Jump to content

COVID - 19 Shooting Bench Project


Recommended Posts

Since I am "sheltering i place", I have started doing some projects that I have had on the back burner.

 

I started this project last October when a young man that I look at as my adopted son gave me some 4 X 4s and used deck boards from the deck he was demolishing. He also gave me almost all of the fasteners required and he has a gallon of cedar colored oil based penetrating stain for me. I will wait until warmer, dryer weather to stain the project.

 

 Most of the deck boards and 4 X 4s were cut back in October when depression over my 33 year marriage ending in divorce caused a lack of motivation to do much of anything.

 

The only items I needed to purchase for the bench at this time where  some hardware items for the seat, an 8' 2 X 10 and an 8' 2 X 4. I also purchased 4 ea 6" Timberlok Screws, three 8' landscape timbers and 2 bags of wood mulch for the base. I already had 1 bag of mulch and a 100' x 4' roll of landscape fabric.

I started the project in my kitchen, later moving to the deck.

dmkRqCN.jpg

3l34fZA.jpg

lF7qnHS.jpg

 

The 2 X 10 seats are pivoted at the front on a 3/8" X 4" lag bolt. I fashioned a stop out of a 3/8" X 2" carriage bolt, a washer and a 3/8"coupling nut. It stops against a wood block glued and screwed the the farme under the seat.The seats pivot to allow a comfortable shooting position for shooters of different body types. The deck is 36" above the base and the seats are 18". This allows a rather upright shooting position that makes it easier to attain a skeletal support hold.

zQWcODv.jpg

 

Then, I sunk and leveled a 42" X 84" frame made with landscape timbers. placed a triple layer of landscape fabric under the frame and filled the center level with the top of the frame with compacted wood mulch. 

MjFvs7b.jpg

ZrIWflo.jpg

 

The bench was then set on top of the frame and tagged down with some 3" deck screws.

9ntF5ku.jpg

bJvkbF7.jpg

 

All set up and ready to go.

eVqzyEe.jpg

DtWMAym.jpg

 

I shot this image through the Leupold VXi 3 4 1/2 X 10 scope on 10 X

The vertical crosshair is centered on the 200 yard stake and you can see the 100 yard stake in the low spot with the 50 yard and 25 yard stakes in the foreground.

8VJ7VcT.jpg

 

All totaled I have about $75 in this project. If I had to buy everything new I would have 3-4 times that in it.

Edited by wildcat junkie
  • Like 16
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  On 4/9/2020 at 5:47 PM, The_Real_TCIII said:

Looks great and Im glad to see youre doing well!

Expand  

It has been hard to understand how an incredible romance that lasted  25 years went to hell in 6 months then languished for 7 years, ultimately ending in divorce..

 

I'm at the acceptance stage of grieving now.

Edited by wildcat junkie
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have 2 pieces of 4 x 4 that are 26" long. I'm going to design and make a movable target stand to set at whatever yardage I plan to shoot. The weight of the 4 X 4s should make it stable in any wind conditions I am likely to be shooting under

8VJ7VcT.jpg

 

Probably build it tomorrow.

Edited by wildcat junkie
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  On 4/9/2020 at 5:57 PM, wildcat junkie said:

I have 2 pieces of 4 x 4 that are 26" long. I'm going to design and make a movable target stand to set at whatever yardage I plan to shoot. The weight of the 4 X 4s should make it stable in any wind conditions I am likely to be shooting under

8VJ7VcT.jpg

 

Probably build it tomorrow.

Expand  

CFucHQg.jpg

7833nA8.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  On 4/9/2020 at 5:52 PM, wildcat junkie said:

It has been hard to understand how an incredible romance that lasted  25 years went to hell in 6 months then languished for 7 years, ultimately ending in divorce..

 

I'm at the acceptance stage of grieving now.

Expand  

Been there, My Friend.....Sorry... Mine ended after 35 years...That was 14 years ago  and I am much better now, but there are some things that you never really get over...

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since I want to be able to leave my target stand at the shooting bench and there is no shelter, I wanted to be able to R&R the cardboard without having to use any tools.

 

The cardboard is secured with some stout spring clamps at the top. I am contemplating making some sort of hinged affair at the top to better distribute the clamping force across the cardboard.

t5tI0dG.jpg

 

I used my table saw ro cut a rabbet groove at the bottom.. I got lucky and the gap is just right to securely grip the cardboard yet allow easy enough insertion

XYRDyGB.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...