If you've made one or have thought about making one I'd appreciate any photos, descriptions, suggestions, what worked for you, what didn't, etc. I'm hoping to make a shooting bench this week and was thinking of using 2" galvanized pipe for the legs (3), C-channel for the horizontal supports and probably 2"x 6" treated lumbar for the top. 34" high seems to be a common number so that's what I'm planning. Thanks.
Homemade shooting benches
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dubbleA
Member
I made this one years ago for myself. It's made of steel and is fairly heavy so it makes a rock solid bench. With adjustability in mind, it works well for all sizes of shooters big and small, left or right handed too. The seat that swings out and adjusts up and down are features I came up with. With the top being 4ftx4ft it gives you plenty of room for gear such as laptops, a chronograph, ammo boxes etc.
While not perfect for everyone it suits my needs.
While not perfect for everyone it suits my needs.
Wow, dubbleA, you're living my dream! That is a nice setup and property!
I have not built one, but a very rigid spotting scope mount would be very nice. I think steel or concrete is the way to go as wood will begin to move and rot with time.
I have not built one, but a very rigid spotting scope mount would be very nice. I think steel or concrete is the way to go as wood will begin to move and rot with time.
Fanfare Ends
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Great set up! What's the yellow and black device to the right of your laptop?
TIA...
TIA...
MachIVshooter
Member
Is it going to be portable or fixed?
The one I built is permanent, with treated 4x4s anchored 30" into the earth. Top is 4x5 3/4" OSB on a 2x4 frame, with cutouts for both normal people and southpaws. 36" high. No built in seat; we use a harbor freight adjustable shop stool. Don't have any pics, though. Sorry.
If being highly portable is a concern, I think aluminum would be the way to go for the frame. If more stability is needed, make the feet a little large and bring some sandbags or bags of lead shot. Toting awkward & heavy steel tables to and from ranges just isn't fun.
The one I built is permanent, with treated 4x4s anchored 30" into the earth. Top is 4x5 3/4" OSB on a 2x4 frame, with cutouts for both normal people and southpaws. 36" high. No built in seat; we use a harbor freight adjustable shop stool. Don't have any pics, though. Sorry.
If being highly portable is a concern, I think aluminum would be the way to go for the frame. If more stability is needed, make the feet a little large and bring some sandbags or bags of lead shot. Toting awkward & heavy steel tables to and from ranges just isn't fun.
dubbleA, that is outstanding!! Thanks very much for the photos. A steel top really helps to simplify the construction. How tall is the bench? I'll have to call around to find a 4'x4'x3/8" steel plate. I have a plasma cutter so can easily cut it to any desired shape once it's welded in place.
MachIVshooter, I'll probably end up making two benches, one for inside my reloading room and one to be placed on an existing concrete slab for outdoor shooting when the weather is cooperative. I want one inside so that I can shoot from a warm location during the coldest months here in Montana. That bench will definitely be steel/wood but the outside bench could be poured concreted and permanent.
MachIVshooter, I'll probably end up making two benches, one for inside my reloading room and one to be placed on an existing concrete slab for outdoor shooting when the weather is cooperative. I want one inside so that I can shoot from a warm location during the coldest months here in Montana. That bench will definitely be steel/wood but the outside bench could be poured concreted and permanent.
zerobarrier
Contributing Member
I found this rugged buddy awhile back and built one. I works great and is very sturdy. I think I cost around $75 or less. Here is a link to the site that tells you everything you need, even gives a video on how to make it.
http://www.ruggedbuddy.com/Rugged-Buddy-Sawhorse.html
http://www.ruggedbuddy.com/Rugged-Buddy-Sawhorse.html
Arizona_Mike
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I was eager to make a minimal hardware one that attaches to a 2" receiver (raised tailgate as a sun and rain shield) until I read Arizona game regulations . . .
It's hard to beat mail order these days. I have the "Big Game Swivel Action Shooting Bench" sold by Cabela's, Sears, and Amazon and it works great. I plan to put a pipe in the ground to replace the tripod at a few of my favorite shooting locations.
