Range Benches and Shooting Rests- whatcha got?

[PatMarlin]

I seriously need to come up with a better shooting bench.

I've been using the same weak- rickety folding table, that I cut out in about 5 minutes to take out in the field one day.

Think I would have taken a day since then and made a decent bench? Nooooo. I tell myself, aside from the laziness of not doing it, it actually helps my shooting skills cause if you can shoot a group off of my rocking bench, you can shoot a group off of anything.

Well in a way I guess that's true, but I would like to get the full potential out of my rifles.

Then I bought the cheap red plastic rest for the portability, and it works- doesn't make any difference from a rickety rocking bench anyway. I need to step into the light and repent!

Can I get a witness? .....:Fire:



Excluding the 358 Winchester- because you can shoot tight groups standing on one leg from a rickety bench, in the rain, while watching The History Channel with that cartridge...

http://www.patmarlins.com/358winchesterleft.jpg


It don't matter... :mrgreen:

http://www.patmarlins.com/358benchgroup50.jpg


Standing offhand even...

http://www.patmarlins.com/358standing.jpg

[Hickory]

You can build something like this.
$2.00 per block and quickcrete,
less then $100.00. will last for years.

http://www.fototime.com/4021478C15E313A/medium.jpg (http://www.fototime.com/pictinv/4021478C15E313A)

[BruceB]

My wife and daughter gave me a "Big Game Swivel-Action Shooting Bench" from Cabela's.

It costs $149, weighs 29 pounds, and is VERY solid and comfortable. It will work equally-well on the range or for field shooting (where its tripod legs are stable even on rough ground).

I like mine a great deal, and there's NO way I could ever build anything to equal it for several times the price. Go to www.cabelas.com and search for "shooting bench".....it should come right up. There are several other benches there, but mine is the one described above.

[winelover]

The rest I practice with is the same one I hunt with. A camera tripod with an "owl eared" bag, adapted to fit, and a fold up round stool. As long as I do my part, I can get 100 yd. MOA groups. I have shot decent groups out to 300yds with this set up. My main concern is how my load works under field conditions rather than ideal controled conditions. YMMV.

Winelover

[PatMarlin]

Cool looking bench Bruce. I'll have to check one out next time I'm in Reno.

You got a pic of your tripod WL? I bought one of those steady stix bipods along time ago but never used it much. Here in the woods, you always have a rock or a tree.

I thought about doing concrete blocks like that for my range in the national forest, but then I figured if I do that everyone will want to come and shoot there. Start calling it their own place like I do. The nerve of some peoples.... :mrgreen:

[RP]

At one time I seen some plans for a table made out of plywood that comes apart to make hauling it easier. It looked like it may do a fine job but I cant say for sure. I was thinking of getting some folding legs off a table and putting me one together just have to do it. Which the younger I get the more I need something to help me hold still.

[phaessler]

I found these plans about 5 years ago, have built quite a few of them, sold a few, and had a few "borrowed" from where I had a private range set-up.

http://www.horstguns.com/ShootingBench.htm

Pete

[winelover]

You got a pic of your tripod WL? I bought one of those steady stix bipods along time ago but never used it much. Here in the woods, you always have a rock or a tree. :

Pat:

Best picture I can find without taking a new one.

[Von Gruff]

If you want a portable shooting bench, this is a set of plans I used for mine. I did modify the width and only made mine right handed though.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/001-12.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/002-6.jpg


For varminting on reasonable terrain I have a more portable shooting trolly.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/shootingtrolly006.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/shootingtrolly003.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/shootingtrolly007.jpg

Where the terrain is rougher I just use the Stoney Point bipod from sitting.

Von Gruff.

[PatMarlin]

Great ideas.

What is that rifle and what's on the end of the barrel Von?

Like that range bench too phaessler.

[Von Gruff]

Great ideas.

What is that rifle and what's on the end of the barrel Von?

Like that range bench too phaessler.

Rifle is an XR100 that was in 204. I shortened the chamber by 16.35mm and re-chambered to 20 VarTarg and restocked it from a straight grained quarter sawn blank for a lighter carrying rifle. Have a 35gn Berger at 3735fps over H4198 and a 34gn Nosler at 2750fps with Blue Dot. Supressor on the barrel is great especially when I go after rabbits that offer ranges of from under your feet out to about 200+ yds which suits the 34gn Nosler at 2750 down to the ground. Keeps the rabbits from spooking as there are litterly hundreds of them and a quick kneel with the Stoney point bipod is all a shooter has time for. Have less long range opportunities for the 35gn Berger but have hits out to 350yds so far.
Sound supressors are encouraged and are about US$300 with no restrictions on thier use.

