Shooting Sticks and HFT

[NealR]

Hi,

Tried to shoot and HFT course at the club a few weeks ago and came to the realisation
that at 62 and not in the best of health, getting up and down was more taxing than I remembered
and took too much out of me to complete a competitive course.

At the end of the club HFT course, one of the members suggested I use a stick for the final
few shots to enable me to complete the course without falling in a heap through exhaustion.
So I shot the last few targets and managed to knock them all over with the rifle rested on
the sticks.

So I have decided to try HFT with the sticks for support and see how I get on.

Has anyone else made the transition to stick shooting and did it effect your previous, non
stick, scores?

Neal

[Phil Russell]

I assume you mean the 3 sticks tripod rather than a monopod or bipod. I bought a set of sticks, Primos Gen2, a couple of years ago for exactly the same reason as you tried them ... difficulty taking prone shots and getting back up. At first I did not like sticks but kept at it and now like them as life is so much easier for me and they mean I can enjoy the shoot more. They have other advantages too ... no need to grovel in the mud. Disadvantages... more 'wobbly' for shots that I would have taken prone but stability improves with practice. But to your main question: are my scores any better or worse than before? I can't say I have noticed any difference as these days I am at best pretty average.
Cheers, Phil

[billywhizz1]

I bought some sticks a couple of weeks ago,it's transformed my shooting, and I don't have to keep trying to kneel/;lay down and get up. The next tool to get is a third hand that old people use to reach out for things, great for picking up the pull strings for the targets .

[Phil Russell]

I bought some sticks a couple of weeks ago,it's transformed my shooting, and I don't have to keep trying to kneel/;lay down and get up. The next tool to get is a third hand that old people use to reach out for things, great for picking up the pull strings for the targets .

You mean to say you knock some targets over??? I'm impressed. I don't need a third hand myself.
Cheers, Phil

[billywhizz1]

Phil, yes im old and cranky,and yes I managed to down some. At 40 and 50 away.

[wall90]

I use tripod sticks all the time when hunting and my bi-pod if it's dry,and it has improved my returns on the rabbits.

[Dragonboy]

Good advice above. I have all types, best to avoid monopods as you can still wobble. Tend to use bipods and a BOG tripod when hunting. The latter usually with NV / Thermal set ups.

[Phil Russell]

I am willing to be corrected but I think monopods and bipods are not allowed in HFT. Nor are quadpods. (is that a word?)
I suspect this also applies to FT as I believe they are allowing sticks in some areas.
Cheers, Phil

[Dragonboy]

I am willing to be corrected but I think monopods and bipods are not allowed in HFT. Nor are quadpods. (is that a word?)
I suspect this also applies to FT as I believe they are allowing sticks in some areas.
Cheers, Phil

You’re probably right for a formal competition. Unless they allow reasonable adjustments for certain individuals?

[angrybear]

I am willing to be corrected but I think monopods and bipods are not allowed in HFT. Nor are quadpods. (is that a word?)
I suspect this also applies to FT as I believe they are allowing sticks in some areas.
Cheers, Phil

Someone corrected me about that several months ago, apparently there is a class for supported.
Quad sticks is the term I do most of my shooting with them now as they greatly help, but they aren't like shooting off a bench,
there's still movement, a Bog tripod is probably more stable.

[Alan's]

Hi I'm. 75 and got one the Xmas before last not just for the getting up and down but when it was wet as well I shoot hft and ft ith it

[rapidresponse1]

as we get older we look for aids to help us enjoy your shooting

[radar100]

There's an official stick class in the CSFTA Winter league - the rules regarding sticks are in the HFT section here https://csfta.co.uk/csfta-documents
There were a number of sooters who used them in the 24/25 season who probably wouldn't have taken part otherwise so I beleive it's a good idea if this spreads to the wider shooting community.