Shooting bench NOT portable.

[Iowa Airgunner]

I am going to build a shooting bench for a public airgun shooting range. I am building it as an addition to the local rifle range.
It will be sitting out in the sun and weather all the time.
So pressure treated wood obviously.
I am going to be using this bench myself all the time so I’m going to make it nice. Router the edges paint or stain.
It has to be in a public place. The range is secure . But I don’t want to moved or stolen.
So I plan to over build it and assemble it on sight so it is really heavy.
I have plans and actually have most of the wood left over from other projects . Just need a 4x4 and the bolts and screws. Probably have them too but I am to lazy to round them up. And the top decking.
I plan to use 1 1/4x6 deck boards for the top surface.
Should I use deck boards and paint or stain/polyurethane them ? Or should I go with some plastic deck boards? Only need 4, 8 foot boards. I am making the seat attached and out of the same material.

 

[JEFFPPC]

If your the only one to shoot off of it its fine, of others will join you the seat height will probably not fit them. I would ditch the seats and have a drummers stool instead.

 

[TN_Yankee]

The side rifle cut-outs are a nice addition.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

That’s a good point. I can make the seat adjustable. Just use wing nuts and drill a couple holes.

 

[Treefrog]

Looks good. Heavier is better for a bench.

Looking forward to warmer weather. I have some 1/8" angle iron to put together for the back yard bench.

Cheers,

J~

 

[FelixS]

Consider maintenance due to sun and rain exposure. Oil treatment is the easiest to maintain, or next, a tinted oil based stain. I would certainly go with a weather resistant table top, or a permanent covering over the top.
An easy seat height adjustment would be to simply hang additional plank on both sides of the bench to adjust up two levels.

 

[beerthief]

I am going to build a shooting bench for a public airgun shooting range. I am building it as an addition to the local rifle range.
It will be sitting out in the sun and weather all the time.
So pressure treated wood obviously.
I am going to be using this bench myself all the time so I’m going to make it nice. Router the edges paint or stain.
It has to be in a public place. The range is secure . But I don’t want to moved or stolen.
So I plan to over build it and assemble it on sight so it is really heavy.
I have plans and actually have most of the wood left over from other projects . Just need a 4x4 and the bolts and screws. Probably have them too but I am to lazy to round them up. And the top decking.
I plan to use 1 1/4x6 deck boards for the top surface.
Should I use deck boards and paint or stain/polyurethane them ? Or should I go with some plastic deck boards? Only need 4, 8 foot boards. I am making the seat attached and out of the same material.

View attachment 554076

my range built basically the same bench as pictured , and they get shoved around all the tim , for what reason i do not know but it takes over an hour to straighten them out and measure distance to targets every match..

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

I am building the range and this bench is for the sight in range of the field target corse.
I am not going to use 6x6 legs. But I might use 4x4 legs and leave them 48 inches long. Then burry them in the ground so the bench is level and can’t be moved. Long through bolts and bracing should keep it from moving

 

[Mike_Lenardon]

I would be hesitant to use pressure treated wood. The chemicals used in the wood treatment may have an adverse effect on the steel parts. Maybe untreated wood and then linseed oil for protection.

 

[Peashooter]

I think i would:

Seal top surfaces ( bench and seat ) and also the sides of said, to make standing water less of a problem, and facilitate fast / easy wiping off wet surface.
I cant imagine sitting on a damp piece of wood is very much fun.

Probably use some form of resin, but not sure if these are actually usable when used in a fairly thin coat. ( 1 -2 mm thick coat )

The adjustable seat is a must, i like to sit low, my friend like high and more leaning over the rifle.

 

[Avator]

I don't use my guns directly on any unfinished wood. I use a pad or some sort of cover on wood surfaces. Rubber backed bath or door mats work well. Roll them up and take them with you to the range or where ever you shoot.
I also use them on my workbenches when I'm working on my guns.
Walmart and Dollar Stores are good places to pick them up on the cheap.

 

[grackleblast]

My bench stays under a canopy year round. I sealed it with Thompson's water seal . The top has indoor-outdoor carpet . Between that and the blue tarp , I don't have to search for empty brass in the gravel , when shooting my 10/22 . The bench is over 5 years old and still solid as a rock.

 

[Avator]

My bench stays under a canopy year round. I sealed it with Thompson's water seal . The top has indoor-outdoor carpet . Between that and the blue tarp , I don't have to search for empty brass in the gravel , when shooting my 10/22 . The bench is over 5 years old and still solid as a rock.

View attachment 554361

Those moving pads are great also. I have a work table in my shop with one on it. They make great seat pads too.

 

[thomasair]

I would omit the attached seat part. Most regret attached seats if they have ever shot at a bench without them.

 

[Avator]

5 gallon bucket with a barstool pad is my seat of choice.... come to think of it, anything involving a barstool pad is fine by me...

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

Wow so many suggestions!

I am going to have to rethink my plan.
I am going to eliminate the seat. That saves money and time . Everyone should have a bucket to shoot HFT so I’ll go that way.

I guess I’ll treat it with some sort of deck stain stuff from ace. I always use a top cover . I have left over fender covers that work great.

Not to worried about the treated wood. But I won’t be using treated wood for the top just the legs. Mostly because I already have some left over 4x4 from a fence project.

For the side rail I’m going to drill holes down a 2x4 then slice it in half. That should make a nice gun rack.
I have a nice router to go all around it when it’s done.

Thanks for all the input . I’ll get to it next week after the Indiana airgun show.

 

[Buckeye68]

Pour a concrete bench and use 8"x8" blocks for the legs. You’ll never have to worry about it again.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

Not an option. And not necessarily. I might want to move it in the future.
With this club I am starting it’s not only a field target club but introducing people to air guns. I think people will like airguns. And if this works out the club will allocate more resources to the airgun range.

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

I would omit the attached seat part. Most regret attached seats if they have ever shot at a bench without them.

Perhaps a Rail or pop detent and hole system for adjusting fore and back and an elevation screw system for height. the attached seat issue is due to height and girth fitment issues?

 

[thomasair]

The attached seat issue is that every time you move the bench is also going to move.