Best rotating shooting bench.

[4xforfun]

I guess the title says it all. I am going to go on a dog hunt this summer. I went a couple of years ago and brought along an old wooden bench. GINORMAS PITA!! I am going to buy a new bench because my fabricating skills are not very good. Also, I could use this to do some load development when my range is unuseable.

I found DOA Tactical has a nice one, but are there more out there? I DO NOT WANT CHEAP, RICKETY JUNK!! A plus would be that it be able to set up in the box of a pickup.

Thanks,
Tod

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I DO NOT WANT CHEAP, RICKETY JUNK!! A plus would be that it be able to set up in the box of a pickup.

Well....IF you can find one, this may be your best bet:



The BR Pivot Lite....been out of production for a while, but there's still some out there. From experience, it's the most stable one out there and sets up in the bed of pickups, even imports.

Caldwell now has the manufacturing rights, they may still list it, but I know they do not offer the Lite version, just a mostly steel unit.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Take that picture to a local fab shop and have them knock you one out

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

As Rick mentioned the BR pivot is top of the line if you can find one of the originals. I looked for one a few months with no success so I ordered a DOA Tactical. Overall they are a good bench although not the quality of the original BR pivot.

 

[bobinpa]

Take that picture to a local fab shop and have them knock you one out

I had a similar thought once....... A few years ago I bought 2 custom made pivoting benches from a guy on here. I liked them so much I asked him to make more as I had friends that may be interested. He was semi retired and didn't want to be bothered so I took the bench to a local fab shop and got an estimate of $1200.00 - $1500.00 each. Needless to say, I didn't get any more made. I didn't need to and nobody I knew would spend that much. My benches are VERY similar to the original BR Pivot and I really like them. My rifle smith has an original BR Pivot and it is also very stable but I'm not sure how the new ones compare since Caldwell bought them out. You can get the Caldwell version at Midway. Good luck.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/384204/caldwell-br-pivot-premium-shooting-bench-with-hardwood-top

 

[Rick in Oregon]

He was semi retired and didn't want to be bothered....

My rifle smith has an original BR Pivot and it is also very stable but I'm not sure how the new ones compare since Caldwell bought them out.

Well, I'm most likely that guy, and it wasn't a matter of not wanting to be "bothered", as I DID retire and closed up the shop so was unable to build any more. Besides, I had to sign a "non compete clause" with Midway, so was restricted in that regard to making any more benches.

I had a Midway version of my original bench, and other than having less cast alloy parts, it is exactly a duplicate and is just as stable but a bit heavier; probably not a bad thing in the field, just a bit less friendly to haul about.

Because of offshore fabrication, Midway is able to sell the BR Pivot for less than the U.S. made benches, so that may be a positive thing and make it more affordable. But I still get fellows asking if I have any originals stashed somewhere.....unfortunately, the answer is "no"....sorry.

 

[JRS]

Well....IF you can find one, this may be your best bet:



The BR Pivot Lite....been out of production for a while, but there's still some out there. From experience, it's the most stable one out there and sets up in the bed of pickups, even imports.

Caldwell now has the manufacturing rights, they may still list it, but I know they do not offer the Lite version, just a mostly steel unit.

Other than the girder style legs on your original, is the Caldwell essentially the same, Rick?

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Other than the girder style legs on your original, is the Caldwell essentially the same, Rick?

Yes it is. Their version uses rectangular steel tubing for the legs as the old Standard bench employed, so a bit heavier in that regard.

They were also unable to have their new supplier produce high-quality 6061 T6 castings, so the base assembly is now cast steel instead of aluminum, a bit more weight. Our original alloy castings were supplied by a Boeing Aircraft vendor, maker of their landing gear assemblies, so the quality was superlative. But the cost reflected all this.

 

[jkohler]

Unless they have changed the DOA tactical fit on the swivel seat is a mess. I bought one a few years ago because I was in need of a extra bench in a hurry. I was very disappointed in the fit and finish for the cost. I ended up rebuilding the seat swivel and the top swivel after the first use. The seat swivel was made of the the next size pipe that would fit over the main post. It had at lest a 1/8 inch of slop in it.

 

[Cujo]

My friend and I both have the BR Pivot with the steel base. I must've had it for about a dozen years now. It's rock solid and perfect for varminting, shooting in the desert, etc.

 

[Yagingaboy]

I use a Caldwell Stable Table and really like it. I slaughtered a lot of P-dogs last year off mine. The only issue I had was that it took about 5 min to set up and take down, and we moved a bunch in the 4 days of shooting. I am about 290 lbs so it must be pretty stout to hold all that up. Mine seems to be very stable as well.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

I use this one in the back of the pickup. It is rock solid. If I need to pivot I just move the pickup. For about $130 I thought it was a very good deal.

http://www.knotholedesigns.com/

 

[Dan Hall]

Rick in Oregon. Thank you for the best designed bench I've ever seen. I have 2 of the originals with the bags to carry them in. I bought them back in 96 & won't part with them as long as I shoot.

 

[MrMajestic]

I have a Stabil Table and it works well after gluing rubber to the top of the table. The hard plastic was way to slick for my liking. Also the weight restricts the distance I take it from the truck. I'm 5'11" and 215 Lbs. and carrying that thing,strapped together, along with a 15 lb. rifle and all the gear limits me to about 500 yards!

 

[Phil]

I have a Sturkey`s table and a bench that i am putting together myself.

One day i will be able to have Rick take a look at it, for his approval......

Phil.

 

[AckleymanII]

Notice the amount of area behind the bag, this is critical so that your rear bag will not fall off the bench.

Also, you need for the table top to be wide enough to where you can get your right elbow down on the table, elbows flopping in the breeze leade to inaccuracy.

Make sure the two above issues are addressed on your table tops. Narrow, short table tops are great for transport but are aggravating when it comes comfortable shooting.

Rick in Oregon's bench looks to be a great one!

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Mike in Oregon's bench looks to be a great one!

"Mike"? I know my mom named me "Richard", and I go by "Rick"......but do you know something I'm not privy to? 'Just kidding, and I thank you for your kind words in regard to my BR Pivot......assuming some guy named Mike is not making benches. Good points made also.

Dan Hall: Glad you were able to snag those benches and bag sets when they were available, and still think highly of the bench. The two BRP Lite models I still have and use get lots of use every season and in the off-season when I'm doing load development. One fellow forum member last year offered me an obscene amount of cash to part with one, but I had to refuse, as I just can't replace them at any cost.

A note on Midway's Stable Table.....an attempt to take the basic design of the BRP, cheapen it up so as to be more affordable, but still offer the basic tenants of a rotating bench. No match for the original, but still functional for those not wanting to spend the bucks for the "real meal deal". Choices are good, right?