Von Gruff.

[phaessler]

Thanks Pat, while not my own design, it sure is steady, as well as quick and dirty.
Like I mentioned a few have disappeared to those who think they need them more than I. Funny when you see one in someones field, and you ask about it, then flip it over to see you name routered into the bottom. Yup, happened once already.
Am using a set-up now much similar to Hickory's....
Hows it go, "Solid as a rock "

Pete

[brad925]

Off the bench i built an adjustable rest from a small car scissor jack. Made a base that is adjustable for leveling and use a rear bag. Works great.

[PatMarlin]

Dang why didn't I think of that!

A friend of mine just offered me one of those little scissor jacks and I turned it down ...:mrgreen:

[PatMarlin]

Dang why didn't I think of that!

A friend of mine just offered me one of those little screw jacks and I turned it down ...:mrgreen:

[jixxerbill]

pat if u dont mind could u build me one of those weak- rickety folding table's of yours ???? if u shoot them good groups with it then it should help me lol

[onesonek]

Heres my simple folder made from legs bought off the net somewhere, and likewise with solid cutting baord type plastic top
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/onesonek/100_1872.jpg

And then heres my trailbench
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/onesonek/trailbench-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/onesonek/100_1744.jpg

And my chair
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/onesonek/100_1833.jpg

[Blake Stephenson]

Pat,

I have a set of pipe flange leg couplers made up I wold trade you for something you make of eqial value. Bought some flux a while back and sure like it. They are the same as Von Gruff shows in his post. Let me know if you are interested and I'll get them sent off.

Blake

[PatMarlin]

pat if u dont mind could u build me one of those weak- rickety folding table's of yours ???? if u shoot them good groups with it then it should help me lol

Plans are simple Bill. You can build your own, as I can't possibly part with mine. Like a fine shooting rifle.

Go to a second hand store. Buy one of the 6' folders with a wood top. Make sure it's good and worn out, and sagging at least 10%.

Take it home and cut out a recess in the center, so you can set into it. Securely set the legs, then have a few kids- 2 boys and a girl, or about near weight and have them jump up and down on the center of the table. About 20 minutes should do.

Now the bench is ready for shooting. SHould have about a 25-30% sag and rock back and forth 3-4". If not repeat above.

[Doc Highwall]

This is my rest and rear bag set up.

[PatMarlin]

Pat,

I have a set of pipe flange leg couplers made up I wold trade you for something you make of eqial value. Bought some flux a while back and sure like it. They are the same as Von Gruff shows in his post. Let me know if you are interested and I'll get them sent off.

Blake

Thanks Blake-

I've got those here too. THing is the threads keep loosening over time.

What works good is a pipe with flange welded at the desired angle, with welded nuts for set bolts, and an ID big enough so you can slide a smaller diameter leg pipe in. Then you can slide in the leg and tighten down as needed.

Great benches guys- the trailer model is cool!!

[greenmntranger]

I found these plans about 5 years ago, have built quite a few of them, sold a few, and had a few "borrowed" from where I had a private range set-up.

http://www.horstguns.com/ShootingBench.htm

Pete

My boy and I built one of those a couple years ago for our private range. Rock solid and a real fun project to share with the boy

GMR

[skeet1]

Here are some photos of one I built a year ago. It is very solid and the seat is movable forward and backward on the rail.


29603

29604

[frankenfab]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=479&pictureid=3267

[Doc Highwall]

frankenfab, NOW THAT'S A BENCH! Did you fill the tubing with cement too?

[frankenfab]

frankenfab, NOW THAT'S A BENCH! Did you fill the tubing with cement too?

Naw, it's plenty heavy. The top is 1" and 1 1/4" thick steel.

Thanks for the compliment!

[deerslayer]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=479&pictureid=3267


That would double as a fine welding table! Is the fabric top removable?

[frankenfab]

Yes, it is carpet scraps that have been bound around the edges. I had 2 covers made, so when one gets dirty, I can wash it. The whole bench is powder coated as well.

[Shooter6br]

I used a bench that had folding table legs for woodchuck hunting . light but atable

[Shooter6br]

Chuck hunting bench

[buck1]

I took the legs off a folding table and then cut down the tabe and re mounted them. I got the idea from this link.....Buck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMIWFXJ-8R8

[Lead Fred]

I have one of those red plastic ones I use for dialing in a scope.

