Tightest group at longest distance with shooting stciks.

[kimberyote]

Practicing trying to stay steady from a sitting positing on the floor while using shooting sticks at the house.
In the field this am and left to right movement was considerable. I was in a shooting house, in a chair, with rifle out the window using bog-pod tripod shooting sticks. I tried to steady my aim on critters 300 yards away and it seems I had 5-10 inches at times of horizontal movement. I am yote hunting. Had the crosshairs on deer for practice, but I need more practice for that range.
Any tips on shooting tight groups from sticks? What were you tightest groups at what range?
Thanks in advance. Happy holidays LRH&S members!

 

[WildRose]

Practicing trying to stay steady from a sitting positing on the floor while using shooting sticks at the house.
In the field this am and left to right movement was considerable. I was in a shooting house, in a chair, with rifle out the window using bog-pod tripod shooting sticks. I tried to steady my aim on critters 300 yards away and it seems I had 5-10 inches at times of horizontal movement. I am yote hunting. Had the crosshairs on deer for practice, but I need more practice for that range.
Any tips on shooting tight groups from sticks? What were you tightest groups at what range?
Thanks in advance. Happy holidays LRH&S members!

First off don't try to shoot groups that way, it will just frustrate the hell out of you.

Field shooting is all about making one goo dcold bore shot and connecting solidly with it.

When you are shooting from an unsteady position your technique has to change just like it does on a moving target.

What I do is to, rather than getting steady, move my cross hair intentionally slowly timing my trigger pull such that it fires when I'm on my aim point.

This technique was developed out of necessity because I've had so may serious issues with my left shoulder and arm over the years that unless I'm shooting prone off of bags or a bipod I simply can't get as steady as I need to for those "perfect shots".

Add to that high blood pressure causing me even when otherwise steady to jump as much as 6-12" from my aim point even when shooting from a good "steady position" and I've just had to adapt and make do with what I have.

This pretty much goes against conventional wisdom in many ways but I keep filling the freezer year after year practicing it.

 

[kimberyote]

Sounds like the same method that silhouette shooters apply. Just time the crosshair. Never thought of that. Thank you.

 

[Rimfire]

Practicing trying to stay steady from a sitting positing on the floor while using shooting sticks at the house.
In the field this am and left to right movement was considerable. I was in a shooting house, in a chair, with rifle out the window using bog-pod tripod shooting sticks. I tried to steady my aim on critters 300 yards away and it seems I had 5-10 inches at times of horizontal movement. I am yote hunting. Had the crosshairs on deer for practice, but I need more practice for that range.
Any tips on shooting tight groups from sticks? What were you tightest groups at what range?
Thanks in advance. Happy holidays LRH&S members!

It comes with years of practice position shooting, or just cheat as much as you can and brace your body against something if possible. If sitting and you don't have anything to nestle your body against, brace your elbows / arms on your crossed legs / knees. After years of small bore position shooting I will scrap sticks for a good sling any day, or use both, sling up and rest on sticks. Either way distance will be limited compared to a good rest or bipod.

 

[7magcreedmoor]

To be steady on sticks, sitting on the ground is better than kneeling. Whenever possible I sit with my right leg out to the side, bent so that I can brace my right elbow (shooting right-handed) on my knee to reduce that annoying side to side wobble. If I can pick a spot to sit where I can lean my back or left shoulder against a solid support like a tree trunk or large rock, that will make it even better. Support sideways beats support to the rear if that's the choice. Side support also allows your body to flow with the recoil, where support from behind traps you, and you take a pounding you don't really need. If I have to go with kneeling or worse yet standing, that side support makes the difference between taking the shot or having to pass it up. At the range, I always take some shots from disadvantaged positions, testing different solutions to these problems, cause you never know just what you'll get into in the field. If you know from practice that it just won't work well enough, you spend your efforts seeking a better location instead of only realizing the problem when the reticle won't stand still. It is also very helpful to practice against the clock, starting in "transport mode" just as you walk in the field. I use my trekking poles as my shooting sticks (double purpose means less gear to carry). You want to be able to get into position pretty fast without a lot of fuss. If always hunting from a stand or hide position, time is not as critical, and you have the luxury of setting up as soon as you get there and being ready throughout the wait, but Mr. Murphy sometimes brings the prey from the "wrong" direction, and re-setting needs to be a proficient skill as well. I don't fuss over groups in this type of practice, because nothing matches the bench anyway. I either hit the kill zone or I don't. For hunting purposes, if I miss more than 1 of 10 attempts at a particular target size/distance setup, then I probably won't shoot an animal in those conditions. Misses are a fact of life, but I'd rather have as many of mine as possible during practice.

