Let’s be honest….accuracy off the sticks

[Russ16]

I sent you the videos. I find quad sticks a lot easier to operate alone than a tripod.

Thanks for the videos. Helpful.

Rudolph optics has two different types a true quad and one that also supports the rifle in similarly but a different design.

The PH previously mentioned here.
https://www.rudolphoptics.com/products/rudolph-ph-shooting-sticks

And the sniper quad.

Rudolph Sniper Quad Shooting Sticks

The Sniper Quad Sticks by Rudolph Optics is taking the long range shooting and hunting market by storm. This technology is allowing seasoned veterans who have shot long range for years to be able to tighten their groups by more than 50%. It allows young kids and people who are new and just...

www.rudolphoptics.com

Interested in any experience between the two.

 

[375Fox]

Thanks for the videos. Helpful.

Rudolph optics has two different types a true quad and one that also supports the rifle in similarly but a different design.

The PH previously mentioned here.
https://www.rudolphoptics.com/products/rudolph-ph-shooting-sticks

And the sniper quad.

Rudolph Sniper Quad Shooting Sticks

The Sniper Quad Sticks by Rudolph Optics is taking the long range shooting and hunting market by storm. This technology is allowing seasoned veterans who have shot long range for years to be able to tighten their groups by more than 50%. It allows young kids and people who are new and just...

www.rudolphoptics.com

Interested in any experience between the two.

I would personally stay away from any model that has a front V. I used that sniper model a limited amount in eastern cape because PH had pair. A flat front like PH model allows you to slide left and right without any tension in the rifle. If you need to adjust any amount for a walking animal on sniper model with V you will put spring tension into the rifle to push left or right and results in less accurate shots. For hunting choose the PH model of the 2 you listed.

 

[Russ16]

That’s a good point. Thank you.

 

[CBeck]

Thanks for the videos. Helpful.

Rudolph optics has two different types a true quad and one that also supports the rifle in similarly but a different design.

The PH previously mentioned here.
https://www.rudolphoptics.com/products/rudolph-ph-shooting-sticks

And the sniper quad.

Rudolph Sniper Quad Shooting Sticks

The Sniper Quad Sticks by Rudolph Optics is taking the long range shooting and hunting market by storm. This technology is allowing seasoned veterans who have shot long range for years to be able to tighten their groups by more than 50%. It allows young kids and people who are new and just...

www.rudolphoptics.com

Interested in any experience between the two.

Obviously, since I started this thread, I don’t have any experience with either, however looking at the sniper version, I would almost think the legs may flex a little more

That said my good friend @PARA45 uses Rudolph perhaps he will chime in

More impulse than anything, but I ordered the 4stablesticks @375Fox suggested though I have no doubt if para45 recommends the Rudolph, they are equally good.

 

[Trogon]

Obviously, since I started this thread, I don’t have any experience with either, however looking at the sniper version, I would almost think the legs may flex a little more

That said my good friend @PARA45 uses Rudolph perhaps he will chime in

More impulse than anything, but I ordered the 4stablesticks @375Fox suggested though I have no doubt if para45 recommends the Rudolph, they are equally good.

You'll be fine with either (I have used both the Rudolph brand and 4stablesticks). The flat rest up front offers better opportunities moving laterally if needed. My 4 stablesticks do collapse to a shorter length and will go with me in my checked luggage next trip.

 

[Tintin]

^ Last night off the Stable Sticks. Minute of Fox, 208 metres.

I like them. Found them easy to get the hang of.

 

[rookhawk]

The “stolen valor“ thread got me thinking about accuracy and lies, “off the sticks”

Of course, shot placement is always important and, of course, in Africa shooting off the sticks is going to be important.

I see a lot of hunters practicing before their trips and stressing immensely over their group size. I think a lot of the nervousness and worry is because of Internet snipers.

I see a lot of gentlemen on this forum, claiming impressive feats with rifles shooting free hand or off sticks.

I practice shooting at a silhouette that has a 6 inch center cut out. On my range at the house which is about 120 yards where my tripod sticks are set up, I’m good for 8 or 9 out of 10 inside that 6 inch inch steel. The others land within 8 inches typically… 4 inches from the bull’s-eye.

Maybe I’m a horrible marksman, I don’t know, but I see a lot of guys claiming they are shooting tiny groups at 100, 200, 300 yards off the sticks.

Now the way I see it a good rifle for hunting purposes is shooting a 1.5” group or thereabouts hopefully less at 100 yards off the bench with a solid rest.

That’s 3 inches at 200 yards off a bench with a solid rest… So, my question is this how many of you are actually shooting those kinds of groups off of sticks? Let’s be honest.

I'm a fairly mediocre shot and I don't shoot long range off sticks for practice. I've had a few long-poke scenarios that warranted a shot and were successful. I had a leica ballistic rangefinding binocular and it did give me the hold overs. Last hour of last day of a safari, pre-purchased non-refundable bag in a safari wilderness area. I killed a bushbuck at 345 yards off sticks, it was as close as I could approach due to lack of cover on the shore of the Zambezi. Same trip, I was waiting for the crew to come with the boat to recover my Hippo when we saw a hyena running past us at 270ish yards heading to bed at 9am, probably coming from some baits we hung. I shot him with a 7x57 off sticks. Everything else off sticks has been 230 yards or closer, usually much closer. The Hyena was struck on the second shot, it just didn't know where to run and I adjusted my hold over in his confusion for a follow up.

