Shooting sticks are something you see used by outfitters for youth turkey hunts and utilized by the guy manning the spotting scope, but do you really need them? The reality is, there are numerous good reasons to own shooting sticks. If you’re going to do it, you should do it right. The Primos Trigger Tall Tripod Shooting Sticks are ideal for a variety of uses. I’m going to tell you why you should run your gun-shooting self out to get some.
Shooting sticks
At their simplest, shooting sticks are upright supports of varying height for firearms. Shooting sticks can have one, two, or three legs—sometimes you even see four—and the upper end where the gun rests can be basic or somewhat elaborate. The first time I used shooting sticks was indeed for a youth turkey hunt. After tossing them in the truck for my daughter, I promptly forgot to carry them along. Guess whose back became a shooting rest? All I’m saying is, don’t just own shooting sticks, make sure you use them (and don’t accidentally leave them in the truck). Today, the sticks I keep in my truck so they’re always ready are the Primos Trigger Tall Tripod model. They offer enough features and settings, they manage to fit just about whatever I’m doing, and whoever is using them.
Use
I know what you’re thinking, it’s self-explanatory. However, there’s more to shooting sticks than steadying a shotgun when you’re sitting against a tree for hours waiting on a strutting tom (or a rutting buck). Yes, shooting sticks are fantastic for hunting. I use them for everything from coyotes to turkeys to feral hogs, and for hunting with long guns and handguns, too. I also drag out my shooting sticks to steady my camera for work-related images (yes, including this specific set).
Here’s a quick rundown of things you can use shooting sticks for:
- Hunting with long guns
- Long-range shooting
- Precision shooting
- Spotting scopes
- Scanning fields with thermal
- Camera stand
- Handgun hunting seated, kneeling, or standing
The Details of the Primos Trigger Tall Tripod Shooting Sticks
Before getting my hands on the Primos Trigger Tall Tripod Shooting Sticks, all the models I’d used had one or two legs. That led to a certain lack of stability in some situations. As its name suggests, this Primos model has three impressively sturdy legs. The sticks are mostly matte coyote tan, but the topmost portion—the grip—that supports the trigger and shooting rest is camo patterned.
Height Adjustable
It’s hard to choose a favorite feature, but the fact that this tall model is height adjustable from 24 inches to 62 inches is high on the list. I can quickly change the height by squeezing the trigger and moving the legs as needed. A quick-detach yoke with an integrated locking mechanism is where the barrel of the gun rests, and the parts that come in contact with the firearm are durable enough to last quite a while but not so rough that they might damage the metal of the barrel. The joint of the grip-and-yoke section rotates, making it easy to scan an area as needed.
To improve your grip during use, the grip is ergonomically designed to better fit your hand. The trigger is ribbed for smoother operation, and the uppermost part of the yoke is a grooved rubberized material. A rubber, flexible strap is included to secure the legs together during storage or transport. As for the legs themselves, they’re thick, sturdy, and made from 7075 aluminum for superior strength. At the base of each leg is a plastic cap with rigid teeth to enhance stability on whatever terrain you’re dealing with. The V yoke, designed for use with firearms, can be removed to use items like an aftermarket camera plate and is compatible with 1/4-20- and 3/8-16-inch threaded accessories. That feature makes it work with a lot of gear, including spotting scopes, rangefinders, cameras, and binoculars.
Function
For hunters, the great news is that adjusting the leg height of the Primos Trigger Tall Tripod Shooting Sticks is quiet and easy. It can be done with one hand. Every leg doesn’t have to be the same height (that’s come in useful on more than one occasion on uneven ground). You can spread the legs to their greatest width to drop the overall height—that’s how you get them down to 24 inches, or narrow to get the highest height possible. At their shortest height, these shooting sticks work great when I’m seated against a fence or tree using a bolt-action pistol or shotgun on turkeys. And at their tallest, they’re perfect for ensuring I’m more stable when firing on a sounder of feral hogs with a somewhat bulky thermal on my rifle.
Durable
The trigger is great and hasn’t had any issues with sticking. It’s also worth noting that I’ve lugged these across the country for hunts and long-range use. I’ve used them in everything from -50 Fahrenheit frozen tundra climes to 109-degree sweltering Texas heat. They’ve withstood rain, thunderstorms, dust storms, snow, ice storms, and a lot of general abuse. This set currently lives under the back seat of my four-door Dodge Ram, and it’s still in fantastic condition. Because I hunt multiple properties, I prefer not to leave them in my raised blind during deer season. Odds are decent I’ll end up somewhere else shooting hogs, and I like having my tripod available.
My favorite use for these shooting sticks is handgun hunting. They provide an impressively stable platform for whatever handgun I choose that day. That could be a 1911 with a 5.0-inch barrel or a bolt pistol with a 14.0-inch barrel, and the included yoke works fine with both. Of course, these shooting sticks also work well in pop-up blinds or if you’re deer hunting in the open and don’t have anything to rest your rifle on. And because they weigh less than three pounds, they don’t add a ridiculous amount of weight to your gear.
READ MORE HERE: Meet the Tricer RP – The Most Versatile Lightweight Bipod Yet
Benefits
The answer to whether you truly need shooting is that it depends on the type of shooting you’re doing. However, almost every gun owner can benefit from good shooting sticks at some point. I prefer the Primos tripod. I can adjust them for height, and it’s rigid, which translates to being reliably stable. Many shooting sticks I’ve used bow or bend in odd ways, turning a so-called stable platform into a balancing act. Same goes for less than three legs, although two can be doable, three are better. The times I go for a two-legged set are when I really need to trim weight and size on gear. Sure, you can go prone and break out your backpack for support or hope there’s a handy tree limb. However, isn’t it easier—and smarter—to be prepared?
If I must choose a pro and con, I’d say the pro of these shooting sticks is their fantastic versatility. The con is the size, because if you really do need to condense what you’re carrying, you’re not likely to want to bring these along. But they are well-suited for most scenarios and well-made enough to last for a ridiculous length of time, even if you, like me, are hard on your gear.
Check out the Primos Trigger Tall Tripod Shooting Sticks here.
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