SHOOTING STICK SHOOT-OUT

[@6ixtymiles]

Excellent info, DD... !! Anyone worth their salt in rifle hunting, regardless of game, ultimately arrives at the need for stabilization in the field. That being said, I'm amazed at how many folks don't arrive at that need and simply attempt the standard off-hand/sitting/kneeling options. As a kid I cut my teeth back east, down south, squirrel hunting in the hardwoods. Once I'd migrated from shotguns in my early youth to scoped .22 in my early teens, taking a hand-to-forearm rest on the many available trees was an obvious need in stabilization. Doing so immediately allowed a natural progression from body shots to meat preserving headshots (small game), which also enhanced the sporting experience. I now live out west where it's largely treeless on the plains/desert, or in the mountains where accessing a limbless tree is damn near impossible (predominantly fir/spruce/pinion/juniper); hence the dire need for some type of stabilization while afield. Shooting sticks became the obvious solution, but which one? ...which type? I know I speak for many when I say you've addressed that need very well, DD... and have done so with an excellent, thoroughly pertinent field trial. THIS is just one of the many reasons I subscribed to your channel a couple of years back. Thank You... Keep them rolling... !!

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Thank you for the intelligent and insightful comment. The scenario you described is the exact purpose for which I utilize sticks. In retrospect, I should have done a better job of clarifying WHEN I use sticks. I sometimes forget that half the hunters out there hunt the thick eastern woods where shooting aids aren't necessary, OR hunt from blinds (or over bait) were long hikes don't come into play. I was inundated with letters from people recommending overweight tripods used with quasi-target rifles mounted with huge ARCA rails. I soon realized that these letters came from Texans, who probably hunt from a blind overlooking feeders or baited senderos. Sometimes, I forget that we all hunt differently.

[@grahambamford9073]

Quad sticks are great, if you've never used them give them a go, you will be amazed at the stability. Very handy and practical to use in the field. Some gadgets are trash but I can honestly say quad sticks are fantastic.

[@_Steve_W]

Love how well thought out this video is. Not just your personal opinion but a great comparison!

[@YellowHammer26]

Thanks DD, it's always better seeing how something works instead of being told how it works. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this video 👍👍.

[@mackellyman5642]

Ordered the BOG Death Grip, timely DD, thanks for all you do....

[@paulsimmons5726]

Desert Dog, I've mainly hunted from stands and tripods over the years. I bought a monopod extended model years ago but it's so darned wobbly that I can actually hit much better using my rifle's sling, freestanding. Anyways, I thought the Quad Sticks looked like something I might like to try later this year. I've looked at a number of your videos over the past couple of years and you really do a good, easy to understand, fair assessment of whatever you're discussing with no holds barred. Yep, a set of quad sticks might be on the horizon. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions. Always enjoy when you release new comparison videos. Take care and be well!

[@leifhoklin2681]

I’m a Midwest deer hunter and I often hunt forest land and patches of woods bordering agricultural land. I make simple bipod shooting sticks out of wood dowels and heavy rubber bands. They’re very light and durable. Easy to pack in and out when I’m ground hunting.

[@MaxWray111]

I made my first set a couple of months ago, except I used paracord instead of rubber bands, and was amazed at how stable they were. And they cost less than 15 bucks. Now I intend to make a set of quad sticks.

[@richardwatkin1234]

Used most of the shooting sticks over the years definitely quads sticks are the most popular in the UK for deer stalking I been Using viper flex for years best on the market by far 👍keep up the good work DD love the no BS videos

[@shaneboyle9982]

Great video as always keep an eye out for the next 10 vids next week on shooting sticks🍺

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

True.

[@ES44AC-2]

I bought a heavy duty chair bag off Amazon for my Gen 1 Bog Deathgrip Aluminum. I also use a backpack when I take my little folding chair to put both in.

[@pabloco091]

Thanks D Dawg, very educational. I use the trigger stick bipod. I wore one set out and am on my second set, just super lite and so far I've harvested every animal I've thrown down on, none of them being over 150 yrds. I do need to practice with them more, just to get trigger time if nothing else , thanks

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

Thanks for the time that you put in making these videos.

[@seboudog]

Hey DD, excellent test methodology.

[@troygrey3186]

Cheers from Calgary Alberta. Thank you for the content, You have influenced my buying and hunting habits frequently over the years.

