I know that I'm definitely in the minority here re. the necessity of using shooting sticks. First I'd like to ask the proponents if they've ever watched or participated in a high power Metallic Silhouette Match? For the uninitiated it requires off hand shooting at 200, 300 400 and 500 meters. Same question goes for Service Rifle Matches although that discipline requires other positions as well. For more info on off hand shooting check out the following:
https://gundigest.com/more/classic-guns/the-military-sling-for-better-off-hand-shooting
Excellent article on use of a military sling. I'm going to bookmark that one.
I am VERY familiar with the military sling as I regularly compete service rifle. For service rifle matches the first of the 4 courses of fire is 2 sighters and then 10 or 20 shots for record unsupported offhand at 200 yds. I usually score in the 80's for that string; usually higher in the 90's in the remaining three courses of fire which are rapid fire seated/kneeling, rapid fire prone and slow prone. The sling is not allowed in competition for the first offhand phase. I actually don't think it would help me anyway. However the sling helps enormously in the other three positions: seated/kneeling rapid, prone rapid and prone slow. With proper use and lots of practice you can literally hold the rifle nearly as steady as on a bench in those three positions. The sling also changes your point of impact as compared to shooting from a bench. At least it does for me and most other shooters I've observed.
As for shooting sticks: they were
required by my PH who was very clear about this before the hunt. I only took a couple of shots without them if I recall correctly. These shots were from the prone position following a long stalk of Springbok on my stomach at about 100 yards & a quick offhand shot at a charging Warthog at close distance I'd guess 30 yards. My wife always used the sticks.
As I mentioned, I recall all but two shots were taken standing. The distances were 200+ yards and were required by the PH and/or the brush/foliage was high and you had to stand to see above it! See pictures below.
To be clear, it was in the
standing position where we got the most benefit from placing the rifle on the sticks at the rifle's neutral position. We also got benefit if we used a kneeling on two knees position but that never occurred during the hunt - we only practiced that at the range prior to our hunt. If we were in a seated or prone position we got very little benefit from positioning the gun at its neutral position during practice. Those positions are inherently stable and we ultimately concluded positioning the gun on the sticks wherever it was most comfortable was best.
I've run on a bit but I thought I'd clarify.
L to R: tracker, PH with sticks, me. Glassing for game. The brush was sometimes much denser too!
L to R: my wife setting up for a shot, PH supervising.
