Sticks

[76thirty]

I’ve just started using quad sticks after using my mates a few times, but cumbersome to use the first couple of times but as with anything it gets easier with practice, I used a cheap tripod my mate gave me before that and it was ok but struggled on anything past 100yds

 

[jcampbellsmith]

The two biggest leaps forward in my stalking career have been the use of moderators and quad sticks. My quad sticks are by a mile the best investment that I have made in stalking equipment. Here's a regularly shown photo of an older Forum member doing his shooting test with my sticks. At close ranges they can be used as twin sticks and on a rare occasion at very short range they have been quickly used as a single stick.

Best regards

JCS

 

[opticron1]

Another late convert! Have used a bipod on the hill for reds for a few years and will continue to do so, but having used quad sticks for Roe, I realise how much more stable they are and really handy with high grasses/undergrowth. Being a bit of a skinflint, I am presently expecting to win my own set from those nice people at The Lucky Hunter......or Limulus in the SD draw...... or I might actually have to buy some.....or make some.....

 

[Foxyboy43]

Way to go! Fox with triple deuce and Pard 008p off B&Q‘s super de luxe model only recently - 317 yards - dead! Used them since forever at rabbits (.17) through to Reds (6.5x55SE and .308) with great effect. Go make them - there are threads on this site showing you how.

 

[rem284]

Quad sticks are as steady as a bipod. I seldom use the bipod and often leave it in the pickup. Like anything else you need to do a bit of practice with them. I just use the green garden cane homemade concoction. I cut to length, glue the tops back on, hold them together with bike innertube and stop them spreading too much with a bit of paracord held on with self amalgamating tape. No bolt holes so water doesn't get in. I wouldn't be without them

 

[Nimrod1960]

Now that IS something I would like to learn how to do

Plenty of utubes on this .
Have some made from metal garden canes, I prefer them to a £100 set I found on Amazon.
But agree with other comments, they can be a faf to deploy in woodland, I have often left the sticks leaning on a tree and used the tree in preference. A lesson there somewhere .

Mind you without the third leg of a stick I would be on my arse a fair bit.

 

[wytonpjs]

I've considered quad sticks which are undoubtedly a more stable platform but, give or take a few degrees, you can only point them in one direction.

Blaser sticks allow you to pan much more that the slot on vipers IMHO which is normally enough for those that run and fatally pause.

 

[wabbit warren]

there is a bit of a technique in using them ive found
rest the rear stick across your chest if you can so your standing under it a bit
this makes it more stable for the only movement is up and down
better still if you've got a tree or wall behind you push your back up against it then get the rear stick across your cest
NO MOVEMENT AT ALL
but just remember your breathing just like shooting off a bi pod

my sticks have a 4" wide front rest so you can pan a fare amount
by using a thermal to spot with and aligning something on the sky line you can normally find your target quickly

 

[25 Sharps]

Watching some modern stalking videos I notice the pros now all use quad sticks. Personally I have always been keen to minimise weight, bulk and equipment, even buying a smaller, lighter if less efficent set of binoculars than my best pair, which give me neckache. I can see the benefit of a single-stick rest (which might also double as a walking stick and obviate the use of a bipod) but carting around four of them, no matter how convenient and carbon-lightweight, is an idea of which I need convincing. Open to persuasion/enlightenment as always. Appreciate any views on offer or recommendations, thanks

If your first sentence doesn’t convince you then you are probably not going to be convinced.

I use quads, they are not heavy and no more cumbersome than a single stick, also allow shooting to longer ranges as rock steady. Last 2 fallow buck I shot were 230 and 320 yards, I wouldn’t do this off of any rest other than a pod or quads.

 

[25 Sharps]

I've been using a Primos Trigger stick for about 3 years for foxing. Its light and quiet, BUT its taken me a lot of practice to be able to keep a steady bead on a rabbit or a fox at distance over 100 yds. I've considered quad sticks which are undoubtedly a more stable platform but, give or take a few degrees, you can only point them in one direction.

Unless you are shooting in heavy undergrowth you just pick up one of the sides off the floor and pivot on the other to pan. I have shot a lot of animals off of quads, never an issue if they are moving just pan, wait until they stop, drop the other side and squeeze. Rabbits is the perfect way to practice to be honest!

 

[25 Sharps]

Way to go! Fox with triple deuce and Pard 008p off B&Q‘s super de luxe model only recently - 317 yards - dead! Used them since forever at rabbits (.17) through to Reds (6.5x55SE and .308) with great effect. Go make them - there are threads on this site showing you how.

