Looking for a good portable shooting bench

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ImARugerFan

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I'm looking for a portable shooting bench, maybe something like this:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...s&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=bench&noImage=0

Just wondering if any of you guys have experience with anything like this. I'd like to be able to shoot accurately, currently I have an MTM shooting rest that I put on a fairly unstable plastic sawhorse style table. It's OK, but not very sturdy, and I have to pack a chair separately. It'd be nice to have this in one piece. Weight isn't a major concern, I won't be carrying this thing very far, just putting in the truck, and then taking it out when I get to the field.

I actually think I would like to find a table with a seat, that I could use regular sandbags on. I open for suggestions though.
 
I can only give you anecdotal evidence, but I prefer a heavier shooting bench to any of the plastic/tubular jobs. I am also suspicious of any shooting bench with an attached seat. I prefer a separate seat on the theory that, being uncoupled from the bench, it would result in fewer opportunities for unwanted motion of the bench.

The guy in the photo is not going to get the best accuracy (I'm assuming the reason you want a bench is to test for inherent accuracy). Better to have a short rest and rear beanbag, or a pair of bags, and hunker down low where you can get the best support. Hence, I personally would have no use for an attached rifle rest. Just my opinion-- others will vary greatly.

We made a bench using some void-free birch laminate 3/4" plywood. It's pretty affordable, and one 4 x 8' sheet can be cut and doubled up using deck screws to form a 1.5" heavy bench top. A little work with a jig saw and you have the desired shape. We then attached some folding legs (the type typically found on 8' folding cafeteria tables) we got from a local hardware store. I've used other people's plastic benches, and prefer our heavier wooden one far and away. You're not going to be carrying it far, because it's heavy, but I never have a need to carry it far-- just in and out of the pickup. In the field I'm going to be shooting from prone or sitting (no bench or other fiddly bits). Standing position as a last resort.
 
For heavy benches just attach some wheels like hand trucks.

Sometimes I use Rubbermaid/Lifetime plastic top folding tables. It's seems ok but it is flimsy. It's hollow plastic meant to support foods, etc.
 
Build your own

Here are the plans that I used and was so impressed with the sturdiness, stability and portability that I built a second. I used smooth, metalic paint on the metal parts for the 1st one but found this great textured spray-paint, "Krylon" I believe, that is fantastic.

Here is where to find the plans :

http://www.larrywillis.com/shootingbench.html

P.S. To make this more portable for Prairie Dog shooting I attached shoulder straps to the bottom side. They're there if you need them and are out of the way while you're shooting.
 
Here is a portable bench I built a few years ago. It is self-storing when apart, and very portable. Also solid as a rock due to the three leg design.
Total cost was under 50 bucks.

No, it's not a solid concrete Bench-Rest monolith, but serves very well for sub-MOA group shooting & sighting-in chores.

Note: Trough routed around outer edge to keep brass from rolling off on the ground.
Shootingbench3.jpg

Shootingbench4.jpg


Note: Hose covered wire gun rests along right edge to lean guns on without them falling over.
Note: Seperate front & rear rests are trapped by legs when they are screwed into the holders under bench.
Shootingbench2.jpg

rcmodel
 
Here are the plans that I used and was so impressed with the sturdiness, stability and portability that I built a second. I used smooth, metalic paint on the metal parts for the 1st one but found this great textured spray-paint, "Krylon" I believe, that is fantastic.

Here is where to find the plans :

http://www.larrywillis.com/shootingbench.html

P.S. To make this more portable for Prairie Dog shooting I attached shoulder straps to the bottom side. They're there if you need them and are out of the way while you're shooting.
Click to expand...

Yeah, i've been considering making something. It only needs to be somewhat portable, I'm not going to be carrying it very far, just putting it in the back of the truck, and unloading it at the range. Those plans are nice, but they require welding. Here's an option for the rest of us, using legs from a regular folding table:

http://www.californiavarmintcallers.com/shotbnch.htm
 
Shooting Benches

http://www.doatactical.com Why don't you give my bench a try. It is made here in the good old USA and we are a Veteran owned company, plus we have a great bench. Sounds like you are tired of buying benches, this should be the last one you would ever need to get. www.doatactical.com
 

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I've got a set of the welded up "screw in the pieces of pipe" brackets somewhere. I'll probably come across them while cleaning out the garage next week (moving). How about $30 in a USPS priority 2 day box?
 
I actually have the one you have the link to. I would not recommend that bench. It doesn't do anything particularly well. It's not light, the front rest leaves a great deal to be desired, the bench is not comfortable. When disassembled it doesn't package well, the front rest attaches with Velcro when disassembled. It's awkward to carry and store. It will do in a pinch but I would tell you to keep looking.
 
Gearhead1 - I was going to look into dotactiocals bench until you said you didn't like it, can you tell me do you think it would handle a AR50, I saw you are a member of FCSA. Also, do you have a other recommendation?

Keith
 
Thank you ImARugerFan, you are right. I was referring to the bench linked in the original post. The DAO looks like a nice bench but I have no experience with it. I know that there are a couple of reasonably priced benches they're making exclusively for .50 shooters. I see these pictured in the FCSA's quarterly magazine. If you're interested I'll see if I can dig up a link.
 
Gearhead1

Thanks for the links, I am still researching, I am looking for a bench and rear monopod for my Ar50, your first link looks good, I will see if I can find more info on them.

Thanks, Keith
 
D.O.A. Tactical Shooting Bench

If you need a bench that can handle a 50BMG the D.O.A. Bench will do it all day long. I have 3 different tabletops to incorporate those longer guns like the 50BMG.
 
All

Got a phone call from DOA tactical, Brent was very informative and I bet His shooting bench is going to be the real deal, he took a lot of time and asked good questions on what I needed the bench for and why I was going to have 125 lbs on it, he is going to build one for me 3 inch's longer and place 150 lbs on it to make sure I will be happy with it before he ships it out to me, you can't ask for any better customer service, I am already betting if it passes his test it will pass mine, oh by the way, AR50 43 lbs, front rest 50 lbs, rear rest 30 lbs (this one a guess), in case you wanted to know how I got to 125 lbs, 123 anyway, couple pds for ammo might be needed. LOL

Anyway guys thanks for the help searching for a portable bench, can't wait till it arrives, I'll report back.

Keith
 
I realize this is an old thread, but the top thread is my referring to my bench that Cabela's sells. You can get it cheaper on my website if intrested. please click the link below in my signature.
 
D.O.A. Tactical Shooting Bench

Take the time to check out our new website at http://www.doatactical.com
our benches are currently being used by SOCOM, the US Army, and the USMC.

SAEPE EXPERTUS, SEMPER FIDELIS, FRATER INFINITAS
(Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever)
 

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My dream is to build a shooting trailer, with a built-in bench and gobs of storage. Similar to these, but I'd probably go overboard with it. If I only had a place to store it.....

trailer02.jpg

trailer01.jpg
 
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