Varmint Stake

[Rick in Oregon]

When out shooting prairie dogs, ground squirrels or chucks of one flavor or another, we usually either shoot from a bench or from prone with a bipod. But what if your pet varmint rifle lacks QD studs to attach a bipod, and you don't want to install them because then they'll ruin your bags when bench shooting. What to do (besides use cross-sticks)?

Enter a new thingie I whipped up this week, a thingie I call a "chuck stake", or varmint stake, not to be confused with a varmint steak.....

Anyway, as long as you're not hiking rock bluffs and humping canyons, this is great for my Cooper rifles when out for rock chucks, as none of them have QD studs or sling swivels of any kind. The basic unit:



The end that meets terra firma and the adjustable height, padded rifle cradle:



"Wicked Wanda", my pet Cooper 204 Ruger showing off her new widget:



I also like to pack a short set of cross-sticks, but for casual chuck shooting when not covering great distances on local ranches, this baby seems like the hot setup. It's made of steel tubing, all heli-arc'd, with a solid insert from the bottom to 16" up for ridigity. I covered the rifle cradle with clear plastic fuel tubing and a stainless steel adjustment knob from a BMC chopper seat.

The thing cost a total of zip, made from scrap material in the shop. Now time to see if it's worth all I paid for it and go shoot some rock chucks. Film at 11:00.

[Jim White]

Rick...that looks pretty spiffy. I like wood stocks but I just cringe at the thought of dinging one up (although some can be steamed out).

Jim

[wirelessguy2005]

Rick,

Looks like a very nice piece of equipment, i am sure you are going to have guys asking you for them.

[Bodei]

Patent pending?

[ryutzy]

Looks like you had better start selling those Rick.

[Sth Oz Dan]

Fits the niche, looks neat, and doubles as a walking stick when you feel a little fragile

[Geno]

Great idea! I might just make one to use when doing a day call on some jackal!

[Rick in Oregon]

Rick...that looks pretty spiffy. I like wood stocks but I just cringe at the thought of dinging one up (although some can be steamed out).Jim

Jim - Life is too short to hunt with ugly rifles, so if one gets an honest hunting ding, so be it. They all get steamed out later if/when needed. But when I'm humping rock bluffs in canyon country, you can bet I'm packing a synthetic stocked stick for that country. But for my local, casual rock chuck shooting, my wood stocked Coopers are in no danger of getting chewed up by the lava rocks here.....they get babied purty good......hence the padded rifle cradle.

Rick, Looks like a very nice piece of equipment, i am sure you are going to have guys asking you for them.

Well Brad, don't think I want to get back into that game again. Ten years of the BR Pivot was enough. But......if enough people wanted them, I'd be glad to ship to you!



Seriously though, it makes for a great DIY project, and I thought others might want to whip up something similar.

[wirelessguy2005]

Rick,

If people are interested in buying them and you are willing to make them I would be happy to post them up for sale on our website. Let me know if i can be of service.

Brad

[Jim White]

Jim - Life is too short to hunt with ugly rifles, so if one gets an honest hunting ding, so be it. They all get steamed out later if/when needed. But when I'm humping rock bluffs in canyon country, you can bet I'm packing a synthetic stocked stick for that country. But for my local, casual rock chuck shooting, my wood stocked Coopers are in no danger of getting chewed up by the lava rocks here.....they get babied purty good......hence the padded rifle cradle.

Rick...dings & divits, thats just added character. Heavy gouges and scratchs like the ones I vision would take a "lot" of steam to get those out.

Jim

[Sidewinderwa]

Rick, that looks pretty slick. Nice job!

[WaltherP99]

How much did you say you were charging RIO???

[Rick in Oregon]

How much did you say you were charging RIO???

Hummm......how much do you wanna pay?

Seriously though, this is a perfect 'garage project' for anyone who lacks QD studs for whatever reason on their pet varminter. Heck, it's so easy, even a liberal could make one!



I'm thinking of sending it out to powder coat, get it coated in a desert tan color to blend in with our local desert environment....can't hurt, right?

[WaltherP99]

RIO: Do you have this tall enough to use for a sitting position?

[Rick in Oregon]

RIO: Do you have this tall enough to use for a sitting position?

Yup, works excellent either prone or sitting.