Why use a Shooting Tripod
Over the years, I’ve done a lot of spot and stalk hunting for big game animals. While afield, it didn’t take me long to realize that I was a much better rifle shot when I was using some type of a rest to help steady my rifle compared to when I was shooting kneeling or free hand. Unfortunately, tree branches and fence posts are typically nowhere close to where they need to be when it’s time to pull the trigger. So, since my free hand shots weren’t as accurate as I wanted them to be, I started carrying and using shooting sticks while hunting. In my quest for the sturdiest rest, I went from monopods to bipods to tripods as each additional leg added more stability.
Years ago, when the first BOG Three Red Legged Devil shooting sticks came out, I thought I had the ultimate shooting sticks. In those early years, myself and my kids took many big game animals while using those shooting sticks. Over the years, BOG has made some changes to their three-legged shooting sticks to make them lighter, stronger and easier to deploy. These changes helped make a great product even better and I thought the advancement level had topped out. Well, that was until I started using the BOG Death Grip Shooting Sticks.
BOG Death Grip Tripod – Aluminum: Purchase on Amazon
BOG Death Grip Tripod – Camo (Realtree Escape): Purchase on Amazon
BOG Death Grip Tripod – Carbon Fiber: Purchase on Amazon
BOG Death Grip Tripod – Sherpa: Purchase on Amazon
BOG Death Grip 360 – Chair and Rest combined: Purchase on Amazon
BOG Death Grip Tripod
The Death Grip series of shooting sticks feature a clamping style shooting rest/jaw that with the simple twist of a knob, you can lock down your rifle stock, so it doesn’t move. The tripod is so solid, and the grip of those jaws is so firm, that you can actually take your hands off your rifle and the tripod will stay standing and your rifle won’t move. This allows you to glass, call, check your GPS, phone maps or put your hands in your pockets to warm them up. Although the locking jaws on these shooting sticks is rock solid, they utilize molded rubber that will not damage or mar the stock on your firearm.
The Death Grip unit attaches to the BOG tripods using a special low profile ball head that utilizes two additional locking control knobs. The first knob controls the ball head and allows 360-degree rotation and 180-degree tilt which allows the shooter to position their gun with a solid rest in virtually any shooting situation. The top of the ball head has a set of rails built into it that are designed to hold the Quick Release Arca-Swiss Mount System that holds the jaws of the Death Grip. This mounting system can be slid on and off rails of the ball mount and locked into place with the twist of a locking knob. This same Arca-Swiss Mounting system can be used to hold a spotting scopes and binoculars.
To attach a firearm to the Death Grip, you simply place the stock into the jaws of the Death Gip unit. Once in place, you then tighten up the jaws using the easy to twist knob. After your firearm is locked in place, you can adjust the ball head knob to level, raise or lower firearm to get your cross hairs on target.
The legs of the Death Grip tripods are adjustable for both height and angle of deployment. Twenty degrees angle of deployment is for standing shots, 45 degrees is for kneeling and sitting shots and 85 degrees for prone.
The 85-degree setting allows you to choose a custom angle between 0 and 85 degrees to suit unique situations, such as shooting from a steep hillside.
An interesting fact is that these shooting sticks are not just for shooting. They can also double as a gun rest to hold a firearm in place for mounting a scope. As well, they can act as a third hand hold your gun steady, so you can perform firearm cleaning and maintenance activities.
BOG makes several different models of the Death Grip units including a model that attaches to their Nucleus 360 Ground Blind Chair. Over the past hunting season, I hunted with and tested 4 different Death Grip models. The majority of my testing was done while using a rifle. I also used the units with a muzzleloader and can advise they also work with crossbows.
BOG Death Grip in camo
The Camo Death Grip is a camouflage version of the base level Aluminum Death Grip, only these camo units are available in in Realtree Excape and Mossy Oak Bottomland. These aluminum units are the base/introductory models and are the least expensive models in the lineup. My test unit was in the Realtree Escape pattern and it worked well, especially on a windy day while hunting antlerless mule deer.
These units weigh in at 8lbs 8 ounces and are extremely solid. They use heavy duty aluminum legs that provide great support, even on the windiest of days and can quickly be extended or retracted using nonslip lever locks. These shooting sticks feature push bottom angle of deployment adjustment buttons with a viewing window that show the angle of deployment to make it easy to see what angle has been selected. They also have rubber feet and removable ice spikes.
Given the heavier weight of this unit, they do not have a center post hanging hook for added stability. These shooting sticks are ideal for shooting at the range, participating in precision rifle series competitions, sitting in a ground blind and making long range shots.
BOG Death Grip Sherpa
This unit is the smallest of the Death Grip Units and is a mid priced model. The Death Grip Sherpa is made of carbon fibre and weighs in at a measly 4 lbs 1 oz. This unit is very compact and features twist lock legs for quick and easy height adjustments that lock in place with a simple twist of the locking rings. The legs also feature rubber foot bases for stability and removeable steel spikes for use on ice. Although these units feature press button leg angle adjustments, they do not have indicator windows to show you what angle has been selected.
These units utilize a moveable center post for fine tuning height adjustments. The post is adjusted using a twist lock similar to those on the legs of the unit. The center post can be broken down into two pieces by twisting it apart into a short top section and a longer bottom section. With the bottom section removed, the top portion of the center post can be reinstalled into the shooting sticks. Doing so allows the Sherpa to be used while shooting from a prone position as the Death Grip jaws will be a mere 7 inches off the ground. For long-range standing shots, the center post also has a gear hook on the bottom to hang a backpack from for added stability.
