First decent night out on the Viper flex Styx

[Overlay]

Been looking to get a new set of sticks for a while, and when a SD member put a new set up for sale with a fifth leg thrown in - why not

Out all of last night on a turkey farm with 204 and T ceptor on top and the styx

Moved around all night on foot quite a bit and I’ve got to say they worked faultlessly, I had used em a couple times prior to sitting out but the first real all nighter, with the fifth leg in place they were rock solid just like off a bench and very easy to carry around

I’m getting used to them now so not so much faffing about and no whistling

Anyhow back out this afternoon to check zero on the 22 hornet and my the whistler turned up, had not a murmur last night - my mate kept looking around smiling and said - keep going phil ain’t no dogs answered the call yet

Sooooo the sleeves are now fitted and a test in the garden = no whistle. Perfect

Got to say they are a decent bit of kit, far far better than double or tripod sticks by a long chalk once you get the hang of them - pleased I’ve got them but the foxes weren’t . Some of the shots out to 150 mtrs and rock steady

 

[Andyquadra]

Any quads with a 5th leg take a bit of time to get used to, but once it's practiced, they are solid. Apart from in long grass

 

[CBH Australia]

I used Viper flex in Africa. Quite different as we don't use sticks a lot in Australia.
Some do but you don't seem to see anyone with them. They are in store but I think it's a few that use them and our terrain and shooting style vary

I will be interested in hearing of people's experiences. I am considering them for practice and some of my hunting

 

[Overlay]

Any quads with a 5th leg take a bit of time to get used to, but once it's practiced, they are solid. Apart from in long grass

Hahaha First time I took them out it was like trying to get an octopus sit up straight on a chair, up and down up and down fifth leg goes right instead of left in the long grass and brambles but the more I used them they do sorta grow on you and get easier every time

 

[Andyquadra]

Hahaha First time I took them out it was like trying to get an octopus sit up straight on a chair, up and down up and down fifth leg goes right instead of left in the long grass and brambles but the more I used them they do sorta grow on you and get easier every time

100% I wouldn't be without mine and the trigger sticks haven't been seen since.

I am still slightly like an octopus though

 

[kenbro]

Reminds of the time I walked through a local wood and in the distance I spotted a guy coppicing, as I got closer I saw a deer disappear amongst the trees and the chap I thought was working was actually trying to deploy a set of multitudinous legged sticks!
Ken.

 

[Tugmanade]

Hahaha First time I took them out it was like trying to get an octopus sit up straight on a chair, up and down up and down fifth leg goes right instead of left in the long grass and brambles but the more I used them they do sorta grow on you and get easier every time

Hi Phil

I brought a pair of Blaser quad sticks from Bushwear a year or so ago & have never really tried them in anger, only mess about in the garden then gone back to my tripod. Do you rate them better than a good solid carbon tripod ? also if I brought a 5th leg is it possible to put the rifle on them & not have to hold it while scanning with the thermal. Appreciate what you said about having to persevere with them for a while.

Cheers

Ade

 

[Freeforester]

Any quads with a 5th leg take a bit of time to get used to, but once it's practiced, they are solid. Apart from in long grass

If you use them to line up like a tripod first (lead leg out front then the two pairs together), then take back the rearward legs to support the stock, it works very well, but as with anything, a bit of practice helps. Always used three legged sticks, so used to doing it this way, never could work out the quad sticks somehow, but prefer the totally solid 5 leg step when used in this way. A swivel head like Blaser’s set or some lateral adjustability at the front end is a bit of a must, but for zeroing they’re solid as it gets in the field.

 

[CBH Australia]

I bought 3 legged sticks to practice before going to Africa. In practice it's easy to set them up as rest then sit the rifle on top.

In Africa the PH sets them up making it easy.

I used the Viper Flex over there for stability. Got used to them quickly as we really don't use sticks on Australia. Not in the hunting I had done.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmm.
Five legged sticks always remind me of the Hokeycokey song:-
“ you put your left leg in, your left leg out…..”.

 

[Overlay]

Hi Phil

I brought a pair of Blaser quad sticks from Bushwear a year or so ago & have never really tried them in anger, only mess about in the garden then gone back to my tripod. Do you rate them better than a good solid carbon tripod ? also if I brought a 5th leg is it possible to put the rifle on them & not have to hold it while scanning with the thermal. Appreciate what you said about having to persevere with them for a while.

