![]() The key is open, hospitable country that won’t hurt you to go prone or sit. Prairie dogs to long range antelope or other big game in open country make low to the ground always the best choice. Terrain, vegetation and range drive the decision. Always shoot from the steadiest position from which you can see the target. The closer to the ground the more stability with all shooting sticks. The following three rules always apply with all the best shooting sticks… Rule number one Like most things in life the choices usually come with tradeoffs and they need to be considered. Stability, range, weight, versatility with shooting positions in varied terrain, target acquisition speed and fast sight adjustment on moving game and new targets become critical choices. Now we really need to narrow our mission focus with so many options available for us. Each are offered in many configurations in various lengths from standing to sitting by many manufacturers. Portable shooting sticks such a bipods, tripods and monopods are by far the most popular hunting shooting sticks for short to long range and can support all shooting positions. Really Right Stuff (RRS) offers one of the most popular rifle attached tripods. Some hog hunters use them for these reasons. They’re a great option for stationary positions with there’s little need to quickly change position and weight isn’t a major consideration. The hunter of course then needs to rotate around the tripod and raise or lower their body to adjust for up or down shots and that can spook game. Many have wide panning capabilities even up to 360 degrees. They are very mission specific in hunting situations for basically stationary set ups, but offer extreme stability. They can be set up for sitting to standing even on sloped ground and provide a solid foundation for long range work, but are heavy and not very portable. ![]() Harris and Atlas Bipods are good examples of popular attached bipods.Īttached tripods have become more popular in recent years with competition shooters, military snipers and stationary hunters. They provide a rock solid rest for long range shooting and excel shooting prone. They also can catch on brush and tree branches when you’re moving. Rifle mounted bipods change the rifle’s balance when shooting offhand and you need to practice with them. They’re also slow to get comfortably on target and adjust beyond small incremental movements without stretching out of your natural point of aim or stopping to change the leg lengths. ![]() Uphill shots from flat ground are nearly impossible and the same is true with cross slope and standing setups. The downside is their limited shooting positions in varied terrain. Some have flexible connecting mounts or legs that allow a little leg splaying for some lateral or forward/rearward motion to gain more sight adjustment. The addition of a swivel forearm mount allows some panning and the ability to keep the rifle level. Some models have individual telescoping legs with incremental locking spring pins or lever locks to set the elevation for the immediate terrain. On the plus side, they are always with you attached to your rifle, quick to deploy, lightweight and very stable and durable. Setting up for narrow, comfortable fields of fire and triangulating your body keeps you rock steady. Rifle mounted Bipods used prone or sitting really approximate a tripod’s stability because the shooter becomes the third leg and you’re close to mother earth. They can be rested on fences and rocks, ridgetops and walls or rooftops as common with the military. Some models have telescoping legs or leg extensions to support shooting sitting or even kneeling. Their specialty is long range shooting prone on fairly level terrain without low vegetation. Rifle Mounted Bipods and TripodsĪttached bipods are the most popular rifle mounted rests and have been used for many decades by precision rifle shooters and the military. Let’s consider rifle mounted rests first. Sometimes that calls for a single purpose dedicated rest for each hunt, but often versatile shooting sticks are the ticket. ![]() Hunting is ultimately mission specific so what we hunt and where we hunt dictate what rest or rests work best for us. Put in the time because confidence is half the battle. Next practice in the field duplicating the situations you’re likely to face next season. It’s important to put in range time practicing with any new rest and check for change in point of impact from bench rest or offhand shooting especially at long range. We’re always looking at stability, range, weight, the different shooting positions the rest will support in varied terrain, speed to get on target and how quickly we can adjust our sights to moving game and new targets. Let’s compare the best shooting sticks with rifle mounted rests and look at the tradeoffs and best use for each style specific to hunters. ![]()
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