quad sticks or tripod

[Man-o-woods]

If you’d opened the sticks wider they would have been lower.

if only i knew then what i know now "lol"

 

[Man-o-woods]

here are my twin sticks. Good to around 100 for me.

Next are my limulus quads with an alteration to the tips, so the stock sits on straps instead of in the wedge, this allows me to track game using the quads and doesn’t scratch the stock, the front is flat/tight, and the rear is a bit loose to allow the edge of the butt to sit down into the strap a bit - good to 250

I like the idea of making some sticks myself just to see how i get on with them

 

[Foxyboy43]

I like the idea of making some sticks myself just to see how i get on with them

Attaboy!

 

[Man-o-woods]

Well, as you can see, you asked a question on SD and got the usual mix of strong & differing opinions
The thread covered everything from double through triple to quad sticks - strange that no one mentioned a single hazel rod with a thumb grip or fork on top, maybe Klenchblaize is snoozing?
Anyway
What it all suggests is the truth
You have to try some versions out somehow, whether at a shop or with some friends who own different sets of sticks
I love quads, and mine even have the "fifth leg" - which does add to the potential for "faff" right enough
BUT
With practice, something mentioned by several posters, even the five legged variety can become easy to deploy/use and there are few things steadier to shoot off when you get them set up - other than a bench of course
I practice with mine at home, every day, I just get an unloaded rifle set up on them out in the garden if the weather allows, or in the house if the missus allows - and they go with me every time I'm out shooting too of course

Mates of mine swear by the tripods, the good old Primus trigger sticks, and one fella uses nothing but twin gardening canes lashed together, a few others use various types of quads - one flash git has a set, actually two now that he bought the new version, of Blaser sticks with the Sparton stock mount
But we thing we have in common is that we all practice using them
And
We all tried/owned various options before settling on the one we prefer
You probably will too

I must admit that i didn't expect such a great response. Im still reading through them all. Some great replies and good advice.

 

[25 Sharps]

I like the idea of making some sticks myself just to see how i get on with them

All you need is 4 softwood dowels from B&Q, some m4 machine bolts and nylok nuts.

Cut the shorter 2 of the 4 sticks to the heigh of your nose and the longer about 2.5” longer. To get the right height for you.

The screws go through the sticks at 90 degrees to each other, top and bottom. I’ll post some pictures and proper dims tomorrow.

Having your own sticks and getting used to them, even with an air rifle, to include mounting the gun smoothly, is invaluable.

 

[homer]

Quads by far. Very easy to operate and steady as a bipod.

 

[Tony Morgan]

After years of using Primos trigger sticks I've switched to Bushwear quads and even added a 5th leg (courtesy of Kernow Stalker). I wasn't finding the Primos supportive enough for longer shots, and there's no doubt the quads are steadier. They're harder to deploy, but the trade-off with accuracy is worth it.

I looked at the Rekon CTI carbon tripod with saddle clamp (à la Mark Ripley) at the Shooting Show, but am reluctant to spend that sort of money. I also wonder how stable a shot they give; does the friction adjustment of the ball head really steady the rifle enough to equal the stability of quad sticks? I'd hate to spend the money only to be disappointed.

 

[Utectok]

In my view there is a direct trade off between stability and speed. Free hand quickest and wobbliest but at 70m it’s fine right. Bipod rear bag and all very steady and takes a while. I guess speed wise I’d say freehand, trigger sticks then quad sticks then bipod then tripod. Obviously bipod can only be deployed in the right circumstances and tripod gets you higher. I’ve had the lot and bipod and quad win the best combo to carry for normal stalking in terms of speed and stability. Also don’t forget rocks, stumps and trees which many beginners do they can be stable available platforms in the right conditions.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

I like the idea of making some sticks myself just to see how i get on with them

B&Q sticks and Viperflex.
I made my own and after a couple of outings i was converted but doing the hokey cokey tracking an animal was a deal breaker so spent the money on the Vipers and i would spend it again if i lost them.
Don’t let anyone tell you its as easy to track with homemades as it is with Vipers its nonsense lol.

