tops.

Cabela's has a excellent set of shooting sticks (tripod) for $69.99. Strudy and collapsable enough to fit in a travel bag or gun case. (Cabela's Delux Outfitter Tripod)

The collapsible ones aren't worth much. They flex in an odd fashion.

I watched a guy use "Steady Sticks" in an attempted 300 yard shot at a Mt. Nyala. I could see that they were anything but steady. They were bowing as he breathed. I begged him to just lean forward and use a big root wad that was in front of him but he used the "Steady Sticks" and it was a complete miss. A few days later he used them again but this time it resulted in a wounded Mt. Nyala and the safari was over. Most of the time nature has placed a perfectly steady rest within reach if we'd just use it. When I shot my Mt. Nyala (years ago) I used a 2 1/2 foot stick propped against my right knee. 3 shots at 225 yards... 3 hits you could cover with your hand. If you are out in the open and in knee high grass then those 3 poles and big rubber band are okay. At least they are "steady".
Rich Elliott

Just back today from RSA. Used PoleCat aluminum tripod with great results. Left them with the PH as he was most impressed with them.

I bought the Long Grass Sticks. I wish they were a little more sturdy. When I practice rapid fire on the sticks with my 416 I find they bounce and when the feet come back down they are closer together thus raising the height. After the third shot they are too high.

The only other complaint is the Long Grass sticks have no Zebra tops, I think they would look good with my Leopard Band Hat.

Walmart sell's or did sell a monopod for shooting and camera's. How well do think they will work?

Three hundred bucks for three sticks and a piece of rubber? PT Barnum said there's a sucker born every minute, and SCI seems to have their net out trolling for a few. Give me a cottin' pickin' break!

My opinion: The biggest problem most people have with shooting sticks is that people do not practice with them. Practice does not always have to be with the "big" guns, but can be with smaller calibers i.e. 204, 223, 308 etc. After you get somewhat use to the sticks then go to your big bore. Monopods are the most difficult for me, then bipods, with tripods being the best.

Mike,

Maybe the following info will help you. We currently include this recommendation with each set of Long Grass sticks. I think you purchased yours before I had written it up. Hope it helps.

Favorite Shooting Stick Technique

There are various techniques for shooting off of sticks. A few of these variations are described in the Long Grass Shooting Stick Manual. While attending the Houston Safari show this year I learned a new way of shooting off sticks that has become my preferred method. The technique was shown to me by Danie van Ellewee of “Into Africa Hunting Adventuresâ€, Namibia. The method is described below.

-Place the rifle on the shooting V so that the rifle is roughly balanced fore and aft. This placement puts the rifle well forward of most other shooting stick methods.
-Grasp the fore end with your left hand (right handed shooter) with your right hand in the normal trigger position.
-Lower your left elbow until the left fore arm presses against the left stick leg. Apply enough pressure with your fore arm to put some bend in the left stick. It also helps to pull down on your rifle with the left hand. The goal here is to use the stick leg to lean against to reduce horizontal sway.
-Lean slightly into the sticks. (I prefer to adjust my height and balance by locking my knees and spreading my feet rather than bending at the legs.)


I believe there are several benefits to this approach.

1.The tension of the fore arm against the left stick leg reduces horizontal sway, especially in windy conditions. The result is better and more consistent shot placement.
2.The technique provides a firm two handed grip on the rifle and works with a scope or open sights. A two hand grip on the rifle is important to insure control with hard kicking rifles.
3.The sticks stay in position at the shot as you are essentially holding the sticks with the pressure from your forearm. You can work the action and take a follow up shot in the quickest possible manner.
4.The rifle is held tightly to the sticks requiring both to move as a unit when the rifle is fired. This reduces recoil.

As an adjunct to this technique, Danie also demonstrated how your PH can add additional stability by supporting your right elbow. To do this, set up on the sticks as described above. Your PH then cups his hands, palms up, against his mid torso to form a pocket to hold your right elbow. The PH should be standing at a right angle to you while supporting your elbow.


Jerry Rutkowski
Long Grass

Jerry: Tried your suggestions yesterday. Your technique works. I have taken two trips to Africa and have been successful using the "sticks" provideed by the PH's. Have taken 12 animals. Your method is an improvement. Thanks for the information.

Ed Griffith

On my trip this past May to Namibia, I bought AND practiced a lot of a set of sticks made by Bog-Pod. they are collapsible into themselves, have a rubber coated V top that swivels from side to side to make it easy to track an animal you are aiming at and were much steadier than a set of shock corded sticks I also have. In fact the ranch owner licked the sticks enough that I left the sticks there in Namibia with him. I plan on getting anothe set of these before my Nov trip to MT for deer again. I saw these sticks this year when I was at the Dallas Safari show in Jan and practiced shooting off them once a week for about 3 months before my trip, 20 rounds each with a .375 and a .30-06. And I bought myself some archery targets of various US game animals to try and get used to shooting at something other than well defined bulls-eye type targets. I set these targets at 100 and 150 yards when shooting at them off the sticks. In the end it payed off since I came back from the trip with 10 animals and all shooting was done standing with the sticks.