200yds Standing off of sticks.. just sucks.

[Chuck R.]

I've been practicing for SA plainsgame this JUL. PH said that 8" at 100 would work and shots sometimes go out past 200.

So I've been working with a .22LR on 4" plates at 100 (sticks and off-hand) and several rifles at 200 on my steel pig in addition to dry fire practice. I'm using an awful lot of the pig:

I'm going to keep at it, but I really am tempted to bring my tripod with it's arca head and just lock the rifle in. The fulcrum effect and subsequent wobble I get with the cross sticks drives me nuts.

Guys that have been, what else beside "keep practicing" should I do?

 

[jmorris]

I have played a bit with various methods to see what I like.



FWIW if you can run a string behind the rifle (like the one behind this rifle) and back up to it so you can pinch it to the stock, you can make the wobble go away.



I think I prefer to just drop it into a half bag on top and let it balance in it. Unless I have to carry it long distances.



My targets go down to 1" and are only 100 yards away but that is challenge enough for me with the ammo I plink with.

 

[natman]

Instead of lugging a tripod around, try shooting from a sitting position with a sling. It's a lot easier to carry, sets up far faster and is nearly as accurate. Here's a couple of links to get started:

A Marksman's Guide to the Shooting Sling - Everyday Marksman

The shooting sling is an often forgotten tool for improving your marksmanship. I want to talk about the shooting sling helps, and some ways to use it better

www.everydaymarksman.co

The above link shows a target sling, but a hasty sling works well and is much faster to use:

An Official Journal Of The NRA | How To Properly Use a Sling

Shooting with a speed sling gives you a better platform for engaging targets at distance.

www.shootingillustrated.com

 

[jmr40]

I suppose if you have someone else to carry the tripod for you it's OK. But that's way too much for me to carry around. I have a set very similar to this that packs down and easily fits in a pack.

https://www.cabelas.com/p/cabelas-kwik-stik-bipod-shooting-rest-101161115

It does require practice, but from a sitting position I'm almost as good as from a bench. A tripod should be easier. It's just going to take some trigger time.

 

[22250Rem]

I like Natman's suggestion of the sitting position; which is what I used to do at times. Except I had one of the longer Harris Bipods fastened to the front sling stud. They are about 10" without extending the legs; and with them extended it gives you about 20 or 21 ", which was enough to allow me to sit, have the rifle leveled and it almost felt like shooting at the bench. As long as the grass and other vegetation wasn't too high it was a thing of beauty.

 

[Varminterror]

I've hunting off of monopods and crossed shooting sticks for my entire life, 35+ years, or from bipods/tripods, and I really just can't imagine hunting any other way. I started hauling a tripod more regularly when my wife started hunting with me ~15yrs ago, and religiously take one for my son when hunting (of course, when upmountain hunting, I carry the tripod religiously for spotting as well, although I did start using trekking poles a few years ago and I do practice from crossed poles a lot now, as well as do a lot of glassing while we're spot/stalking). Carrying and deploying an pre-measured tripod is quick and smooth - having a porter on safari, or having it setting in the back of the safari wagon while driving until the stalk begins is even easier.

I do, however, do a lot of off-hand, unsupported standing practice before hunting seasons as well, largely just to make me appreciate how much easier it is when I bring in crossed sticks. Huge difference! But with a little practice, whether it's locking into ARCA, clamping in with a Vyce, or dropping a shooting bag on top of the tripod platform, a lot of good can be done from a quickly-deployed tripod.

 

[Wolfshead]

I suppose if you have someone else to carry the tripod for you it's OK. But that's way too much for me to carry around. I have a set very similar to this that packs down and easily fits in a pack.

https://www.cabelas.com/p/cabelas-kwik-stik-bipod-shooting-rest-101161115

It does require practice, but from a sitting position I'm almost as good as from a bench. A tripod should be easier. It's just going to take some trigger time.

i have a Bog bipod that I use for field use. I just strap it to my field pack with a folding stool and sit on the ag field edge. Works very well for that.
However while still hunting it is too heavy and large to be traipsing through the thick woods with.
This kwik-stick looks like it may be something that would fit for me.
Sometimes while still hunting, if I feel ”this may be a spot”, I will sit for a while and these kiwi-sticks look great for that.
i strap a glassing pad to a small hydration style pack that I use for the thick woods and I could just strap these two together, the way it looks.

 

[Chuck R.]