[@rolfnilsen6385]

When you said the sticks would not result in as good groupings as when prone - I tought "strange". Then you rigged up for prone shooting with the bipod and I went "aaaahhh". I have shot all my deer "freehand". Most often sitting with both elbows in front of the knees. I held my shot just last weekend at a red deer calf at 230m. I did not have the stability I wanted in my position for that shot. Afterwards I looked around for my old but never used Primos Triggerstick (2nd gen). It sure was much more stable from the seated position with that tripod than just seated. And very much better than prone without any support or bipods. I grew up shooting freehand running wild, shot a lot with all kind of weapons while serving, and have done all my hunting freehand. I am for sure embracing tripods now as I am well past 50 years and have finally seen the light after 40 years of hunting. Great video! Just what I needed during this transition.

[@borkwoof696]

Another advantage of the quad sticks is that you can quickly make them yourself out of wooden rods.

[@majormitchell01]

Great job DD. Excellent presentation.

[@zacktaylor3441]

Great video. Im new to the channel and am floored by how consistently you are putting out great quality content. I grew up taught that in the field you shot offhand/sitting or prone with a sling and if you had time and the grass wasnt too tall you threw down your pack and shot off that. I discovered shooting sticks on my first African hunt. Absolute game changer. Now that Im a dad teaching 3 kids to hunt the shooting sticks are a necessity. I actually prefer the old primos bipod trigger sticks for when im playing bwana for the kids. Not nearly as stable but less likely that we get tangled up and super fast to deploy. Their shots are all close if they are shooting off the sticks so the stability vs complexity thing is important. I cant see being able to flip out quad sticks and then having my 10yo set up on them on a steep rocky hill without some chaos. Thanks again for all your work on these videos

[@paulharding1621]

Great review DD , honest and informative. Good shooting off hand sir. Interesting POI shift with the quad sticks. I have not invested in the types you showed, I use home made tripod, mostly for supporting my field glasses and a walking aid, In my woodland deer stalking here in the UK I tend to use a tree for cover and support when taking a shot.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I'm thinking that I didn't spread the quad sticks out far enough, and the front rest was canting on me. After re-watching the review of the quad sticks (9:30 in the video), I saw what appears to be the problem. I'm still attempting to figure those sticks out.

[@rudedawg5087]

Superb video and a lot of food for thought. I am a senior with health issues and having hunted all my life off hand shooting for me is now none existent particularly squirrel hunting. There never seems to be a tree to prop against when in a hot zone so am now looking at shooting sticks. Your video has given me great insight as what to expect and practice with. I am leaning towards the Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 and find a hot spot with activity, set up then wait; no more stalking for miles at my age.

[@Dalesarty]

They sure have came a long ways over the years. The first one I ever got was a single adjustable pole with a saddle to cradle the fore end. It functioned better as a walking stick then it did a shooting aid. Great review always honest and to the point. Really enjoyed the real world range test.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Yep; in the early 90s I used Bipod shooting sticks for a couple years. 5 minutes at the range and I discovered that I shoot just as good offhand!

[@ShooperDog]

Someday, I hope to be able to shoot a 0.3 MOA from prone and say "meh...not bad." Best that I've been able to do so far is 0.7 sitting at a rock solid bench! Great video! Much better pro/con comparison than any other shooting stick reviews that I've seen.

[@lz3572]

Great video. The information is very useful. I have been using the trigger stick for about 6 years. 250 is the farthest I’ve gotten out to so far. But I find past that I am very shaky. So now looking at the quad sticks. Prone with bypods is still the best. But like you say practice is needed for each system.

[@freddiehendriksz9945]

I enjoy your videos thanks. I hunt off the quad sticks here in the SA "bosveld". As you noted it take some practice to get used to shooting off of them. On gravely sand the feet may slip a bit but if you take care when planting them they work nicely.

[@johnhutcheson8869]

Very good. In May I saw (and used )sticks for the first time in my 75 yrs. They were the quad variety. The first shot was from a steep side slope at game across a drainage significantly above where I was. I am 6'4" and the sticks were already let out as far as they would go ....and I could not get on the game. The PH and tracker stacked flat rocks under the legs until I could get the game in the field of view.

[@johnandrosemarywyatt977]

Thanks for another great review.

[@aga5979]

very informative and learn a lot. Turly a God send while i am looking to buy one.

[@AbesNbacon]

I have a BOG tripod w/ lever locks. Use them of prairie dogs and ground squirrels. Couldn’t ask for much better.

