portable benches
- Thread starter reelxprs
- Start date
I think I'd classify the NC 1000 yard benches as "movable" rather than "portable." They are not taken apart, but stored in a trailer. I've seen one person carry one by himself. Once. After that, though young & strong, he did what the rest of us do: use two people.
You can make a pretty good portable bench using threaded 2-inch pipe and a double layer of 3/4 inch plywood. You could get by with just 3/4" ply and 1" pipe. Not as rigid.
Set the threaded caps to take the pipe on a wooden wedge, so they splay a bit. As to design, it is harder to level up a four-legged bench, but they are sturdier.
Hope to see you next year at the matches.
You can make a pretty good portable bench using threaded 2-inch pipe and a double layer of 3/4 inch plywood. You could get by with just 3/4" ply and 1" pipe. Not as rigid.
Set the threaded caps to take the pipe on a wooden wedge, so they splay a bit. As to design, it is harder to level up a four-legged bench, but they are sturdier.
Hope to see you next year at the matches.
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4Mesh
Guest
Having carried those benches Charles mentioned, I can attest to them being nice and heavy. I have a bench much like those, and even donated a nice set of legs to the VA club when I left mine at the Nats one year. I used the same arrangement for legs that they did with the two pieces of telescoping steel pipe. I like the extra smooth stuff the best but I don't think it really matters. The biggest thing I'd say is to use a good steel square tubing for the table frame and then weld the floor flanges to that so you can attac/remove the legs. Splay them as Charles says, and use something solid, like pieces of 3/8x3/4" steel for the spacer that holds it at an angle. Weld them solid enough and you'll have a bench that you might actually prefer shooting from after you get used to it. Be certain to make it long enough for your longest gun, plus about 8" (is my advice). My heavy gun rests use every inch of the ones at the aforementioned clubs.
I'd also recommend welding big heavy washers on for feet, or if you happen to have some slugs from punching steel, use those with no holes in the center. A nice flat foot on the thing is a whole lot better in wet soil than having it sink into the dirt as you shoot. Ymmv.
I'd also recommend welding big heavy washers on for feet, or if you happen to have some slugs from punching steel, use those with no holes in the center. A nice flat foot on the thing is a whole lot better in wet soil than having it sink into the dirt as you shoot. Ymmv.
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nhkuehl
Guest
Portable bench
One of my friends fabricated this portable bench for me with 2" tubular steel legs angled out 5 degrees and a 3/4" plywood top. He welded skid plate feet on the legs. It's very solid and stable. He also made a carrier for the three legs and put a handle on the side of the bench. I use it at the range and varmint hunting. nhk
One of my friends fabricated this portable bench for me with 2" tubular steel legs angled out 5 degrees and a 3/4" plywood top. He welded skid plate feet on the legs. It's very solid and stable. He also made a carrier for the three legs and put a handle on the side of the bench. I use it at the range and varmint hunting. nhk
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Greg Culpepper
Guest
reelxprs,
We built about 20 portable benches for the 600 yd IBS program at Oak Ridge (ORSA) and several others for individuals. The tops are 44" long and 29" wide with a cutout for the shooter. They're three layers of 5/8" plywood glued and screwed and much heavier than I prefer to throw in and out of the truck. In the future I plan to use only 2 layers. The legs are 1 1/4" black iron pipe, 32" long on the front and 24" on the back with a telescoping piece of 1" 14" long inside for leveling. The short piece is set to length with a 1/2"x13"x3/4" long hex bolt through a nut welded 2" above the bottom of the 1 1/4" section. At the top are brackets made from 5"x5" 10 ga. plates with a 1 1/4 merchant coupling (steel) cut off at 18 degrees welded on at the center and angled so the leg points out from the corner of the top (45 degrees). The tops of the legs are threaded and the bottoms have flat caps welded on. The plates are secured onto the bottom of the wooden tops with four 5/16" carriage bolts. I continue to make additional 3 and 4 leg sets for folks who make their own tops if you're interested.
Greg
We built about 20 portable benches for the 600 yd IBS program at Oak Ridge (ORSA) and several others for individuals. The tops are 44" long and 29" wide with a cutout for the shooter. They're three layers of 5/8" plywood glued and screwed and much heavier than I prefer to throw in and out of the truck. In the future I plan to use only 2 layers. The legs are 1 1/4" black iron pipe, 32" long on the front and 24" on the back with a telescoping piece of 1" 14" long inside for leveling. The short piece is set to length with a 1/2"x13"x3/4" long hex bolt through a nut welded 2" above the bottom of the 1 1/4" section. At the top are brackets made from 5"x5" 10 ga. plates with a 1 1/4 merchant coupling (steel) cut off at 18 degrees welded on at the center and angled so the leg points out from the corner of the top (45 degrees). The tops of the legs are threaded and the bottoms have flat caps welded on. The plates are secured onto the bottom of the wooden tops with four 5/16" carriage bolts. I continue to make additional 3 and 4 leg sets for folks who make their own tops if you're interested.
Greg
Rich De
Member
Here are the benches I built for the Catawba Valley Wildlife Club in Hickory NC. It is all 2" welded tubular steel with 3/4" plywood tops. They weight 80 lbs. and are as stable as shooting on concrete benches. Definitely go the three leg design. No matter what the surface, they will be stable. http://www.catawbawildlife.org/rifle_range.html Once you get to to the site go to the "events and photos" Rich De
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T Pohl
Guest
Rich would you have the dimensions of the benches?
Terry Pohl
Terry Pohl
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vinny
Guest
I have a bench made by a guy outwest, it's easy to carry, setup and it's real sturdy. Here is the link, www.shootingbenches.com.
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T Pohl
Guest
Thanks Rich I think I am going to try to build one and see how it turns out. If I like it I know I will have two are three to build for my Brothers and one sister.
Terry Pohl
Terry Pohl
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gt40
Guest
Joe Duke
Active member
The attached bench top is three layers of 3/4" plywood. Its about 35" square as all three pieces were cut out of one sheet of plywood. The legs are 2 1/4" oilfield tubing angle welded onto flat plates about 6" square. The legs are bolted onto the top with 1/2" bolts. Key to its performance is the rachet strap attached to the bottom middle of the bench. An anchor is driven into the ground and then the rachet strap pulls the bench tightly down to the ground. Its close to as stable as a good concrete bench. One person can move it but, it is heavy enough that you really need a friend to help.
Joe
Joe
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Rich De shared his bench design with me a few years ago, our club built them and they are a perfect portable design but very solid. The key to them being solid is by a 3 leg design, not 4. Ron Tilley
Boyd Allen
Active member
I have a "portable" bench that may be used as either a three leg, or four. When used with four, one of the legs is adjustable, and it is that configuration that is the most stable. One feature of the design is that the top is shaped so that you can sit directly behind the rifle without one's chest touching the bench, but with good support for both arms. the legs are 1 1/2" pipe. The sockets are made from angle cut couplings that are welded to 1/4" plates that are 5" sq. in front and one piece across the back. The diagonal leg angles are about 16 degrees. The whole thing weighs about 85#.