Best shooting sticks?
 

I'll be heading up to Montana hunting antelope and mule deer late next week and am thinking of some last minute things to take.

I've never used shooting sticks before but I can see that they would be helpful on the wide open prairie on antelope for sure and probably would come in handy for mule deer as well.

I looked at the Stoney Point shooting sticks that are a bi-pod and they sell for $35 but you can add a tripod leg to them for an extra $20 for a total price tag of $55.

Stoney Point Steady Stix II

Stoney Point Tripod Kit

I'm also looking at the MossBack shooting tripod that sells for $60.

MossBack Shooting Tripod

The MossBack got some mediocre reviews a few places but mainly when used in the standing position and I wouldn't probably use them in the standing position very often. The Stoney Point Steady Stix either come in a sitting or standing version and I would be buying the sitting version.

I realize you can make your own shooting sticks, but I was thinking the fold up versions would be nicer to haul around in a backpack and to take up to Montana with me.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Nathan

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

I'd suggest buying a good quality bi-pod that attaches to the gun such as the Harris pivoting bipod, these are awesome when you're in the wide open prairies where you can take a shot at a stationary targetwhile laying prone. Along with those, take your pick on the un-attached shooting sticks that are taller and will allow you to shoot from the sitting position. Then you'll have the sitting and prone positions covered.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

I had ruled out the bi-pods due to the fact that I would probably be carrying my rifle around for miles and didn't really wan't to be lugging the bi-pod around on it the whole time. Something I read mentioned that you need to carry the rifle with the muzzle pointing down to keep the bi-pod from getting in the way especially if you are wearing a backpack. I figured if I was going to shoot prone I would just remove my backpack and use it for a rest.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

why pay 30 bucks for shooting sticks when you can make them tailored to your needs for under 10 bucks. I have a set of Bi-Fur-pods that I made to suit me and my needs based on Varmint Al's original design. Ive been using mine for about 3 years and IMO they are better than anything on the market. I guess maybe because pro hunter joe on buckmasters uses stoney point shooting stix. that homemade ones just arent cool enough. if you arent above homemade heres a link for instructions. http://www.varmintal.com/abifu.htm

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

Stoney point bipod not stix. Leave the harris bipod at home. This is what you need:

Get the longer set:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0005829221333a&type=product&cm Cat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=stoney+point&N=4887 &Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1& amp;Ntt=stoney+point&noImage=0

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

IMO, if you're carrying a back pack while hunting antelope, you're carrying too much stuff. As far as a gun mounted bipod catching on that big a$$ pack, it just don't happen because the sling mounts to the base of the bipod and the bipod follows the rifle barrel. SO, since I don't see wearing a pack, by the way you say the bipod weighs too much but you're planning on wearing/needing a pack to carry stuff, the bipod fixed on the gun makes for a solid rest from the prone position. Usually antelope live in wide open spaces and often times require a long shot. The prone position is the best to make that shot.

Highdesertwolf is absolutely correct in that making your own shooting sticks is simple and cheap. Most times the sticks will be used from the sitting position, and once again, although that's a better choice than off hand, the prone position is a better long range shooting choice.

I rarely use my bipod that attaches to my rifles, BUT for antelope, I always do.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

In my experience hunting antelope the terrain was never conducive to using my harris bipod. I took it off after the first day. And never missed it. Each hunting trip is different though. I agree that prone is the best but i never could see over the sage from the prone.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

I'm doing a combination mule deer and antelope hunt and probably will be wearing the pack mainly going after mule deer. Not sure though, there is a good chance I'll be by myself and sometimes on antelope you can get out in the middle of nowhere and have some good chances at a nice buck that some road hunters spook up.

I don't want to really spend the time making my own sticks if the $50 ones work fine andare retractable.

ShatoDavis - What is wrong with the Stoney Point steady stixs? I was thinking the tripod versions would be a lot steadier than the bipod versions.

Thanks for the input.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

IMO, go with the Harris bi-pod for this reason, you want to stay low especially with lopes. You have to get up at least to your knees with any stick, but the bi-pod allows you the option of prone and swauted because the legs extend.
I highly recomend the shorter bi-pods because the longer ones are too long for prone, and too short for kneeling/squating. My gun is about 12" off the ground in the prone, so the 11" - 23" works fine for me. Go to:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712-cat20774_TGP&id=000582520693a&navCount=2&a mp;podId=0005825&parentId=cat20774&masterp athid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XH&r id=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20774& hasJS=true
Shows you how they work. Connects to sling swivel and then sling connects to bi-pod. Very secure. Legs fold up and never get in the way. Nice feature:bi-pod allpwsyou to set your gun down without getting in the durt!
I like them both. Use them both. I leave the Harris on the gun and carry the shooting stick. That way, I have all of my choices right handy!