[@av8rbri473]

Jesus that rifle shoots well

[@lukedog7028]

Had to give thumbs up and trial subscription for that effort

[@Alex-gi7sm]

Best shooting stick video on KZbin. Honest review. Thank you !

[@erniestory7223]

I use quad sticks on my pcps English gun laws ,,, no recoil must admit there good very light and a added bonus a walking stick ,,, fantastic video to the point,, thank you

[@bentaylor216]

Being a European (well, British) I do use quad sticks for all my deer hunting and with clients. If you practice with them they provide a very stable and usable platform. We lose much fewer deer with clients using them. I've used them effectively in Africa too. The Viper Flex sticks also pack up into an easily transportable bag. Another great video. Really enjoying you informative and well argued content.

[@archstanton9703]

I wish I had been able to have watched a video like yours before I went hunting. I used Vanguard shooting sticks and would have been better off shooting offhand. The Primos seem like they'd be the fastest to deploy but have read some negative reviews regarding quality. The quad sticks seem like they might be hard to deploy once the adrenaline starts pumping. Speaking of such, how about a video on dealing with buck fever when come across a trophy buck or bull in your sights. Thanks as always for some great videos!

[@james2982]

Great video. As always

[@iantouzel638]

Perfect review. I have the Primos trigger bipod, will change it for the gen 3 in tripod. Wish the V be softer

[@robertboyd3863]

I liked your comments on shooting prone, at 80, my neck makes it impossible, it's not a position I ever used hunting , as brush etc, always made it useless .

[@sherbs58]

Excellent video.

[@BigO4185]

Dog, I have been using the Bog-Pod RLD-3 for many years and they have worked great. I have not missed prey yet. These are just a standard tripod and cost about $90.00

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

A set of those are in this video. I retired them years ago in favor of the Trigger sticks.

[@texaspapa9445]

Thank you so much for the info.

[@cody182005]

Great comparison with some actual measurable results. appreciate your efforts it will deff help people make an educated decision. I have also tried most of these but for me it was to put a small piece of arca plate at the balance point of the rifle. this way i carry one tripod which works for my binos, spotter and rifle and changes quickly between the three. even faster than the saddle plus you loose that weight of the carrying the saddle itself along with the tripod. Cheers!

[@nohandle257]

Very well done. Thank you

[@bobbrown8955]

Right On Desert Dog👍

[@roberttownsend4015]

Thank you for the excellent information; especially the shooting test. I was considering changing from the Primos trigger sticks to a Bog Deathgrip but, doesn’t look like the bulk and weight disadvantages are worth it. I’ll keep using my Trigger sticks. They suit my hunting needs best.,

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Yep; no need to change if you shoot good with the trigger sticks. I would never carry a Death Grip or Heavy ARCA rig in the field.

[@Paul-q3m7k]

As a guide one thing I would say to any hunter is to practice deploying your sticks . Nothing worse than someone fumbling around with sticks when the time comes

[@denisleblanc4506]

Great comparison and fantastic shooting. Interesting to note you could probably shoot 300 yards ethically with most of them but then you're a great shot with a great rifle ammo combination. This video give us good goal for practice. Thanks. I'm wondering if when using the quad sticks if you shouldn't make sure you spread the legs to their limit. This would lock the rest areas for the rifle a little more solidly and prevent the tilting to one side or the other depending where the rifle rests on them.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Yep, I addressed that in a previous comment. Upon re-watching this video, I noticed at 9:30 that the front rest of the quad stick was canting under the rifle weight while I was adjusting the foregrip. I need to be sure to consciously spread the sticks to max in the future. I'm still trying to figure them out.

[@abbeybremner4162]

Hi Mr Dog. I tie a bungee tight below the handles on two walking sticks.(holding them tight parallel). I loop a tight rubber band down low. They are now used as a mono walking stick but can quickly be hinged, breaking the rubber band low and creating a fully adjustable bipod cradle with the two cork handles. After shooting the deer you’ve got two purpose built walking poles to walk back to the hilux. New Zealand!!

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Bipods lack the accuracy I'm looking for. I can shoot offhand almost as well as off a bipod.

[@matdan2s6v]

Great video as was your previous one on slings. Hope you do a follow up on the Quad sticks after you get some more trigger time with them.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I definitely will. I also plan to buy the expensive Blaser carbon quad sticks and see if they are any better. Since this video, I also discovered why my quad sticks were grouping to the right.

