Bi pods or Shooting sticks

it seems I am about to say the exact same thing as many others.
Both!
okay let's back up and I will explain the case for both of them individually.
a good bi-pod is indispensable in the field. I have many bi-pods, some permanently attached to certain rifles. these are for when I know I will be taking a prone shot on nearly level ground or I can level out the ground with extending one leg farther than the other. I also use my backpack as a rest in certain circumstances.
I wold never go into the field for a hunting trip without a bi-pod.
I have used shooting sticks on occasion. but it is far more often I will use a tree limb to steady myself in a standing or kneeling position. shooting sticks are for when you need to stand and shoot without any trees around. that is the only case I find in my 30 year history of hunting I have ever needed or used shooting sticks.
if you wanted to know what is used more often by me, Bi-Pod hands down.. trees are 3rd. sticks are last.

Litehiker said:

From all the photos of "shooting sticks" and tripods I have seen here there are very few I would even consider humping miles into the backcountry or across prairie lands for hours.
WEIGHT-> some are waay too heavy
PRICE-> and some are ridiculously expensive

As I've posted, Quick StiX that attach to my adjustable carbon fiber hiking poles are the lightest solution and very fast to bring into play.

Eric B.

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Yep, just another option and I posted the link to their site before. Keep in mind that many people take spotting scopes and higher power bino's to the field too. In those cases sticks work fine for glassing but when doing it all day, day in and out, a tripod for glassing is very valuable. Being to swap out and use the tripod for a shot from prone to standing is hard to beat. It comes at a cost, no one can argue with another mans desire to pack the weight or foot the bill, that is a personal preference.

I used a bipod for years, and loved it. But then I had a shot at a bear on a steep uphill, and the bipod wasn't long enough to allow me to take it. My buddy had sticks, and easily made the shot. I switched over to sticks, and will never go back to a bipod. It is lighter, much easier to carry in a sheath on your belt, doesn't make your rifle front end heavy, and is much more adaptable. You can track horizontally or vertically and make very steep uphil and downhill shots. With some practice, I can shoot off the sticks almost as well as the bench. I put one leg out at 90 degrees and rest the stock on my knee. Very solid position. And, if the grass is really high, you can shoot off your knees to get above it.

I just bought the one in the pic second hand, currently use it for shooting rabbits with my 10/22, but it's also going to be used with my centre fires when I get out after deer.
Need to practice a lot.
It has 3 sections on each leg and extends from about 2 feet up to 1.7 meters. It beats looking for a suitable branch or fencepost when still hunting.
It's made of aluminium alloy is light enough for me (I'm 75 btw) and if I get real proficient using it might go for the tripod version.
I gave the equivalent of $15 for it second hand and unused.

As a kid my dad made tripods for us to stable the 22's so we could make clean shots on rabbits, squirrels and rats. In the 1963 I joined the Marine Corps and everything was done from our rifle slings. Just before deploying to Vietnam I was fortunate to be assigned as a snuffie pulling butts for the Rifle team. During sighting in sessions some of the shooters would use make shift tripods. Sighting in was fast and your zero was consistent. Later as an infantryman I made my own so as to shoot at distance accurately. They made a difference when we would be attached to an Arty Battery on perimeter security.
Back at Camp Pendleton in 1968 I shot in the DCM Matches on the weekends. There we used bipods and tripods to develop our dope. Not permitted once the match started. It helped allot for confirming dope at 200, 300 and 500 meters.
I never forgot those lessons and have used and refined the skills to this day.
It's not for everyone. So try it you may change your mind.
As You can see in my earlier post I carry allot of stuff. There have been times when I had to spend the night on a mountain or out in the desert. My comfort level wasn't an issue.
One point to remember:
Accuracy starts with the shooter, practice often, and shoot under stress induced situations to identify your weakness. Make corrections and ask questions.
SEMPER FIDELIS

Litehiker said:

Coop, I use an Atlas bipod on my 6.5 CM Ruger Precision Rifle for competition and (prone) it's as good as shooting off a bench. BUT I'd never stick it on my light 6.5PRC Browning X-Bolt Pro hunting rifle with fluting everywhere and a carbon fiber stock. It would defeat the purpose.

Just go to the Quick StiX site (Wiser products) and take a look. I am amazed at the usefulness of this inexpensive and light product. Very clever.

Don, "... since the options are endless." Boy that's for sure!
Eric B.

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Yes,,, sometimes I advance in ideas from the old days,,, did I mention that those 30 lb treated fence posts are nice to shoot off of,,, Ha

If you have time to dig a post hole to support it... LOL

IN Africa no question about it shooting sticks. There is too much low level bush for a bipod. Out west, a bipod is fine. A monopole works well for me from a hunting tree stand but distances are not that great usually.

Agreed James. That little extra support, even at relatively close range can inspire a great deal of confidence. Even at 100yds and under, the stability it provides produces a calming effect under the "stress" of taking the shot.

I bought my first bipod recently but on a trip to Africa had no cause to use it. We do have areas here in Ireland where they may be preferable but the almost national standard is quad sticks. These are as steady as a bench out to 300 yards.
Once you start using any sticks you cannot go back.
I started with a homemade monopole Moved on to bi poles, homemade then trigger sticks and when they failed had some horrible outings with the monopole. I was finally persuaded to try quad sticks and they will see me out.
My PH in Africa had just bought a set to replace his tri sticks and was equally impressed but you must get the height adjustment correct.

Litehiker said:

Quick StiX
BACKPACK HUNTING STICKS SOLUTION:

I've found Quick StiX from Wiser Precision to be the lightest fast way to form hiking poles into a stable bipod.

Quick StiX are made of a Delrin-like engineering grade high impact polymer. About the diameter of a silver dollar the male and female pieces each fit on a hiking pole just under the handle. They snap on and are tightened down with the included stainless screws.

Quick StiX can be set to 45 deg., 67.5 deg. (best) and 90 deg. positions. The pole with the male section fits into the female piece on the other pole and a short twist gives you a solid rest.

Eric B.

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Mine just came in. Looks to work well.

Old 45, you'll like Quick StiX. They just plain work.

Eric B.

huntsman22 said:

shooting sticks....

trigger stick tripod

bipods

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Great examples of some mighty fine shooting. I varmint hunt and use shooting sticks, primos tripod, and manfrotto tripod with some modifications. Thanks for sharing.

TwoTracks said:

Gonzo! Semper Fi!

I recognize those areas. I've done a little shooting off Co 19th.

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hope to run into you sometime

Bipod on the rifle or tripod in hand. I have found that the bipod changes POI significantly in some cases so if you're going to use one, check it at the range with bipod attached first.