View attachment 269649

I’m going to run a book on how many times you post this photo before Christmas

 

[25 Sharps]

Sticks................ some of the prices being spent on these things is ridiculous. £400 for some real fancy ones, but the general ball park is £250 to £300.
When I started there were none for sale. You made your own, and learnt to shoot with one or two sticks, or neither in some cases.

I now carry the latest generation trigger sticks for clients, if they dont have their own. I would guess about 80% of the people I take out have sticks, although some turn up having forgotten to bring them.
Out of that number many have quad sticks. I would anticipate that 70% dont know how to deploy them quickly and silently. I hate to think how many opportunities were lost by people waving the sticks about and rifle in the air, whilst trying to set themselves up with a group of Fallow in late winter staring at you for a second.
NOT a chance.
People need to practice shooting free hand at 40 to 60 yds. Most cant, or wont, and prefer to try and set sticks up. In deep woodland with deer at close range, its a waste of time. Their gone.

If your going to use quad sticks learn to use them, and set them up. Practice, but more than that practice without sticks for close range work. I find they are fine for shooting over a distance of over 60 yds and out to over 100yds, or standing and waiting for a deer to move through. But stalking in woodland, especially for Fallow or Sika, and trying to deploy them without all the palaver of setting them up...................................No for the vast majority.

Sounds like they all need to just get out and shoot more!!

 

[Bowland blades]

Quad are undoubtedly the most stable from standing , you can even add another bit and actually sit your rifle alone in them !
that said they aint as fast as off hand or kneeling and you cannot follow a moving target very easily and neither can you drop them down as you can some tripod sticks . I like the drop down facility as i can sit down and wait a while instead of walk, walk, walk all the time .
I know folks who use single sticks , quad sticks, twin sticks and have used them all myself . One must just settle on what suits them best and that can be venue and plan depending

 

[Foxyboy43]

I’m going to run a book on how many times you post this photo before Christmas

I’ll have a pony on more than 20!

 

[Tregullon]

Monkey Sticks !!

Right, Ive been meaning to post this for a while! What follows is a step-by-step guide of how to make the most stable shooting sticks you will ever use for about £10 !! Firstly, get down to a DIY type garden centre and purchase 4 of their 1.8m plastic coated garden canes (which are actually...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

I use the rubber grommets that go in the holes of metal 3 pin socket back boxes instead of elastic, bicycle inner tubes or whatever else has been used in the past. Use what you like but there's no need to drill holes in anything.
I also put heat shrink uver over the tops of each cane to protect my rifles. I have shot hundreds of deer off them them. Cost less than £15 to make.

Impressive. Not sure about my ability to follow instructions mind

 

[stevenedwards]

just put a rifle up on a set with a fifth leg to give your self a real dilemma, more messing about but more stability. Then of course you could get a Rekon tripod with a good clamp. Just look into the cost of them and the sticks will look a lot more reasonable. Then buy some of Tony's [ limulus ] nice quads made of real wood. As many experienced contributors have said practice is the thing.

 

[dpaterson]

Watching some modern stalking videos I notice the pros now all use quad sticks. Personally I have always been keen to minimise weight, bulk and equipment, even buying a smaller, lighter if less efficent set of binoculars than my best pair, which give me neckache. I can see the benefit of a single-stick rest (which might also double as a walking stick and obviate the use of a bipod) but carting around four of them, no matter how convenient and carbon-lightweight, is an idea of which I need convincing. Open to persuasion/enlightenment as always. Appreciate any views on offer or recommendations, thanks

I used to be a single stick fan, for over a decade, and shot hundreds of deer off them. Then was kindly given a set of homemade quad sticks and I’ve never looked back! Far steadier, gives me greater confidence and you can always deploy them as if they were a pair of sticks if you’re short on time. I now use 4stable sticks which were £75 (on offer) from uttings. Not bulky in my hands, not heavy and a great platform to shoot from. Try quads, even if you’re not a total convert you’ll find them useful it many situations.

 

[DavyG]

I’ll have a pony on more than 20!

You’re still about 18” over the top…!!! Wait a minute, that was the one @ 408yds. Holdover req’d…
DG

 

[Foxyboy43]

You’re still about 18” over the top…!!! Wait a minute, that was the one @ 408yds. Holdover req’d…
DG

How very dare you sir! It was 317 yards with 50gns of Hirnady’s finest out of the sainted triple deuce - why I might even send you the video. Signed copies are available….

 

[NullMac]

Don’t believe them ! Buy some, try ‘em if you don’t like them then sell them quick. Won’t cost very much that way.

My bet is you don’t sell them.

The pro’s use them because they can shoot better off them and get more deer