GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: Mebits on August 26, 2010, 08:42:43 PM
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Instead of shooting just from my "bell tower" office perch, I'm thinking that this fall I'm going to get out in the field. That being the case, I'm probably going to want something that I can reliably brace my BC on. Alas, most mono/bi pod shooting sticks have yokes. That's a no-no with a spring gun.
Do any of you guys have any ideas?
BTW, I got myself a shotgun sling to put on the rifle and I'm thinking that I could use that to good effect for making my hold a lot more steady. I haven't tried it yet, but thought I'd mention it. The sling cost me $6 delivered.
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Hey Mebits, I've been shooting reliably at squirrels mostly with the use of a shooting stick for years. In fact I even use it with my deer rifles and consider it essential gear in my bag. For me I do a lot of my actual shooting from a camo folding chair. When squirrel hunting a lot of my shots will be at tree top level or somewhere "up". Those 8,9,10 lb rifles are a bit much for off hand shooting at least for me so I 've learned to sit when practical and prop that rifle on my adjustable length shooting stick. I can pan to practically vertical and hold comfortably for long periods of time. If you are concerned about the yoke on the resting end just modify it with a softer more comfortable material. Something like a foam pad should work. Test your zero and POI when shooting from a stick in case it's shifted from your "normal" hold just to be sure.
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Yoke is no problem. Make a little bean bag out of an old sock. Stuff it tight full of old rags or lightweight plastic "bean" material, then fasten it to the yoke so it won't fall out when you lay it down. If you don't fasten it down you will always be fumbling around with it. I practice with a tall staff made out of bamboo and a small sack pad on a glove or my wrist. A couple of days ago I took some shots off the unpadded yoke of a bipod with my R9. I got a very tight group but it was about an inch higher than shooting off the padded yoke or off my wrist holding the staff. Bipods are great but they limit your angle of fire unless you fiddle around adjusting two legs while you try to watch the squirrel and not drop your rifle all at the same time. I use a bipod if I can predict what elevation my shots are going to be, but I find most of my shooting is done off my staff.
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My springer doesn't mind my shooting sticks I have the tripod kind works great. I do have to keep it back closer to the trigger than up towards the front of the rifle, for better grps.
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Great! Thanks, guys! Any further ideas or tips are, of course, welcome!
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If you have not already found it, check out the Bi-Fur-Pod (http://varmintal.com/abifu.htm)
(http://varmintal.com/sticks.gif)
I made one of these in about 10 minutes using 1/2" square hardwood dowels, then spent a half hour painting it up.... ;D
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I have shot my springer off of a bipod and a tripod with no change in POI. It did not seem to matter where I placed the gun on the sticks. FYI my gun is low powered and has no hold sensitivity however.
I think that Wirenut1212 has a very good point if your gun has hold sensitivity.
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I just bought one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Vanguard-Scout-M62-Gun-Pod/dp/B001LK7YI4/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1 (http://www.amazon.com/Vanguard-Scout-M62-Gun-Pod/dp/B001LK7YI4/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1)
I'm thinking that a bit of donkeyd#ck attached with two lobster bands ought to do the trick.
We'll see!
Thanks guys!