In the market for a portable shooting table. I have been looking at two in particular. The legacy shooting table and the DOA. Any input is greatly appreciated on these tables or others on the market.
Happy Shooting
Happy Shooting
Shooting bench
- Thread starter Tuna64
- Start date
I have a demo DOA and like it. Legs setup easy. Getting the table on a off can be a PITA as the table bracket is tight.
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I have a bench similar to the DOA, a Caldwell Stable Table. Have had it for about 15 years and used it primarily for ground squirrels, it has been a solid performer. My table was originally a plastic topped one that i immediately replaced with a plywood top. Of the two you asked about, I’d go with the DOA. One thing i would look at is if the chair and top, swivel together. From what i could see on their website it appears the column is fixed to the base. My Caldwell has a column independent of the base and has a ptfe washer that allows the column to swivel independent of the base, while the top can be tightened with a screw to slave it to the column. Being able to swivel with the chair and top kept in alignment has really been a plus, that feature is something i would require on any other portable bench i may buy in the future.
If you are handy build your own.. Easy to find an old folding table and remove the "legs" from it. for the top use 1/4" underlayment and sandwich 3/4" foam between with Gorilla glue.. Extremely strong and most important light weight.
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I have the
Or you can checkout
Birchwood Casey Xtreme Adjustable Shooting Bench with Thick Padded Back Rest, Seat, Cup Holder, Ez Access Gear Basket & Gear Hook https://a.co/d/1CeNNry
Or you can checkout
Caldwell Stable Table with Ambidextrous Design, 360 Degree https://a.co/d/5p1yfbR
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I eas going to suggest folding legs from amazom and ply from like a Lowe's / home Depot place .
For what that legacy one cost i could build a lot of them up .
Lol
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Back in May, I built this one with 3/4" black iron pipe legs, top is a salvaged desk top. Total cost less than $50.00.
Legs unscrew for transport. Very stable...but I either need to take 4" off the height or get a taller chair!
Legs unscrew for transport. Very stable...but I either need to take 4" off the height or get a taller chair!
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I have had this one for a few years. Light. Portable. Sturdy. Easy to carry. Works well with a five gallon bucket.
MTM PST-11 Predator Shooting Table, Portable Benchrest, Green https://a.co/d/690QeRs
MTM PST-11 Predator Shooting Table, Portable Benchrest, Green https://a.co/d/690QeRs
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I've been using the standard Caldwell Stable Table for about the last 5 years. It was the most important tool I originally found to allow comfortable long term shooting sessions without back or neck pain. And they have held up very well in weekly use on my back yard range - I have 8 of them set up for our group shoots.
While they are a real deal for the price (currently $242 on Amazon or Walmart.com), calling them 'portable' is a bit of a stretch. While the top will easily come off by loosening one hand-turned bolt, the legs are all pinned into tubes, and can only be removed by pulling the 3 pins. So more steps to have to take when re-installing the bench at a new location. Also, while the photos of this bench on-line all show a round (maybe padded?) seat, I have never actually seen this. The seat on all the units I have purchased is spade-shaped and made from the same plastic as the tabletop. (As seen on the Stable Table BR photo at the bottom).
I have recently replaced 2 of my standard Stable Tables with the Caldwell BR model with the wood top. One each which will access my 50 yard and 65 yard target arrays. These BR models are more expensive - you will be paying over $450 each for them when they go on sale through Caldwell (which seems to have regular sales around US holidays. Will the next one be for July 4th?). The BR models are definitely more beefy and even more solid. They have easier leveling adjustability through thumbscrews on each leg. And the legs fully pivot so that for transportability one could take off the top (one bolt) and then just fold the legs down for a long but narrow item to put in the bed of a pick up truck. Then fewer tasks to perform when setting up at a new location.
All in all the Stable Tables have performed very well for me, for what is ultimately a very reasonable price when compared to other shooting benches on the market.
While they are a real deal for the price (currently $242 on Amazon or Walmart.com), calling them 'portable' is a bit of a stretch. While the top will easily come off by loosening one hand-turned bolt, the legs are all pinned into tubes, and can only be removed by pulling the 3 pins. So more steps to have to take when re-installing the bench at a new location. Also, while the photos of this bench on-line all show a round (maybe padded?) seat, I have never actually seen this. The seat on all the units I have purchased is spade-shaped and made from the same plastic as the tabletop. (As seen on the Stable Table BR photo at the bottom).
I have recently replaced 2 of my standard Stable Tables with the Caldwell BR model with the wood top. One each which will access my 50 yard and 65 yard target arrays. These BR models are more expensive - you will be paying over $450 each for them when they go on sale through Caldwell (which seems to have regular sales around US holidays. Will the next one be for July 4th?). The BR models are definitely more beefy and even more solid. They have easier leveling adjustability through thumbscrews on each leg. And the legs fully pivot so that for transportability one could take off the top (one bolt) and then just fold the legs down for a long but narrow item to put in the bed of a pick up truck. Then fewer tasks to perform when setting up at a new location.
All in all the Stable Tables have performed very well for me, for what is ultimately a very reasonable price when compared to other shooting benches on the market.
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I have the following shooting benches:
Stable Table- It's ok, it's not that stable
Stable Table Lite- I like it better than the Stable Table, it's actually stable, It's set up all the time.
MTM PST-11- It's not bad
Protektor model 53- I like it, my favorite.
That said, I am still searching for a better one.
Stable Table- It's ok, it's not that stable
Stable Table Lite- I like it better than the Stable Table, it's actually stable, It's set up all the time.
MTM PST-11- It's not bad
Protektor model 53- I like it, my favorite.
That said, I am still searching for a better one.
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My portable bench is a lot like Trapdoor2's 3/4 plumbing pipe legs (3) that screw into pipe flanges on slanted wood blocks on the underside of the bench. The top of mine is just a piece of 3/4 plywood and kind of light. I cut sections of PVC pipe and screwed them to the underside of the top so I can snap the legs into them for transport. I've also tried bracing the legs at the bottom for extra stability. I think it helps but its very easy to put my feet on the brace and negatively affect it. It sits on my back porch in case I want to shoot from there (or a visitor does). Or I throw it in the truck if I'm going to shoot away from home. At home I have a much more rigid bench made out of glued up and finished construction lumber. There is one screw attaching that bench to the hand rail of the porch it sits on at the back. Adds a lot of stability. I could make something like this that I could transport but it is fairly heavy and wouldn't be a lot more stable than the other one without the porch attachment.
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I have a Caldwell stable table lite i believe. It's the grey plastic one. I reinforced the table by riveting aluminum angles on the bottom. Also I weigh it down by hanging sand bags from the leg brackets. Without the bags it has a wiggle. It's not perfect but it folds up which is convenient and only takes a few minutes to set up
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