Shooting Bench

[Bill Bryan]

My local club allows over 70 shooters to shoot with support. I decided to build a light weight folding shooters bench. Here is my prototype. Any comments? Bill

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

My local club allows over 70 shooters to shoot with support. I decided to build a light weight folding shooters bench. Here is my prototype. Any comments? Bill

I think it looks nice and functional.
Good job.

 

[Rancocas]

Looks good except that it's for a right-handed shooter only. Extend the upper part out to the right, just as you did with the left, leaving the elbow support straight down the middle and you would have an ambidextrous shooting bench. It wouldn't add much to the bulk or weight.

 

[wiscoaster]

I like it. Can you post a template?

 

[snakebit]

My local club allows over 70 shooters to shoot with support. I decided to build a light weight folding shooters bench. Here is my prototype. Any comments? Bill

Bout the only thing I see wrong is there are no powder burns on he yet! Looks good.

 

[BillinOregon]

Bill, you came up with a nice design. I would consider raising the lower stabilizer/spreader an inch or two up the legs to allow the bench to contact the ground on just three points in the event it is ever used on other than a paved and level surface.

 

[Harry Marinakis]

Bingo!

 

[Mike in FL]

I

My local club allows over 70 shooters to shoot with support. I decided to build a light weight folding shooters bench. Here is my prototype. Any comments? Bill

like it! You are a good carpenter. Did you have drawn plans? I bought my bench. Plastic with folding aluminum legs. Works fine but has no seat. I have to use a folding metal chair.
I think a bench rest is a necessity for serious shooters. I'm always seeing "sight in" videos where the maker takes his new longrifle to the range and shoots offhand. He shows his groups and declares his gun accurate and sighted in. I think that's dumb. We need to know exactly how the gun shoots and what adjustments are needed.

 

[Jetmech]

My local club allows over 70 shooters to shoot with support. I decided to build a light weight folding shooters bench. Here is my prototype. Any comments? Bill

Bill, I really like the design.

How steady is it?

Jeff

 

[Stykbow]

I love it. Very nice work.

 

[Mad L]

I have never had the privilege of shooting off a bench, that looks Nice!

 

[SDSmlf]

My local club allows over 70 shooters to shoot with support. I decided to build a light weight folding shooters bench. Here is my prototype. Any comments? Bill

No criticism, just an observation if you find the need or have the desire make the bench a bit more stable, consider adding a few cross struts.

Can add stability without adding much bulk or weight.

 

[SOLANCO]

Good work! Both brain and hands.

 

[Eutycus]

How is the height determined?

 

[Togo]

It really needs a couple notches cut into the side of it so you can lean your rifle and range rod on it while loading or cleaning.

 

[kyron4]

I built one like this bench. It is portable, stable, and only uses one 4x8 sheet of ply wood. I don't move mine so I glued all the tennions . Very solid and stable. Plans can be found online. Here's a link to a video showing one being set up.

 

[Packrat]

I made that portable bench years ago, but I like the folding design better

 

[Bill Bryan]

Thanks for everyones' comments. I'm the only user so I don't need to have a right and left hand bench. The bench is very stable up front so I don't need any additional reinforcement. However it could use some work on the rear leg. Overall it's pretty stable. I've thought about how to add a seat but I think a folding stool or chair will be the easiest. I'm going to haul it up to the local muzzleloading club and use it for a while to decide if I like it. Bill