welcome

there is a SEARCH feature on many boards. RFC has one.

hint hint.

also, google is your friend.

good luck

 

The OP's been a member for 10 years

This is a discussion forum. Maybe the person wanted to start a new discussion regarding the topic. There's nothing wrong with that. I don't necessarily disagree with your suggestion about using the search function or Google. I search for info all the time. RFC's been around awhile. Most topics have likely been discussed at some point in the past. Should everyone just use the search function and dig up old threads? There probably wouldn't be need for any further discussion

It looks like people have been discussing the topic and sharing ideas. Probably just like the OP was hoping for. Glad they've received some answers that are actually helpful....hint hint

 

I did exactly what you're talking about. 3/4" ply for the top and then a border of 3/4" ply (about 3" wide) around the perimeter underneath the top. Theb attach the legs from the folding table. It worked fine for a while, but there were two things wrong with it. It was 'L' shaped with the cutout on the left rear portion to all for seating at that point with table in front of you.

First, it began to sag because of the unsupported section. I added some 3/4" tubular steel to reinforce that from its corner across the width of the table underneath. That has helped, but a single sheet of 3/4" ply, used in this way, even with added support, is still almost certainly going to warp or sag to some degree. But otherwise you get into really costly alternative materials and designs.

Second, the rear legs get in the way of comfortable and proper seating; and I have to place the seat carefully. A different type of legs would help that.

Result: It's usable, and in fact I use it a lot. It's not perfect. But it's convenient to keep in my shed and carry it the 30-40 yds to set it up in one of the places behind the house that I normally use for shooting on my backyard range. If I did it again I would use different legs (those were ones I had and could use without any cost), I'd avoid an "unbalanced" design that's subject to sagging just based on the laws of physics, and I'd be more careful about how the seat would be placed and how much table would be directly in front of me.

The experience was worthwhile, and (like I said) I use it effectively. But I wouldn't call it "portable" (I wouldn't want to throw it even into the back of the pickup and take it somewhere), and I wouldn't call it a real success. 😂

Oh, one advantage I forgot to mention: It didn't cost me anything since I had ALL the materials. 😂

 

I keep a heavy bench at 25 yards with two front wheels and wheelbarrow type handles, that can be moved but like moving a barrow full of crete. When I just want to step out of the shop to shoot at 50 yards I use this.

 

I like what you've done with the sawhorse. Not so much the bucket. 😂 Now you have me thinking about replacing the steel folding legs on my table with a folding plastic saw horse or two -- or something like that. I don't want to leave mine outside most of the time, and I don't want it taking up too much room in the shed. I have several conflicting design issues.

 

I once saw a homemade table made of two 4'x8' sheets of plywood. One piece was cut in half crosswise to make a cross-shaped base by cutting a slot in each, inverting one, and then interlocking them vertically. The second 4x8 was used to create the table top, with or without cutouts for lefties/righties.

I suspect this was perhaps a Popular Science project or similar.

 

I have a different take on portable I have used this for informal sighting in, hunting as well as teaching little ones how to shoot its infinitely adjustable, portable and in a pinch you can use a camera to take in focus pictures . folds in a small package you could put a sling and take it for a walk.

S/SP

 

Black and Decker workmate for the folding base. Piece of plywood, or old Formica counter top with a 2x2 attached… 2x2 clamps in the workmate to use the bench. Also works as a portable/storable reloading, or work bench. Similar idea as Hawkeye.

 

What I have used for years. Good enough to shoot 1/2” group at 100 yards sighting in my deer rifle. 2x4 on narrow end and a 4” wide piece of plywood on the wide end to mount the folding table legs where they will overlap properly when closed.

Brent

 

What I have used for years.

That's exactly what I made: same shape, same legs, and pretty much the same top. Mine's a bit larger. But without extra rigidity, I've found that the top will warp. And I don't like how I have to set the chair. I see you have the same problem with that, and it straddles the bottom of the back leg. Limits your freedome there. I'd prefer not to have the legs interferring with that area. But then the whole table would be out of balance (being more like a 3-legged table).

 

This may not suit your needs or desires, but thought I'd share what I use at home. The only difference is that my table is white instead of black.

Focus On Tools Shooting Utility Table

Focus On Tools Shooting Utility Table - The rugged construction helps the shooter maintain target accuracy.

www.sportsmans.com

I bought this drummer's throne to use as a seat to shoot at this bench. I think I may have ordered mine from another site though. I don't recall paying $100 for it.

Amazon.com: Donner Heavy Duty Drum Throne, Motorcycle Style Drum Seat, Widened Drum Chair with Upgraded Materials, Height Adjustable Padded Stool, Double Braced : Musical Instruments

Buy Donner Heavy Duty Drum Throne, Motorcycle Style Drum Seat, Widened Drum Chair with Upgraded Materials, Height Adjustable Padded Stool, Double Braced: Drum Set Accessories - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

The legs may be available on eBay.