[@georgidimitrov4566]

​@@desertdogoutdoors1113 and what was the reason (for grouping to the right) finally ? P.S. Great content (as usual) in your videos

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

@@georgidimitrov4566 I wasn't spreading the sticks out far enough, and the front cradle was canting under recoil.

[@georgidimitrov4566]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 Thank you for the reply. Try Mjolner Hunting quad sticks- they have this problem fixed. I bought them about month ago and managed to get consistently under 2 MOA groups with them (while I shoot consistently under 1 MOA groups prone or bench rest)

[@mariusgoosen2899]

Great video! Have you ever found that the death grip change the point of impact due to interference of the rifles natural movement during recoil? Is there a specific area where you would be looking to clamp the rifle to possibly negate this?

[@boskoromanic7425]

Nice video sir👍

[@lddtyrone]

Very honest review

[@phild9813]

For my type of hunting in the mountains, most sticks are too heavy for my liking. There are a couple companies that produce a small apparatus that attaches two trekking poles together. Reduces redundancy as I have those already for longer pulls and packing meat. I have a set of Primos and Bog sticks for when I’m not working as hard though. Thanks for the great video!

[@phild9813]

I’ll probably get a Bog death grip type system as I start hunting more with the kids though.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

For long mountain hikes, I have a short Carbon Fiber tripod I carry in my pack to glass with, and can put a rifle mount on the ball-head for shooting from the sitting position. The whole set-up (tripod, head, mount) is 3 pounds. I'll cover glassing set-ups in a future video this spring.

[@phild9813]

My most frequently used shooting position by far over the last decade has been sitting with a set of 2 post sticks. I have usually used some sort of brush to sneak up on game and end up in shin to thigh deep brush. I’ve found I can shoot nearly MOA out to 300 yards in this sitting position on sticks. I’ve practiced a lot in this position, and that’s probably the key with any of these systems.

[@jonathankohl6264]

Do you know if you can change the legs on the primos trigger stick?

[@Geir-ChristianGullholm]

Hi! Follow tp.Have u tried any of the saddles primos make? Great video! I pick up a few things from them!

[@JBDRLSOARK]

I don’t like peon position for shooting anymore either it was my favorite in younger days. Thanks for all the good video you do.

[@gordyowens9570]

Great vidio.

[@tomstuart5573]

What are your thoughts on the simpler wooden sticks like the ones from African Sporting Creations? I like mine, they’re reasonably light but still stable enough to be a big advantage over offhand. I believe they have a newer model that are a tripod with a rear support as well, haven’t tried them though.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I own a set of their 2-piece breakdown sticks. They are great for standing on flat ground, but their utility really diminishes after that. The trigger sticks are a huge upgrade IMO; so fast to adjust between standing, kneeling, sitting, and hillsides. And the removable head makes it easy to use the sticks for glasssing.

[@Kevin55acp]

Excellent, excellent review. For what it's worth, the new Primos Apex Trigger Stick might be the best compromise (although not reviewed). It's a saddle type tripod with the quick adjustment ability of a trigger stick. Your thoughts?

[@rayzar6720]

My wife needed a camera tripod so I bought her the primos gen3. I borrow it when I go hunting 😁

[@erniestory7223]

Me to lol

[@brianlee6849]

As always very thorough and comprehensive. But to be honest I think a shooting sling is far superior and faster probably get just as good if not better groups. I can carry with the slang already attached to my arm quickly and accurately make an offhand shot also very quickly assume a prone or sitting position for even better accuracy and stability. I think with practice anybody could be faster and just as accurate with a sling. Let me know what you think? Thank you

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

A shooting sling or "Hasty" method will NEVER achieve close to the accuracy that can be achieved with a tripod. We still use sling support in NRA competitions, because bipods and tripods are against the rules. The benefits of sling support are just marginally better than off-hand. This is why in competitions that allow bipods/tripods, nobody who scores good would ever use a hasty sling.