Mike
It's hard to beat mail order these days. I have the "Big Game Swivel Action Shooting Bench" sold by Cabela's, Sears, and Amazon and it works great. I plan to put a pipe in the ground to replace the tripod at a few of my favorite shooting locations.
Mike
My 2 cents worth...
Part of the fun is making the bench if you have the desire and equipment.
If you do not make the bench fixed, make sure you have some adjustment in the legs to level the top and account for un-even surfaces. The cool way would be with acme threaded screws but they are not available at the local hardware store.
Part of the fun is making the bench if you have the desire and equipment.
If you do not make the bench fixed, make sure you have some adjustment in the legs to level the top and account for un-even surfaces. The cool way would be with acme threaded screws but they are not available at the local hardware store.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
I just clamp a piece of plywood into my Workmate bench for shooting out back. I do like the look of that Rugged Buddy setup though and our anniversary is coming up... 
Arizona_Mike
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You'll get no argument from me! My personal motto is "Why pay someone to do something when you can do it yourself, take twice as long, pay three times as much, and injure yourself in the process?"
However for me it is a matter of time management and picking my projects.
Mike
g.willikers
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How about adapting a school chair like this one:
http://www.schoolfurniture4less.com/yu-ycx-032-gg.html
http://www.schoolfurniture4less.com/yu-ycx-032-gg.html
cfullgraf said:
I have a Miller MIG welder, Hypertherm plasma cutter and a Dewalt multi-cutter chop saw so a steel bench isn't too much of a challenge. As I get older I focus more on necessity than desire and this is definitely a necessity. One of the reasons I like a three-legged bench is that they don't need leveling the way four legged benches do. I called a steel shop today and a 4'x4'x3/8" steel plate is $196. A 4'x4'x1/4" plate is $128. I haven't decided which thickness to buy yet but I did sort of figure out how I want the top to be. I drew this modified T shape in SolidWorks and it seems to be a popular style. It's based on a 4'x4' square with 18" wide base. I might drill a bunch of holes so that I can attach a nice piece of plywood or similar to the top side. I'll use the off cuts to make feet similar to those that dubbleA shows in his photos. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Even if they don't work for me, others might find them to be just what they're looking for.
1858, I work in a fab shop as I attend college. Solid Works is what our engineers use among other programs. You should be able to send a file(dxf?) to your steel supplier and have them burn your patterns for top and feet/accessory pieces from your excess material. They could probably burn the holes you want for the wooden top as well. With Solid Works the sky is the limit, you could design every piece and have it cut with minimal waste. We deal with 1"-6" steel plates but the thinner materials burn out real nice. That would save you some work and maybe not incur too much additional cost.
osprey176
Member
I put one together with two layers of 3/4" plywood and galvanized pipe screwed to angle cut and welded female couplings. Three legs and a swivel topped five gallon bucket for a seat. Innovative Technologies website has the plans that I followed,more or less. Its very sturdy and portable so I can take it to impromptu ranges and prairie dog shoots.
futurerider103
Member
I didn't get real serious about the one I made for my son but it works. I made it from heavy duty pallets from work.
alsaqr
Member
It's good to see the different ideas and approaches for shooting benches. I'm leaning towards this shape for the top ... still with three legs. I don't know many left handed shooters so I might only cut the left side to start with or even move the left cutout to the center. Decisions, decisions.
Chuck R.
Member
I built two of these for our local club this spring, Very sturdy, even with the wheels it's a workout for one guy to move.
Looks like we used the same plans.. ..minus the wheels. Mine's going on 9 years now. I also used synthetic decking for my top:
Chuck
Fella's;
I built three benches last fall. The top shape is much like 1858's latest effort but with a slightly longer full table and a bit shorter T leg. The two front legs are 2" steel pipe set 30" in the ground and filled with concrete. The rear leg is 3" pipe, also filled. The rear is drilled for vertical adjustment of the seat. The cross-bore holes were over-sized & then a filler pipe went in so no concrete to interfere with the seat adjustment pins. The seat base swivels, the seat can be adjusted fore & aft, and the old tractor seats also swivel. If you can't find your position, you're weird. The tops were formed in place using link-strut to keep them in position during pour and cure. The tops are four inches thick and have fairly extensive tied rebar in the interior. They were covered in hay and tarped over last winter to cure before use. This year, they've been used.