Cheers

Ade

Hi Ade
I really didn't contemplate having a set as I've always just shot off of a pair of sticks or for the past few years a tripod and the only bipod I own is still in its case unused.
I like to keep things basic and workable, until I was out stalking with a mate in essex and he had a set he made up for himself ( he's very handy sort of guy) any how I was pretty surprised how stable the set up up was he had a stick he carried with his as a mobile fifth leg

That's what planted the seed really, I played around with some bits of wood and they were ok but to be honest they weren't the most accurately built, so I had a look around it was a toss up between the blaser or viper then one of the guys on here a set of viper styx for sale with a fifth leg still in the bag and that was it deed was done

I played around in the garden setting them and used them for checking zero all good on clear ground really impressed on the set up and use, I did however find setting them up in long grass and bramble rather testing and I then started to think about missing a shot because of the faffing about and the horlicks I made of it, I persevered and any problem I had just seemed to melt away with practice and a bit of calm.
The fifth leg really makes a difference and it's like shooting off a bench, the other night I sat out and moved around now and then, when sat I got it all sorted out with rifle on the sticks thermal in the other hand very comfortable all ready to go

The rifle I left on the styx with just a hand on it scanning about with thermal it was all solid as a rock, if you wanted you could leave the rifle on I guess as a stand alone but I like to be ready to rock and roll as easy as possible

Overall finding the shot from thermal to sight was first class and your are already on it and solid, I'm very pleased with mine, with the blasers you have the easy pan system as well.

When these first come out my thoughts was - I'll never have a set of those, tooooo much faffing not enough shooting, put a bit of time and effort in = ease of use and accurate shooting just turns up

I've cured the whistling as well

Good luck with yours mate

Cheers

Phil

 

[Tugmanade]

Hi Ade
I really didn't contemplate having a set as I've always just shot off of a pair of sticks or for the past few years a tripod and the only bipod I own is still in its case unused.
I like to keep things basic and workable, until I was out stalking with a mate in essex and he had a set he made up for himself ( he's very handy sort of guy) any how I was pretty surprised how stable the set up up was he had a stick he carried with his as a mobile fifth leg

That's what planted the seed really, I played around with some bits of wood and they were ok but to be honest they weren't the most accurately built, so I had a look around it was a toss up between the blaser or viper then one of the guys on here a set of viper styx for sale with a fifth leg still in the bag and that was it deed was done

I played around in the garden setting them and used them for checking zero all good on clear ground really impressed on the set up and use, I did however find setting them up in long grass and bramble rather testing and I then started to think about missing a shot because of the faffing about and the horlicks I made of it, I persevered and any problem I had just seemed to melt away with practice and a bit of calm.
The fifth leg really makes a difference and it's like shooting off a bench, the other night I sat out and moved around now and then, when sat I got it all sorted out with rifle on the sticks thermal in the other hand very comfortable all ready to go

The rifle I left on the styx with just a hand on it scanning about with thermal it was all solid as a rock, if you wanted you could leave the rifle on I guess as a stand alone but I like to be ready to rock and roll as easy as possible

Overall finding the shot from thermal to sight was first class and your are already on it and solid, I'm very pleased with mine, with the blasers you have the easy pan system as well.

When these first come out my thoughts was - I'll never have a set of those, tooooo much faffing not enough shooting, put a bit of time and effort in = ease of use and accurate shooting just turns up

I've cured the whistling as well

Good luck with yours mate

Cheers

Phil

Hi Phil

Thanks for that, I only got the Blasers as Bushwear we’re doing them for £100 or just over at the time, I’ll see if anyone is doing the 5th leg in the sales after Christmas (being a tight ar-e) & definitely give it a go. I love the tripod I have, just clamp the rifle in it & job done but like you I tend to move about a bit & it is a bit heavy (manly the ball head). Most of my shooting is done in orchards, marsh or arable so shouldn’t get caught up too much.

Cheers

Ade

 

[SussexSteve]

Wouldn’t be without mine. I use them slightly different to most. I use the narrow end on the front of the rifle and set up as a tripod first which is handy for quick shots and holds the rifle much steadier. If I have time I then pull the rear rest back

 

[Foxyboy43]

Wouldn’t be without mine. I use them slightly different to most. I use the narrow end on the front of the rifle and set up as a tripod first which is handy for quick shots and holds the rifle much steadier. If I have time I then pull the rear rest back

Further proof of the likeness to the Hokeycokey.

 

[DavyG]

Further proof of the likeness to the Hokeycokey.

You’re up early…Hokey pokey?

 

[Foxyboy43]

You’re up early…Hokey pokey?

More like Jiggerypokery Pal!

 

[SussexSteve]

Further proof of the likeness to the Hokeycokey.

Easier than it sounds. Shot a lot of deer off them when I was contracting