Quad Sticks

For me keeping it simple is paramount! More and more I find myself cutting down or throwing out the kit I rarely or never use; ‘travel light’ is my motto on any hunting trip. Nevertheless, there are essential items that I would never be without. Forget the rifle ammunition, binoculars and knife, they’re given! But I feel naked without gloves, roe sack and a good set of shooting sticks. The latter are essential, to the extent that I get furious if I leave them at home so I always keep a set in the car. Not only are they essential to steady your rifle when you take aim, but if like me you tend to stalk in steep hilly terrain they help keep you steady on your feet - over rough or boggy terrain too.

Made in Britain

Differing types of sticks come onto the market all the time, often poorly made Far Eastern copies of a European design, but Quad sticks are really different and are made here in Britain. As their name suggests instead of the usual one, two or three legged support, these actually have four – giving two Vs that cradle the rifle front and back. It may sound awkward but is in fact unbelievably steady to use and allows a precise aim from a standing position with the Standard length set, or from kneeling with the shorter Highland set.

They are made from hardwood so instantly feel nice to the touch and have metal fitments for longevity. The legs are 15mm in diameter and secure to each other in pairs 11mm from the top or bottom with a metal bolt. This allows the paired sticks to scissor out to form the V-shape. How much you angle the V determines the height. The Highland set is 1.1 metre tall whilst the Standard are either 1.6, 1.7 or 1.8 metres (to customer’s order) to tailor them to suit each stalker.

With the top and bottom of the shafts secured together there is a elasticated cord that keeps the sticks from flopping open and allows you to splay them to the correct height and then push them apart to form the support. This cradles the forend in the foreword V and the butt in the rear.

Simple and Precise

This incredibly simple idea allows precise aiming. The Standard sticks are great for general stalking where a standing shot is needed, whilst the Highland set are great in Scotland where you spend most of your time on your belly and then gently raising to take the shot. These short ones get you above the heather!

The sticks are light, hard wearing and soon become indispensable to a good days stalking or lying in wait for varmints. They are not height adjustable but you can splay them further apart to adjust height to a degree. Their biggest asset I found was that even if you rested the rifle directly onto the wood surface there was no change in impact for the shot. Usually if you rest a rifle directly onto a hard surface the shots will invariably go high. The Quad Sticks keep your zero because they have a degree of give in their structure, a real asset to get off that perfect shot.

PRICE: £65 per set plus £15 p&p (any size)
CONTACT:  Brown Trout and Co, 01423 709741

FOR - A most practical approach to field support
AGAINST - Not a lot
VERDICT - Well worth a look, as they could add a new dimension to your hunting success