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Dividers UNITE at Manatee

CaptainMal

Silver $$ Contributor
We just finished a steel shoot at Manatee using ALL the benches with dividers attached to each. Prior to today we were not allowed as the benches are 5, not 6 ft. apart. Now we can take more shooters per relay and we found some unintended consequences.

First look at the line and the dividers.

Imports - 1 of 1 (21) by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Imports - 1 of 1 (16) by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Each attaches to a bench and is easily removed for storage by folding up the legs so it is flat to carry and store. They are light, allow RSO's and observers to view the shooters and do more. Try this - dramatic reduction in muzzle blast and a bit in noise also.

Most all of us have experienced magnum explosions next to us on the bench and/or muzzle brakes directing a concussion at us as we shoot. GONE. We built all these because of the virus restrictions we had to deal with. Well now we can use all the benches, put on a normal program and reap the benefits of full visibility and no muzzle blast distractions.

Al Benarroch (Alibaba here ) designed and built these and is pleased to share his design with anyone else wanting or needing to have something like this for their range. Here is AL before the virus restrictions.

96764F2B-E4A3-4F3D-AC7D-D8CB3C0616A2_1_201_a by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

To see him now you just look through the divider. It is proof that a divider can unite us all for better shooting.
 
Larry (CaptainMal)
Thank you for your kind words I also will like to thank my staff for helping me put all 16 of them together.
It was pleasure seeing everyone having fun again and still be safe.
All. B
 
All looks younger glad y’all got something worked out. I’m tired of jumping through hula hoops but we will make through . Hope everyone is well in FLA .
Be Safe
David
 
There must have been a Master Plumber in the mix? :p

Seriously, great job with great results. Can't wait to shoot with You Guys again ! :cool:
 
Jim
Your 100% wrong it will work.
And if we have more then one left handed shooter we will have a relay just for them and they will shoot and have fun.
 
Good question. We will work on that at the IBS "Style" shoot next Saturday. We already have at least two left-handers signed up and we will surely have more than 16 shooters as already we have close to that without the regulars signed up. Think there are as many as 6 left-handers that come to Manatee to shoot with us.

The deal is we have 16 benches. Let us say we have 25 shooters next Saturday. That would be nice and not a problem. There just may be 4 left-handers. Well each relay would not be full. Put 12 -14 shooters on each relay and just leave open a single bench next to them.

Now if we did have 32 shooters and do that in two relays, we would have to assign two left-handers on the last bench of each relay. With our five-foot spacing between benches, there is little room right now for a left-hander to be right next to a right-handed shooter. We do it but that is probably difficult at most all ranges.

F2088F95-AFE2-43D0-8A3C-8D84E2ECBA55 by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Just thinking as this is the "old" way without dividers. Skipping a bench using dividers and dealing with left-handers would actually make the shooting experience more pleasant, unless you have a "thing' for the shooter right up against you.

Yeah for the dividers!
 
My first time utilizing these dividers was at least five years back at a range near Nashville. No, it wasn't for viral control it was for blast control and they really did mitigate the blast from some of those very efficient side port brakes.
They were made with corrugated fiberglass and 2x4 framework sitting on the ground but one time using them and you would never want to move them any way.
Last match season at another range near Montgomery, AL they started using permanently attached blast shields with the clear plexiglass. That has really sped things up since we no longer need to try and put all the brake shooters on the same relays.
I am in favor of these becoming a permanent fixture at all rifle ranges, virus or not!
 
Our range has them made of cardboard to deflect semi auto brass. The reduction in muzzle blast is GREAT. I like the plexiglass, nice work!
 
Cool dividers ....but a poor mounting concept.
Fix the mounting issue and it will be a great range upgrade for both social distancing and muzzle blast.
Hope more ranges see the advantage.

What mounting issue? There was never a mention of any problem at the range by anyone. Were you there?

They have rotating "feet" that can move to fit where you want them on OUR benches. The fit is tight - wind does not move them as they kind of act like a Chinese finger puzzle if tipped by the wind. No movement noted and easy on and off. Then easier storage. Light and very sturdy, they got praise on all levels from shooters for not only working but not interfering with the shooter.

After some testing with a pilot model last month, we found this to be quite workable and reliable. Bigger bonus is you can easily see through them.
 
The most important part is we were able to use all the benches with social distancing everybody had fun nobody complained and it went very very smoothly and yes we can see right through them from one side of the benches to the other side so are RSO Can see what’s going on in the event there’s anyone in trouble.
 
Guess as long as everyone shoots RH it is not an issue.
Glad your happy with them (regardless of the obvious).

Now you are just acting childish.

It's a great design and everyone had fun and that's all that matters . Way better than sitting behind a keyboard thinking about how you can pick apart a simple design that does it's job well.
 
Last edited:
Now you are just acting childish.

It's a great design and everyone had fun and that's all that matters . Way better than sitting behind a keyboard thinking about how you can pick apart a simple design that does it's job well.
You know it`s hard to please everyone. I always found it better to respond with an offer of a solution then to just criticize. Jeff
 
Jim
Your 100% wrong it will work.
And if we have more then one left handed shooter we will have a relay just for them and they will shoot and have fun.


Well then why don't you have one relay for the people that shoot brakes, instead of letting them interfere with non brake shooters ?
No the problem is simple the benches are too close together..... jim
 
Well then why don't you have one relay for the people that shoot brakes, instead of letting them interfere with non brake shooters ?
No the problem is simple the benches are too close together..... jim

Benches are 5 ft. apart. No reasonable way to move them farther apart and still have a usable range. We fill the concrete space under the roof and there are sides to the range we go right up against. To have fewer benches would be a major detriment, as we found out during this virus time when we could not use but 8 benches.

Bet it would cost us thousands to tear apart the entire shooting line and make a change in bench separation. You have that kind of money to give us?

Each relay is time-consuming. Way to difficult to have events last mega-hours, especially into the Summer heat and weather possibilities. Our target crew and helpers are not in it to spend 8-12 hours a day working on the monthly events. Nuts to multiple relays plus ... who is going to figure out a bench schedule after finding out who does or does not have brakes on their rifles?

We had fun shoots and serious ones for years. These dividers both allow us to continue having shoots during this pandemic and provide some relief from muzzle blast. It is a WN WIN situation. Put the left-handers together and you only lose the use of one bench. That's literally nothing compared to what we had before the dividers.
 
Good question. We will work on that at the IBS "Style" shoot next Saturday. We already have at least two left-handers signed up and we will surely have more than 16 shooters as already we have close to that without the regulars signed up. Think there are as many as 6 left-handers that come to Manatee to shoot with us.

The deal is we have 16 benches. Let us say we have 25 shooters next Saturday. That would be nice and not a problem. There just may be 4 left-handers. Well each relay would not be full. Put 12 -14 shooters on each relay and just leave open a single bench next to them.

Now if we did have 32 shooters and do that in two relays, we would have to assign two left-handers on the last bench of each relay. With our five-foot spacing between benches, there is little room right now for a left-hander to be right next to a right-handed shooter. We do it but that is probably difficult at most all ranges.

F2088F95-AFE2-43D0-8A3C-8D84E2ECBA55 by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Just thinking as this is the "old" way without dividers. Skipping a bench using dividers and dealing with left-handers would actually make the shooting experience more pleasant, unless you have a "thing' for the shooter right up against you.

Yeah for the dividers!


Donovan, what is wrong with this solution? I'm not a IBS shooter but it's a legitimate question . I'm trying to learn something, if there's a better way.

Don Dunlap
 

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