Shooting Bench

.22hustler · 09-27-2008, 05:10 PM

Not sure if this belongs here but I'll give it a whirl.. Just built this shooting bench from plans I found on the internet, courtesy of "Horst & McCann Firearms". I hope I gave them the correct credit..It will accomodate both left-hand and right hand shooters, and is made of pressure treated wood. I got all the wood for free, and have about $20 bucks tied up in it for screws.It's robust design and should last quite awhile.

Rimjob · 09-27-2008, 05:30 PM

WOW! that's impressive... Really HEAVY duty! I did one similar with just deck board instead of 2x's and only one side. Yours is WAY better! How much do you have in materials??

.22hustler · 09-27-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rimjob

WOW! that's impressive... Really HEAVY duty! I did one similar with just deck board instead of 2x's and only one side. Yours is WAY better! How much do you have in materials??

All the pressure-treated wood was free. I have about $20 bucks tied up in screws.. I used 5/4 deck wood on the top surfaces of the bench. The frame was made from 2X8's, as these were also free!!! The4X4's were also free!! The materials list that came with the plans calls for approx $120 bucks for materials.

troy2000 · 09-27-2008, 05:43 PM

Simple, sturdy and practical. Very nice, for a stationary setup--or a couple of ambitious guys with a pickup.

Somewhere on the internet a while back I saw some plans for one out of heavy plywood, that slotted together like the dividers in a tackle box. Could be stacked flat and handled easily in pieces, but looked like it would be sturdy when it was together. I might make one like it when I get a chance, and retire the ironing board.

edit: this thread sent me off googling for the bench I was talking about. Haven't found it yet, but I did find the plans .22hustler used...

http://www.horstguns.com/ShootingBench.htm

cremley · 09-27-2008, 06:06 PM

That looks like the benches we used to use at a boy scout camp in the mountains. that brings back good memories

. It also looks pretty good. are you going to actually haul that thing to the range and back every time? you must have some big guns! and im not reffering to the firearms

!

privateer · 09-27-2008, 06:21 PM

Nice, good job - just throw a sand bag on top and you are ready to go.

Mad Hatter · 09-27-2008, 06:27 PM

Looks real nice !!

.22hustler · 09-27-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy2000

Simple, sturdy and practical. Very nice, for a stationary setup--or a couple of ambitious guys with a pickup.

Somewhere on the internet a while back I saw some plans for one out of heavy plywood, that slotted together like the dividers in a tackle box. Could be stacked flat and handled easily in pieces, but looked like it would be sturdy when it was together. I might make one like it when I get a chance, and retire the ironing board.

edit: this thread sent me off googling for the bench I was talking about. Haven't found it yet, but I did find the plans .22hustler used...

Shooting Bench. html

That's the site, Troy.. Thank you so much for posting it..This bench was supposed to be stationary, but I lopped off 9 inches from the legs to make it more movable. Those 9 inches were supposed to be imbedded in the ground for a more permanent fixture. Thanks again for posting that link Troy. I hope others can use the plans as is, or modify it like I did.

.22hustler · 09-27-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cremley

That looks like the benches we used to use at a boy scout camp in the mountains. that brings back good memories

. It also looks pretty good. are you going to actually haul that thing to the range and back every time? you must have some big guns! and im not reffering to the firearms

!

I'm taking it to my buddies place, and leaving it there, lol. It is HEAVY, but still somewhat portable, (I hope), lol.

.22hustler · 09-27-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by privateer

Nice, good job - just throw a sand bag on top and you are ready to go.

I have a shooters stand that I purchased at Bass Pro Shops awhile back, and we're planning on using that.. But sandbags are a excellent alternative..I should have said a shooting rest/ cleaning stand.

Cyrano · 09-27-2008, 09:23 PM

Looks a whole lot like the shooting benches at the club, except ours have free stools instead of fixed benches. How long did it take you to build it?

One suggestion. Go to Toys 'R' Us or get lucky at a tag sale selling kindercrap and get yourself a couple or three of those interlocking rubber play mats, the ones made of half inch thick rubber with dovetailed edges. The make an excellent surface to lay your guns on. They won't slip and you can anchor your arms well when you're shooting. If you put them on the seats they will be kind to your butts as well.

Earl Easter · 09-27-2008, 09:41 PM

Very nice bench .22, looks like a life time of use. Thanks for the pixs

captsquirrel · 09-27-2008, 10:16 PM

Looks like it'll last a long time for sure. Very nice 22. Cyrano makes a good suggestion. Padding would be a great addition.

rondog · 09-28-2008, 01:02 AM

Similar to my club's....

Good benches rock!

Seabeescotty · 09-28-2008, 08:48 AM

That's a nice design. I built mine, with a 4X8 sheet of 5/8 plywood. I cut the back corners out, and used them for the seats. It's all mounted on 4X4 legs, and is way too heavy to move. But my range is right behind the house, so moving it isn't a problem. I made it big, so there'd be plenty of room, for the spotting scope, guns, ammo, etc. But it's awfully plain. Your's has real character!!!

LiveToShoot · 09-28-2008, 09:25 AM

.22hustler,

Wow!!!

Great looking shooting bench.

How about a copy of the blue prints?

I'd like to use something like that one in our future range...

.22hustler · 09-28-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrano

Looks a whole lot like the shooting benches at the club, except ours have free stools instead of fixed benches. How long did it take you to build it?

