Need advice for a permanent shooting bench

[TAJ45]

Looking for a 15 year life span, will soon be 70.

Specifically, the top construction, profile and make up. Sak Crete can be had and is rated @ 4,400 psi which surprised me when talking to a foundation guy. I thought that stuff was really poor quality. I wouldn't do a garage floor of course but it sounds like it will tote the note for a bench top if the consensus would be go concrete.

I do have a front loader on a small tractor with turf tires. How small? wellll, a 9 - - series JD, 1992 vintage. Not sure what it would lift. The bush hog would help with the counter balance. It is well above the mighty mite size but probably a bit smaller than a Ford 8N. I also have beaucoup T posts to cut and use for rebar if necessary, orrrr mesh?

Platform? I may need to elevate the benches as there is a slight roll to the terrain on intermediate ranges, 2-300 yds. There is a masonry knee wall, abt 18" high that I could use for a rear support for the bench platform. 6x6 treated posts for front corners and middle as needed for span support. Notch for ledger or just screw/bolt ledger to main posts?

I also have some larger, sawn beams from a portion of a barn blow down, not treated but very healthy, maybe 6"x10"x20'. Chain saw those to length and treat before assy.

Any hints, suggestions, no matter how elementary are welcomed. I've learned over the years that no one thinks of EVERY thing.

Definitely a TIA guys.

 

[M14AMU]

This works for me:

Shootbn by Rick Mulhern, on Flickr

1 1/2" square tubing and tires from the Tractor Store! With this dude a shooter can get their chest against the bench and both elbows down solid and it's akin to shooting out of a vise!

shootbn3 by Rick Mulhern, on Flickr

 

[Fast14riot]

Wood, then fiberglass over it.

 

[LHSmith]

If you absolutely want to discount the bench as a variable -Concrete top over 3 -8" sonotube piers. I poured a bunch and was able to transfer them from sawhorses ( form was set-up on top of them) to my pick-up and off loaded to the piers. A couple I moved by my-self. I did some with concrete block piers, but people have a habit of sitting on the bench tops and the block needs to be redone despite rebar. Use rebar in top.
I am anal about benches. I shoot BR comp. and every venue that has wood benches there is noticeable movement. At venues that have concrete benches, the problem of movement is non-existent.

 

[Shynloco]

.....

I am anal about benches. I shoot BR comp. and every venue that has wood benches there is noticeable movement. At venues that have concrete benches, the problem of movement is non-existent.

IMHO, without a strong based bench, you are at a severe disadvantage from the git go. At the club club where I shoot, we have mostly wooden style benches, though fair sized and heavy. We even have a few steel framed benches with wooden slats on the top covered by rug. The lower parts are ok, but the rug business is a bad idea in my opinion. I even built a large wooden bench and tried outdoor carpeting on top which is a bit better than the shag rug crap. But solid concrete benches are still the best because like LH says, "the problem of movement is non-existent." Now I do like the idea of the pictured bench with wheels, but figuring out how to fully anchor the thing is the problem to overcome. Any movement whatsoever is counterproductive to accuracy, which is why I dislike those small portable shooting benches. May be great for a casual shooting outing. But ain't worth the effort for finding best accuracy or competitive shooting. Just my .02 worth.

Alex