Why the cut out on the bench?

[D Coots]

I think it’s been mentioned on this forum that ST Louis has benches that are favored with just angles and not a true cutout.

I bought one from them. It's the first thing that hit the ground when I was building a new house.

 

[sqrlgtr]

this is a borrowed pic off internet but I really like this style with the rounded cut out and havee no trouble sqaure up behind the rifle plus have plenty of room for everything....

 

[BoydAllen]

For those who are interested, here are some pictures. Some were taken going on 40 years ago, while others are more recent, among those are some taken at the Fresno Range. All of the benches were poured with the same forms. I had the most time in building the forms and getting the benches (42) poured with volunteer labor at the Fresno range.

Visalia and Fresno Benches

Both sets of benches were poured using the same forms. Visalia has 28 benches Fresno has 42.

flic.kr

 

[sqrlgtr]

I dont have shoot a rail gun but just noticed that is what is on bench lol..

 

[BoydAllen]

An excellent article on benches.

http://benchrest.com/articles/benches.pdf

 

[Shooter13]

Because that’s how most are taught to shoot.
I had to unlearn a lot.

To each his own, I like the cut out to get closer to the side of the gun, to me, it is a much more natural position (like putting the gun to your shoulder) than being behind it.

 

[Clancy]

I shoot anything with felt recoil from directly behind the bench. I can also shoot from the side, as that’s how I grew up shooting and of course how the vast majority shoot.

 

[6.5 forever]

I shoot from directly behind the bench.
More comfortable for me.

Me too. Rifle stays on target during recoil for me.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Notice all the pics with someone at the bench, where their right arm is? How does someone place their arm on the bench from behind it?

 

[6.5 forever]

Notice all the pics with someone at the bench, where their right arm is? How does someone place their arm on the bench from behind it?

Good point. But our benches are wider on the back end, so it isn't a problem.

 

[Chiquita]

Good point. But our benches are wider on the back end, so it isn't a problem.

Similar to post #42?
By any chance, do you have pictures of your benches?

 

[dryhumor]

I shoot off of an elevated deck under a carport. Shooting down angle and the terrain is down angle. My bench is probably 8 feet wide, and two shooters can sit and shoot.

A little hard to see, but a few years ago I pulled two boards and replaced them with longer ones to better situate the rear bag on one side.

I shoot like this probably 90+ percent of the time. Once and awhile I’ll use a bipod or mechanical rest.

 

[KMart]

It is what works the best for them. Don't know of a rule that says you can't sit behind the gun (SR BR IBS), but the vast majority elect to shoot from the side so it must be more user friendly.

Or, they are moving forward to comply with the rule that the muzzle has to be in front of the bench, and that is where the gun ends up.
Just my 2 yen.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Drawings and picture of my benches in back of the house. Why did I opt for this style of bench? Because I shoot bench rest and I want to practice on the same things I shoot for record on. Who has this style of benches? For beginners, I copied the benches at Holton, WWCCA, west of Detroit, Chippewa at Wadsworth, Ohio, Dublin, Georgia, Kelbly’s.
End of my story.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Drawings and picture of my benches in back of the house. Why did I opt for this style of bench? Because I shoot bench rest and I want to practice on the same things I shoot for record on. Who has this style of benches? For beginners, I copied the benches at Holton, WWCCA, west of Detroit, Chippewa at Wadsworth, Ohio, Dublin, Georgia, Kelbly’s.
End of my story.

Perfect design for either style of shooting. Similar to Williamsport......

 

[LHSmith]

Or, they are moving forward to comply with the rule that the muzzle has to be in front of the bench, and that is where the gun ends up.
Just my 2 yen.

Well this is weird in that I never thought about shooting from behind. I am not at the club ranges everyday but I do not remember club members who are just recreational shooters shooting this way. I'm talking about multiple clubs. Perhaps these designs preclude it because of the rear leg which can be either concrete (sonotubes) or courses of 8" cmu (block)- Just not an easy task to assume that position without the knees hitting the back leg.
I made 5 benches for various clubs like pictured in post #42. You can see when shooting from the side there is no interference with ones legs. Shooting from rear there is. Some clubs have courses of full 16" wide block for legs which would make shooting from the rear extra difficult.

 

[Ccrider]

Well this is weird in that I never thought about shooting from behind. I am not at the club ranges everyday but I do not remember club members who are just recreational shooters shooting this way. I'm talking about multiple clubs. Perhaps these designs preclude it because of the rear leg which can be either concrete (sonotubes) or courses of 8" cmu (block)- Just not an easy task to assume that position without the knees hitting the back leg.
I made 5 benches for various clubs like pictured in post #42. You can see when shooting from the side there is no interference with ones legs. Shooting from rear there is. Some clubs have courses of full 16" wide block for legs which would make shooting from the rear extra difficult.

Try club has the 16 inch block legs. Shooting from the back behind the gun is not an option although it where I feel most comfortable.

 

[Ccrider]

Drawings and picture of my benches in back of the house. Why did I opt for this style of bench? Because I shoot bench rest and I want to practice on the same things I shoot for record on. Who has this style of benches? For beginners, I copied the benches at Holton, WWCCA, west of Detroit, Chippewa at Wadsworth, Ohio, Dublin, Georgia, Kelbly’s.
End of my story.

This makes sense to me. I will probably follow your course although I would prefer a bench like Boyd has.

 

[jackieschmidt]

If you shoot Competitive Benchrest at varied venues, you will run into all sorts of different bench designs.

You simply have to adapt to what is there.

 

[Greg@wfcustom]

Drawings and picture of my benches in back of the house. Why did I opt for this style of bench? Because I shoot bench rest and I want to practice on the same things I shoot for record on. Who has this style of benches? For beginners, I copied the benches at Holton, WWCCA, west of Detroit, Chippewa at Wadsworth, Ohio, Dublin, Georgia, Kelbly’s.
End of my story.

Looks identical to the design Bob Dorton & I used at Sac Valley. The ones we use for LR are poured tops in iron frames so they are movable (sort of) from 600 to 1000. The 20 we have for SR BR are solid poured in place on our 200 yd range.
Seems to be a popular/comfortable design for most shooters.
G