Concrete shooting bench top

[JFrank]

If you make a permanent bench, consider adding extra space to set gear, shoot pistols etc... We added an extension to connect the front of our benches. We also made the top and legs in one continuous pour to save build time
.View attachment 1131585

Hell yeah’
How bout a roof and a wood stove ta boot..

 

[ricco1949]

Hell yeah’
How bout a roof and a wood stove ta boot..

Yabut then u run the risk of Cheryl burning down your "He Shed".

 

[Rich S]

Hell yeah’
How bout a roof and a wood stove ta boot..

A roof would definetly be nice. Its been on the list of things to do. In the winter we shoot from a heated shop. Benches arent as nice but when its 20 outside 65 in the shop is nice. Mirage can be tough as heat is pulled through the window but we manage.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I shot at Washtenaw Sportsman’s club once in the winter with an indoor wood stove kicking out the BTUs and it (mirage) was horrid. In a more natural setting you can read mirage and wind flags but there was no remedy for mirage when the flags give no clue. At WWCCA in the winter you are shooting outdoors and with a roof and a back wall it isn’t all that bad. As a buddy in the furnace repair business told his customers as they waited for his house call, “Dress warm and keep moving”.
edit edit
I don’t see the love affair with a wooden bench top unless it it on a secure base. They have somewhat decent benches at East Tawas but you have to be careful not to lean on, fidget, move the bench when shooting Bench Rest. And to put a wooden top over a secure concrete bench and top makes no sense to me.

 

[dmoran]

Yep... built a "shoot house" in 2006 thinking it was going to be so great in the winter.
Well it is, but not with any heat on. Worse kind of mirage there is.
But still nice un-heated, to get wind chill off.



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@perazziguy
Because I feel it covers an array of equipment and rifle types better then others, this is my favorite bench top design:


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[dolek]

Yep... built a "shoot house" in 2006 thinking it was going to be so great in the winter.
Well it is, but not with any heat on. Worse kind of mirage there is.
But still nice un-heated, to get wind chill off.

View attachment 1131647

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@perazziguy
Because I feel it covers an array of equipment and rifle types better then others, this is my favorite bench top design:

View attachment 1131649
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You are right on the mirage . I shoot from my house during the winter , I have to cut the heat off to my shooting room well in advance to shooting and leave the window open...that mirage rolling out the window is some funky stuff to see through.

 

[martin22250]

My backyard bench, I can get dimensions if interested

 

[D Coots]

I've shot out of a heated building for years. A fan sucking cold air past the gun solves the problem. Put the fan in a window to exhaust the hot air.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

HoHoHoHoHo. You looking for comments about hot air in a shooting house? We know there’s plenty of hot air in there.

 

[shb]

The salvage yard sells pick up hoods every day.


Wtf

 

[dogdude]

Well here's what I work with
Very similar too Donovans design..old IBS benches from Rob Richie's place

 

[Spike A]

I built one out of steel a year ago for a buddy... it was #150.... but it has a Reese hitch on it so it can be picked up by 2 people slid in hitch and brought where ever... as long as it’s on steady ground it’s “concrete” solid ... it was pretty nice really though... local steel yard sells left overs very cheap... just a thought

 

[Earnhardt]

Has anyone used a left over/overstock/miscut granite counter top for a bench top?
It could be cut to size

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I would recommend against concrete bench tops. My local range has them and they don't hold bipods or rests very well.

But if you want, IM me and I will get you the dimensions at our local range as well as some pictures

I don't understand your statement. Concrete is not smooth like wood and will hold a rest very stable. As far as a bipod is concerned, why would it not hold it? An added plus to concrete is that by it's nature, it is very heavy and will not move around like wood might after it ages. People lean on benches, they pump them and loosen the fasteners on wood. No matter what you do, eventually wood will shake, rattle and roll. Concrete will stay in its exact installed condition and position for its lifetime unless you screw up the installation.

 

[garandman]

I don't understand your statement. Concrete is not smooth like wood and will hold a rest very stable. As far as a bipod is concerned, why would it not hold it? An added plus to concrete is that by it's nature, it is very heavy and will not move around like wood might after it ages. People lean on benches, they pump them and loosen the fasteners on wood. No matter what you do, eventually wood will shake, rattle and roll. Concrete will stay in its exact installed condition and position for its lifetime unless you screw up the installation.

Already addressed this elsewhere in this thread. I would ask that you continue reading. Thanx.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Already addressed this elsewhere in this thread. I would ask that you continue reading. Thanx.

I continued reading and am trying to get my head around the reason you can't load a mag on a concrete rest. Not trying to argue, just trying to understand.

 

[garandman]

I continued reading and am trying to get my head around the reason you can't load a mag on a concrete rest. Not trying to argue, just trying to understand.

I never said anything anywhere about loading a magazine on the bench.

Are you actually reading my posts?

I did talk about loading the bi pod on a concrete bench. It's not possible to do that.

Further, I talked about a wood top on a concrete bench. That is not going to wobble or loosen fasteners or any such thing. And with a wood top you will be able to load the bi pod

Really... are you actually reading my posts?

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

OK but I guess I don't under the statement "Loading a bipod.'

 

[garandman]

If all you are doing off the bench is shooting F class where you have very little/light engagement with the rifle, a concrete bench will be fine. But it wont work well for other disciplines where you have to load the bi pod to achieve Max accuracy .

 

[garandman]

OK but I guess I don't under the statement "Loading a bipod.'

Ok.... Loading the bipod is where you shoulder into the rifle literally pushing forward on it basically against the by pod. You need the bi pod to bite into the wood or surface from which you are shooting... The ground if prone… in order for the bipod to not just slide forward away from your shoulder pressure.

Loading the bi pod is done to enhance accuracy. It's not possible to load a bipod on a smooth impenetrable concrete surface. The rifle just slides forward, away from you.

Google Atlas bipods and look at the bipod feet that are available for it. They are specifically designed to bite into the surface so you can shoulder the rifle well