 

Very portable, very solid, costs a little more but worth it.

 

Very portable, very solid, costs a little more but worth it.

Yeah but, over a white Jeep hood the first time I shot my Hawken i got a big black spot.

Here is what I use now.

 

Bench Plans
VERY stable!
I bought the angled leg brackets premade from a guy on EBay

 

I stack flat foam hunting seat cushions to adjust my body height dependent on the firearm used. While the $10 workbench is not a ceement bench it suits my needs as no club is available near to me. It collapses enough to fit beneath the hard tonneau cover. They gray T platform is a piece of 5/8"T hardwood plywood and heavy enough to need no fastening down.

 

never was a fan of cut out tables because i see people shoot next to their rifle instead of behind it.
yes, i know it might not matter as much with rimfire and almost no recoil.
flame on!

have you thought about a tripod instead?

 

never was a fan of cut out tables because i see people shoot next to their rifle instead of behind it.

I agree. Were I to do it again, I'd definitely make it so that there was more table in front of me. But again, that gets to the point where it needs to be supported or it sags -- especially as you lean on it with the gun and possibly a heavy sand bag.

 

Hawkeye, mine is identical to yours, works great, throw it in the back of my polaris, and can shoot anywhere, the plastic buckets come in two heights, I use the taller one with a lid and put a piece of foam on top, much more comfortable. The bucket stays in the polaris full time with the foam pad, hatchet, rope, pully, saw, and a few other tools, useful items to help an old man load a deer by himself.

 

It didn't show in my picture, but I use one of each size bucket stacked together. With two drywall screws through the sides to keep them from coming apart when picking them up. They also get used a lot when working on something in the shop.

I worked in the plaster/drwall trade and have more buckets and uses for them than most could imagine.

 

i like the folding setups , the tops that clamp on make it more packable , i think i want wheels , using the BD worktable makes some sense to me too , a bucket works but i think for the seat ive got a folding stool that packs well

 

This one doesn't fold but works for me. Amazon has lots of table legs, including hair-pin legs, which I didn't use but considered.

Shooting Table | Rimfire Central Firearm Forum

 

I built one using the rugged buddy legs. 2 layers of mdf board laminated and screwed, then used a rocking horse rocker template to router a bipod groove in it. It is heavy, but if level, solid as a rock. I added some length to it where the legs don't impede on the blasting.
I took a pipe jack stand, cut the V off, welded a 12" circle, 1/4" thick to sit on, spin it up or down, easy peasy.

 

A classic tradeoff of rigidity vs. portability. I would do this, but just looking at two layers of MDF gives me sciatic pain. 😂 And while my neurosurgeon says I can come back to him any time and he'll fix me up again, I hate to take the chance of loosing that much time at this point in my life. But that sounds like a very solid "portable" bench.

 

I couldn't live without plastic buckets and baling wire.

 

My bench, somewhat portable / pull 'able, I've used this style for many years. Built from pressure treated 2 by material glued TiteBond 3 & screwed.

 

I added wheels from a stroller, drilled holes in the pipe(axle) slide the wheels in then pins. It rolls great and on site I pull the pins and the bench is solid 😀

 

My wheels set raised in the front, and don't touch ground until the back is raised.
I started out with a grab handle in the back. Then changed to cast iron pipe going through two holes in the two seat supports. If tapped with a hammer, they retract into the bench. Like wheeling a wheelbarrow.

 

Made the table out of plywood and a folding saw horse. The legs are also adjustable for height. The other is a folding gun rack.

 

Made the table out of plywood and a folding saw horse. The legs are also adjustable for height. ...

I like that. But if you have a heavy front and rear bag on it that you're shooting from, does it still retain its balance and avoid warping over time? Also, exactly how are the legs attached to the top?

 

I made this one about 20 years ago, I stole the idea from a Rick Jamison article in Shooting Times. I like the threaded pipes for the legs because I can still break it down if I have to and it’s very solid

 

ive got one of those folding sawhorses with the adjustable height legs - i see the advantages here , im only concerned with whether i can get the stability i want without adding any weight of loosing portability , its like the guncarts ive built from bagboy golf bag carts they need to safely move the needed guns and items on the range along with what you need for the days shooting without unnecessary weight and fold compactly for transport with a minimum of fuss , ive got two i like now ---thats why im looking atr the table , oh and that folding gun rack looks very interesting too , its a lot more compact than most ive seen that were made by shooters here

 

Here's my homemade take on the Rick Jamison / stukeysbenches.com design.

 

Here's my homemade take on the Rick Jamison / stukeysbenches.com design.

Nice work. The molding around the top is a nice touch; keeps things from rolling off. I've thought about doing this to my shooting table.