Given its smaller size and light weight, this model is ideal for back country hunting, fly in hunts, spot and stalk adventures and for use in a ground blind.
BOG Death Grip Infinite – Carbon Fiber
The Death Grip Infinite – Carbon Fiber is the top end Death Grip model. It has large diameter carbon fibre legs and weighs in at 6 lbs 8 ounces. The legs feature push button leg angle adjustment buttons with viewing windows. The tripod base has an easy-to-read levelling bubble for quick setup. This model utilizes twist rings for adjusting the legs. It has rubber feet, steel ice picks and a gear hook. In addition, it has a rubber nonslip carrying handle on one leg for ease of carry afield. The rubber handle also helps to keep your hand warm on even the coldest of days.
The carbon fiber construction makes these units light weight and extremely durable. Given their lighter weight and durability, they are perfect for precision rifle competitions, spot and stalk hunts, long range shooting, gun range shooting and for use in a ground blind.
BOG Death Grip 360 – Chair and rest combined
While all the Death Grip models listed above work well for sitting in a deer blind, they often take up room in the blind or can be cumbersome to set up in tight quarters. To make things easier, BOG has introduced the Death Grip 360, which is a blind chair with a built-in shooting rest featuring the Death Grip rest and jaws.
The blind chair is one of BOG’s Nucleus 360 Ground Blind Chairs with a custom fit articulating arm with the same adjustable Death Grip jaw system that is on the tripods. The chair is extremely comfortable, has adjustable legs and spins silently even in temperatures well below zero. The addition of a Death Grip shooting rest system attaches to the chair via a pole system attached to the middle post of the seat chair. The combination is the slickest chair/shooting rest I’ve ever encountered and in my opinion is a game changer for sitting prepared and quiet in a blind.
The system is designed to be left in your blind, so you can come and go with ease. Once you get in the blind and close the door, you simply sit in the chair. At that point, you set your rifle in the Death Grip jaws and swing the arms of the rifle rest system, so you have your rifle pointing downrange in the direction you anticipate shooting. Once in position, you simply tighten up the adjustment knobs and start watching for deer. It can be used by both right and left-handed shooters, simply by spinning the center support pole to the right- or left-hand side of the chair.
With this system, your gun is always with in hands reach. When its shooting time, you may need to slightly adjust your rifle and this is easily done by loosening off the adjustment knob controls, silently repositioning your rifle/rest and tightening down the adjustment knobs so your cross hairs are where they need to be.
The only thing to be aware of when using the Death Grip 360 is that you need to take down your rifle out of the Death Grip jaws while still sitting in the chair. If you don’t and just step out of the chair, the gun will over balance the chair at the entire unit along with your rifle will tip over. I would also recommend for safety purposes, that you unload your gun prior to putting it on and taking it off the shooting rest.
Commonly Asked Questions about using a BOG Tripod
Do these units come with carrying bags?
The Sherpa and the Infinite models come with a carrying bag, while the Camo and Aluminum models do not include a carrying bag. BOG sells separate carrying bags as an accessory. All carry bags are lightly padded to protect the units and not damage other equipment they may come into contact with. The bags include interior straps to hold the units in place, zipper closures, a shoulder strap, handles and a small, zippered side pocket. The bags are tapered and slighter wider on one end to accommodate the jaws of the Death Grip. Simply slip the jaw end into the bag and the leg ends will glide right into place.
How long does it take to set up a tripod?
These tripods can be extended in seconds in case you need to make a quick shot. On even ground, all the legs can be extended to the same length. On angled terrain, you may need to take a little longer adjusting the legs to various lengths to achieve a level shooting rest and this process will add a little extra time to the deployment time. Even if you don’t get the unit set up perfectly level in these uneven terrain shooting conditions, remember that the rotating ball head unit can be used to help you fine tune the shooting rest to be level.
How big is a BOG Death Grip Tripod when folded up and fully extended?
The Death Grip tripods average approximately 31” inches when fully collapsed. The Camo and Infinite models extend to 59 inches on the 20-degree leg setting while the Sherpa tops out at 53 inches on the 20-degree leg angle setting.
How easy is it shoot while using a BOG Death Grip tripod?
Death Grip units are very easy to shoot from. With that said, I would suggest taking some time prior to the hunt to experiment and learn how to operate the units and determine what is your most comfortable shooting stance. My daughter and I like to set the sticks up at a lower height that allows us to hunch over the sticks a little bit, whereas my son prefers to shoot with the sticks a little higher so he’s in an upright shooting position. On windy days, to be more stable, try setting up the sticks lower to the ground and kneeling.
Where do I put my front hand while shooting from a BOG Death Grip Tripod?
There is no right or wrong place to hold your lead hand while shooting off these shooting sticks. I personally like to grip one of the legs of the tripod while shooting, while others prefer to grip their fore stock just like they would when shooting without the rest.
Where is the best place to mount your rifle on the BOG Death Grip tripod?
I would suggest setting your rifle on the Death Grip jaws so the middle of your fore stock fits in the unit. Doing so helps balance your gun and allows you access to your trigger and clip if you have one. Under no circumstances should you attach the Death Grip unit to the barrel of your rifle.
Who can benefit from using these shooting sticks?
There is no shame in anyone using shooting sticks to help them make accurate shots. BOG Death Grip shooting sticks are meant to be used by all classes of shooters. These sticks will allow young and new shooters to hold steady on their targets and increase the odds of them making successful shots. Experienced shooters will find these sticks help them hold their cross hairs steady on long range shots and on windy days.
