Portable shooting bench

BigWaylon

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anybody here built one?

I mean portable like 2-3 pieces that a single person can toss in the back of the truck. Been looking around the net and found several options, but thought I'd ask for some feedback here first.

I saw the thread where somebody built one attached to a dolly, which is good for moving around property, but I need more portability.

Integrated seat, or bring a chair/stool...not really leaning either way at this point.
 
Someone built one from a sheet of plywood, knocks down flat. Don’t remember where I saw it though, so not much help.
 
Check the get together thread form last year. I forget whom, but someone brought out the one from plywood that knocks down flat.
I think he posted where he got the plans from.

Or just get a folding card table and chair.
 
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I made one out of a couple of foldy saw horse legs and an old desk board. I can throw it in the little trailer that I have on my Honda Foreman and tote it around the property no problem. Pretty convenient, not too heavy, but isn't perfectly rock solid. You have to kind of lean into the notch like preloading bipod legs to get it to lock up. Perfect height for one of the Walmart 5 gallon swivel top buckets.
QrWsNTN.jpg

CHRIS
 
index.php

My wife said someone came and bought a couple about a week back, I figured it was someone from here.

They may be able to make a custom batch if I had a number for how many to order. I'll try to ask today if they're up for it. I know their workload is pretty heavy right now.
 
index.php

My wife said someone came and bought a couple about a week back, I figured it was someone from here.

They may be able to make a custom batch if I had a number for how many to order. I'll try to ask today if they're up for it. I know their workload is pretty heavy right now.

@eddie0225 and myself went and got one about a month ago.
One of the best designs I've seen.
When we were there he had 4 or 5 left.
 
The plans are also floating around online if someone can find a place that will cut them cheaper.
 
They may be able to make a custom batch if I had a number for how many to order. I'll try to ask today if they're up for it. I know their workload is pretty heavy right now.
Did you get an answer on custom? Would that just be a CFF logo or something?

Are they unfinished? I'm assuming at least sanded?

Pickup location would be the Harmony address? (noticed the mailing address was Union Grove)

This is the same one, right? Plans and info here: http://www.realitysurvival.com/free-shooting-bench-design-plans/
 
They are now $60 iirc. I think that's what we paid.
$65. Cash only. They have two as of this morning.

I may run grab one next week, but will definitely call first to make sure they still have one. Don't want to waste a 2 hour round trip.
 
$65. Cash only. They have two as of this morning.

I may run grab one next week, but will definitely call first to make sure they still have one. Don't want to waste a 2 hour round trip.
If you have room and you don't mind buy two and I will pick it up next time that I am in Charlotte :D I'll toss in some gas money.
 
If you have room and you don't mind buy two and I will pick it up next time that I am in Charlotte :D I'll toss in some gas money.
Dang it. You're about an hour too late. I was there at 7:45am today, they had two in stock, and I had plenty of room. :(

Almost back to Charlotte now, and headed to THSF to sign my Maxim F4s.
 
Figured I'd followup with some pics. Was able to pickup the pieces on Tuesday. Here's what you get:

IMG_9627.JPG

It's cut from one sheet of plywood, but I didn't go back and look at the diagram to see how it was laid out. I also didn't know they have the cutouts in the base. I was prepared to use my 4" (or 4.5", whatever it is) hole saw to reduce a little weight.

It's definitely rough. Ran some sandpaper around the edges which helped. The bigger issue is of literally trying to fit square pegs into round holes. The pegs/tabs are squared off, while the holes are routered out with smooth corners.

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@LeeMajors had warned me about that. So, after hitting all the edges with sandpaper, I took a file to all the corners and finally got it all to fit snugly. Here are two pics of the three base pieces assembled...nothing but sliding the slots together. To swap to left-handed, simply reverse the rear brace.

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After the previously mentioned filing, the seat and top were in place.

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Even confirmed it works in wrong-handed config.

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Remembered I had this sitting around from finishing some cornhole boards a couple years ago...

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So I threw a coat on one side, and will try to do the other side in the morning.

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A rubber mallet is your friend the first couple times you put it together.
 
The top is slightly warped, but it shouldn't be much of an issue...considering it's usually a bag or bipod up front, and bag or arm in the rear. Not sure if it came to me warped, or it happened when being in the back of my truck for a couple days.

Ended up going over it with some 120gr discs I had to use with my drill. Then assembled the based and stained again...not gonna worry about the area hidden by the slots at this point. Hung the seat and top from the ceiling so I could get both sides.

Here's how it looks now:

IMG_9727.JPG

I'm gonna leave it out in the sun for a couple hours. The top is slightly bowed in that orientation, so I set a bucket of brass in the center.

And now I just need to make the time to get to the range. :oops:
 
The bow most likely happened from being outside in the humidity.
 
I need one of these in my life.
 
I didn't shoot off of that one at the group shoot. Is it lefty friendly?

CHRIS
It is. Simply lift the top off. Flip it over and set it back in the notches. 30 seconds max
Must’ve missed that Q&A the first time. It’s a little more involved than that, but still not difficult.

Remove the top.
Remove the seat.
Remove the rear brace.
Reattach rear brace in the opposite direction.
Reattach seat.
Reattach top after flipping it over.

Center and front brace stay the same in both configs.
 
My wife said someone came and bought one today. The last one they had made and in stock, so anyone else thinking about picking one up should call first.
 
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