Helping my 15 yr. old friend

[Ben]

My 15 yr. old friend Dustin, did not have a shooting bench.

I promised to make him one, his Dad brought him to my home this morning and we got outside my basement and began work on his new bench . We went to the building supply and bought all the materials, came home , got out the saw horses, saws, etc and started to work.

My intention was to make a bench that could " double " as a casting table and a good sturdy shooting bench. I think we accomplished that today.

I want to thank all of you once again who have donated ingots, molds, dies, bullet sizer dies, reloading presses, etc. etc. Dustin is thrilled , now he is beginning to be able to really enjoy this wonderful sport. It would not have happened without all your help ! This is a fantastic forum with some VERY FINE PEOPLE as members ! !

Tell me what you think after you've looked at some of the photos ? ?

Thank you again,

Ben

The 1st photo is in the " early phase " of things, Dustin is wearing the red :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0273.jpg

Early here again, but things are coming along..... :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0274.jpg

Here is Dustin seated at his new bench :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0275.jpg

Here is the front elevation system :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0276.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0277.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0278.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0279.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0280.jpg

[Ben]

More photos, this 1st one is of Dustin ( I think he likes his new Shooting Bench ) :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0281.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0282.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0283.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0284.jpg

[6.5 mike]

Looking good Ben. Still do'nt know how I missed your Op bout this. Let me know what esle he might need & I'll see if I have it. You are a good man!!!!

[Ben]

Mike :

He seems to be in pretty good shape right now . Thanks for your kind offer.

I think the best thing he can do right now is to learn SAFETY and how to use what he has on hand right now. He can graduate to other things later, but he has most everything he needs right now to load the calibers he is shooting and has the " fundamental tools" to cast, size, and lube his own cast bullets.

Thanks again,

Ben

[hardcase54]

I like it.

[Arkansas Paul]

That's a fine looking bench. I would probably lay a piece of cardboard or some such material over it before casting, just to keep it pretty, but I'm vain like that. :cool:

[ErikO]

I like that design, pop three bolts and in the back of the pickup it goes. Very nice. :)

[462]

You've done good, Ben. Dustin must be a very happy young man.

[bowfin]

A fine piece of work on that bench!

The only thing I can make out of wood is a fire...

...and some days even that's touch and go.

[ph4570]

Good man and a fine looking bench.

[badbob454]

i like the front rest ,adjustments pull 2 pins and it slides ...nice

[stubshaft]

Make sure to send pics of some of the targets shot off of it.

[xbeeman412]

Not only teaching Him how to reload You are going to make a carpenter out of Him Ben!!

He will apreciate his reloading and shooting benches more by making them. The bench looks profesional (like the engineer U are),I know U tried to tell us U were a school teacher but I see the talent now!!

[theperfessor]

Good work Ben. A very nice design very nicely done.

[94Doug]

Ben's teaching him how to Reload and Unload.

d

[6.5 mike]

[smilie=w:, fun on both ends.

[Ben]

You guys wanted to see his 1st group today. 5 rounds @ 50 yards.

While it won't win a match just yet, I'm very proud of him !;-):grin::-D
This is with 308 Win. ammo that he has loaded himself with his own cast bullets.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/DSCN0708.jpg

[runfiverun]

a chunk of carpet on the bench top will make it a bit more comfortable.

[Ben]

Yes, you're right.....

Ben

[Alchemist]

Ben,

Something tells me we don't need to worry about Dustin getting into any trouble...he'll be too busy casting, loading and shooting for that.

Nice bench design too...

[Ben]

Alchemist :

This is an awfully nice kid. He'll be just fine. Yes, you're right he'll be real busy now casting, sizing, loading and shooting.

I think that we ( my small efforts + all of yours ) may have won another one over to the shooting sports. We need more.... ! !

I fear that if we don't get more young men and women into the shooting sports that there will be a day that will come , down the road ( possibly after I'm dead and gone ) where the shooting sports won't carry the political clout and votes necessary to survive.

You know, if you don't love it and it isn't dear to you, you won't be willing to fight for it.

Go and find a kid and take him with you to shoot ! It is good for BOTH of you.

Thanks,

Ben

[Dirtdgger]

Great job Ben, good looking bench. Well said on teaching the young ones the shooting sport. I have two grandsons that don't have a father figure and live 2 hours away I do all I can to keep them interested in shooting and hunting. There are many out there that need a mentor like you. You are a fine man in the eyes of all in this sport.

I hope you fare well and keep your powder dry.

[beanflip]

TO: All who that have been involved in helping Ben and Dustin

Hats off to you all and all deserve a pat on the back!!!

[Ben]

Dirtdgger

I doubt that I'm even worthy of 2% of all those fine words, but I do appreciate the benefit of the doubt.

It has all been fun helping Dustin. Maybe some day he will be able to pass some of this on...............