One suggestion. Go to Toys 'R' Us or get lucky at a tag sale selling kindercrap and get yourself a couple or three of those interlocking rubber play mats, the ones made of half inch thick rubber with dovetailed edges. The make an excellent surface to lay your guns on. They won't slip and you can anchor your arms well when you're shooting. If you put them on the seats they will be kind to your butts as well.

Excellent suggestion!!! I never thought of padding the top surface of the bench or the seats..I knew you great guys here would come up with some advice.. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart..

.22hustler · 09-28-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveToShoot

.22hustler,

Wow!!!

Great looking shooting bench.

How about a copy of the blue prints?

I'd like to use something like that one in our future range...

Live to Shoot, go back to Troys posting. There is a direct link to the site , pictures, the plans, and cost..Thanks again to Troy for making the link possible. Being 58 years old, and NOT computer smart, it would have taken me a lifetime to figure out how to get that link up.Again, thanks to Troy, and all others here, for taking the time and looking at my project. I sure the h+ll ain't no carpenter, but it come out on the good side I believe.The plans call for a 3 hour build time, but I took two half days to do it. Being 100% disabled, I just can't get down to my knees and do things like ordinary folks do. So I take small breaks every couple of hours, and then stop when I can't go on.Took a little longer than expected but it was fun, and I was hoping that some of you guys/gals could use one of these.. And thanks to the original plan maker, "Horst and McCann Firearms. Their's was the first one I looked at, and knew I couldn't find a better one!

LiveToShoot · 09-28-2008, 11:03 AM

.22hustler,

Thanks...

...and all the best to you and yours.

****

Also, thanks T2K for the original post...

.22hustler · 09-28-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveToShoot

.22hustler,

Thanks...

...and all the best to you and yours.

****

Also, thanks T2K for the original post...

Your truly welcome....

09-27-2008, 05:43 PM	#4
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 10,017 Images: 9	Simple, sturdy and practical. Very nice, for a stationary setup--or a couple of ambitious guys with a pickup. Somewhere on the internet a while back I saw some plans for one out of heavy plywood, that slotted together like the dividers in a tackle box. Could be stacked flat and handled easily in pieces, but looked like it would be sturdy when it was together. I might make one like it when I get a chance, and retire the ironing board. edit: this thread sent me off googling for the bench I was talking about. Haven't found it yet, but I did find the plans .22hustler used... http://www.horstguns.com/ShootingBench.htm __________________ I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting you really believe what you just said. WF Buckley, Jr Last edited by troy2000; 09-27-2008 at 05:48 PM.

09-27-2008, 06:06 PM	#5
cremley Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 1,249	That looks like the benches we used to use at a boy scout camp in the mountains. that brings back good memories. It also looks pretty good. are you going to actually haul that thing to the range and back every time? you must have some big guns! and im not reffering to the firearms! __________________ I wouldn't be so paranoid if everyone wasn't out to get me.

09-27-2008, 10:16 PM	#13
captsquirrel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: S. Nevada Posts: 545	Looks like it'll last a long time for sure. Very nice 22. Cyrano makes a good suggestion. Padding would be a great addition. __________________ I'll have a nut burger with cheese and onions.

09-28-2008, 01:02 AM	#14
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 1,564	Similar to my club's.... Good benches rock! __________________ What she doesn't know about, doesn't piss her off.....

09-28-2008, 08:48 AM	#15
Seabeescotty The ol' Coot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jay, Oklahoma, God's country. Posts: 4,567 Images: 18 Blog Entries: 1	That's a nice design. I built mine, with a 4X8 sheet of 5/8 plywood. I cut the back corners out, and used them for the seats. It's all mounted on 4X4 legs, and is way too heavy to move. But my range is right behind the house, so moving it isn't a problem. I made it big, so there'd be plenty of room, for the spotting scope, guns, ammo, etc. But it's awfully plain. Your's has real character!!! __________________ Adapt, improvise, overcome.-Gysgt Highway, Heartbreak Ridge

09-27-2008, 05:30 PM	#2
Rimjob Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: south of nowhere but north of somewhere else Posts: 670	WOW! that's impressive... Really HEAVY duty! I did one similar with just deck board instead of 2x's and only one side. Yours is WAY better! How much do you have in materials??

09-27-2008, 06:21 PM	#6
privateer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Anchorage , Alaska Posts: 514 Images: 1	Nice, good job - just throw a sand bag on top and you are ready to go.

09-27-2008, 06:27 PM	#7
Mad Hatter Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 712	Looks real nice !!

09-27-2008, 09:23 PM	#11
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,990	Looks a whole lot like the shooting benches at the club, except ours have free stools instead of fixed benches. How long did it take you to build it? One suggestion. Go to Toys 'R' Us or get lucky at a tag sale selling kindercrap and get yourself a couple or three of those interlocking rubber play mats, the ones made of half inch thick rubber with dovetailed edges. The make an excellent surface to lay your guns on. They won't slip and you can anchor your arms well when you're shooting. If you put them on the seats they will be kind to your butts as well.

09-27-2008, 09:41 PM	#12
Earl Easter Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 781 Images: 20	Very nice bench .22, looks like a life time of use. Thanks for the pixs

09-28-2008, 09:25 AM	#16
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,670	.22hustler, Wow!!! Great looking shooting bench. How about a copy of the blue prints? I'd like to use something like that one in our future range... __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

09-28-2008, 11:03 AM	#19
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,670	.22hustler, Thanks... ...and all the best to you and yours. ** Also, thanks T2K for the original post... __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."** -Unknown Last edited by LiveToShoot; 09-28-2008 at 11:05 AM.