Shooting Tables

[rayporter]

martin s
i do understand

everything will be a compromise if it is portable.
things to consider size, weight, ease of set up, ease of building, as well as stability will figure in.

i built a 3 leg and tried it out. when i got done welding braces to it to steady it it weighed 40 lbs and would not fit in the truck with the other gear[ like rifles chairs bags cleaning stuff,, cooler,etc.]

i now have room [ a 20 ft gooseneck ] to take whatever i wish but there is a limit as to what i want to move around.

the home bench is concrete

 

[Nodak7mm]

Alf,

Never really read your initial post, just looked at the pix of course. Just read it and noted that we basically came to the same conclusions. My last 2 were 32"x48" and from 3/4" ply. Gonna take your advice and try the 1/2" double up.

What I have been mulling in my head for the past yr or so is to incorporate RBertalotto's swiveling base into the design...... Now that would be the next gen and super kool functionality..

My imaginative powers are focusing on building a range cart for hauling my F-Class stuff around.. I am thinking folding or quick detchable wheels, light weight as to not pop a gonad, small enough to slide in back of my Durango, heavy duty enough to haul all gear..

HHmmm...

Rod

 

[22DASHER]

Thanks Al!!

Cost me $40 and about an hour worth of work.

 

[birdog]

Alf, here is my portable long range shooting table. It has a different twist
from others listed on this thread. Tripod with a rear leg leveler for
up or down hill shooting using a turnbuckle. The outside pipe has a smaller
inside pipe that can slide up and down for height adjustment. The outside
pipe has a thread bolt that screws down on the inside pipe to hold it in the
correct position. Very easy to adjust. Make up hill, downhill, unlevel ground
adjustment a snap.
Here the table is set up on a rock on a hillside. I shoot across a valley for
a one mile shot from this hillside. This spot is a GPS'ed mile spot.
This table is stable enough for 1000 yard plus praire dog shooting. Voldoc
uses the same table. Oak Ridge Gun Club shoots their 600 yard IBS matches
off this table with four legs. Their tables have four adjustable legs.

The lower orange tape holds my 3/4 inch wrench for adjustment. I tie orange
surveyor's tape to the legs for wind flags.
The table also doubles as a reloading table in the field. Here a Harrell press
and powder thrower are clamped to the table as Voldoc and I are shooting 1,000
yard dogs and loading on the fly.

Another great day in Colorado

 

[birdog]

My rotary table is a Cornett. Most stable rotary table I have sat down on.
Made in Somersett, Ky by Cornett Engines. I sold my BR Pivot after purchasing
this one. I think it was made in the 80's. All four legs are adjustable by a
turnbuckle to level the top on eneven surface.

 

[Martin S]

Birddog,
How do you mount the legs on the table? Is the top over 1" thick? On the four leg ones, are the back legs in the way of your seat? (stool)
Martin

 

[BoydAllen]

I built a portable shooting bench that has screw on legs that are made from 1 1/2" (nominal) black iron pipe. It has five threaded leg sockets so that it may be configured with three and four legs. The fourth leg on mine is adjustable for length, while sitting at the bench. It is more stable with four legs, and quicker to reposition with three. As I see it, with four legs there is little requirement that the top be torsionally rigid, whereas with three legs, lateral pressure twists the top. Because my top is constructed from glued and screwed lumber, and is thicker in places than the typical top made from two layers of plywood, I believe that it may more resistant to twisting than some in three legged configuration. A long time ago, I built a plywood and steel bench that does not come apart, the frame is of 3" square tubing (3/16 wall). It is very stiff. As a result the table was very ridgid, resisting lateral pressure at the back about as well as any bench that is not bolted down could , of that weight, can. Many times I see benches that look as though twisting and racking forces were ignored in the design process. Bottom line, if you are happy with how your bench works, that is all that is required.

 

[birdog]

Birddog,
How do you mount the legs on the table? Is the top over 1" thick? On the four leg ones, are the back legs in the way of your seat? (stool)
Martin

Legs are screwed into a metal flange set at an angle. The top is two 3/4 " pieces of plywood
glued and screwed together. One leg on the 4 leg model is a little close. No need for a 4 leg
model. Build the 3 leg and you want be sorry. Use the larger pipe. I have seen smaller legs
and they are not as stable due to the smaller mounting flanges.

 

[Martin S]

Birdog,
What do you use to get the angle on the flange?
I'm a little thick headed. What size pipe do you recommend?
Martin

 

[ShaneG.]

Birdog,
What do you use to get the angle on the flange?
I'm a little thick headed. What size pipe do you recommend?
Martin

Martin,
Figure out what angle you want the flanges and I can cut and weld you some up.

 

[BoydAllen]

Mine look about right, and they measure about 18 degrees.

 

[alf]

I think my ball breaker bench is 11 degrees, with 2" pipe. 15 would make a good average.

Birddog:

I've never really had the need to adjust for angles, but a couple of times that I recall, it would have come in handy.

After shooting at Oak Ridge, I wished I would have brought my bench to shoot the National on. Mine's just bigger, heavier, and a bigger footprint, but I faired well none the less.

22 Dasher:

Well done.

Curious why no cutout?

 

[birdog]

Greg Culpepper made my table. He will sell you what you want.
Flanges, legs, tops. Legs are 1 & 1/4" schedule 40 pipe. Outside
diameter about 1.6". I believe Greg is going to post prices and
info. He can send you the threaded flanges and you can buy the
pipe at Home Depo, Lowe's, or your favorite hardware store.
Greg said I could post his phone # Home 828-765-2522
Cell 336-413-7835
Flange angle is 15 degrees

 

[greg culpepper]

I've been getting some calls for brackets or bracket and leg sets so I put an ad in the classifieds. I've got brackets in stock ($25 ea.)and will make legs to order but with shipping they get pricey (four legs, two adjustable weigh about thirty-five lb.).
If you're interested take a look.

Greg

 

[muddy72]

birddog, could you post the size of your table? Thanks