Sorta portable shooting bench

[ProneKing]

I didn't want to hijack the other "portable shooting bench" thread so here goes...

I did this project about two years ago.

Where I shoot we don't have any shooting benches, and cannot have anything permanent. I wanted something very steady to test our .22's off of, but relatively easy to move around on the range, or between our indoor and outdoor range.

I started with 1-3/4" thick maple bench top from Grizzly. I actually got a 96" long bench top for my shop and cut off part of it for this shooting bench. I also used the Grizzly Shop Fox bench leg kit, modified somewhat to miss the cutout in the bench. This kit is perfect for a shooting bench as each leg has adjustment pads on it. My shop at work did the leg kit modification, welded up the wheel brackets and added the tow handle.

In practice, the bench works great. Very stable. But, it is very heavy and relatively hard to move around. With the wheels at one end of the bench, towing it by the handle means you have to lift a lot of weight to move it around. That is fine moving it to the firing line and storing it after use. It is less than fine moving it from one range to another. It is quite a workout. Overall I'd say it is a success though. When I completed it I sent pictures to Shiraz. He liked it.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Immike]

Wow, that's a heavy duty model for sure. Nice job guy, that should last a few lifetimes.

 

[BoydAllen]

+1

 

[itchyTF]

Don't know what you call them but they are usually used to move heavy things that have wheels (much heavier than your table), but the principle may still work. Long handle with a wheel and a pin which engages a hole in a plate on the item to be moved. Tip handle up to get the pin lined up, then lower the handle to engage the hole and at the same time lifts that end of the item (table) off the ground so only the front wheels and the wheel attached to the handle are on the ground. In hindsight, I think the pin is supposed to be over the wheel more.

Attached file is over simplified but hopefully you get the idea.

 

[ProneKing]

Itchy,

I know what you're talking about. Should be simple to make one up and it would help a lot. Thanks!

 

[djtjr]

want to make me one? ;D

 

[ProneKing]

Sorry, one is enough for me.

It would probably be easier to get Shiraz at Grizzly Industrial to make a kit to sell. Just an idea...

 

[djtjr]

thanks

 

[deadwooddick]

A sliding/pivoting handle (mounted under the firing line "end") would increase your leverage, when lifting it off the stationary (no wheels) legs… to move it about. No help when taking it home, tho.