I've also chuffed complete chip-shots off sticks that are quite embarrassing because as I stated, I'm a mediocre shot. I'm not sure I could pull off 3" groups at 200 yards off sticks, but I limit myself on most occasions to minute-of-vitals judgment calls. Shooting an Eland off sticks at 300 yards would not be that hard, shooting a Klippy off sticks at 250 yards would be a challenge!

 

[Dhutson]

If you are hunting DG then it isn't about groups. It's about the first shot hitting inside a 6 inch circle. For the second shot shoot meat.

 

[Lancaster]

The “stolen valor“ thread got me thinking about accuracy and lies, “off the sticks”

Of course, shot placement is always important and, of course, in Africa shooting off the sticks is going to be important.

I see a lot of hunters practicing before their trips and stressing immensely over their group size. I think a lot of the nervousness and worry is because of Internet snipers.

I see a lot of gentlemen on this forum, claiming impressive feats with rifles shooting free hand or off sticks.

I practice shooting at a silhouette that has a 6 inch center cut out. On my range at the house which is about 120 yards where my tripod sticks are set up, I’m good for 8 or 9 out of 10 inside that 6 inch inch steel. The others land within 8 inches typically… 4 inches from the bull’s-eye.

Maybe I’m a horrible marksman, I don’t know, but I see a lot of guys claiming they are shooting tiny groups at 100, 200, 300 yards off the sticks.

Now the way I see it a good rifle for hunting purposes is shooting a 1.5” group or thereabouts hopefully less at 100 yards off the bench with a solid rest.

That’s 3 inches at 200 yards off a bench with a solid rest… So, my question is this how many of you are actually shooting those kinds of groups off of sticks? Let’s be honest.

Here in the UK up to the 1990s we deerstalkers used a single stick to take virtually all shots off and rarely shot beyond 125 yards. In the early 90s some bipod sticks appeared and allowed us to consistently shoot a bit further, the late 90s tripods came along and 200 yds odd was achievable.

Around 2005 the first quad sticks appeared and currently I'd say 95% of all standing shots here (and in Europe) are now taken using quads. Many experienced stalkers will consistently take deer out to 300 yds off them. I can shoot 1" groups at 100 yds from them.

When I first hunted PG in Africa I found some of the ranges the PH set his tripod out for too rangey so I took my quad sticks the next time and was much steadier.

I hunted buffalo in Zim last year and was pleasantly surprised to find my PH had a set of quad sticks and said he'd converted quite a few clients from the US to them. I'd also taken my Viperflex Journey sticks (that fold down to go in normal baggage.) The advantage of my sticks over the PH's Stable4sticks is you can shoot off the Viperflex from kneeling (either angled or shortened) and that was useful in the thick bush we were hunting in in the Zambezi Valley. My PH was admiring my sticks but the import costs (from Denmark) were too steep.... so I gifted him my set. He has said since they have had a lot of work.

If you need a quick shot the sticks can be used as a mono or bipod of course.

If you haven't tried quad sticks I'd highly recommend giving them a go.

 

[CBeck]

I'm a fairly mediocre shot and I don't shoot long range off sticks for practice. I've had a few long-poke scenarios that warranted a shot and were successful. I had a leica ballistic rangefinding binocular and it did give me the hold overs. Last hour of last day of a safari, pre-purchased non-refundable bag in a safari wilderness area. I killed a bushbuck at 345 yards off sticks, it was as close as I could approach due to lack of cover on the shore of the Zambezi. Same trip, I was waiting for the crew to come with the boat to recover my Hippo when we saw a hyena running past us at 270ish yards heading to bed at 9am, probably coming from some baits we hung. I shot him with a 7x57 off sticks. Everything else off sticks has been 230 yards or closer, usually much closer. The Hyena was struck on the second shot, it just didn't know where to run and I adjusted my hold over in his confusion for a follow up.

I've also chuffed complete chip-shots off sticks that are quite embarrassing because as I stated, I'm a mediocre shot. I'm not sure I could pull off 3" groups at 200 yards off sticks, but I limit myself on most occasions to minute-of-vitals judgment calls. Shooting an Eland off sticks at 300 yards would not be that hard, shooting a Klippy off sticks at 250 yards would be a challenge!

There has been a lot of good advice and honesty in this thread which I hope will encourage more people….

Reading the forums, its easy to believe everyone is shooting sub moa groups day in, day out, and I just don’t think that’s realistic.

We all should practice, and work at our craft, but not be discouraged by unrealistic expectations!

 

[B0MBOY]

I’ve noticed a zero shift using sticks based on the way the rifle is held, position of the head on the stock (cheek weld), all of which affect the way the rifle recoils and hence the point of impact.
Your mileage may vary, but if you don’t put your rifle on paper using the positions that you plan to shoot while you’re hunting you’re not entirely prepared.

Also depends on how you rest your rifle on the sticks themselves. My practice rifle is not a free floated barrel, and if i brace hard on the sticks my poi shifts drastically as the barrel flexes

 

[BeeMaa]

If you are hunting DG then it isn't about groups. It's about the first shot hitting inside a 6 inch circle. For the second shot shoot meat.

Not true. Shots on crocodile and hippo in the water must be much more accurate than within 6”. More like inside 1” or less at whatever distance the shot is to be taken. And yes, that is sometimes done from shooting sticks. Easily achievable with proper practice.

And to tell you the truth, I’d expect groups less than 2” at 100 yards regardless of what is in the sights.

Success is achieving goals that were thought impossible before trying.