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

They are too shaky! Not enough "meat" in the legs. the ones I posted suit me much better. I can pull the rifle stock into them for a more solid hold. the "stix" folded under the pressure. I like the adjustments on the "bipod" version. On uneven ground you can make one leg longer, provide enough time..... They are a much better product in my opinion. I wouldn't bother with the tripod versions. You won't have that much time usually. At most you'll have enough time to throw open the bipod, sit down, take aim, and squeeze. If you take too long and deer start hightailing it your guide will get pissy with you! You need to get them asap so you can practice with them for awhile. You'll be a little clumbsy with them at first.In a short while you'll be able to get setup for a shot in short order.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

Well, I may have waited too long to get them then. I don't have to worry about my guide getting pissy with me though since I'll be my guide!

I've been practicing some more recently and am pretty happy at 200 yards sitting crosslegged. On the last group, 2 of the shots were within 1 1/2" from the bullseye very close together and I had one flyer that was 3 1/4" high but the barrel was getting pretty hot and I was impatient and ready to go. I was using a folding chair and a pillow for a rest, I would think that would be pretty similar to a tri-pod as far as support. I'm going to work on some 300 yard shots this weekend but it is hard to find a spot to shoot 300 yards.

If I can find some in town I'll buy some and practice with them this weekend. I guess otherwise I'll be looking for a natural rest like I did hunting out there as a kid.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

Well I went against everyone's advice and picked up a hodge podge of bi-pods and a mono-pod and am going to try them out this weekend and see how they do.

I picked up a Stoney Point Rapid Pivot Bi-pod for the prone position. It adjusts from 10" - 13" and you just pop it on and off a quick attach swivel pivot that stays on the rifle. It was $39.99.



I also picked up a cheap adjusting pivoting bi-pod for sitting shots ($24.99) and an even cheaper mono-pod ($9.99) just to see if it would work or not for standing shots.

If the cheap bi-pod and mono-pod aren't very steady and the Stoney Point Rapid Pivot Bi-Pod is then I'll probably buy the sitting version of the Stoney Point Bi-Pod and return the others. If the Stoney Point Rapid Pivot Bi-Pod doesn't work then I'll just return it.

I'll update this thread after I field test them this weekend.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

I have the bipod/sticks you have pictured there on my groundhog rifle. I have the sitting length ones and LOVE them. There are sturdy, solid, light, and steady. I routinely pic off groundhogs using those sticks at 200+ hards. Probably one of the best purchases I made for groundhog hunting.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

I made my own.Two 4 ft long5/8" diameter dowel sticks from Lowes. Drill a 3/16 hole thru both about 10 inches from the end. Use an outside flat washer, a middle washer and another outside washer inside the nut. Then superglue the nut on. I wound tape around where the gun would set so it would not scrape the stock. I also wound several wraps around the legs to keep them from banging together as I walked.

Greatas a walking stick also. I use a small campbag chair ($4.97 at WM)on my stand with the sticks in from of me. The shooting sticks I bought whereeither to long or too short. Mono-sticks did not work good for me.

Less than $5. If you lose or break them, no great loss.

The only shooting sticks I would like to try are the ones built into the sling.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

If you do a search on this sight the sling stix (the ones built into the sling) don't get very good reviews. It seems like a great idea, but evidently is stilllacking in the execution department.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

Most shooting sticks are easy height adjusted by simply spreading the legs out or bringing them together. That's the main reason I avoid using any sticks that have the legs attached to each other.

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

I agree with shato, been using the stoney pointbipod for 3 years and very pleased. I just strapit to my pack and go. Harris bipods aregood but for me just weren't practical.

Side note take a look at the safari sling. It changes the load point from 1 shoulder to both and allows you to carry the rifle in front vs back. I use this sling when elk and moose hunting, whereI have a pack on and like my hands to be free to call while keeping the rifle as close as possible. I use it with my ML which is heavy. Last weekendI logged a lot of miles in country similar to what you'll be experiencing while chasing Mulie's and no soreness resulted.

Good luck

RE: Best shooting sticks?
 

I tried out the bi-pods last night and I really liked the stoney point rapid pivot bi-pod. I ended up returning the others and bought a 2nd stoney point in the sitting/kneeling length. Practiced out to 300 yards and felt pretty good about it although the groups were nothing spectacular I was consistently hitting the paper and at 300 yards I felt that was pretty good. The BDC rectile worked pretty good also. I have it zeroed in at 200 yards and the 1st circle down was right on at 300 yards. I don't have anywhere on my property where I can practice at 400 yards so I'm not sure about the 2nd circle for 400 yards, but based on my current shooting skills I don't think I'll take a shot out past 300 yards.

I wish I had read about the safari sling before I bought my sling. It is a butler creek alaskan magnum and I had heard good things about it but it is going to take some getting used to because I've never used a sling before.