colocaller
New member
Here is a set of shooting sticks I made. I had a pair made out of old copper pipe that were real similar, but lost them in the field. They are really easy to make, and quite cheap-right around $10. I included pictures, though it's pretty basic and I don't think anyone would need pics.
I use metal electric tube conduit. 1/2", 10 ft long is $2 at Home Depot (or you can pay an extra dollar at Ace if you want) This stuff is really strong and surprisingly cheap. I cut two 36" lengths with a pipe cutter. I use varmint al's sizing chart.
Then I measure 6 inches down on each tube and drill a 1/4" hole clear through each tube.
I put a curved head screw through both tubes, secured with a knob. It is 1/4", I think the length was 1 5/8", but can't remember for sure. I meant to buy one of these curved head screws that has a square shaft at the end near the head, but was not paying attention, and I think Ace did not carry this kind. It would be preferred. This screw was $.75. Here is what the sticks look like naked:
Here is the knob
We will use these rubber tips eventually. 5/8" fits tightly over the tubes. You definitely want these, they only cost 2.50 or 3 bucks. They improve the grip if you hunt on rocks, etc. Plus they dampen any metal clang sounds if you tap the sticks against rocks, or gun, or whatever. I don't put them on yet.
Then we put some clothes on the sticks. I bought a few rolls of this stuff on clearance, and it only cost $1.50 per roll. I don't know what it would cost if it was not on clearance. It is the camo vet wrap. You could probably just use a colored vet wrap if you wanted. That is always pretty cheap. Or you could paint them. I like this wrap because it dampens sounds also. And it grips the gun well at the rest end. Just wrap the tube and overlap your previous layer.
Since I didn't use a square shaft screw, like the kind on a lawn mower handle, I epoxied my screw to the tube. I would have preferred to use the square kind and file a square hole, but oh well. I just cover the screw head with the wrap.
I like to put the rubber feet over the camo wrap to help keep the wrap from coming unraveled. But, the feet are already really tight to the tube, so you have to stretch a bit, and I leave some wrap extended past the end of the tube like in the pic, so that it doesn't just push the wrap down when I put the foot on.
I put a double layer on the gun rest end. Just cause.
Then I stretch the rubber foot on with out peeling the wrap back. I use a butter knife to keep stuffing the wrap under the feet while I slowly push the feet on the tube. I put feet on all four ends of the tubes.
I use metal electric tube conduit. 1/2", 10 ft long is $2 at Home Depot (or you can pay an extra dollar at Ace if you want) This stuff is really strong and surprisingly cheap. I cut two 36" lengths with a pipe cutter. I use varmint al's sizing chart.
Then I measure 6 inches down on each tube and drill a 1/4" hole clear through each tube.
I put a curved head screw through both tubes, secured with a knob. It is 1/4", I think the length was 1 5/8", but can't remember for sure. I meant to buy one of these curved head screws that has a square shaft at the end near the head, but was not paying attention, and I think Ace did not carry this kind. It would be preferred. This screw was $.75. Here is what the sticks look like naked:
Here is the knob
We will use these rubber tips eventually. 5/8" fits tightly over the tubes. You definitely want these, they only cost 2.50 or 3 bucks. They improve the grip if you hunt on rocks, etc. Plus they dampen any metal clang sounds if you tap the sticks against rocks, or gun, or whatever. I don't put them on yet.
Then we put some clothes on the sticks. I bought a few rolls of this stuff on clearance, and it only cost $1.50 per roll. I don't know what it would cost if it was not on clearance. It is the camo vet wrap. You could probably just use a colored vet wrap if you wanted. That is always pretty cheap. Or you could paint them. I like this wrap because it dampens sounds also. And it grips the gun well at the rest end. Just wrap the tube and overlap your previous layer.
Since I didn't use a square shaft screw, like the kind on a lawn mower handle, I epoxied my screw to the tube. I would have preferred to use the square kind and file a square hole, but oh well. I just cover the screw head with the wrap.
I like to put the rubber feet over the camo wrap to help keep the wrap from coming unraveled. But, the feet are already really tight to the tube, so you have to stretch a bit, and I leave some wrap extended past the end of the tube like in the pic, so that it doesn't just push the wrap down when I put the foot on.
I put a double layer on the gun rest end. Just cause.
Then I stretch the rubber foot on with out peeling the wrap back. I use a butter knife to keep stuffing the wrap under the feet while I slowly push the feet on the tube. I put feet on all four ends of the tubes.