Permanent Shooting Bench Suggestions

[hpasquet]

I used concrete blocks and a concrete slab from an outdoor furniture store for a top. It is ROCK solid and has lasted many years. I have about $50.00 in it.

 

[264WM70]

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[SheepDog]

The permanent benches at the local range are three 8 inch concrete posts sunk 4 feet into the ground and a 4 inch thick concrete top. I cut a piece of tight loop carpet to go on top so my guns don't get scratched.

 

[people]

I like my benches longer so I can really lean into them.

 

[urbanrifleman]

If you don't ever plan to move it I'd go with concrete. Rock solid, fairly cheap to build and very little maintenance. We built 2 benches for ~$200. Attached are a few pics of the one we made a few years back. We poured the top and legs as one pour. Just used some scrap lumber and sona tubes to form it up. The second picture looks wet because I just sprayed sealer on it after stripping the forms. The last picture is after 5 years of use. The benches are right or left handed and we added a bench connecting them for gear or shooting pistols. We made the back part of the benches match the range we go to and added the front extension. The only thing I'd do different is order a truck of concrete instead of mixing by hand. It was a last minute thing and we formed and poured it on a Sunday so we just got a trailer of rock, sand and some cement. We were sore for a few days. Another bench we built we bought a used concrete top from the range when they changed them out. Its on wooden 6x6s.

View attachment 1016916 View attachment 1016917 View attachment 1017052

Dannnnngggg.... That's sexy like low taxes.

 

[Intheshop]

Build the concrete form to fit in a PU truck.Go find a friend pouring a driveway or sumthin.Give a case of beer.Either drive home wet or,park it....come back tomorrow.Then,back truck up to the bench location,unzip the form's sides,slide it off.Rebar,wire,and give it awhile to cure.But even if you buy bag mix it isn't that bad?Concrete is worth every bit of effort.

 

[spife7980]

I poured mine in a form on the ground next to the house and used a skip steer to lift it and set it in place out in the pasture. 3 3/4 tall (2x4 on edge was the form) 6' long and 36 deep

Dug down until I hit rock, about one blocks depth, and then planted the first block on the rock in a bed of concrete and built up from there. I chiseled out the rock so that the block columns would be of equal level height. Then I built up to right around 30 inches above grade with the block filled with concrete. Then a dollop of wet concrete on top of the columns to set the slab down on a remove any wiggle.

I figured I had gone this far so I might as well shelter it but other than exactly high noon I made it so tall that the sun still shines in. I guess its out from under rain. Not really worth it in hindsight and its where most of the cost went to.

And my steel field so far, seven plates from 75-600 yards. Planning on clearing more trees in back to try and take it out to 900 from this position.

 

[okie]

I poured mine in a form on the ground next to the house and used a skip steer to lift it and set it in place out in the pasture.

Dug down until I hit rock, about one blocks depth, and then planted the first block on the rock in a bed of concrete and built up from there. I chiseled out the rock so that the block columns would be of equal level height. Then I built up to right around 30 inches above grade with the block filled with concrete. Then a dollop of wet concrete on top of the columns to set the slab down on a remove any wiggle.

I figured I had gone this far so I might as well shelter it but other than exactly high noon I made it so tall that the sun still shines in. I guess its out from under rain. Not really worth it in hindsight and its where most of the cost went to.

And my steel field so far, seven plates from 75-600 yards. Planning on clearing more trees in back to try and take it out to 900 from this position.

what state??

 

[spife7980]

what state??

Central Texas

 

[okie]

Central Texas

yeah--pretty

 

[urbanrifleman]

I poured mine in a form on the ground next to the house and used a skip steer to lift it and set it in place out in the pasture. 3 3/4 tall (2x4 on edge was the form) 6' long and 36 deep

Dug down until I hit rock, about one blocks depth, and then planted the first block on the rock in a bed of concrete and built up from there. I chiseled out the rock so that the block columns would be of equal level height. Then I built up to right around 30 inches above grade with the block filled with concrete. Then a dollop of wet concrete on top of the columns to set the slab down on a remove any wiggle.

I figured I had gone this far so I might as well shelter it but other than exactly high noon I made it so tall that the sun still shines in. I guess its out from under rain. Not really worth it in hindsight and its where most of the cost went to.

And my steel field so far, seven plates from 75-600 yards. Planning on clearing more trees in back to try and take it out to 900 from this position.

I need to move there... Well done my friend.

 

[msinc]

As far as the bench goes you want concrete. I have tried it all and nothing is as stable as concrete. Not saying you cant shoot good groups off of wood...but, you can drive your car with your feet if you want to, but that don't make it a good idea!!!
Central Texas...I think I'd put a metal roof on it. I was there once, it got hot every day...all day...too hot.