Shooting bench plans?

I would like to use it for air and powder burnets but most of my long range shooting is done at a club so I will be using it for air guns most often. I’m fine with or without attached seats but would rather have them attached if possible. The workmate bench sounds like it might be a good idea although I’ve kind of been wanting to build a high quality bench for a while now. I might buy one of those too, as my portable bench. I could then make the bench from my original plans and not worry about the weight. I also appreciate the X-Ecutor 360 idea but none of my friends or I have had much luck with prebuilt benches and like I said, I want it two have two shooting positions so my boys and I can shoot together. Thank you for the ideas though. I really do appreciate all input. Stoti

Ackc1234- I think that’s exactly what I’m going to do unless someone has a great idea that they share. I’m going to switch out the 6x6 for 4x4 and then switch out the 2x6 for 2x4. I’m then going to do away with the seating and just use a stool. I think it will work fine. That way I have an accurate materials list and it will still be very sturdy and durable. 

MarkT- I’ve been using something similar to your suggestion and the card table legs aren’t cutting it for me. I also don’t want any plywood or anything that can rot. I think I’m going to stick to pressure treated wood and a composite decking material for the top. I want to be able to leave it outside 24/7. Thanks for the suggestion. Stoti

Thanks everyone. I went to Home Depot tonight and bought the lumber for the bench plans I have. I'm just changing up the plans to make it lighter. might or might not attach seats and I got some composite decking for the top. I figured I'm not going to stress about weight, this will be my home bench for my 70yd range. I can buy the workmate or something else for taking to the field. My boys and I are going to build it tomorrow so I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you again everyone for your imput. I really do appreciate your help.

Merry Christmas! Stoti

That one looks great. I might buy one of those for when the boys and I go afield. Today we're building the one I have plans for though. I'll post a picture when we're done. Hopefully we won't get rained out today. Need the rain to get the Steelhead coming though!!!

Stoti

Yeah George, got it. I actually wasn't thinking about that and forgot to wear gloves, my hands were red/brown almost instantly. As far as the top of the bench goes, there was some composite decking on sale (originally $24 on sale for $8) and it actually matches the brown pressure treated wood pretty well. No splinters or chemicals, and it looks awesome. In one of the pictures I attached, you can see the composite stuff in the background, it's light brown. Never used it before...talk about heavy! I'm going to router all of the edges (if you can do it with composite material) to make the top really look good and I'll also add a couple of 3 3/4" recesses for 350 round pellet tins to sit down in a bit. I'm going to forego the bench seat too. I'll either make a couple of separate seats or a separate, large bench since I already have the wood. Or, maybe I'll buy a couple of shooting stools. Probably both!

Strever, I'd love to come up there and shoot, or you can come down here. We have a garage set up like a mother in law unit or plenty of room in our house if you have the patients for two young, loud, rowdy boys. The point is, if you want to come down for a day or two, you're welcome to stay here. I was envious of the post I saw this morning of all the So. Cal boys getting together to shoot. Like I told you before, I head up that way to Salmon and Steelhead fish the Smith and Chetco rivers fairly often this time of year. Depending on the weather, some buddies and I are planning on coming up to Steelhead fish next week after Christmas. I'll be coming up again the second week of January to stay with a buddy who has a house on the Chetco river. I know you're not a big fisherman, but I can always make room in the boat for you. My wife just loves floating down the river sometimes instead of fishing. It's relaxing, sometimes exciting, beautiful, peaceful and there's always plenty of good conversation to be had while enjoying the bountiful wildlife. Sometimes we even catch some Steelhead too! I'll drive 3-4 hours without even thinking about it if it involves, photography, shooting, hunting or fishing! We really should get together and get as many guys to come as possible. I know there are Nor Cal. AGN members in Fairfield, Napa, Santa Rosa, Albion, Ukiah, Redding, Shingletown, Crescent City and probably plenty of others that I don't know about. I'm up for anything! Maybe we can arrange to get a few guys together up your way in the spring, those shooting benches look durable and solid, I'd be happy to try them out. 

I got out all of my tools this morning, got my boys out of bed, had all of the lumber marked to be cut and then right when I got ready to start working, it started to rain and rain hard. I got everything that could be damaged by the rain and stashed it in the garage. The boys and I came inside to have breakfast, after about an hour there was a break in the weather, so I decided to give it another shot. I just grabbed my tool belt, the Skil Saw and hoped to try and get the lumber cut so it would be ready for assembly when the weather fully cooperated. My son popped out and took a picture of me as I started working which reminded me take more pictures to capture the progress. I attached a picture of the beginning of the project and another picture of the upper part of the frame ready to be screwed together. If all goes well in the morning, I should have the bench put together in about an hour and then I'll have to figure out what I'm going to do about seating. 

Thanks again everyone for the imput, great suggestions and super conversation. These are just some of the things I really love about Air Gun Nation.

To all of you...Happy Holiday season and Merry Christmas. I hope you all have a healthy, prosperous and exciting 2019!



A little more progress between downpours.