In order to increase my experience shooting off sticks, I have been using a scoped air rifle around the yard. Not a full substitute for shooting the 9.3X62, but instructive nonetheless in between sessions at the actual range. The main thing I notice is how easy it is to get the elevation right, but how hard it is to control the side-to side windage. This is where the shot gets messed up, as it makes it easier to slip one into the liver/paunch to the rear or the brisket too far forward. Any tricks or advice to stabilizing the rifle in the horizontal plane off sticks?

Seems to me that a lot of guys are putting too much weight on the sticks. The weight of the rifle should be mostly in your support hand and the sticks are there to steady your aim before that press of the trigger.

Ditto on the twoo much pressure on the stick comment. Most should still be in the hand.

I have used a a good piece piece of leather, and sometimes even my trigger hand glove, and placed it in the V of the sticks to cover the wood/metal/plastic. This seemed, at least to me, to settle down the side to side and even the up and down shakes, and it certainly beds the rifle in that "pouch" nicely.Of course, in the case of a quickly set up shot with sticks this may not be feasible all the time.

When I practice this I have the glove or leather in the off hand and as the sticks go down the hand goes to the V, laying it in and the rifle on top.With preactice it can be done quite quickly.

quote:

Seems to me that a lot of guys are putting too much weight on the sticks. The weight of the rifle should be mostly in your support hand and the sticks are there to steady your aim before that press of the trigger.

Good Advice! I've shot a fair amount off the sticks with my .375 H&H. When I use my .458 Lott though, I find myself pulling down against the sticks to control muzzle rise. That screws up the position of the sticks. I discovered the issue when checking the scope on my Lott after arriving in camp last fall in Tanzania. It was only after I returned to the states that Mike analyzed the problem after watching me shoot. The good news is I did all my shooting with the Lott offhand in Tanzania.

Oddly enough, it is a bad habit I formed after having shot the Lott many times off the sticks without issue. Go figure. I guess it's never too late to form bad habits.

I agree with 475Guy. When I was practicing off sticks I kept shooting low and left. I corrected the pressure and began shooting better. I then took five great plains game in Namibia, all off sticks with no problems! Good luck!
John

This may be a little unorthodox.....

I rest the back of my front hand in the sticks. The same hand that is holding the fore-grip of the rifle.

Got into the habit of shooting off sticks like that after I was unable to either tame or explain an inconsistent point of impact shift when resting the fore-grip directly on the sticks. And, when a cushion on top of the sticks didn't help sufficiently.

My heavy rifle of choice is often a 460 WBY, and retaining the grip on the rifle seems to facilitate a much more rapid cycling of the bolt. That probably goes for any bolt caliber.

I've also found that this style has been faster for me getting into position and releasing a well aimed shot.

To each their own.....

You need to form triangle swith your body. (Assuming you're right handed) Stand with your left leg forward and your right leg to the rear and keep the knee straight. (that's one triangle) Then make two other with your arms and try to keep your elbows as high as possible to form two other strong triangles. Hold the rifle reasonably firmy to strengthen those triangles.

Regarding the sticks themselves, you don't say if you're using a bipod or tripod set of sticks?
If it's a bipod, angle it either towards or away from you. (I'd recommend toward you) then lean into the sticks and the rifle to form another triangle which will also give additional stability. If you need to adjust the height on a set of bipod sticks, just move forward or back slightly as appropriate.

If you're using tripod sticks, lean into them but (IMO) it's a little harder to form such a strong triangle with them.

A good PH will be watching you on the sticks and if he thinks it necessary and if the occasion allows, will lean into your shooting shoulder with his shoulder to give you even more stability.

If you have to shoot with a 'controlled wobble', you're doing something very wrong. When you've got your triangles right, you'll be as steady as a rock.

Thanks guys. I hvae been practicing off of tripod sticks, but probably should try bipod too. Have no idea what the PH uses.

Todd,

Try doing it my way and if you do it right, I guarantee you'll be as steady as a rock....

When you hold the rifle firmly in both hands with the elbows high, try to imagine you're almost trying to twist the stock on two opposite directions at the same time.

It takes a bit of practice but don't give up too early, and it'll suddenly just work. I'll look forward to reading what you think.

Bill,

The sticks need to support the rifle as far forward long the stock as practical. If the rifle is too far forward in the sticks, they act as a "pivot" which means there is a greater tendency for the muzzle to swing from side to side.

When using a pair of sticks, I try to get the point of support about where the front sling swivel would typically be on the stock. As others have said, don't rest the rifle stock directly on the sticks, but rather cushion it with something such as the back of your hand..

With a pair of sticks, don't have them vertical under the rifle, but kick the bottoms out further forward so the sticks are sloping towards you...Now push lightly forwards on the rifle, and you will feel everything start to "lock up" and become steady....

Regards,

Pete

I've been practicing as Stuntpilot2 does, holding the forearm as I would for an offhand shot, and placing that hand in the sticks. Getting good groups with little horizontal variation.

quote:

Originally posted by White Owl:
I've been practicing as Stuntpilot2 does, holding the forearm as I would for an offhand shot, and placing that hand in the sticks. Getting good groups with little horizontal variation.