I prefer the good ole bean bag (filled with rice) for a rest.

http://picturehosting.org/u/4536/gk3cikbb.5j.jpg

[blasternank]

I have a lead sled that I can use on just about anything. I have never made my own bench for shooting but I did get something that goes on top of just about any of them.

[twotoescharlie]

go to the thrift store and get a folding ironing board, adjustable height,right or left handed, folds up and lightweight.


TTC

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I've gone the same route as Two Toes Charlie....an ordinary folding ironing board with a padded cover. Works left or right and lots of room on it for other stuff you need to have handy. Height is adjustable to whatever you need or like, including if you want to rest your head down and close your eyes for a moment/relax. It is very lightweight, portable, and fits easily into most vehicles. They're cheap so you can own your own and not get into trouble with SWMBO. LLS

[AusJohn]

HI.

I thought you may be intrested the following shooting benches.

Our club has movable shooting benches for use by the members,

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/192024dfb21939aa55.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=1210)

They have a carpet covered wooden top.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/192024dfb21acc3c3c.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=1211)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/192024dfb21ba9bfe0.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=1212)

They have slightly raised wheels that only touch the ground when you lift one end by the handle.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/192024dfb21cc34ef7.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=1213)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/192024dfb21dcf3592.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=1214)

They are very heavy but easy for one person to move.


AusJohn

[Ben]

AusJohn

I'm impressed ! !

Anyone should be pleased with those.

Ben

[CLAYPOOL]

Belly Pan from a small dozer with 4" x 3/8" thick legs welded on. It sit at the 50 yard line. nice for zeroing slug guns and the like.

[94Doug]

I built a few about 10 years ago, from a plan in one of the gun magazines. It was made to be portable, the legs were made out of PVC pipe with caps fastened onto the top.

Doug

[Pete E]

Pat,

It all depends what you want the bench for..

Do you want an easily portable bench? A heavier model that is "movable" or a permanent rock solid affair as typically found on a well set up range?

I needed a portable bench I could set up for zeroing and load development on various bits of farm land I was shooting over.

I went for this design as it needs no welding...In the Mk1 bench, I used smaller diameter pipe than was recommend, but it was still very solid. I later rebuilt it with larger pipe and to be honest, it didn't offer any noticable improvement..

On any portable bench, I would always recommend you go for three legs rather than four, as a tripod is always stable no matter how uneven the ground is..

The pic below shows a friend zeroing off the Mk1 bench

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l237/PeteUK24/portablebenchweb.jpg

The pic doesn't do the bench justice as it was in fact very stable...I deliberately kept it and the stool on the short side to keep the centre of gravity as low as practical..

Regards,

Peter

[Pete E]

The most basic "shooting bench" I saw was in one of the American shooting magazines several years ago..

The writer wanted something he could leave on site that was unobtrusive/low key that would escape the attention of idiots and vandals but still offer a solid rest to shoot off. IIRC he was either shooting on public land (looked like a semi desert area somewhere) or on land which had a lot of access by the public..

His solution was to build a "Y" shaped out of a 4" wooden post..Over all, I am guessing it would have been about 36" tall, with one arm of "Y" was longer than the other..

The bottom of the "Y" was then sunk into the ground at an angle such that when he sat down next to it, the tops of the two arms were the right height to rest a rifle on. The tops of the arms, the angle they were cut at and their height difference was such that the fore end rested could be rested on one arm, and the butt the other.

I don't recall, but i suspect he placed a small sand bags on each arm when it came time to shoot.

As the post were sank firmly in the ground and because he effectively "wrapped him self around it" in the sitting position, he said it gave very good results, but at the same time when not in use, it didn't draw attention like a full size bench would have...

I've never made one, but I like the idea as the result would be cheap and easy enough to build you could have more than one dotted around a property..

regards,

Peter

[maglvr]

Hi Folks:
While I am not usually one to brag or show-off, somebody DID ask to see pics of our shooting benches.
So I figured "what the heck!".
While it is not my intent, in any way, to hurt the feelings of those who do not have something as fancy, I am certain there is bound to be some jealousy, and that is perfectly normal and fine.
Hope you all enjoy!!

BTW.........
Plans will be sold in the Swapin' & Tradin' forum soon! For ONLY $49.95 with postage INCLUDED!!!

maglvr

http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd325/maglvr/shootingbench.jpg

[tonyjones]

maglvr,

Are you absolutely certain that you've got that thing pointed in the correct direction?

Regards,

Tony

[maglvr]

maglvr,

Are you absolutely certain that you've got that thing pointed in the correct direction?

Regards,

Tony

LOL, actually yes it is, I rarely ever shoot rifles.
I'm a revolver guy.