Quote from: Bill_in_TR on June 14, 2021, 03:19:28 PMWhat exactly is the reason "bucket and sticks" is a popular shooting technique with air rifles? What about a conventional 3P sitting position? What about bum bags? Do people use a bipod with them? I got myself a nice bum bag that I am trying to get used to but I shoot a regular sitting position and the bum bag is just cushioning for my tender tush."What exactly is the reason "bucket and sticks" is a popular shooting technique with air rifles?"The field target "hunter division" shooters often use "bucket and sticks" during matches, however most all shooting supports except tripods aren't allowed. There are other limitations such as a max 16x scope power setting and only "holdover/under aiming" is allowed. The the hunter division doesn't allow any scope adjustments except focusing.For myself, the only reason I started shooting the hunter class matches a couple decades ago was to get some "out of season practice" for hunting squirrels when in season and the "bucket & sticks" method of shooting was very similar to the way I would still hunt squirrels sitting at the base of a tree.AAFTA rules for 2010...........http://www.aafta.org/uploads/1/2/7/6/127666620/2021_aafta_official_field_target_rules-final__2_.pdf
What exactly is the reason "bucket and sticks" is a popular shooting technique with air rifles? What about a conventional 3P sitting position? What about bum bags? Do people use a bipod with them? I got myself a nice bum bag that I am trying to get used to but I shoot a regular sitting position and the bum bag is just cushioning for my tender tush.
I have an old shooting stick around here somewhere. I may give it a try with one of the springers. My experiments shooting my springers from a classic sitting position after shooting them from the bench was not too fruitful. I got drastic changes in the POI and my groups opened up too much. The springers did not like the change of position. By contrast, doing the same switch of positions with my PCPs resulted in no issues at all and was pretty seamless.
Dan,What is your opinion of that Bog Havoc?
Quote from: nced on June 14, 2021, 04:44:21 PMQuote from: Bill_in_TR on June 14, 2021, 03:19:28 PMWhat exactly is the reason "bucket and sticks" is a popular shooting technique with air rifles? What about a conventional 3P sitting position? What about bum bags? Do people use a bipod with them? I got myself a nice bum bag that I am trying to get used to but I shoot a regular sitting position and the bum bag is just cushioning for my tender tush."What exactly is the reason "bucket and sticks" is a popular shooting technique with air rifles?"The field target "hunter division" shooters often use "bucket and sticks" during matches, however most all shooting supports except tripods aren't allowed. There are other limitations such as a max 16x scope power setting and only "holdover/under aiming" is allowed. The the hunter division doesn't allow any scope adjustments except focusing.For myself, the only reason I started shooting the hunter class matches a couple decades ago was to get some "out of season practice" for hunting squirrels when in season and the "bucket & sticks" method of shooting was very similar to the way I would still hunt squirrels sitting at the base of a tree.AAFTA rules for 2010...........http://www.aafta.org/uploads/1/2/7/6/127666620/2021_aafta_official_field_target_rules-final__2_.pdfEd could you please post a picture of the the sticks you use and explain how the gun is supported. Thanks
Dan, I think you will find if you set low enough to get both of your elbows on your knees or tops of your legs you will be able to get very steady with the sticks. Hope this helps!! J.L.
Quote from: whitefox545 on June 14, 2021, 09:24:50 PMDan, I think you will find if you set low enough to get both of your elbows on your knees or tops of your legs you will be able to get very steady with the sticks. Hope this helps!! J.L.Thanks Jeff, I see what you mean. In Ed's picture I see his elbow on his knee.I'm going to have to get a shorter bucket or trim mine down some.
I have a new respect for nced. Shooting off a bucket with sticks is hard. Today, just for giggles, I brought out my .177 Ruger Air Hawk to try out my father's old bucket and my newly acquired Bogg Havoc shooting sticks. I have a UTG 3-9X40AO scope mounted on the Ruger and don't laugh, it's sighted in at 40 yds. (I was shooting the little silhouettes the other day and I had sighted it in at 40. It won't stay there.)At 30 yds its one mil dot hold under and dead on at 40.I enjoyed my morning and discovered that I will need some practice shooting of these sticks sitting on a bucket.Hats off to you Ed.
Quote from: Lt. Dan on June 14, 2021, 12:08:45 PMI have a new respect for nced. Shooting off a bucket with sticks is hard. Today, just for giggles, I brought out my .177 Ruger Air Hawk to try out my father's old bucket and my newly acquired Bogg Havoc shooting sticks. I have a UTG 3-9X40AO scope mounted on the Ruger and don't laugh, it's sighted in at 40 yds. (I was shooting the little silhouettes the other day and I had sighted it in at 40. It won't stay there.)At 30 yds its one mil dot hold under and dead on at 40.I enjoyed my morning and discovered that I will need some practice shooting of these sticks sitting on a bucket.Hats off to you Ed.Looking at the pic of your bucket, you need to lower it. If you look at nced's picture, his bucket is short enough that his elbows rest on his knees.
Quote from: longhunter on June 15, 2021, 11:03:07 AMQuote from: Lt. Dan on June 14, 2021, 12:08:45 PMI have a new respect for nced. Shooting off a bucket with sticks is hard. Today, just for giggles, I brought out my .177 Ruger Air Hawk to try out my father's old bucket and my newly acquired Bogg Havoc shooting sticks. I have a UTG 3-9X40AO scope mounted on the Ruger and don't laugh, it's sighted in at 40 yds. (I was shooting the little silhouettes the other day and I had sighted it in at 40. It won't stay there.)At 30 yds its one mil dot hold under and dead on at 40.I enjoyed my morning and discovered that I will need some practice shooting of these sticks sitting on a bucket.Hats off to you Ed.Looking at the pic of your bucket, you need to lower it. If you look at nced's picture, his bucket is short enough that his elbows rest on his knees.It's also missing arm rests, cup holder and ashtray....
My use is hunting and plinking, not competition…..but is still look for sticks. No bucket, longer crossed sticks able to be adjusted from sitting on the ground to sitting on a tree stump. To weedy out in the boondocks to use prone very often.Sticks aren’t just for springers…..actually, with springers, it’s likely to make much more of a difference when you stop shooting from cross sticks and have to take an off hand shot.Didn’t note down some important data in the picture.1. Believe this practice session was at 22 or 25 yards….normally use 22 yards when it’s raining (has to do wither were I can sit without getting rained on)…..no water drops on this one, so it was more likely 25 yards.2. Also believe them were 3/8” circles. Would have been in the “heading” but I cropped that out.3. Would have been a “low sit”...low enough that elbow would have been on knees (so more bone support rather than muzzle support).Still not all that impressive.fe066e96-7083-4583-a26c-340fa2ca972f by Robert Dean, on FlickrEVEN THEN….I screwed up and shot circle #71 twice though inattention….which by my rules would count as a miss (shooting out of order).