Good day
I'm wondering if anyone here hunts with a big bore Contender? If so what kind of
rest do you use? On my 7mmTCU I use a bi-pod. I'm told by JD at SSK not to use
it on my 375JDJ though. I'm off to Wyoming this fall and am looking for an alternate rest so any
suggestions will be appreciated.
Mike

Why do they say not to use a bipod? I had the adapter for my barrel and used Harris Bipods on my contender and had no trouble. I also had a 7TCU. I can't remember if I ever used the bipods on the 45/70 barrel though.

Mike, I use a walking stick for my rest. I hold onto the walking stick at what ever hieght I need my contender to be at. Then rest my contender across my wrist or close to the walking stick. This seems to work a lot better for me and allows me to pivot or move quickly if need be.

I use this method with my 14" .444 contender and my 12" .44 contender on deer here in Ohio. So far this seems to work well.

I use Stoney Point Steady Stix II, with bowhunter's camoflage adhesive tape covering all but the top eight inches- this is the part that slides around.

These things fold up like tent poles, and are easy to carry. Once settled in, they are very stable for long waits. I also use them Turkey hunting, as my old turkey shotgun weighs a metric ton.

Two good sticks and a bit of shoelace tied 8 inches down from the top would be nearly as good. A fella could make a set with a lot of character with just a bit of whittling.

Pete

Mike,
Did JD give you a reason? I also shoot a ssk 375jdj. I have pachmayr grips and forend on this barrel and frame. I have a harris series S 9-12INCH that is on it, and it works great. It is not attached to the barrel, but to the forend.
Please reply Tony

I also use a set of SPSS II or a Leki Sierra www.trekpoles.com/. It has a removeable ball grip that takes a gun rest. I have covered that with a piece of gray pipe insulation and when in use I secure my Contender with velcro straps. About as steady as a bench. Works real well and the Leki doesn't weigh more than the SPSS II. I use the Leki more simply because I use them instead of canes to get around so I'm used to them.

Good day again
Thanks for the quick replys. When I talked to JD he said if you use a pi-pod on the
375JDJ you could rip the studs out of the barrel with the recoil. I have a 9-12 inch
harris bi-pod I use on my 7mmTCU with excellent results so I was dissapinted when
he told me this. I did try ONE shot with a harris 12" to 25" in a sitting position.
After the shot a couple of the springs started retracting in the bi-pod. That pi-pod
was borrowed so that's the only shot I tried with it. I'd love to be able to use a
pi-pod because that's what I'm used to.

TonyK, You mention you use it on yours, Is it on the barrel
or the forend? Have you done any modifications?

Thanks again
Mike

I have used the Steady Stix in the past but I could never get them as steady as I would have liked. This year I have practiced quite extensively with sitting with my knee up, wrapping a hand around the front of my knee and holding my Encore with that. I can hit a 1.250" diameter alum slug at 65 yards through a 2X scope everytime with my 22 so that works for me. That works out to 1.25@65 yds, 2.5"@130 yds, etc or at least I hope it does. I will be doing more tests at the pit next week with the .257 Roberts. I know it sounds complicated but it is more uncomfortable than it sounds. Slim

Mike,
The bi-pod is attached to the forend (pachmayr) I put a swivel stud in place of the screw that normally should attacth the forend to the mounting bar. The length of the swivel stud I use is about 7/8ths. I put the stud thru a s.s. washed so the washer is sucked down on the forend when tightened. I haven't had any problems with this setup yet (about 300rds) That's not saying I won't. Hope this helps you out.
Good Luck
Tony

How about a set of shooting sticks like they have in the "make it yourself" article in Handgunhunting.com.
Think that site is correctly spelled out!

I guess had best get off my duff and get to doing the walking stick rest practice I said I would do this summer!
Well NOT this weekend . . . the new closed on 4th weekend rule has the range closed!

Might as well go form up som 7mm TCUs.
LouisB

I've also done what TonyK did to attach bipod to Pachmyer fore end of 357Harrett and 45-70 . And converted an old aluminum xc ski pole, without basket and wrapped in camo tape, into walking stick and slip the contender through the hand sling to shoot. Also bound two cast off aluminum arrows with 2" wide rounds of bicycle tube or rubber grommets about 2/3 of the way to make a lightweight (cheap) portable rest for fore ends without hanger.

I carry a Stony Point stick that I use from the sitting position. However, one thing that I have found works better than anything is a bag. By bag, I mean an over the shoulder type bag that has my lunch, compass, water bottle, etc. in it. My bag measures about 6" X 6" X 10". I top the contents of the bag off with a small bath towell. Makes a very nice rest, plus you can use the towell to wipe the blood off your hands later. Set the bag on a blow down or a rock, and set the pistol on top. Its rare when I can't find someplace to use the bag as a rest. Plus, I can never steady myself as much with the sticks as a I can with the bag. Its almost liking shooting from the bench.

[ 08-02-2002, 21:15: Message edited by: Stush ]

Here's the link to the Do-It Yourself shooting sticks.

http://www.handgunhunt.com/noframes/tech/t21/index.html