Struggling Off Sticks

[Brad93]

I'm struggling when shooting off my home made hazel wood sticks.

 

I went out with the bipod tonight, zeroed the gun at 55 yards, and was getting some nice groups, however when I got up on the sticks at the same distance I was shooting well out to the right, grouping the shots 2 inches off the mark.

 

Anyone got any tips? The rifle is. CZ455 varmint barrel .22LR. Tack driver with a steady rest.

[oscarsdad]

Are they the right height? Not bending? Resting the foreend on them not the barrel?

[Kes]

I had to shoot off sticks and initially found it very difficult - you comment 'home-made' is the key.

In making a set of sticks, one leg tends to be in front of the other when the 'v' is made to rest the gun on. I found a tendency for the gun to move away from the first side of the v (nearest the target) and across to the back part of the 'v'. Imagine very large scissors.

The key for me was to have both sides of the 'v' in the same plane. Just like these http://www.bushwear.co.uk/Product/primos-trigger-stick-tall-tripod-gen-2

 

 

If your front stick was on your left, the tendency for the gun to move to the right is hard to prevent. P.S. your stock, not your barrel should be on the sticks.

Edited February 25, 2014 by Kes

[Brad93]

Yep stock is on the sticks. Will bare that in mind thanks guys

[Therealchucknorris]

Have you thought about making your own quad sticks? Not as mobile when changing shooting position once deployed but I've found them to be far better than the bipod style I'd purchased from the shops.

 

Easily done for less than £15 and 30 mins of your time.

[kent]

Yes practice and test different variations on stance. I don't like hard contact ie gun to wood and add a little hi-d foam or the like to prevent this. Few practice enough with all their stances and instead take over 90% of their shots from just one stance (normally rested prone etc)

[Dekers]

I'm struggling when shooting off my home made hazel wood sticks.

 

I went out with the bipod tonight, zeroed the gun at 55 yards, and was getting some nice groups, however when I got up on the sticks at the same distance I was shooting well out to the right, grouping the shots 2 inches off the mark.

 

Anyone got any tips? The rifle is. CZ455 varmint barrel .22LR. Tack driver with a steady rest.

 

So, are you still getting good groups? Are you using subs, a .22lr doesn't usually cause much of an issue, but........

 

I have two different Harris bipods and use all sorts of other support, there is often a difference in the point of delivery supporting the gun in different ways on different surfaces.

Edited February 26, 2014 by Dekers

[mereside]

I use sticks all the time and have never shot off a bipod as my grounds don't require there use.

when using sticks i always stand the sticks forward and pull the sticks back so the points are on an angle.

when the rifle is on the sticks i hook the front swivel in front with my hand gripping the sticks and forearm together i lock out that arm and pull everything in tight with my feet apart and one slightly infront you can also use your forward knee to rest on the sticks this then makes you one and stops nearly all the movement all you should have now is up and down movement from your breathing.

this is were people go wrong concentrating on the shot and hanging on once into the position don't overthink it take your breath and as soon as you settle and the crosshairs come onto the target slowly squeeze the trigger and its job done,atb wayne

Edited February 26, 2014 by mereside

[kent]

 

So, are you still getting good groups? Are you using subs, a .22lr doesn't usually cause much of an issue, but........

 

I have two different Harris bipods and use all sorts of other support, there is often a difference in the point of delivery supporting the gun in different ways on different surfaces.

 

That's a fair point but altering hold to a soft or light hold can make the world of difference to maintain a single common point of impact. Having a common point of impact through mastering the hold required not only makes placement easier it also increases the accuracy level attainable shot to shot, due to repeatability.

Many forget its only 1/30 of a single degree of movement from sear release to the bullet exiting the muzzle to put you approx. a full inch off on a 50 yard target. Put in these terms its amazing we hit anything

[Brad93]

Yep 22 subs. Good groups off the bipod. I use frenchieboys method

Edited February 26, 2014 by Brad93

[kent]

I use sticks all the time and have never shot off a bipod as my grounds don't require there use.

when using sticks i always stand the sticks forward and pull the sticks back so the points are on an angle.

when the rifle is on the sticks i hook the front swivel in front with my hand gripping the sticks and forearm together i lock out that arm and pull everything in tight with my feet apart and one slightly infront you can also use your forward knee to rest on the sticks this then makes you one and stops nearly all the movement all you should have now is up and down movement from your breathing.

this is were people go wrong concentrating on the shot and hanging on once into the position don't overthink it take your breath and as soon as you settle and the crosshairs come onto the target slowly squeeze the trigger and its job done,atb wayne

 

What you are also doing is getting better straighter tracking through the recoil phase. If your sticks were angled away from you with a gun with any significant recoil at all your shots will place high as the sticks and gun recoil backwards raising the muzzle as the point of gun to stick contact actually cams upwards.

[Dougy]

Try attaching a rope to were they join long enough for you to hold or fix the end to your belt and yet still able to stand on it. Push the sticks forward to tighten against the rope you now have a tri pod, very sturdy.

[Gimlet]

Like Kent I pad my sticks. I fix pipe insulation tubing to the first 8" (which includes the pivot point) with cable ties. It reduces the amount of scissor action exerted on the stock, provides padding for the rifle and makes the sticks quieter to carry as it reduces clacking by keeping them slightly apart.

And like Mereside I use the sling to pull the rifle firmly into the crook of the sticks by wrapping it round my wrist and also I pass the sling round the outside of the elbow of my left arm and apply tension to it to steady any swaying motion.

Sounds complicated by the key is to practise and before long you do it in a second without thinking about it. Night shooting with sticks works wonders for technique because you can't see what you're dong so you learn to do it intuitively.

[The Essex Hunter]

I use quad sticks, just the B&G garden canes with one string set to a length...no padding apart from a little insulation tape on the top and a small piece on one stick so I can orientate them. The back set are lower so not to poke me in the face.

Some very slight disadvantages are you cant turn left or right so quickly which on rabbits is helpful, however over all the stability far exceeds any lack of movement.

I have found a little trick of rotating the gun a little to achieve a fine adjustment rather than move the sticks, this combined with the up and down motion can get the round sent when time is not on your side....

 

TEH