 

[kimberyote]

Very cool stuff. Thank you.

 

[sscoyote]

Get yourself a soft-sided stadium seat and cover it with burlap as seen below--reattach the side straps as close as possible to the seat itself to obtain the most back support possible...then shoot your groups and see if it doesn't give you the most accuracy possible from the sitting position. It did for me and others who use it. While you're at it attach another snap to the end of the side straps to carry around your waist hands-free-

 

[daniel brothers]

Here is the ONLY way that I sit with sticks... unless I use the prone bipod... but this system has worked very well for me for steady long range shots..... ONLY... because I can support both elbows on the back of the chair rail that I made... as I sit in the chair backwards. By sitting backwards, it allows me to rest your elbows on the chair's back rail....plus... if you need to pivot left or right for a different shot, then you only need to lean back and pivot the whole chair system on the one back leg.... and it carries super easy.
I use a stony point shooting sticks... but any sticks will do fine, as long as you can move them with the rifle as you pivot around, and are quick and easy to adjust.

 

[Unofficial Gun Addict (UGA)]

Heya Daniel Brothers... I like your setup, but I'm even more interested in the barrel, scope and butt wrap you are using. Can you fill me in on what exactly you are using there. I'm looking for a non permanent (or) no paint option for camouflaging my stainless steel barrel and I love what you've done with your rifle.

Thanks!

-James

 

[daniel brothers]

Here you go... 8.00 for 4 rolls...it's the best stuff I've ever used because it ONLY sticks to itself... it's NOT sticky or tacky at all. I had my CZ wrapped for two years, and after I just removed it, the stock was as clean and fresh as it was when I put it on.

PowerFlex Value Pack, Leopard, Pack of 4 - Tractor Supply Co.

 

[Unofficial Gun Addict (UGA)]

Here you go... 8.00 for 4 rolls...it's the best stuff I've ever used because it ONLY sticks to itself... it's NOT sticky or tacky at all. I had my CZ wrapped for two years, and after I just removed it, the stock was as clean and fresh as it was when I put it on.

PowerFlex Value Pack, Leopard, Pack of 4 - Tractor Supply Co.

You are "the man" Daniels. I would have never ever thought of horse ankle wrap... And from the looks of it and the description I found on other websites, it's perfect for what I'm thinking. Even comes in woodland camo, zebra and the leopard.

Great idea and I really appreciate your posting back. Big thanks from Idaho!

-James

 

[daniel brothers]

Glad to help out...it comes in white for winter as well.

 

[rooster740]

I have also played with using tall bipod on front and shooting sticks under the butt stock. It is not ideal but amazingly accurate, and tall grass proof! I shoot a football sized gong at 500 yards with shooting sticks a lot, it is easier then you think. A lot of people who think 250 yards is their max range are amazed.... Then easily make the shot themselves!

 

[trueblue]

Stoney point tripod with polecat rear leg kicker.
Took a mulie in '13 @ 841 yds, and 6x6 elk at 620 yds this year using these sticks.
Also, use a sling on the rifle, grab the front of the sling and bipod with the same hand and squeeze alittle. It will add additional support. I use my right knee to support my elbow as well.