Heading to RSA here in a few weeks and as I get down to the wire I find yet another question I need the answer to. Do any of you who have tuffpaks use bipods on your rifle, if so how do you pack for this. Does the bipod stay on the gun, or do you remove it and pack it seperately?

I Have used the TuffPac extensively, including more than a dozen safaris. I don't use bi-pods and suggest to all new African hunters that they remove them as they will not be needed nor useful in Africa.

It's the grass, you see, too tall in most areas to employ a bi-pod. Your PH will have a set of shooting sticks for you to use in the standing position. Usually three sticks wrapped at the top with wire or inner tube. If you can find (or make) some locally to practice off of before departure that may be helpful.

Good luck on safari.

As a general rule I think Lion Hunter is correct. In the Natal Midland of RSA where you might hunt vaal rhebok, mountain reedbuck, common reedbuck and couple of others a bipod could be very handy as the grass is short. In almost all other situations in Africa I think a bipod would be hinderance.

Mark

If you do decide to take something with you, I would recommend just taking the Stoney Point Bi-Pod, as it extends out or can be left short,and because of that, you can use it either short or long, almost like an attachable bi-pod. Otherwise, LionHunter is correct in my assessment. However, if you do take it, I would remove it and put it in your checked baggage.

I just got back from RSA and a bipod would not have worked for me. As stated by LionHunter, grass is too tall. I made several shots free hands, otherwise I used shooting sticks. Later in the year may be different, but where I hunted I don't think they would be of much use. Good luck.

Whatever you do, take LionHunter's advise and practice and practice and practice with shooting sticks. I have seen several individuals who just can not shoot from shooting sticks because they refuse to practice with them before they get to Africa. You can practice "at home" by setting up your shooting sticks and dry firing from them. But you do need to shoot from them at the range as well.

I agree with Ehg. I do not like shooting off the sticks, but learning to do so is a necessary evil. I built mine from Bamboo poles I got at a local Garden store and used pieces of Bicycle inner tube. I cut points on the bottom of the poles and fashoned a leather sling at the top. This is better set than any I have seen in Africa. If you don't use the sticks, then you better practice with your sling. Just my .02 cents worth.

Thanks for the replies guys, I have been shooting a bit, not as much as I had planned due to weather(seems like it snows/rains or blows like a bastard every weekend lately ), but I still have a bit more time for practice. I am going to put together some sticks this weekend and do some shooting off them just to get the feel and see how it works for me. I have an email in to my PH about the bipod and imagine I will be leaving it at home it will be very different for me as I have had it on for years of hunting now, but no point in bringing things I can't use. Thanks again for the advice~

I just got back from RSA - Northern Province and I agree with 338zmag. A bipod would just get in the way. All of our shooting was done off of shooting sticks or once or twice sitting to shoot under the scrub. Good hunting.