Portable Shooting Bench/Table

[chuckshooter]

The Caldwell stable table is the best bang for the buck, but there are several modifications that need to be done in order to make it function well. Or you can buy the BR and not have to modify it as much. The first modification is the tabletop. Look in Facebook marketplace or craigslist for someone giving away or selling a cheap solid wood table, a table with no leaves. And four legs on the perimeter. Figure out the pattern you want cut it and install it. Next modification is the seat. You can buy a tractor seat from tractor supply, or a boat seat from Walmart. The next modification is to install a bushing in the shaft that goes into the leg bracket. It's basically a piece of sheet metal that is rolled to go around the shaft about 6 in long by about 6 in wide, once rolled it becomes a metal bushing, grease both sides it takes up the slack and allows the table and seat pivot on the legs. I welded a small bolt and bracket on the very bottom, so they cannot come apart in the field. Very handy for moving. They're definitely not as good as Rick's tables, but they work fine and I've been using mine for over 20 years.

 

[chuckshooter]

Table

 

[chuckshooter]

Bottom of bracket

 

[Rick300]

I think maybe the DOA bench comes closest to the BR?

 

[chuckshooter]

Shooting on a cold day from the top of the truck, able to pivot 360°, of course if you have a shooting buddy up there with you, more like 270°

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Make your own. Someone on here makes and sells steel leg brackets, you would need to buy 3 pcs of pipe for the legs and a sheet of plywood for the top. you want 3 legs not 4 as you will never get the 4 legs to sit even and steady.
Type in shooting bench brackets in the search tab, i believe Lonny in ID IS WHO SELLS THEM.

PM sent to Lonny. Thanks!!!

 

[Blaster 1]

Chuckshooter how thick of sheet metal did you use for shims on the caldwell bench?

 

[DRK]

Got to be honest, sort of scared to try the Caldwell. I'm no lightweight (260) I hate gambling and want to do it right the first time! Rick, I'm pretty convinced were not going to find one of yours. However, my fingers are crossed.

I've had a 400 lb + man on mine. If you want to pay freight on the material I have extra.

 

[chuckshooter]

PM sent to Lonny. Thanks!!!

I know for me, it was a complete game changer having a table that pivots.

 

[chuckshooter]

Chuckshooter how thick of sheet metal did you use for shims on the caldwell bench?

I don't remember, it's been 20 years, I have 2 of these and I do remember that they were different sizes. lucky for me I was a contractor and had metal flashing just hanging around to chose from. I do take them apart every couple of years and grease them. it's not a precision fit. there is some play

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Back in the day I made two shooting tables. The concept was good, but I still had way to much flex. I had a buddy fab me up the same type of brackets the Lonney offers and I used 1/4" plate. I the used 1" marine plywood, sealed it and went to the field with it. I then realized I should have doubled up on the plywood, as the 1/4" plate was to much weight. The front brackets were made as one and scanned from one side to the other. The galvanized piping used was overkill as well. So, with that, I will try it again and improve on my build.

 

[M-61]

Got to be honest, sort of scared to try the Caldwell. I'm no lightweight (260) I hate gambling and want to do it right the first time! Rick, I'm pretty convinced were not going to find one of yours. However, my fingers are crossed.

Can’t quite match 260 but I’m up there. No problem at all. A friend I have is somewhere north of 300 and he ha no problem either. Actually he’s probably at least 350#.

 

[M-61]

View attachment 1662066View attachment 1662067
My pile, seats need more stabilty (3rd wing).

Great looking bench. Doesn’t appear to be too portable.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Another one to consider is the DOA bench. Made by former Marines, so there's that, and it appears to basically be a copy of the original design but is still available. Their bench features a tilt adjustment and the top is lightweight honeycombed material.

Portable Shooting Bench | D.O.A Shooting Benches

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www.doashootingbench.com

The DOA bench is rated for 500lbs, so you're all set there. I have no experience with this unit, as it came available just as I sold my patent to MidwayUSA.

 

[Just Say Moe]

I'll throw out a budget option - Burchwood Casey - rated for 300lbs. Mine was a previous iteration (Big Game?) that I got for <$100 a few years ago. I put it in my truck bed and shoot from there as it is not very portable at 38lbs. It is very much prairie dog accurate. Mine has been to Iwo Jima and back and even fell out of my truck once and was run over making the top into a potato chip, but I beat it back into shape - it's that tough. The top is a wire mesh with a vinyl cover. I upgraded the seat with a Wal Mart boat seat (idea from someone here) because you will get the butt rot with the one that it comes with.
I varmint shoot alone so I can cover 360 degrees from my truck bed and have only shot my radio antenna twice. It is 6 inches shorter and still works fine haha. It's out of the way now!

It will probably be poo pooed here but it works and its affordable.

 

[5spd]

I built 4 of these eons back.
360* top and seat swivel, comes apart in 3 main pieces, storage over winter in 6 pieces.
Top slides over post, seat slides into base, legs can come out of center bracket.
It stays in my bed, gives me height, easy access, no hassle moving. I use a step stool to get in the bed.

 

[varmintmaster]

check out stukeysbenches.com
local club uses them for f class NRA waiver holders
shooters like them

 

[DogBuster]

Been using 3 legs for 25 plus years…quick and easy to move and level to changing fields

1 1/4” pipe is plenty…although I did build one using 1 1/2” pipe

Top was 48” long and the usual 1 1/2” thick…

Built it for the local SO..they used their Mac 50 on it

 

[RCE1]

Mike, tell me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure your search for a viable portable, rotating bench for the field is what you're after.

Those stationary benches/tables with legs are a total PITA in a hot rat patch, having to move them when the action appears 90 degrees~ from where your rifle is pointed. With a rotating bench, it matters not where the target is, just rotate to it and engage. I've been down the 3 and 4 leg bench road before, and that experience is what led to the BR Pivot.



Caldwell cheapened up my original patented design to make their bench more affordable and called it the "Stable Table". Much lighter than the original, less mass and only has one adjustable leg for leveling but works in leiu of 'the real thing'. If you go that route, be sure to get the model with the larger wooden top vs the dinky little plastic thing that passes for a bench top. No room for the shooting elbow or any amount of benchtop equipment. It's not the genuine article, but works in a pinch.

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www.opticsplanet.com

My neighbor gave me one of those. He used to work for the company that made them and had one he'd never used. He was a metalworker but not a shooter.

 

[JGSprecision]

Great looking bench. Doesn’t appear to be too portable.

folds flat, fits on UTV bed. But does tip scales at 75lb.