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Portable Shooting Bench/Table

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.
The stable table? Im 240 and 300 would be easily fine. I have the plastic top one. Good if you plan to hunt or don't want to make something. Also tons of miles offroading with it in the back of the truck. For targets id do something where the chair is separated.
 
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.


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 Mid

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.
Tell him I would like it and that it will be in good hands! ;)
 
The stable table? Im 240 and 300 would be easily fine. I have the plastic top one. Good if you plan to hunt or don't want to make something. Also tons of miles offroading with it in the back of the truck. For targets id do something where the chair is separated.
I sent Caldwell an email on the weight limit. We'll, see? So PM me and give me the scoop on yours.
 
I sent Caldwell an email on the weight limit. We'll, see? So PM me and give me the scoop on yours.
Mike Caldwell makes two different shooting tables. The stable table says on Amazon it’s a 275 weight limit. This one has the plastic top which is a big flaw in my opinion. I have this table and planning some day to make one out of wood.
They have a second stable table BR is the one Rick posted with the wooden top. I would imagine this one probably carries similar weight raiting.
 
Mike Caldwell makes two different shooting tables. The stable table says on Amazon it’s a 275 weight limit. This one has the plastic top which is a big flaw in my opinion. I have this table and planning some day to make one out of wood.
They have a second stable table BR is the one Rick posted with the wooden top. I would imagine this one probably carries similar weight raiting.
My problem with the top isn't the plastic. The top is way too short for modern stocks that are long with the bipod on a spigot.
 
Has anybody used the new Caldwell BR bench with wooden top? Don’t see many reviews. Since I can’t buy a BR pivot lite, this one seems closest to what I’m after. Looking for a good rotating table for shooting PDs.
 
As Caldwell has discontinued the "real thing", this iteration seems to be the next best thing in terms of a rotating bench with a top large enough for rifle, rest/bags, ammo, bino's etc. The seat they include begs for replacement though.


Anyone considering a pivot bench should know that the silly plastic top Caldwell uses on some of their offerings might be suitable as a frizbee, but not much more. It's too small to properly shoot a Daisey BB gun. If anyone goes this route, be sure to specify the wooden bench top version.
 
Make your own wooden table top for the stable table. I made mine out of 3/4 inch ply wood.
took the hardware off the plastic top and used it on the wood top. My own liking table top.
 
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$135

I splurged on a $30 cushy chair from Wal Mart, and bought one 2x4 to make casters for the feet. Could have bought sand feet for $15 but no need.
 
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1" top, with 1¼" EMT conduit with PVC caps as the legs. The legs have about 4" of adjustment for uneven ground. It is about 50lbs without the legs and stays very solid.
 

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The OP is known to me, and wants a portable field bench that rotates for what he wants to do with it. He is not considering any fixed-leg bench suggestions.

If a used BR Pivot or BRP Lite became available, a DOA bench, he'd jump on it straightaway.
 
SODAK outdoors in Mitchell Sd currently has a BRP on their floor. First time I have seen one other than pictures. Man that thing is beefy! I have a stable table and the BRP is thicker material all around(base, legs, and center shaft). Nice wood top that is 2x larger than the throwaway plastic top of the stable table. Only change I would make is to replace the seat with a nice padded boat seat with a high back on it..
The drawback on it is the total weight. like the stable table but it is 75lb once I replaced the seat and tabletop.
So last winter I bought a birch wood Casey swivel bench. Replaced the legs with longer ones(36”), made the base more adjustable, lengthened the center shaft and the seat bar, added the boat seat and a new table top. Total weight was 40lb!! Just spent a week with it shooting dogs and it worked great.

Also took a fire control test, chopped the back off it, and welded in a flat plate and added some non slip padding for a place to put a rear bag! This setup was half the weight as my Rock BR rest and much nicer to use for constant adjustments… Couldn’t be happier with it.


IMG_7040.jpeg
 
Looking at many pivot benches that have been modified by removing the stool seat and adding a 'boat seat' with a back, I'd like to make others aware of a caveat by doing so.

By adding a seat with a back, it promotes leaning back. This can produce a very nasty situation if the shooter is leaning back while the seat is positioned between two bench legs and tips himself, his rifle, all his gear and the bench itself onto the ground. We saw this happen at a Portland gunshow, also in the field when we saw a guy shooting in the rat patch a few years ago with a modified seat on his bench.

As usual, the laws of physics are strictly enforced. So if anyone is considering adding a boat seat to any swivel/pivot bench, be aware of this potential hazard. Once you see the results, it paints a strong picture in your memory. Personally, I do not lean back when shooting, and see no need for doing so.

This is just a PSA for those considering making their shooting bench into a lounge chair. We're all free to do as we please with our own equipment, just be aware of this potential hazard. JMO JME
 
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All the shooters at my local range MRPC (Miami Rifle and Pistol Club) use a radial saw stand from Menards. We then top it off with a wooden top. They tend to be fairly steady if you take the time to set it up correctly. I just checked Menards and the price on them has gone up drastically. I am pretty sure I only paid $50 for mine. Notice the brackets on the top. That is where we attach the wooden top and then the top is removable. The top adjustable sliders are removed and discarded. I don't remove my top, I am able to tilt mine up and use the wheels like a dolly and roll it to my truck to load in the back.

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By far the sturdiest rotating bench I’ve found is the DOA bench. Not as steady as a solid bench but if you plant your feet well, make sure the gun will track straight, and load the bipod a little it can be pretty dang close. Owner is super nice as well.

-RyanIMG_4561.jpegIMG_4590.jpegIMG_4461.jpeg
 
By far the sturdiest rotating bench I’ve found is the DOA bench. Not as steady as a solid bench but if you plant your feet well, make sure the gun will track straight, and load the bipod a little it can be pretty dang close. Owner is super nice as well.

-RyanView attachment 1667168View attachment 1667169View attachment 1667170
Looks like your bench has been modified to remove some of the wobble out of it with the black angled metal that going up to the front corners. Did you add it or has DOA make an improvement to their design?
More pictures modification would be greatly appreciated.
 
Looks like your bench has been modified to remove some of the wobble out of it with the black angled metal that going up to the front corners. Did you add it or has DOA make an improvement to their design?
More pictures modification would be greatly appreciated.
I modified this particular bench before they offered the additional support bracket. Now they offer it though as well as multiple leg holes which help on uneven ground. I did make the oak board for the top which allows me to put a slight load in my bipod. I "personally" prefer a accu-tac bipod over a front rest in prairie dog town. Many of the towns I shoot are more rolling type terrain and I am constantly needing to make vertical adjustments as I spin around from dog to dog. I also keep two heights of rear bags which I can quickly change in and out as well.
 

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