Guys, I think we're talking apples and oranges here.

I'm working on shooting off the "classic" African shooting sticks, used standing due to brush, spiky things, insects etc. that prevent sitting, kneeling, prone etc. It's what I'll be dealing with in JUL. Like so:

They're provided by the PH and carried by one of the trackers, who sets it up for you as part of the drill.

I have and use tripods hunting and practice with them frequently.

My preferred tripods use an ARCA rail set up which I have on several rifles, including the 300WM I'm taking to Afrika (1st rifle pictured). A couple of my hunting tripods weigh in at about 5lbs or less (carbon fiber), so they're really not an issue packing in. My concern is how rapid they can be deployed VS the standard African sticks, so I'm practicing with what's most likely to be available.

Bottom line, I've found the sticks to be less stable than my normal setup, so I'm trying to sort out how to get better faster..

 

[Larry in wyoming]

Lots of off hand. Whether it's dry fire or live fire, rimfire or centerfire, offhand offhand offhand.

I'm not sure you are doing yourself any favors shooting a 22 at 100yds. You might be better off shooting at 50. Less variables to deal with. It seems to me that that would be more representative of centerfire shooting out to 200yds.

I love a nice tiny group same as every other shooter; but the PH said 8" at 100 will do the trick. So my goal would be 4 inches at 100 during practice with a 223 from the sticks. Then I'd verify that with the 300wm. Just 5 shots each range session.

To paraphrase Robert Rouke: Your piggy looks quite sick.
Just keep at it. You'll do fine

I went back and reread your post. That pig is at 200. Just keep doing what you're doing. 4 inch plates at 100 and that pig at 2. You're in there. Keep after it.

 

[Varminterror]

I think we're talking apples and oranges here

You’re right - the sticks you mentioned using have 1 or w more legs than those I shoot from for the last 3 decades………

Crossed triple sticks are just more flexible than the photo tripods you’re using to using. It’s a developed skill, but it’s not terribly difficult attain. All of the same marksmanship skills apply in the same ways. If you want to take a more stable tripod, tell your PH and take it, then tip your porter well. But getting on target at 200 off of triple sticks is still just what it has been for the generations on generations we’ve been doing it - you’ll get where you need to go.

 

[Patocazador]

The PH I used in Namibia wanted me to shoot off his shoulder. I thought he was nuts but he insisted. Of course I wasn’t using a muzzle brake. Once I was kind of steady, he held the barrel with his hand before I shot.

If you are going to use a muzzle brake, then learn to use the sticks.

 

[WisBorn]

I hate to say practice. I have used a single v stick a few times, but it was really hard to get steady.
I love trees, one knee, & even prone off a pack. I don't think that is possible for planes game in Africa.
You can take me along so I can learn

 

[tdbmd]

I've been practicing for SA plainsgame this JUL. PH said that 8" at 100 would work and shots sometimes go out past 200.

So I've been working with a .22LR on 4" plates at 100 (sticks and off-hand) and several rifles at 200 on my steel pig in addition to dry fire practice. I'm using an awful lot of the pig:

I'm going to keep at it, but I really am tempted to bring my tripod with it's arca head and just lock the rifle in. The fulcrum effect and subsequent wobble I get with the cross sticks drives me nuts.

Guys that have been, what else beside "keep practicing" should I do?

Been to Africa for plains game twice. My experience has been that when you are tracking, the shooting sticks get placed and you step right up and take the shot, usually with some degree of urgency. I have used a rifle locked into a tripod mount, and at least for me, it would not be quick enough to get set and on the right animal. Shooting sticks are just faster and more maneuverable. The farthest shot I took in Africa was 240 yards and that was a large animal (greater kudu) so probably had at least 8 inches of vital area, probably quite a bit more as they are elk sized.

 

[tdbmd]

I like Natman's suggestion of the sitting position; which is what I used to do at times. Except I had one of the longer Harris Bipods fastened to the front sling stud. They are about 10" without extending the legs; and with them extended it gives you about 20 or 21 ", which was enough to allow me to sit, have the rifle leveled and it almost felt like shooting at the bench. As long as the grass and other vegetation wasn't too high it was a thing of beauty.