Yep, that is the only way to do it. Let's hope MR doesn't get started on his 5 different techniques again.

quote:

Originally posted by just-a-hunter:

quote:

If you have to shoot with a 'controlled wobble', you're doing something very wrong.

I agree. I should have explained further. A heartbeat off of a solid bench rest will make you wobble a little.

I know you are very experienced, and I respect your knowledge a great deal, but, I don't care who you are, you are going wobble a little standing up and shooting. Even if you are using sticks.

Todd

I suspect the difference between the two points of view comes down to scope magnification, if any.

Relatively low power and the wiggles go away (aren't noticed) add power and eventually you will notice wiggles even if the rifle all but bolted to a bench.

JPK

Paralysis by analysis. Sticks are just like any other rest. Get ahold of them and your rifle and that's all you need for solid.

I have heard people claim that sticks make them shoot high and sometimes wide right and left. And all I can say, or not say, as the case may be, is this: as long as you follow the rule, it won't be the sticks, it will be you.

Hell, sticks are a rest, a keep-it-from-wobblin'. They are nothing more and nothing less.

And the rule with any rest, including the sticks, is to keep flesh, i.e., your hand, between it and the rifle's fore end. That's it. No magic or voodoo. Just keep the sticks steady with a grip at their crux, and keep skin in the middle between the sticks and the stock. Then hold as steady as you can.

Bill,

I couldn't get a lot of info on what sticks would be used on my last hunt ... so I took my own. That way I would be sure that I was familiar with the ones I used.

Then the Buf didn't cooperate and I took the only thing presented ... an offhand jump shot. Just goes to show you that sometimes things do go exactly as planned

All of the above good advice is all for nought when you have just run for 50 yards. Now tell me how to make them steady at a Reed buck at 178 yards, Damn hard no matter how you hold it.

In Africa the most important thing is to be able to regulate your breathing, not how you hold it. If you don't practice shooting with an elevated heart rate you might as well be on the bench.

Sprig

Your ph is probably going to be the one to set up the sticks for the shot so he will be close by. If your a tall guy like me you can brace your right elbow(right hand shooter) against the ph's shoulder or arm. This will take any wobble out of the picture as you have all contact points steady. Try it with and without the "buddy" rest and you will be amazed at the difference. After guiding for 25 years you just figure these things out. I showed the trick to my ph in Zim last year and he just shook his head at how simple and better it makes you shoot. Try it, you'll like it!

I have just ecently state practicing off sticks I bought here. They are from Longgrass outfitters. The sticks themselves are fairly flexible and I am not an expert by any means, but they recommend leaning into the sticks and it really helps me. I practise on 8 inch paper plates at 200 yards, that no problem but 300 metres is tough.

Todd,

Keep practising and you'll soon be absolutely rock steady.......

quote:

Originally posted by sevenmagltd.:
I showed the trick to my ph in Zim last year and he just shook his head at how simple and better it makes you shoot. Try it, you'll like it!

Just a minute. I figured that out almost straight away. To get away from Bench-rest recoil, I went to a high bi-pod, and being short of a short PH, my arm against my 4x4 rear/side window was just the go. And it slides back under recoil with the rest of me.

I gave up on the sticks when I was barred from using them by Pierre and several others and required to shoot offhand or use a big ole rock or tree. I tried for years and the results were a disaster. However, I never jumped in feet first to learn the finer points of stick shooting such as posted on this thread, I just didn't apply myself it seems.

.416 vs. .30/06

I am using Long Grass sticks and holding the forearm in front of the sticks (not grasping the sticks) and shooting at 100 yds. Accuracy with the heavy barrel Ruger .416 is OK. My 06 has a light Douglas No.1 barrel and I have considerable trouble holding it steady using the sticks.

Any ideas?

Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by sevenmagltd.:
Your ph is probably going to be the one to set up the sticks for the shot so he will be close by. If your a tall guy like me you can brace your right elbow(right hand shooter) against the ph's shoulder or arm. This will take any wobble out of the picture as you have all contact points steady. Try it with and without the "buddy" rest and you will be amazed at the difference. After guiding for 25 years you just figure these things out. I showed the trick to my ph in Zim last year and he just shook his head at how simple and better it makes you shoot. Try it, you'll like it!

This is very good advise!

Pegleg

Good idea but hard to find a volunteer at the range.

my way of paractice is get a small plate like tea cup plate in steel hang it with a steel wire at 20 yards first,take aim count 1,2,3,at 3 u should fire when u do it rite at 3 extand the distance to 40 yards,i think practice shooting staight is very essential and some times get u ur desire trophy animal,i got my first kudu that way,thankx to my ph kerneel,who taught me that as he learned that from ph school.

Bill

I am not a big fan of sticks. They are cumbersome to carry, set up, they wobble, and since one is moving quickly, they often are not balanced or flat, and one has to get in odd positions to line up the rifle on them, then they wobble etc. And not necessary for 150 yards or less

That said, I prefer the bipod sticks, where one places the rilfe on, then pulls the rifle back into the shoulder, with no hands or pressure on the sticks, that way they just provide a steady base, and don't wobble much. The rwo stick legs actwith the third leg, the hunter, to balance nicely. Invaiably, with a tripod, one leg hangs on a rock, or slips when the hunters puts his rifle on the rest etc.