Rifle loading stand

[Dwight Rutherford]

Are there any plans or examples of rifle loading stands/ cradles ? Did a search on the forum to no avail.
I shoot at a range that has concrete floors and benches. It is awkward trying to balance my rifle and load it without scratching the butt plate or other parts while I am swabbing, charging , placing the patch, starting the ball and finally seating the ball and charge.
Don't remember having this problem when I was younger. Sucks getting old.

 

[necchi]

Our range just poured concrete too,
A piece of scrap carpet on the ground work's for the butt and an extra target sheet folded for leaning against the bench.
The carpet help with the balance.

 

[Jim Evans]

I saw one that was a about a 10" long 1x3 with a deep U cut in it for the upper barrel to rest in and they attached it to the bench table with a C- clamp

Or how about this Loading Stand .

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I used to use a piece of 1x4 Pine. It was long and wide enough to fit into my ammo can/ shooting box. On the narrow end I cut a fairly deep 'V' cut leaving the ends of the 'V' squared off. I had a hole drilled in the board to hold my short starter and a recessed section large enough to hold five round balls. I spray painted it red because I like red, and it also serve as a warning if someone was to come close to bumping into it. The board was held to the bench with a 'C' clamp that went into my ammo box too. A small piece of carpet went on the ground, asphalt or concrete to rest the butt on. Very simple and it worked like a charm for me. I got quite a few compliments on it and even gave a few away. :thumbsup:

 

[Billnpatti]

You could use the technique that I use when loading from my horn and bag. I sit the butt of my rifle on the toe of my boot and hold the forestock and barrel with my left hand. I carry my bag on my right side where I can easily reach things in it when I am loading. Since you will be loading from a bench, the bag will make no difference but I just mention it so you can see that it is possible to load your rifle without having to have a stand. Using the toe of your boot is great for keeping the butt of your rifle out of the mud when moving from one place to another as when shooting in a woodswalk. An even better idea for loading at a bench that is on concrete is to get a piece of carpet that measures about 1 foot by 1 foot and use it to sit the butt of your rifle on. A piece that size is plenty for the butt of your rifle to sit on and it is a size that is easily carried with you when you go to the range. If you are shooting from a concrete bench, you can cover it with an old blanket to protect your rifle from scratches. If you can find an old army blanket, they are a good protective thickness. An old saddle blanket is excellent, too. If you need something to lean your rifle on to load it, you can take a piece of pine 2 X 6 and cut a V or U shaped notch in the end of it. Clamp it to the bench and you have your rifle rest. One bit of serious caution is NEVER load at the shooting bench because of the danger of an errant spark getting to your powder supply and turning it into a bomb. Keep your powder and other loading supplies at some place behind the firing line where a spark from either your rifle or someone else's rifle ruining your day with an explosion that can possibly kill you. That is why muzzleloading ranges have loading benches behind the firing line.

 

[MSW]

I saw one that was a about a 10" long 1x3 with a deep U cut in it for the upper barrel to rest in and they attached it to the bench table with a C- clamp

Or how about this Loading Stand .

Hey, Sr.Chief - that's a pretty cool bit of design, and thanks for the post ... I was at a public range in Maryland that had a few points at the leeward end of the line set aside for us weird folks who shoot BP (that way, the smoke didn't drift towards the AR15 crowd) ... one of the cool things about this range was that they had a line of reloading stands similar to that in SrChief's drawing... there was a line of small sandbags on the floor, so you could rest the but plate of your rifle and not get it all beat up ... I thought this was better than using the instep of your foot.

make good smoke!

 

[THBailey]

My favorite range has concrete benches and floor also. I bring along a couple or three old bath towels. One folded over a couple times on the deck, fold over another one two or three times and hang over the side of the bench, and one layed out flat over the top of the bench.

 

[Dwight Rutherford]

Towels sound like a simple fix. Thanks
Lincoln Range?

 

[brubincam]

I use old kitchen rugs--but you gotta remember to take them home with ya--lost more rugs that way--next fella or gal must take them home with them--""MY FAULT""

 

[AZbpBurner]

I've got an old canvas sandbag that is thick enough to rest my curved buttplates to keep them from scratching on the concrete.

 

[bpd303]

Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention. This stand was made from an old deck umbrella stand. Heavy cast iron base so it's stable and can be used anywhere and breaks down for easy movement.

 

[necchi]

Nice re-purposing, :thumbsup:

 

[MSW]

that's a pretty slick bit of work!

 

[don hepler]

I shoot at range with concrete benches. I copied the one's I saw others using. Take a piece of board and cut a "U" in one end. Use whatever size you like, then on the bottom right behind the "U" put a small rectangle block. It will keep you lined up on the bench. Then find a large "C" clamp to hold it on the bench. Use a Carpet sample piece on the floor.

 

[Rifleman1776]

That link froze my computer, twice.

 

[Zonie]

The range I shoot at has some tables built out of concrete blocks with tops made from 2X4's.

I built a clamp on wooden board with 3 padded notches to attach to the tables.
It's shown laying to the right of the flintlock shield I made.




In the lower picture your looking at it from just under the tables view. (Yes, some of the leather padding needed to be reglued).

The metal clamps were made out of a picture frame clamp that is used to hold the corners of a picture frame in position while the glue dries.

It orignally was one piece with the screw clamps arranged at 90 degrees to one another. By sawing it in two at he 90 degree corner I ended up with two clamps which were easily attached to the board with some flat head screws.

I put that red carpet sample on the ground for the butts of the rifles to rest on during loading.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

To me it is NOT necesary to remove the charging or priming powdah to a bench BEHIND the shooter ... but rather, when shooting an arm w/ a vent or nipple on the right side of the arm, keep the powdah to the LEFT side of the bench.

Works for me! FWIW I'm a lefty and own and shoot some right-handed flintlocks and cap guns (with ZERO issues!) ... but my regimen is always the same.

The charge and prime powdah go to the opposite side of the range bench as the vent or nipple.

What could be simpler?????