Depends on where you are at but most of the places that I have hunted in Africa, the grass would be an issue as it would be too tall to easily shoot sitting

 

[codytrucker]

Have your PH send you a picture of his sticks , and ask him whether he will usually hold them to help steady for the shot or not. My PH had sticks that extended fairly high above the cross lash , and I held one leg and used the web between my thumb and finger to rest the rifle over . And they will almost always insist that you use the sticks , even on a fifty foot shot at an impala . The only unbraced shot I took was the second shot on my wildebeests, as his death run took him right by us at extremely close range ( at the instant we thought he was charging us ! ) He also held the sticks every shot . Remember , these guys hunt hundreds of days a year , and have clients of varying levels of experience and skill , so they are pretty insistent on doing things their way , at least until you prove yourself . Other than that , I like the sticks set a little low so I can lean into the rifle a little bit . Good luck on your trip !

 

[marksman13]

I plan on taking my Primos Trigger Stick tripod as that is what I carry when I pig hunt and I’m comfortable with those. Also thought about ordering a set of African style shooting sticks. For longer shots, there’s a technique that involves detaching your sling from the butt stock, wrapping it over the top of your rifle and scope, and back under the tripod/sticks and then pulling the sling tight with your off-hand. It helps, but it’s not very quick without some repetition. Might be useful in a situation where you can’t stalk any closer, but the game is not spooked.

 

[ms6852]

All you need is patience and practice and soon it will be like using a tripod. I went through the same thing when I bought my Sharps rifle. Just takes time and patience.

 

[Chuck R.]

Going with the consensus by sucking it up and just practicing more.

While dry firing I'm trying out different positions, IE squaring to the sticks/TGT, VS. bladed, off hand on sticks VS. rifle etc. I should have something workable by the time I fly.

 

[ms6852]

Using the 22lr is a phenomenal because everything transfers over to your centerfire except recoil and you shoot hundreds of rounds for what a box of centerfire costs. I trained with the 22lr also and at the end of my session I would shoot 10 rounds of my 405 and 500gr 45/70 off the sticks so that my muscle memory remembers that is what I shot last.

 

[Chuck R.]

Using the 22lr is a phenomenal because everything transfers over to your centerfire except recoil and you shoot hundreds of rounds for what a box of centerfire costs. I trained with the 22lr also and at the end of my session I would shoot 10 rounds of my 405 and 500gr 45/70 off the sticks so that my muscle memory remembers that is what I shot last.

I do a 'ladder" like routine when working concepts kind of like escalation of recoil. In this case:

Dry Fire
.22LR
.223
.260Rem
300WM

 

[ms6852]

I do a 'ladder" like routine when working concepts kind of like escalation of recoil. In this case:

Dry Fire
.22LR
.223
.260Rem
300WM

Great concept, wish I had thought of it. Jumping from 22lr to a 500 gr bullet was not a great transition. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Chuck R.]

Great concept, wish I had thought of it. Jumping from 22lr to a 500 gr bullet was not a great transition. Thanks for the idea.

When I competed in BPCR silhouette and LR I had a 22LR Low Wall built to match my .40-70 and .45-90 High-Walls. It really paid huge dividends and is what got me into master class. The ability to practice off sticks and even more importantly off-hand, without the recoil and having to cast and load rounds was awesome.

I learned that lesson so well that I now put together .22LR "trainers" for whatever I'm doing.

 

[sage5907]

One thing I know about what you are trying to do is that you have to practice your trigger pull by putting pressure on the trigger and then finishing the trigger pull when the reticle is aligned with the target. The scope is always moving slightly so you have to time the trigger pull with the movement of the scope and your heart beat. I can do that really good from a sitting position using a single shooting stick and it works good for me out past 250 yards. I've been sighting in my rifles, practicing and hunting that way for about 25 years. I picked the single shooting stick and the sitting position for all of my hunting because I was able to master it quickly and it works good with heavy recoiling rifles. It's a whole different ballgame from a standing position and I doubt if I could do it well, and for me it's not hard to control the elevation but the rifle keeps drifting from side to side. On the other hand, those of us who have hunted a lot can usually bare down and make a difficult shot when needed. I think it's hard for a hunter to be a good shot on game when they are always looking for a crutch. If you use the same crutch all the time it's a lot easier.

 

[sage5907]

I really like this picture of Chuck R and it says it all. You know what they say about duck hunting, "Now we get comfortable and wait."

 

[Chuck R.]

I really like this picture of Chuck R and it says it all. You know what they say about duck, "Now we get comfortable and wait."

It was in MT and about -10 with windchill, really wish I had more layers!