So much of our hunting is done on foot that we need to be able to shoot standing up. Long grass, the lie of the land or simply too much movement to get prone: a solid shooting stick is what turns a hopeful offhand shot into a steady, ethical one.
Modern shooting sticks come as bipods (2 legs), tripods (3 legs), quad sticks (4 legs) and single-leg supports. All of them are quick and quiet to deploy and give you a far steadier platform than shooting freehand.
Bipod, tripod or quad sticks?
Bipods are the lightest and fastest to carry and set up, and they are the traditional choice on the hill. They support the fore-end only, so you still control left-right wobble yourself. The BushWear 2 Leg Telescopic Bipod and the Decoy 94cm bipod are the simple, low-cost end.
Tripods add a third leg for stability in every direction and suit woodland stalking and longer waits where you may hold the rifle on the sticks for some time. The BushWear 3 Leg Tripod, the Primos Trigger Stick range and the BOG Havoc and Death Grip tripods are the popular choices; Trigger Sticks adjust height one-handed with the trigger grip.
Quad sticks support both the fore-end and the butt, so the rifle sits locked in place and you can take your hands off to check the shot through binoculars. They are the steadiest standing rest available and the most popular style we sell, from the BushWear 4 Leg Quad Sticks and Seeland's aluminium 4-leg to the Mjoelner Fenris II and the carbon Viper-Flex Styx and Blaser quad sticks.
What to check before you buy
- Height. Set up, the rest should meet the rifle at your natural standing aim without stooping. Taller shooters should check the maximum height on the product page.
- Weight and material. Carbon is lighter to carry all day and quieter in the cold; aluminium costs less and shrugs off rough handling.
- Feet and yokes. Rubber feet are quiet on rock and hard ground, spikes grip on soft ground. Spare feet and yokes for BushWear, Blaser and Viper-Flex sticks are listed here too.
- Travel and storage. Folding and travel versions such as the Viper-Flex Styx PRO TO GO pack down for flights and smaller vehicles.
Brands in this collection include Viper-Flex, Primos, BOG, Mjoelner, Blaser and BushWear's own sticks. For bipods and bench rests as well as sticks, see rifle rests and shooting sticks; for a stick you can also sit on, see seat sticks.
Related reading: David Tulloch reviews the Primos Trigger Sticks.
