Can someone point me to a site with plans for a SOLID shooting bench? or at least a decent photo of one. I plan on building one for my dads farm, I can shoot out to 600yds there. Local range is limited to 200.

Thanks,

CAL

try the following link. I built one, it works for my purposes. HTH, Dutch.

http://www.varmintcallers.com/shotbnch.htm

I built one on our farm out of reinforced concrete with the top of a similar shape to the portable in the link. Cutouts on both sides to accomodate our left-handed shooters as well as us who do it right.

I used a half sheet of plywood with 2x4 on three sides and a short piece on the end and used strips of 1/4" plywood to form the cutouts, so it ended up being 4'x4' with cutouts. I covered the plywood with plastic sheet before assembly so it would come out of the mould easily and have a smooth surface. Next I poured in about an inch of concrete and then laid in some rabbit wire for reinforcement. After it set for a few minutes, I stood three pieces of 2" steel pipe with steel plate welded on top into the concrete and filled the mold full of concrete. After it set up I welded in some steel strap braces. Don't worry about the legs being perpendicular to the ground - it ain't goni' nowhere.

I then dug three holes with a post hole digger and turned the bench over and put the three legs into the holes and filled with concrete. Then I poured a concrete pad about 10' square around it to the height I wanted. I don't remember how high it is but you set upright when using a folding chair to shoot from.

It is rock solid and the surface is pretty smooth due to the plastic liner in the mold.
I keep a GI wool blanket in the range box to lay over the bench when I shoot.

I shoot to 500 yds off it regularly.

Total cost: A few scraps and about $50 worth of concrete.

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Jesus is the reason for the season.

C9 I have a book by Jim Carmichel-in it are plans for a wood bench (I built one) as well as a concrete one. I can't find the book tonite but if you want I'll look tomorrow.The wood bench is solid as rock and it's over 20 yr.old.Mark

CAL9,

I was on the same quest about a year ago, I made a 3 leg shooting bench bases off of these plans. http://ezines.firelands.net/MuzzleBlastsOnline/Vol2No2/Articles/MBO22_6.htm

By the way, I turbo charged it with some extra's. :~) Drink Holder, extra thick table, tilting legs, bla bla bla. ..bla

Good luck,

TGW