Now that the long offseason is here once again. Its time to tackle some projects for the upcoming season. At one time there was someone here making shooting sticks. I could be wrong so please excuse me if i am. But if this person reads this thread please speak up - i would like to purchase a set. I am planning on doing some hunting off the ground this season coming. So i want to start practicing and getting comfortable.

I've made some out of bamboo and also have seen them made from dowel rods. With that said I prefer the store bought variety because they are more versatile in general. If I'm traveling light and expect to be able to sit down to shoot then a set of stony point steady stix fit the bill and they are small and light enough that they are always with me. I also have a bog pod tripod that will allow me to sit shooting or standing. I have some camo netting attached to the bog pod and in a pinch it provides a little breakup cover to sit behind.

The ones on the left I made from 5/8 hardwood dowls and buffalo leather, for my big bore buffalo rifles. The ones on the right I made from 3/8 fiberglass rods, 3/8 rubber gas line and rubber castration bands, all from the local farm store. But I use the bungee corded collapsible style for handguns, they are just more versatile.

The Bog POD with PSR rest is the best, but the rest is not made any more. Look on sites for it.
Stoney Points are next, but in the tripod and not bipod. With the bipod your shooting arm has nothing to rest on so your elbow and forearm are flapping in the breeze.
With the tripod you can get a "short arm extension" that fastens to one leg of the tripod. I rest my mid forearm of my gun hand on it that makes that arm pretty steady (enough for 200-250 yd. shots).

DOC (THE WVHITMAN) IS CORRECT, FOR HANDGUNS TRIPODS ARE PREFERRED OVER BIPODS, AND I ONLY TRY TO USE 3 LEGGED SHOOTING STICKS.

THERE WAS A TOPIC LAST YEAR THAT REALLY GOT INTO SHOOTING STICKS.

EXCEPT FOR THE BEST OF SHOTS (AND AT CLOSER RANGES), IF YOU ARE A HANDGUN HUNTER A GOOD REST IS SOMETHING YOU GOTTA HAVE!!!!!

If I can get into a sitting position I'll take the bi-pod over the tripod every time because they are quicker to get set to the right height and your arms don't flap in the breeze if you use them properly.

When I`am sitting I stick the short bi-pod in front...rest my gun hands on my knees...and rest the barrel in the cross sticks........
Rock steady...PS Gary is correct

James, when you do that, do you use the sand bag on your knees like I saw in your video?

And this technique is demonstrated with shooting sticks (that can also serve as a pretty fair walking stick) in my video: "Handgunning Mule Deer and Pronghorn Antelope."