Rotating Shooting Table (portable)

[itchyTF]

Rather than hijack another thread posted recently I thought I'd keep this separate. I made this earlier this year but just recently got pictures. There is another top design I did and wanted to show but I'm waiting for the owner to take a picture and send it to me. I'll add it if he ever sends it.

The tubing is 1" x 2" x .12" so it's not a lightweight. The legs are 1-1/4" and 1" pipe. For height adjustment I didn't want to depend on pipe wall thickness for threads so I welded a T-Nut to the outer leg. I milled down about .03" to create a flat spot for the T-Nut to rest on. This made setup a lot easier for welding it.

The top is 2 pieces of 3/4" hardwood ply with oak veneer. Not exactly 3/4" but close and I used hardwood (which I think is really a soft hardwood like poplar but not sure) because it seemed harder than the softwood version and you get a nice looking top. I welded a 3/4" bolt to a 4" x 4" x 10ga (I think) piece of steel and sandwiched that in between the 2 pieces of ply. I routed out the underside of the top piece to clear the metal so that would allow the full thickness of the bottom piece for strength. I added some epoxy in that area to fill voids (I'm anal, I know) then used Titebond, clamps and screws to hold the 2 pieces of ply together while it dried. I welded 1/2" bolts with rollers on the frame to allow the top to turn easily. I got the "nut" from McMaster. It's a simple matter of reaching under the table and give the "nut" about a half turn to loosen or lock it up.

My chair has been a fold-up captain, 5 gal bucket or cooler. With the chair in one place you can rotate the table some amount (probably depends on the individual) and still be comfortable. Since it is the frame that is leveled, you don't have to re-level when rotating the top.

I usually drive to a spot and plant myself for most of the day so I don't have to move it that often. The angle of the legs is 22 deg. More than most but I think this thing is really stable because of it. As you can tell the top rotates 360 deg.

I swear I had my CoolPix set to macro but the ground is in focus instead of the T-Nut!

T-Nut seat -

Frame upside down -

Frame normal orientation -

Roller -

Underside of top and "nut" -

Everything normal -

The nut -

 

[hogpatrol]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

That is a nice bench. What did you use for the rollers? Looks like teflon.

 

[itchyTF]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

Can't swear to it but I think it was nylon. Drilled out on a lathe.

 

[pacificman]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

I think that's an awesome bench you got there! Rock solid and adjustable! Great ideas for the swiveling top too.

 

[ebb]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

Your bench is awesome,and I know bench's as my concrete bench's are raved about. I hope you don't mind me copying it, cause I my have to as the concrete are hard to move.

 

[itchyTF]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

No, I don't mind. Do you need any dimensions?

 

[IMMORTAL]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

Very cool! Looks nicer than the ones I build.

 

[chuckbuster243]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

That is one sweet table! How long are your legs? What type of leveler for them do you use? Thanks Matt

 

[itchyTF]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

I'd have to check on the leg length. I think the outer leg was 22" but not sure. I don't have a table handy so I'll have to check a drawing.
I just use a small tubular pocket level oriented in line with 2 of the legs and level those. Then rotate the level 90 deg to level the 3rd leg.

 

[Larryh128]

Re: Rotating Shooting Table

Very nice design. One tip for those of you doing one, use delrin or MD nylon for the rollers. Straight nylon will absorb water, those 2 don't. Not much difference in price. MD nylon machines like butter.

 

[itchyTF]

This is the other top design with a topside "nut". The customer wanted a little smaller table (2.5" less at the corners) and a smaller top. However it looks like you can't "get into it" when the chest area is lined up with the corners. Maybe the pivot hole needs to be moved. Since there are no screws in these tops they can be flipped over for a left hand shooter.
BTW, the nut holding the roller on was not on all the way which is why it's visible.

 

[BoydAllen]

IMO different purposes and different shooting styles dictate which sort of portable bench is the best. If you are shooting to test loads by shooting groups, and want the best possible result. The bench should not move very much as your rifle recoils, and you should be able to have absolutely no reticle movement when aiming and firing. A portable bench that meets this requirement will have four legs, with at least one that is adjustable for length, and weigh more than one would want to carry any distance at all. I have one of these, that weighs 107# and I would not want to use it in that configuration for varmint hunting where a lot of bench moves would be involved. BUT for what I use it for, I believe that it is better than any pivoting bench.

Not all shooters have spent time shooting off of a bench that does not move, even when leaned on heavily. I have, and I can say with some authority that for anything less, shooting style adaptations have to be made. This is not such a big deal, because one can shoot very small using various setups and techniques, but it is worth knowing.

I have a friend that struggled for years using a front rest with a windage top shooting from a good portable bench that was never going to equal a fixed masonry bench. By his own admission it took him a long time to get a shot off. Later when I tried a similar bench, I quickly discovered that reverting to my old bag squeezing style was the way to go for this type of bench, something that despite his overall intelligence, had failed to register. He had the fancy rest, and by God he was going to use it. Finally, after years, he stopped using it, and things went a lot better from that point forward.

 

[pdog2062]

I made one just like it but my rollers are welded underneath the frame and I used whirpool dryer support rollers to spin on,I work on appliances for a living so I have access to them,makes it a lot handier

 

[jonbearman]

Great job , you should make a bunch and sell them!

 

[Hntndad]

Patent and start to sell. I bought a shooting table from a well known manufacturer that does not rotate. Ballpark of around $700. His leg design is top notch. The table top is subpar at best (for a $700 table.) I like where your heads at with this design. The table I own is solid as a rock. If it rotated like yours and stayed as solid as mine when locked down, I would have paid more.

 

[itchyTF]

I made 4 at the time. One for me, one for my son, one for a gunsmith friend and one to sell. I believe I got $600 for it.

Jon - How many would you like?

 

[4xforfun]

ttt

 

[VaRandy]

Nice article and a great well thought out bench. I have had several benches which I need to be able to take to the field but be VERY stable for long distance varminting. I currently have a fixed bench built on the support bracket and legs from an old Armour Bench of 30 years ago! It put a 1.5 inch top on it like you did. It weighs maybe 65 lbs and with a good front rest and a rear squeeze bag is a force to reckon with. I wished it also had elevation possibilities but I could not deal with any additional weight because i have to set up by myself. The plastic or nylon handles to hold the legs in place will quickly fall off. Better to use a big bolt head and be done with it. The angle of the legs is extremely important for stability and small diameter stick legs are totally useless. USE REAL PIPE!