Competition-worthy Shooting benches.

[Nofilters]

I have revised the large field targets with my Buddy Mike Smith. I now have a patent for an electronic target system, which hopefully will be manufactured soon. But I tried my hand at building a (2guy portable) Shooting bench. The top weighs approximately 170 lbs, and the base is approx 50. This bench is fantastic, and I lucked out on the first attempt. I could not find any quality comfortable benches that were competition-worthy. I saw Vaughn Concrete 530 lb plus Bench (2000$) concrete 4x4 x6" platform that weighs 1200 lbs and another 1700$ shipped. I was trying to build a bench for the range I shoot at for Possibly N50 matches. I wanted it to be able to be moved from range to range so it doesn't lock up one use only for that one range. So this is what I came up with. I plan to add an axle with offset wheels to the front so that one guy can roll it back out of the way when you pick it up on the back. The top also unbolts from the base. This allows it to be easily moved by two people. No forklift or crane is needed.

 

[techna]

Looks super stable and well built. Wonder if it’d be worth incorporating some short of loops on the underside that you can slide short poles into to use as handles when wheels are added? Or maybe even that would also allow for longer poles to be slid into for two man carry (think ark of the covenant style from Indiana Jones) over short distances? Regardless, it seems like a killer bench.

 

[beerthief]

Looks super stable and well built. Wonder if it’d be worth incorporating some short of loops on the underside that you can slide short poles into to use as handles when wheels are added? Or maybe even that would also allow for longer poles to be slid into for two man carry (think ark of the covenant style from Indiana Jones) over short distances? Regardless, it seems like a killer bench.

OR simply use the back legs as handles ? But 220 lbs "easily moved "?

 

[Nofilters]

OR simply use the back legs as handles ? But 220 lbs "easily moved "?

When you are rolling it out of the way you are only left in the back end of the bench. When you are disassembling the bench, it does require two people. I can slide the bench by myself. I weigh 195 pounds without any wheels on it so yes with wheels if you pick up the back end, it would roll out the way.

 

[techna]

OR simply use the back legs as handles ? But 220 lbs "easily moved "?

Well, it’s a relative term isn’t it?

 

[rcs9250]

Nice job. Looks beautiful.
My club is getting into American Rimfire Association (ARA) this summer. They just removed the old gravel and poured concrete and installed twelve shooting positions. Absolutely beautiful job.

 

[jaycummings]

We started experimenting with concrete benches too. Did you pour your top or have a commercial fabricator do it, they look perfect. We've redone the seat to something about 17". The 5 gallon bucket was less than 12". Too small. Just found another larger bucket to be the form.

 

[rcs9250]

We started experimenting with concrete benches too. Did you pour your top or have a commercial fabricator do it, they look perfect. We've redone the seat to something about 17". The 5 gallon bucket was less than 12". Too small. Just found another larger bucket to be the form. View attachment 471576

The club member that is spearheading the project had them custom made, using I think, ARA recommended or endorsed or whatever, commercially made tops that were then placed on the concrete blocks with mortar and within reason, perfectly level.

 

[beerthief]

Nice job. Looks beautiful.
My club is getting into American Rimfire Association (ARA) this summer. They just removed the old gravel and poured concrete and installed twelve shooting positions. Absolutely beautiful job.

View attachment 463231

View attachment 463232

MY range had beautiful benched like these , Idiots tore them out and replaced with wooden ones that are easly moved , so one never knows the distance they are from the targets .

 

[rcs9250]

MY range had beautiful benched like these , Idiots tore them out and replaced with wooden ones that are easly moved , so one never knows the distance they are from the targets .

The gentleman that spearheaded this project went to great pains to have a certain point on the benches exactly 50 yards and every bench is perfectly lined up with its target. And each bench has a number and a corresponding number placard at the target to eliminate crossfiring.

 

[Nofilters]

We started experimenting with concrete benches too. Did you pour your top or have a commercial fabricator do it, they look perfect. We've redone the seat to something about 17". The 5 gallon bucket was less than 12". Too small. Just found another larger bucket to be the form. View attachment 471576

 

[Nofilters]

We decided to pour the top ourselves. I dont believe it needs to be 4-6” thick to produce a solid base. We also did not do the seat. The reason being added cost and most serious benchrest shooters have their seat height adjustable for their torso. Our range already has seating benches approximately 8”x12. The top is removable with two people and this allows for the tables to be moved from range to range 100yd to 500 ex. The only thing that is missing is a front wheels. If you place them just off the ground when you pick up the back it allows one person to roll bench back out of the way. Top weighs approximately 150-170 lbs and base is about 60-70.

 

[DoubleM]

Beautiful benches!