Portable Shooting Bench Rest Advice

[Suo Gan]

Would like to make a portable shooting bench rest. The old saw horse and lawn chair gig is about due for improvement. Any plans, advice, or pictures would be helpful.

This one looks fine to me, but am unsure of the angle to weld the pipe couplers.
http://www.larrywillis.com/shootingbench.html

I need this to be portable and weigh less than 50-60 pounds or so.

[xr650]

This looks good to me also.
From the article (These pipe couplings are positioned so that the legs are angled (at 18 degrees) tilting away from the center of the table.)

I would think you could attach some brackets to the bottom of the table to hold the legs. Maybe attach a handle underneath the table for carrying. Making it a package for transport.

[Xcaliber]

I used Sq. tubing to build mine. I came across the commercial built Hyskore unit. I noticed they used flat tubing . I decided to build my own using the sq. tubing. I built the main shooting platform and added it to a Body by Jake bench and Wire welded to that frame. I have a pic of mine on this subject. Body by Jake. I built another one for a friend and he mounted his on a swiveling platform. LOL.. Here is the URL page to Hyskore if you want to see their version. You might want to buy . I just needed to do something for fun . I finally weighed mine and it was around 42 lbs.


http://www.hyskore.com/back-pack-varmint-bench.htmI

[Denver]

Here's one I made. Weighs about 25 pounds.

[Suo Gan]

As always I appreciate the pics and advice. Thanks much.

[broomhandle]

Hi Guys,

1- I would put a lip around the edges so things don't roll off.
2- maybe some type of setup so you cannot accdently knock the spotting scope off the table.

3- Would the shooter be better served with some outdoor carpeting rather that a shiny table? I know the tables at the range get HOT in the summer time.

4- A set of (Folding) large wheels on one side would be nice so you can roll it to the shooting area.

5- a mount for a old sun umbrella (adjustable)

6- LOL small ice cooler!
Just my thoughts!

I'm making my second round (lazy susan) rifle rack now. The first one holds 18 rifles, the new one will hold 12

I copied one at the gunshop, made it with lowcost plywood total cost $45 with the 500 pound roller bearing & some cheap galvanised pipe stuff from the salvage place.

Best to all.
broomhandle

[lead-1]

Here is a picture of the portable bench that I made about 15 years ago, I was tired of everything rolling off the hood of my truck. Plus in the summer time the extra engine heat from driving to our personal range was almost unbearable. I started out with a 3'x3' piece of plywood, rounded the corners and cut a notch in one corner, rounded the edges, sanded and tossed on some stain. I put a piece of 2"x4" on the bottom side to clamp it in a Black and Decker Workmate then made a cushioned seat to fit a bucket. This little bench has seen a lot of rounds and only takes a few of minutes to unload from the truck/trunk and set it up. Another plus is that with the Workmate you can fold everything down and not seperate the bench and plywood.

[Lucky Joe]

Here's my $.02, I built this 30 yrs. ago and it's served well. The right rear leg is adjustable for uneven ground and all legs fold for easy transport. Wish I still had the plans at hand.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k168/Luckyjoe_01/2N07-5-1817-6.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k168/Luckyjoe_01/5N07-5-1816-44.jpg

[Shepherd2]

Suo Gan - The pipe couplers are cut at an 18 degree angle. I still have a copy of Rick Jamison's plans. I'm still using the bench I built from them about 20 years ago.

[Dutchman]

This one I built from scratch is a clone of one that was marketed about 20 years ago. Instead of plastic end caps for the box tubing I welded steel endcaps on all the pieces.

The negative is its a bit narrow and isn't as steady as I'd like on un-even ground. On concrete slab its very nice.


http://images29.fotki.com/v1012/photos/2/28344/386750/b01-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v34/photos/2/28344/386750/b02-vi.jpg

http://images51.fotki.com/v732/photos/2/28344/386750/b03-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v33/photos/2/28344/386750/b07-vi.jpg

http://images27.fotki.com/v994/photos/2/28344/386750/b08-vi.jpg

Dutch

[Suo Gan]

I am going to build a variation of several of these units combined. A gracious member has also sent me some plans for a bench as well. The people on this board are the best people on earth! Also, as I was looking at Dutchman's neat collapsible bench, I noticed his bookshelf...I have the "Gunfighters" book myself. Great minds must think alike, lol. But he has way too much bookshelf real estate there. Lucky Joe, your bench is exactly like the one my Boy Scout troop leader had, that must be an antique! And finally Lead 1, I like your idea using the B&D Workmate, is there anything that can't be done with one?

Thanks again and good shootin!

[Shooter6br]

i built the bench Lucky Joe did It was great on uneven ground Used it for woodchuck hunting in S>E Pa Plans were from American Rifle man. I also used a bench using folding table legs The first bench REALLY is great for uneven ground Rick

[Shooter6br]

Me and buddy Sam chuck hunting long range