 

[Colonel]

I would not be without my quad sticks. My Viper travel are around 12yrs old now and still going strong, they have been to Africa 3 times now, the last time I head shot a warthog at 307m with them. As with anything practise it essential

 

[Mike1979]

All covered before but my views (for what they are worth).

I have primos trigger sticks and they are quick to deploy and I use them for foxes all the time.

I bought some Viper Flex quads recently for the deer and they are great and give good stability. Im comfortable with chest shots out to 200 yards off them which I would never consider of the primos sticks.

 

[palo]

After years of using Primos trigger sticks I've switched to Bushwear quads and even added a 5th leg (courtesy of Kernow Stalker). I wasn't finding the Primos supportive enough for longer shots, and there's no doubt the quads are steadier. They're harder to deploy, but the trade-off with accuracy is worth it.

I looked at the Rekon CTI carbon tripod with saddle clamp (à la Mark Ripley) at the Shooting Show, but am reluctant to spend that sort of money. I also wonder how stable a shot they give; does the friction adjustment of the ball head really steady the rifle enough to equal the stability of quad sticks? I'd hate to spend the money only to be disappointed.

I have 2 tripods . A lighter weight one and a heavy one. Both with arca clamps.
They are quite good but not as steady as my viperflex with 5th leg .

 

[Muffin man]

Quads for accuracy tripod for static shooting where you leave your gun on them

 

[dunnin21]

I prefer Quad sticks too

 

[old keeper]

I've used a Rekon tripod for years now and found it ideal for static shooting and on steep land. I tried quad sticks, but setting them up in a hurry on steep ground was a real pain.

 

[Bo Diddley]

After years of using Primos trigger sticks I've switched to Bushwear quads and even added a 5th leg (courtesy of Kernow Stalker). I wasn't finding the Primos supportive enough for longer shots, and there's no doubt the quads are steadier. They're harder to deploy, but the trade-off with accuracy is worth it.

I looked at the Rekon CTI carbon tripod with saddle clamp (à la Mark Ripley) at the Shooting Show, but am reluctant to spend that sort of money. I also wonder how stable a shot they give; does the friction adjustment of the ball head really steady the rifle enough to equal the stability of quad sticks? I'd hate to spend the money only to be disappointed.

A tripod and saddle/ball joint in my experience, is not as solid and steady as quad sticks. I use a carbon tripod & saddle for shooting thousands of rats each year, and it's great for that as I'm fairly static most nights moving around the units, and I can leave the rifle clamped in, 50-yard shots max. I never take it foxing or stalking, always prefer the solid front and rear rest points the quads offer. And quads are quicker to deploy than a tripod.
A friend sometimes comes foxing with me. I always end up carrying his Recon tripod about, as it's a handful with a rifle as well for one person.

 

[Jh1986]

I absolutely detested my quadsticks when I first started stalking. I must say that since changing to Habrok and not having to carry way too much, I now think they're brilliant.

I'm often using them as a walking aid in boggy woodland, especially when being careful to be silent. Also great for pushing branches out of the way, as well as resting bins on. After a bit of practice, they're now easy enough to deploy. My ground is very uneven, just adjust the leg span accordingly.

Someone I occasionally stalk with has the trigger sticks. I've yet to see him properly deploy them in anger, but one thing that does always strike me is the hollow noise they make every time he hits them on a branch. They're really loud.

 

[jthyttin]

And quads are quicker to deploy than a tripod.

Depends on tripod and how you use it. My most used way of deployment is "turn your elbow 90 degrees and let go". Way faster than quads.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Depends on tripod and how you use it. My most used way of deployment is "turn your elbow 90 degrees and let go". Way faster than quads.

So I guess you have the legs open all the time and the rifle clamped in the saddle ready to go

 

[Pellet Pinger]

I’ve said it before, sooner or later somone will have a serious accident with one of these tripods/clamp jobbies, the amount of images you see with the rifle just sat there on top with the bolt closed for a moody picture, far too many points of failure for my liking and there’s no way i’d ever let go of a rifle once its up on sticks of any kind.