The New Huntmastersbbs!: Shooting sticks????

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Posted by Z (Member # 303) on September 18, 2004, 09:11 PM:

I have a set of shooting sticks I made and would like to put surgical tubing on the ends with a saddle between the stick ends for my rest.

Anyone know where I can buy the surgical tubing?

Thanks in advance!

Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on September 18, 2004, 10:36 PM:

Give Kent Elastomers a call. Look em up on the web, I dont have the number handy. They will get you anything you want.

Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on September 18, 2004, 11:31 PM:

Rubber fuel line from any auto parts store works better. Stronger and more durable.

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on September 19, 2004, 06:35 AM:

Ditto. I've tried several different types, and my two sets both use fuel line (one 3/8, the other 5/16). Mine are 36-inches long, hinged six inches down from the top, and I recently added half a washer an inch above the bottom of each rod to help stop them from sloooooooooowly sinking into the ground while I call. The only other thing I plan on adding is a small hook on the right-hand leg to hold my pee bottle.

The fuel line is much more firm and stable. Surgical tubing holds the rifle up, but has a lot of bounce.

Posted by Z (Member # 303) on September 19, 2004, 09:56 AM:

Thanks guys, but I am wondering what your sticks are made of. Mine are 1/2 inch wooden dowels.

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on September 19, 2004, 10:13 AM:

My best set is 5/16-inch stainless steel rod, 36-inches long. To build them, lay both flat on your welding table, lay a 5/16-inch hex nut along the same side of both, six inches down from the top end. Tack weld them in place. One face of each nut should be flush with the side of the rod on the table's surface. If you weld them both on the same side of the rod, one can now be flipped over and the nuts match face to face with one another while the rods are in line with one another. Now, attach the two together using a 1/4-inch bolt, a nylock nut, and maybe even put a thin washer between the two nuts to help them swing better and more smoothly. Grind any excess length off the nut and hit it with the welder to tack the nut to the bolt if necessary. Again, we cut a fender washer with a 5-16-inch center hole in half and welded it about an inch above the bottom end of each rod, with the flat side of each washer to the center so that the sticks still fold closed (rods together). This washer acts like the doohickeys on ski poles so that the sticks don't sink into soft soil or sand. 12-14 inch piece of 5/16 fuel line slipped about an inch or two down on each of the two upper ends and you're good to go. Of course, the tubing will be really stiff at first, so work them a bit to break them in and you're good to go. Can't explain it better than that without pics, and I don't have any on hand. Oh, BTW, mine are painted with ultraflat camo paint or taped with camo tape.) Also, trigger hand on the trigger and I place my hand at the swivel juncture but beneath the rifle rest to stabilize them and it works quite well.

Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on September 19, 2004, 10:44 AM:

"The only other thing I plan on adding is a small hook on the right-hand leg to hold my pee bottle."

Lance, you should really try holding it untill the stand is over [Big Grin]

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on September 19, 2004, 06:50 PM:

Oh man, you got me there. Guess I need to proofread a little more closely from now on. [Smile]

Then again, with all the male enhancement ads I keep getting in my e-mail, I guess that pee'ing is all it's good for anymore. [Frown]

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