Steadying the rifle...

I

icedog

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I've passed up opportunities on game from time to time for want of an appropriate way to steady my rifle, especially for longer shots, and where longer grass or brush make prone shots impossible. So...I'm shopping for a bipod, monopod, or some sort of shooting sticks...something easy to carry, covenient to use, and that can be deployed quickly and quietly. What do you use and why?
 
I've tried shooting sticks, various bipods (which work from prone and sitting, but that's it), a monopod rest. All worked to a varying degree, but I end up going back to a hardwood walking stick with leather covered notch in it about two thirds of the way up from the bottom. Easy to use, and helps to steady me and the rifle when required. - dan
 
I use a Harris ultralight bipod sometimes, which works, but only if you can shoot from the prone position. I find that shooting off my day pack from the prone position works pretty good too.
 
i second the backpack, as often the bipod is either on the other rifle or back at camp or won't fit on the rifle- ie levers,and pumps
 
So how fast can you deploy that "steady stick"? Do you carry it in your hand or in a pack?

I am sure it is a great tool but I sure would hate to be handicapped like that, i.e needing a tool other then sling, body, tree to steady a rifle.

icedog the other thing to think about is that holding your rifle steady is one thing and pulling the trigger at the right time is another. Practice standing off hand with an empty rifle. With the muzzle waving around apply trigger pressure as you are on target, don't let up on the trigger as you drift off, when you drift back on apply more pressure. Eventually boom.
Sounds a bit sketchy yes but practice and you will become a good offhand shot. Holding the sight picture rock solid in a hunting situation i.e sucking wind, blowing wind, odd position etc is going to be impossible often making good accurate shots under those conditions is not impossible.
Just work on the application of pressure-hold pressure-apply more pressure- boom -technique.

I shake like a willow in the wind even with out my daily dose of 6 cups of high test coffee so the above is something I need to do.LOL.
 
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One of the most important things in off hand shooting, in my opinion, is trigger pull. I like a 2.5 so when you put pressure on the trigger the gun goes boom.

There is know one I know who can hold a rifle steady in the off hand position. There are, however, people I know who can time the trigger pull to coincide with the intended point of impact. It is a learned skill and it just takes practice and confidence.
 
220Swifty said:
just learn field positions, mechanical aides are only helpful when you're varminting or knw you will have the time required to set up (long range hunting)
Click to expand...

Can and have used all of the field positions BUT have learned that it's better to let game go than risk wounding by not having a rest. I shoot well offhand but have decided -- personally -- that I can always move a few yards to a tree, fence or rock to get that rock steady shot. If the option is there, I will use a rest or the bipod even inside 50 yards.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll likely get a set of shooting sticks of one brand or another. I think I'm pretty much with sjemac on this. I know the field positions, and have done both the kneeling and the backpack thing with success. Recently though, I passed on two opportunities in one day that would have required standing position shots. I guess I ought to have mentioned that I am not new to the game, and have pulled off a few freehand one shot kills on both stationary and moving animals over the course of close to 50 years of hunting. Which isn't meant to imply that I shouldn't practice more, as that is something we should all do. I'd just like to reduce the chances of wounding game to as close to "0" as possible. The older I get, the more bothered I am by the thought of anything less than a clean kill.
 
Having a steady aim is relative to experience with both the rifle and the quarry in which you are hunting IMHO.

I popped my bull moose on Saturday past at 110 yds in the standing position through a poplar stand wher the only shot I had was a 1/2 frontal shot. I took the shot and he collapsed after about a 10 foot walk.

I have not practised much from the standing position, but shot somewhere around 200 rounds this summer getting ready for the season. When I saw the bull, finding a rest wasn't an issue, cross hairs went up to see antlers and the down to shoot.

That said I've passed on shots as well, and have been in the feild where I'm waiting and waiting for the buck to cross with the rifle shouldered and after a short time span the shakes start. A bipod would certainly come in handy in that situation to reduce fatigue.

When its time to take the shot all of the prep work you have doen will kick n and allow you to harvest.
 
I do most of my hunting in the bush and have shot, less than the fingers on my one hand, deer over 100 yds. In close proximity to an animal there is all together to much movement in trying to find a rest. I started hunting in my teens and am now pushing toward sixty. In all my years of hunting , as far as I can remember, I have never used a rest.
 
I'm just like "Bartell" I have my Stonet Point sticks put together in my left hand and rifle over my right shoulder. The model I use extend to 37 inches I believe, so I'm kneeling when I make the shot. Open country hunting like I do in southern Alberta doesn't lend itself well to finding a tree for a rest. That said the first deer I ever shot was in the sitting position using the sling wrap around my left arm with elbows on my knees, 208 meters with my Stevens 25-06. fs
 
220Swifty said:
just learn field positions, mechanical aides are only helpful when you're varminting or knw you will have the time required to set up (long range hunting)
Click to expand...

I agree with 220Swifty. I find that those shooting aids like bi-pods are too awkward, sticks are just extra baggage. I've learned to squat down on my bum, and anchor my elbows onto my knees (you know the position);). It works for me. One one occasion, I leaned my rifle across the saddle and made the shot, of course I had to deal with the freakin' horse afterwards, but that's another story that my buds have a good laugh about around the campfire. :D
 
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