• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Swivel varmint benches

Louisiana Shooter

Louisiana Shooter

Anybody have plans to build ones of these??? Are a place to buy one?

Varmint Hunting Smarts — Keep the Wind at Your Back « Daily Bulletin

This impressive war wagon hauls varmint hunters around the Longmeadow Game Resort in Colorado. When you're on a varmint expedition in the Western states you can bet, sooner or later, you'll encounter serious winds. Here's some advice on how to minimize the effects of cross-winds on your...
bulletin.accurateshooter.com bulletin.accurateshooter.com
 
I made a couple of lazy Susan type benches. Weld up 3 leg supports, use 3/4 inch pipe for legs. Attach the leg supports/legs to a round piece of plywood. Cut a bench top to your liking,mount it on the round piece with the legs on it using a single 1/2 inch bolt in the middle. Now you have a swivel shooting bench! Paint it your favorite color. Mount some pads on it to protect your elbows.
Go shooting!
 
They've gone up in price since I bought mine a few years ago but DOA makes a real nice, very solid and comfortable to shoot from for long periods of time, pivoting seated shooting bench.

Rifle Shooting Benches & Tables | DOA Shooting Bench

Shop durable rifle shooting tables and benches designed for stability, comfort, & precision. Proudly made in the USA. Order yours today! 435-218-7766
www.doashootingbench.com www.doashootingbench.com

This would be another good choice and you'd save a few bucks too.

Amazon.com : Caldwell BR Pivot Ambidextrous Shooting Bench with Butcherblock Top, Comfortable Seat and Weatherproof Design for Outdoor, Range, Shooting and Cleaning : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Caldwell BR Pivot Ambidextrous Shooting Bench with Butcherblock Top, Comfortable Seat and Weatherproof Design for Outdoor, Range, Shooting and Cleaning : Sports & Outdoors
www.amazon.com

The least expensive of the three would be this one. I've used the Caldwell Stable Table before and it was ok but the least stable of these three and for extended use not as comfortable but it'll get the job done if someone is more budget minded and doesn't want to spend so much.

 
Last edited:
Mine sits in storage more than I use it unfortunately. I did several modifications to it.

Who ever thought it good to put Naugahyde on the top of a shooting bench, black no less, was a complete idiot! That was the first thing to change. Short indoor outdoor carpet in a light color, I used grey. Empty cartridges tend not to bounce off.
I then but some trim around the side edges to help even more.

The seat padding is ok if you weigh a buck fifty or less. I put some more foam in it. That is on a todo list for a complete overhaul.

As mentioned above the tops on some are to short unless a red rider is your style. I may just make anextension for mine, a sheet of ply wood is about the price of a well used kidney.

Buddy bought a new one this past year. The plastic top is to slick and hot and not to my liking.


I have priced all new metal to build one opposed to buying a prefab one. I would not save a dime but it would fit me. The seat on about all I have tried even at the highest setting is too low.
 
We have a couple of the Caldwell Stable Table Deluxe (shown above $249 at Cabela's) and have used them for numerous hunts. 2 guys can set up one in less than 5 min. and take it down into pieces in less time. The plastic top is junk; take the hardware off the bottom side and make your own out of 1" plywood, preferably cabinet grade without voids. Attached the hardware using bolts screwed into recessed T nuts (from topside) and then covered the top with Formica, so we could slide a front rest around some (leaving out the screws in the feet of the rest) as well as rotate the bench with your feet. We pretty well copied the more expensive butcher block model top and saved about $250. Tables have been sturdy and stable (we set up on the ground). We also found the seat padding lacking and added a thicker piece of foam and a heavier vinyl cover. When you have days that you set up often in smaller towns, it's great to have a stable platform that can be set up and torn down quickly (we hunt from a large SUV, not a pickup). If you decide to buy one, check around, price varied a lot when we bought several years ago.
 
I was just thinking about this because I’m planning on doing another PD hunt next year. On my last trip the outfitter provided swivel benches that were obviously made for people about 6 inches shorter than me. I had a blast, but It was a very uncomfortable two days of shooting scrunched up on that little bench.
 
Not sure, but more than likely a thrust bearing can be found at your local Napa or auto supply house, the size of the plastic ring and just slipped into place for much better turning/ride.
 
5spd said:
Built 4 of these in the mid 80s n 90s, still in use.
Top and chair swivels 360*.
Made the top 32" wide by 39" long.
All the ones you find in stores have to small of a tabletop.
Kinda a copy of the Caldwell shooting table.
It breaks down to chair, top, legs n post.
View attachment 1357779
Click to expand...
Love it, I would add a shade umbrella we are burning up here. Cant wait till this heat wave is over.
 
I bought a Big Game swivel bench and it is very solid. Not a fan of the black plastic cover, but some day possibly I will do something different. I put a dab of grease on the uhmw washer and it swivels with ease. The only thing I don't like is the top is really too short.
 
highshooter said:
Love it, I would add a shade umbrella we are burning up here. Cant wait till this heat wave is over.
Click to expand...
I was talking to a fellow about an umbrella hooked to the bench a while back. He said he rigged one up a long time ago. He said you had shade but it caught a lot of wind and shook the bench more than with out it, enough you were not going to hit much. He advised a canopy if your so inclined to set one up. I have been to that party, it’s always blowing worse than when you set it up.
 
I agree ^^^^ never had any luck trying to keep up any kind of canopy or umbrella, too much wind; one big gust and it's gone! Same reason you hardly ever need a mirage band shooting PD's on the eastern prairie.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
165,938
Messages
2,206,588
Members
79,220
Latest member
Sccrcut8

Share This Page

Back
Top