These benches are modeled after those at the Stuckenhoff range in Casper Wyoming. They have proven to be an excellent design IMHO. I don't do pictures, but if you want to see them, I'd think the city of Casper may have them of the range. The boys and I are happy with the effort, and they're literally rock-solid for extended range shooting.
900F
I built three benches last fall. The top shape is much like 1858's latest effort but with a slightly longer full table and a bit shorter T leg. The two front legs are 2" steel pipe set 30" in the ground and filled with concrete. The rear leg is 3" pipe, also filled. The rear is drilled for vertical adjustment of the seat. The cross-bore holes were over-sized & then a filler pipe went in so no concrete to interfere with the seat adjustment pins. The seat base swivels, the seat can be adjusted fore & aft, and the old tractor seats also swivel. If you can't find your position, you're weird. The tops were formed in place using link-strut to keep them in position during pour and cure. The tops are four inches thick and have fairly extensive tied rebar in the interior. They were covered in hay and tarped over last winter to cure before use. This year, they've been used.
These benches are modeled after those at the Stuckenhoff range in Casper Wyoming. They have proven to be an excellent design IMHO. I don't do pictures, but if you want to see them, I'd think the city of Casper may have them of the range. The boys and I are happy with the effort, and they're literally rock-solid for extended range shooting.
900F
loose noose
Member
I've got two one is commercial 3 legged design I believe I got it from Cabela's, which weighs in at 50#, and is extremely stable. The other one is handmade from the directions from an old NRA article, using 3/4" plywood, covered with felt with a piece of 2X4 screwed and glued underneath the piece of plywood. Note: I cut the plywood in an L-shape for right hand shooters only, but it could have been cut either way. The top then goes on top of an older Workmate work bench, and I use a padded small stool for a seat. Works for me and mine and again is very stable, the only drawback is you have to carry a lot of gear just get it set up, but once done it definitely does the trick.
Not nearly as neat as a steel bench, but not nearly as permanent either. Kind of reminds me of when I first moved out here, when I went to the local public shooting range which is not monitored and erected a shooting bench which I thought would be permanent, 4X4 legs, 2X2 top and a seat made of wood and attached to the bench. Indoor/outdoor carpeting on the shooting surface. Covered all the wood in Thompson's Waterproofing solution, and sunk it in the ground approximately 2'.
Needless to say a game warden friend of mine commented on what a neat bench, but I doubt it will last very long. He tried it and thought this is definitely the cat's meow.
Well he was right after having used it 4-5 times myself I went out there and found the bench all shot up, and eventually burned, therefore I use only portable shooting benches, except when I go to my monitored gun club.
Not nearly as neat as a steel bench, but not nearly as permanent either. Kind of reminds me of when I first moved out here, when I went to the local public shooting range which is not monitored and erected a shooting bench which I thought would be permanent, 4X4 legs, 2X2 top and a seat made of wood and attached to the bench. Indoor/outdoor carpeting on the shooting surface. Covered all the wood in Thompson's Waterproofing solution, and sunk it in the ground approximately 2'.
Needless to say a game warden friend of mine commented on what a neat bench, but I doubt it will last very long. He tried it and thought this is definitely the cat's meow.
Well he was right after having used it 4-5 times myself I went out there and found the bench all shot up, and eventually burned, therefore I use only portable shooting benches, except when I go to my monitored gun club.
CB900F said:
I really appreciate your response since it caused me to change the top design to that shown below which might be closer to the style that you built. This "final" design will give me plenty of room and will allow for left and right handed shooters. I'm picking up the steel tomorrow and should be able to post some photos of my new bench next week.
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