Range boxes

[Khulb]

I'm thinking of building a range box and was wondering if anyone out there has any input or even some pics of their own designs?

 

[Eddie2002]

Don't have a picture of mine but the bigger you make it the more stuff you will end up lugging around. Figure out what you will and then add a little extra to the size of the box. I got burned by building my range box to fit specific types of supplies like the Goex metal cans. Now Goex comes in plastic containers and won't fit in the nice little built in space. Drawers are nice but they take up room and add weight to the box. A lot will depend on where you shoot. A black powder club will have ball pullers and other stuff for shooting. If you are going to a local range your box will need more accessories just in case. I'll try to get a picture of my range box posted. They are a ball to build and once done expect complements.

 

[Khulb]

Thank you Eddie2002,
I know what you mean by going to big,that's my fear so to speak. I've built plenty of other sorts of boxes and have ended up with needing a dolley to move it,lol.
And on the other hand I have had the opposite to happen. So when it was all said and done,I had quite the assortment of boxes.
I do have a box that I built of black walnut and curly maple.
It measures 22"x10.5"x11". I'll post some pics of it. I'm thinking that it would be a good start as for the size to play with.

 

[smo]

That sounds like a good size for a shooting box..

Black Walnut & Curly Maple should go well together.

I can’t wait too see it..

Did you make two of them? Lol

 

[Khulb]

Here are the pics for the box mentioned above.

 

[Khulb]

Hey Smo! No I didn't but once I figure out a good size I will!

 

[Eddie2002]

Man that's pretty, love the different woods on it. Here's mine made out of 5/8 inch Cypress. The brass corners were left over from a gun case I made but didn't like the look of them on the corners. I cut the lid of the box so it sits flat and can be used as a work area. I also store a heavy range rod in the lid. The bottom of the box has dividers to keep stuff from moving around, the rifle stands really don't get used much but look cool, I put a Frontier rifle in them for the picture. I pack a bunch of small towels on top of everything along with a roll of ticking and shooting glasses when I hit the range.

 

[smo]

Both are great looking boxes Guys...

I’ve thought about trying too build one, but the handle hasn’t pull d out of my Black & Decker plastic box yet.....

 

[longcruise]

I'm such a pedestrian!

My shooting box is a big red plastic tool box with a lot of space under a large tray.

As said, it will fill up! I recently went through mine and found stuff that has not been used in 20 years. Got it back to I know what's in there and where it is.......for now.

 

[Khulb]

I really like the Cypress. I do a lot with it.The box looks great. Thanks for the pics. Are your measurements similar to what I have? Yours does give me some ideas. I never thought much about a shoulder strap, I like that.

 

[Eddie2002]

The cypress was from a recycled bee hive top and the box roughly measures 21" long 9" wide and 8" high. Hated to throw the wood away, the hive body was probably 50 years old. The shoulder strap was a must, one shoot I go to has a good hike to get to the range. I'm working on a small cart to start hauling stuff with, getting old is a pain. Need to clean out the box next, don't need a pound or more of spent flints and range lead sitting in it.

 

[Khulb]

Thank you much for th he insights and pics. I'll keep you posted as mine evolves

 

[smo]

The cypress was from a recycled bee hive top and the box roughly measures 21" long 9" wide and 8" high. Hated to throw the wood away, the hive body was probably 50 years old. The shoulder strap was a must, one shoot I go to has a good hike to get to the range. I'm working on a small cart to start hauling stuff with, getting old is a pain. Need to clean out the box next, don't need a pound or more of spent flints and range lead sitting in it.

Hey Eddie, when you get that cart figured out post some pics!

Keep up the great work Guys! I’ve got saws , somewhere under all the other clutter.....

 

[Captjoel]

For you folks who are skilled in the fine art of box making, I was impressed with this design by a fellow named David Johnson. I do not have any measurement details or any other pictures of what it looks like opened, just a pic of the box itself. IMHO, a very cool shooting box!!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Thank you much for the insights and pics. I'll keep you posted as mine evolves

You might want to decide first, on what you want INSIDE the box, and then decide it's size and design. I've seen boxes that double as a loading stand for the shooter who is avidly a pistol shooter. Sometimes folks want them wooden so that they can have them in a living-history event camp in plain view, without offending the rules. Some are all around boxes that will service a bunch of different guns, and some are small, soft briefcase like bags that are set up for only one gun.

LD

 

[Khulb]

Now.thats a beautiful box! And your comments are to the point LD.
In my case building it is not issue, it's making sure that what I build.is what I need! I'm thinking more about making it multi functional and still keeping it to a manageable size.

 

[Eddie2002]

I made my box for rendezvous shooting where a wooden box is appropriate and tried to build it around the supplies I would need, I was also limited by how much wood I had to work with. My possible bag ended up getting too small for a day at the range but still works for a woods walk where I don't need the kitchen sink. LOL
That round box is really a work of art and looks like it has hand forged hardware. A bit beyond my skill sets so far but still a pleasure to look at.

 

[Khulb]

I'm still working out the details on mine
I'm going after the " what if" a trapper/fur trader would have one at his camp/cabin. It would be designed by going with what he had available.Now obviously he would not call it a range box but more of a shooters box.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Now obviously he would not call it a range box but more of a shooters box.

He probably would have called it a "box".
Probably wouldn't have gone to any "shoot"...,but if he went at all...., probably he'd been with a bag set up for his rifle or gun.
I don't think you get them really "formal" shoots at a dedicated "rifle range" until the 19th century near to the ACW, and I think it's an Eastern, Yankee thing. Something like a Scheutzen Society or such. Not that folks didn't have shootin' contests all over America, but I mean where they'd a gone to the trouble of having a wooden, tool chest with 'em.

LD

 

[nkbj]