I think it goes without saying that when we were 15 yrs. old, and we were young , very interested in shooting , reloading, and bullet casting.......... if a group of shooters had chosen to do the things for us that has been done for Dustin, we would have been totally amazed and very thankful. Well, believe me, he is ! !

Best to you all,

Ben

[Valley Forge]

This just puts a big grin on my face!

[Recluse]

This just made my entire weekend.

:coffee:

[Olevern]

Alchemist :



I fear that if we don't get more young men and women into the shooting sports that there will be a day that will come , down the road ( possibly after I'm dead and gone ) where the shooting sports won't carry the political clout and votes necessary to survive.

You know, if you don't love it and it isn't dear to you, you won't be willing to fight for it.

Go and find a kid and take him with you to shoot ! It is good for BOTH of you.Thanks,

Ben

Good on you, Ben

You've discovered a little known secret, true happiness is in giving to others.

The little fellow in the pic below is now nine (pic taken last year when I gave him the rifle he is holding) Just last week I received a call from his father, telling me that Blake wanted to take me out to dinner to show appreciation for the loan of the dirtbike, helmet, riding pants etc as well as the gift of the youth sized rifle I gave him. Like most other things the boy wants, his father makes him earn them ie: if you want to go riding this afternoon, you must earn so many points today in school (boy is A.D.H.D. and has trouble staying out of trouble, not bad behavior, just very active and his activity level, talking out etc. can get him into trouble in classroom)

This request was no exception, the boy had to earn the right to take me out to dinner with his dad.

It meant alot to me that he was even thought of showing his appreciation, let alone earning the outing to do so.

http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac56/Olevern/DSC_6769.jpg

http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac56/Olevern/DSC_6762.jpg

I mentor other boys as well, I am going to meet two little guys (5 & 6 year olds) at my church in about two hours to practice with them a song we are going to do together for a special in their church. These guys I taught to ride dirtbike this last summer and they are eagerly looking forward to nicer weather so we can ride again.

[Ben]

You get out of something , whatever you put into it. Sounds like you're getting some
good " returns " on your investments.

Good for you ! ! Keep up the good work.

Ben

[EMC45]

Well done gentlemen! Neat bench.

[Valley Forge]

To me, these are more examples of what "being a man" means. A real man is more than swagger, he's a teacher in deed and word to future men and women. I'm also impressed with the bench.

[Ben]

Can't disagree with anything that has been said so far, I'm in full agreement with all of you.

I wonder how many people on " some other forums " other than Castboolits would have engaged in the generous out pouring to my young friend ? I bet not many !

I think it says a lot about what Castboolits is all about and the quality of people who are members here.

These are some of the very things that we should be about.

[3006guns]

Posts like this just make me feel good all over. Not only have you encouraged a young man toward a rewarding hobby, that bench is one of the best examples of "eyeball engineering" I've seen. That IS a compliment!

Great job all around.

[Ben]

Thank you for those nice comments.

As to "eyeball engineering" , When we started yesterday, Dustin's Dad wanted to know if I had some plans for the shooting bench , I said........." YES. "

He said " Where are the plans ? "

I replied " In my head ".

Notice, it has 3 legs ( not 4 ). Ever sit on a 3 cornered milk stool. It won't wobble. A table in a restaurant that has 4 legs will always wobble.


Ben

[Katya Mullethov]

Can't disagree with anything that has been said so far, I'm in full agreement with all of you.

I wonder how many people on " some other forums " other than Castboolits would have engaged in the generous out pouring to my young friend ? I bet not many !

I think it says a lot about what Castboolits is all about and the quality of people who are members here.

These are some of the very things that we should be about.




The odds are quite good . If there is someone there to mentor a kid with a real wild hair in there for something in particular , these kinds of things generally work out quite well .

I have been a party to more than a couple of genuine hit and miss ( not simply open crank crank) engines changing hands at scrap prices . IMO , not being free , but obtainable through some reasonable amount of effort and discipline is an important point . Each boy involved went on to become major gear heads . Not that they weren't already .

The engines , once having been hammered apart and set straight, could be worth more than 10 tons of scrap iron . But the actual return you get when you ignite their passion, is priceless .

You knew you were sitting on all that stuff for some reason .

[pmeisel]

Nice work. I have a feeling that isn't the last or the best you'll build.

[Bullet Caster]

Great job from a truly great person. Bc

[geezer56]

I remember being 18 and having my uncle take me deer hunting for the first time. I was raised by non hunters. Then a couple of years later being introduced to reloading by an older guy at work. Then I started casting a few years later, coached along by an older shooting buddy. We all need to remember that whrn we shuffle off this mortal coil, we will need our replacements to be trained and ready to stand in the gap that we leave. I have coached a couple of my friends kids, and totally ruined a son and a grandson. If we each one teach one our sport wont die out from a lack of replacements. Believe me, the kids who want to participate and learn are out there, we just have to find them. And we have to get past the baggy jeans, tatoos, piercings, and other unimportant things to see the humans underneath.

[Ben]

Wow. Well spoken.