Bearing for Caldwell Shooting Table??

[K9TXS]

At the pivot point for the Caldwell Shooting Table, it does not have a bearing. I used one last April in the sage rat fields of Oregon and it was great.

This table is a remake of the original shooting table made by Rick in Oregon, a poster on this forum. After selling these for several years, he sold all the rights to Caldwell. Of course Caldwell had to cheapen it up some to make it easier to sell. Even though they did, it's still a good shooting table.

I'm sure someone out there has put a bearing at the pivot and I would like to know more about it.

 

[pre64win]

I made a bushing out of an eight pound Alliant powder jug, Hodgdon jugs are too thick. I cut a piece that would just fit around the pipe that supports the top and used it to fill the gap between it and the lower socket. You will have to remove the paint from the upright and sand it until it is smooth and a few thousandths smaller. I sprayed the upright and the inside of the bushing with silicone lubricant. When I finish shooting I lightly tighten the set screw and leave the leg bracket and the top support pipe together. I have used the table for two seasons since I did this and it is still tight with no wobble. When it wears out a replacement is cheap and easy. I hope this gives you some ideas on what you want to do.

 

[pre64win]

If you want to really make it nice add a top like this.

 

[Charles]

Use a Chevy wheel bearing and hub assembly

 

[centershot]

This is what you need:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G819DC1/?tag=accuratescom-20

This is what I used.

 

[Rick300]

Ordered! Thanks!

 

[K9TXS]

Use a Chevy wheel bearing and hub assembly

I've thought about this as well.

 

[K9TXS]

This is what you need:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G819DC1/?tag=accuratescom-20

This is what I used.

The ID is slightly over 1.5". Is this large enough?
I don't have a table yet so I don't know the what size bearing it would take.

 

[chuckshooter]

I use a bushing Like pre64win except mine is made out of sheet metal. I like the idea of the thrust bearing, but have never felt I needed more than the inexpensive sheet metal bushing provides. I have two tables and each one took a different thickness of sheet metal. If you go down that route you'll just have to measure and see what works. I formed it around a smaller piece of pipe, cut to fit, Lubed both sides. Been shooting off these for ten years now. I've also removed the thumb screw at the bottom as it's not necessary anymore. And I leave the leg support and upright together when the table is broken down. If they come apart, you have grease everywhere

 

[centershot]

I had to take the paint off of the shaft to get the 60mm bearing to fit. Then I also put a piece of sheet metal on the inside to get rid of some of the slop. the spring of the metal keeps it in place. To install the piece of metal, I used a large screw type radiator clamp to compress the metal. That way you don,t have to fight it. Insert the shaft into the yoke. Then just unscrew the clamp until it comes apart.