Built a shooting bench ........lets see yours.

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Dad built this maybe 40 years ago or so....
All aluminum, three* legs and portable as one can put it in the back of a pick-up truck.
Used it a few weeks ago.

* think tri-pod.

 

[tark]

I think the cats have taken your bench over! Those rascals!

Cats tend to do that. Dogs, being more pragmatic, just pee on the table legs and walk away!!!

 

[OS/N]

I usually take a 2x8x5' to make the long side, 4ea 2x4s or 2x6s x 3' for the main surface and 2ea 2x4s to form the top. I plant 4ea post 18-24" in the ground and nail the top frame on. I have several of these set up around the place as shooting benches - one at the loading shack w/ 50 yard pistol range, one at a 100-200 yrd rifle range with a good back stop, and a third on the back 40 with an open field about 450 yrds long. I use an old 5 gal bucket dove hunting seat with a padded swivel top as a chair and something to carry a small rest, bag, ammo, and whatever else I drag out when going to shoot in.

Can't see much of it but this is the one near the loading shack pistol range. I usually build out of old pallets or scrap lumber left over from other projects.

 

[Barnfixer]

I haven’t spotted a shell catcher yet. Anyone have one or an idea for one?

 

[Cornhusker77]

This was not long after I built it.
Somewhere I have better pictures but can't seem to find them right now.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Awesome pics and ideas. Keep them coming.

 

[luv2safari]

These are the only pics I could find of my bench. I put rollers on the top of the bench so it can simply be flipped over and wheeled around. It was painted after these pics were taken. It sits out in the barn, now. It's too far away to retrieve it and too heavy to rassel around.

I like your spotters.

 

[luv2safari]

I was going to take a photo of the hood of my 2005 Chevy PU, but it still has frost on it...and cat prints.

I got one of these several years ago out of the Bargain Cave for less that 1/2 the current price. IMO it wasn't even worth that. It's hard to open and put together, and it's awkward to take down and is a finger biter. It's also shaky.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-deluxe-shooting-bench?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CCatchAll%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&msclkid=591834ec26871789ce79517b32ea15dc&gclsrc=ds

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Cats tend to do that. Dogs, being more pragmatic, just pee on the table legs and walk away!!!

My bench sits on the back porch slab and I put the outside cat family's food on it all the time. Good news is, both my dogs are female.

 

[OS/N]

I haven’t spotted a shell catcher yet. Anyone have one or an idea for one?

A 6ft square minnow seine works fairly well. The lead weights hold it down and the top can be draped over broom stick size dowels screwed to the side of the bench or drove in the ground beside the bench. I don't like things attached to my shooting irons so that keeps things clean. If you rest the weights on the side of the bench it will keep the brass off the ground and if you can find a cotton net you don't have to worry over hot brass burns.

Most of my guns are revolvers and manual loaders so I don't need one very often. Sometimes I will just throw a blanket or tarp out on the ground to keep brass from getting in the grit or lost.

Can get at most sporting goods places for around 20 bucks.

 

[viking499]

The oldest Son, Grandson and I built a bench similar to yours Summer before last for the range at the Deer Club. I found the plans on the internet (where else?) on the Sierra site. They had a material list and even a cut sheet. We had nearly zero waste. We used all treated lumber and I think it cost about $100. The main differences between ours and yours is we have a built in seat and a rifle rack on the side and a brace across the front legs. We used 6X6's for the legs, 2X6's for the braces and seat and 5/4 deck boards for the top.

It was a fun Summer afternoon project.

Do you have a link to this one?

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I tried using one of those blue plastic tarps once but it was a cheap thin one and some of the hot brass melted through it.
A canvas drop cloth is a better way to go I found out.

 

[lightman]

Do you have a link to this one?

shooting-bench-plans.pdf

I guess I don't know how to post a link. This is what I tried to copy and paste. But google Sierra shooting bench plans and you should find it. Then again maybe this will work.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

shooting-bench-plans.pdf

I guess I don't know how to post a link. This is what I tried to copy and paste. But google Sierra shooting bench plans and you should find it. Then again maybe this will work.

It worked. The link goes to a pdf download which has the plans.

 

[viking499]

shooting-bench-plans.pdf

I guess I don't know how to post a link. This is what I tried to copy and paste. But google Sierra shooting bench plans and you should find it. Then again maybe this will work.

Thank you.

 

[hps1]

Those are some great benches, guys!

My super light weight go anywhere shooting "bench".

and two of them even double as a target frame

Joking aside, no pictures, but shoot on a farmer friend's private range and his bench has 3" pipe legs set in concrete w/a 3" angle iron frame poured full of concrete which is super solid but not portable.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Well had to do another one for the wife.......she likes gray.

 

[Some_Mook]

Some very nice work and creativity shown here in this thread. I very much need to build a heavy / steady rest for my home range - the grandkids have too much trouble not moving the MTM high-low portable bench that I use, so you all have provided me with some great ideas!

I haven’t spotted a shell catcher yet. Anyone have one or an idea for one?

I have a Caldwell brass catcher that sits on a camera tri-pod (or could easily be attached to a solid bench). Takes a little set-up positioning it properly when I am shooting pistols, but it works OK for what it is. This image shows it set up to the side of my bench:

 

[Navy87Guy]

I built mine a couple of years ago - 2x6 pressure treated lumber and Trex decking. It doesn’t move!

 

[jmorris]

Wood doesn't seem to last for me, ^ thats the kind of top I want to try next.

This one has been around or three or 4 new tops now, even under cover, that does make them last longer. There are 3/8" T bolts that allow the seat to be adjusted up and down as well as in and out.





I also added a modified mail box under the front, so stuff I always need, is always there.




A friend of mine gave me this one he made, using a plywood mold. There are female pipe fittings set in the concrete, so the feet thread into the bottom (so he could haul it in the trunk of is car). I haven't used any other bench as small that is as stable.



I do generally move it with a dolly though.



Not really a bench but a pipe fence is a solid platform as well.



My next one is going to be around 24' above ground and the first floor will be a "high house" for one of my clay throwing machines.

 

[hunt127588]

I built both of these a few years back. The wooden bench is off of the front porch at deer camp and can shoot out to ~250 yards. I strongly suggest tieing the legs together to prevent flex. The concrete bench in the field allows for shots out to ~500 yards. The bench top alone weighs ~300+ pounds. It was more of an experiment in pouring concrete in a form. The bench top dimensions are the same as the wooden bench.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Built a .22 LR deck/bench a couple of years ago. A leftover piece of Corian for the bench top. Many more steel targets there now.
View attachment 1187345View attachment 1187346

That’s your back yard? AMAZING! one day I’ll get some land like that, looks like a nice retirement range!

my seattle backyard looks like this

 

[jmorris]

^ I'd rather go to @Walkalong 's place.

 

[Some_Mook]

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I like your solvent trap! Neighbors haven't complained at all, but I would like shoot more 7.62 x 54R without pushing their level of tolerance.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I like your solvent trap! Neighbors haven't complained at all, but I would like shoot more 7.62 x 54R without pushing their level of tolerance.

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