Capt. Fred said:
Do any of you fellows have pics of your shooting sticks. Especially the methods for binding them together, dimensions, etc.
I'm thinking of making a set.
Thanks
i've used modern versions of them a few times, up in alaska. very effective and easy to pack, and they don't weigh you down like a bipod does...
hm.. i'd think, between a half inch and an inch square on the sides for the sticks, and make them long enough to comfortably support you in your chosen using position.
maybe six to eight inches for prone(why bother!), maybe a two to two and a half feet for sitting, and five feet plus for standing.
i reccomend using them from the sitting position. don't make them low enough that you hunch down, your heartbeat will make your sight picture beat up and down. you want your back straight in order to be most comfortable and affect your sight picture the least.
binding can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.
these, sold by the possible shop
use a wooden bit to keep them together. you could easily keep it to leather lacing if you wanted. or you could use a long heavy nail(a heavy nail from home depot will do if a period nail is unavailable) and a pair of washers, then beat the pointy end down into a rivet. if you go that route, then you might want to put some card between the sticks so you don't jam them together while you're making the rivet.
without knowing your height, i'd say about 36" for the sticks is a good starting number. spikes on the bottom don't have to be enourmous, just enough to grip. but be aware they make using the sticks on rock difficult, but they do save the feet from a lot of wear.
hope that helps.