[@brianlee6849]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 I wasn't really meaning a hasty sling. I was talking about a real shooting sling but without the jacket or cinched up super tight loose enough not to cut off the blood in your arm but tight enough to have good support. When I was younger living in Alaska I used to practice at 300 yards prone and sitting with a shooting sling and I could consistently shoot three to five inch groups at 300 yards. I never shopped beyond 300 because I don't hunt beyond 300. Offhand my groups would be about double my sitting or prone groups. I think the majority of shooters have forgotten about the shooting slang and never use it or practice with it . Thank you 👍

[@hillbillyscholar8126]

What caliber was the test rifle? I don't think you mentioned it here but I think it was mentioned in a previous video as a 7mm-08? Nice shooting from all angles either way. Thank you for the comparisons!

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Caliber = 6.5mm

[@cacinaz8802]

DD, thanks for this review. If you think it hurts now to get into the prone position, wait until you get to be my age LOL. I would need help getting back up. This is the reason why hunters use these sticks - so they don't need to get onto their belly. I recently bought the swagger sticks but haven't tried them out yet. One advantage (so they claim) is their flexibility to maneuver and swivel both from a sitting or standing position. Was hoping you would include them, but no biggie. Great control group (prone) with that rifle. Did you mention the caliber? Also seems about 2 pounds heavier than optimal at 11 lbs.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I think I mentioned in the video that I went with a heavier rifle for the test to 1) see how well the Saddle on the Death Grip could hold the rifle, and 2) challenge the stability of the lighter sticks to handle a heavier rifle (lighter rifles are usually easier to shoot from sticks).

[@cacinaz8802]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 Yes. You did. My bad.

[@clementbernard9943]

I’m using quad sticks (brand 4stable sticks) for years now in my hunts. And I’ve to say, I love them, they’re pretty lightweight, quick to operate, and pretty accurate for my distance shooting (100 yd max). But they’re pretty weak (standard version I do not give a try to carbon fiber version…) Perhaps I should try the brand you are showing. Do you think this quad stick is durable? Kind regards from south of France!

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I have not found a tripod/quad stick that I'd be willing to carry on an all-day hike, that is super-durable. Durability adds weight; and weight means I won't carry it. I'm thinking of buying the Blaser Carbon sticks to see if the quality matches the price.

[@clementbernard9943]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 thank you for your answer sir 👍🏻. If you purchase the blaser I hope you’ll male a review of it. Kind regards

[@cacinaz8802]

DD I watched this again because I have a hunt coming up and want to get one of these gizmos. This may be a hair brained idea (and I am bald no less) but what do you think of the idea of getting a mono shooting stick for the butt of the stock and the trigger sticks for the fore end? Maybe too unstable?

[@brandonhovda4290]

Would the quad sticks work in steep uneven terrain?

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Yes, in the uphill and downhill direction quad sticks are much easier to deal with than tripods (due to only two points on the ground). But, shooting parallel to the slope is a challenge with any shooting sticks and would be difficult with the quad sticks.

[@kellyhill2410]

I prefer a arca rail system. Really right stuff makes a good tripod that you can clip your optics to and then clip your rifle to with an integrated rail or rail attachment like AREA 419’s rail

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Other than the occasional predator hunt, those systems don't suite most hunters well. I do a ton of walking, and those 2-pound quad sticks, that I can get into in 2 seconds, are more my style.

[@kellyhill2410]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 that’s a good point. Still haven’t done a safari style hunt or spot and stalk hunt yet

[@jimmyt4179]

MAKE YOUR OWN WITH WOOD DOWELS AND A PRUSIK KNOT. BEEN USING THEM FOR YEARS. ADJUSTABLE AND CHEAP TO MAKE

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

I watch a lot of handicap hunters using tripods with motors. Even have a button to fire it.

[@larslarsheim1741]

If I shoot prone it means I fell down

[@iancurrie8844]

learning how to shoot properly from field positions and not just practicing from a bench at the range: Weight 0oz. Cost $0. Setup time 0 seconds.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

That is how about 50% of my hunts are conducted. But if hiking distances are shorter, I'd much rather shoot with sticks while standing, vs offhand standing. In most of the places I hunt, ground cover prevents prone or sitting. I consider practicing off the sticks as practicing from "field positions".

[@WillyK51]

Kind of akward carrying such sticks along with your rifle when stalking, and in cover unless you hire a porter, if you have plenty time to settle down and arange them for open long range shooting before your game walks away, ok.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Not really. I carry my rifle on a sling, and often use sticks as a walking stick. I've walked all day with sticks in my hand, and like to use them to stabilize my binos as well. On backpack trips, I don't take any sticks. But for a typical spot & stalk, they are perfect.

[@nigelman3001]

Excellent video.