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  1. #1
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    Ambidextrous Shooter's Bench

    Ambidextrous Shooter’s Bench

    After using my portable shooter’s bench for several years, we decided GriffonSec needed a more stable platform for benchrest shooting at his range.

    I did a Visio scale drawing, put together a parts list using Lowe’s part numbers and pricing, and wrote up fairly detailed assembly instructions. I put all of this into a PDF document and placed it in the “Manuals” download section in case someone else on WEVO wished to build a bench. Link shown below:

    http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum...?do=file&id=43

    It only required ten boards and some bolts and screws. Total price was under $190. The most expensive piece was the twelve foot 6x6 used for the legs. Using one that long was actually cheaper, and had less scrap, than using two eight foot 6x6 posts. All lumber is pressure treated for exterior use.

    I used what seems to be the NRA standard height of a finished thirty-two inches. The shape is a commonly seen horseshoe shape that allows three distinct shooting positions; left hand benchrest, right hand benchrest, and just sitting in the middle without using either of the rearward protruding supports. The size of the bench top was designed to use full-width decking boards – no ripping is required. All cuts are cross-cut. In the Visio drawing I used the lumber’s actual dimensions; e.g., a 2x6x8’ board is 1.5x5.5x96”.

    First photo is the lumber:
    (5) 2x6x8’ boards
    (2) 5/4x6x8’ decking boards
    (2) 5/4x/6/10’ decking boards
    (1) 6x6x12’ post

    IMG_2643 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    The pieces to cut from each piece of lumber is shown in the PDF. I selected board lengths and cuts to minimize scrap.

    When all the cuts are done, you will have a nice pile of parts ready to be put together.

    IMG_2652 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    IMG_2656 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    The left and right sides are put together by only attaching the lower outside rail and the upper inside rail for each side. The upper outside rail will be attached after all the inner support sections are attached. This allows full access to the areas which must be screwed together.

    IMG_2664 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    After the two sides are standing, the upper and lower front rails are used to secure the sides together. Once this is done, the central support section can be assembled. Be sure the “horseshoe” is perfectly square.

    IMG_2665 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    When the bench frame is complete:

    IMG_2666 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    The first decking board is placed. This board is flush with the back edge of the inner support rail. The overhang should be equal on each side rail. This is the critical decking board used as a guide for the rest of the top.

    IMG_2669 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    If everything is square, and this guide board properly placed, all other decking boards will lay up with even edges. Again, I adjusted the front and rear overhang dimensions to use full-width decking boards.

    IMG_2671 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    At GriffonSec’s range, I used a Bushnell range finder to measure 100 yards from the left side of the shooting lane, and drove a surveyor’s stake. I did the same thing from the right side of the shooting lane and ran a line from stake to stake.

    As there is no permanent structure on the range, other than the berm, we decided to inlay concrete pavers to set the bench on. The bench is “relatively” easy to move using a hand truck. Do this from one of the sides only, I’m not sure the front overhang would support the weight.

    I marked the center of each paver, and put the centerline of the front two pavers under the 100 yard string. Then, using the paver centers, the rear pavers were placed so that the center of each bench leg would center on each paver.

    IMG_2675 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    When not in use, the bench will be stored under roof in the pole barn.

    IMG_2682 by Jerry R, on Flickr

    Also shown in the above photo is the 10x20 top we setup for the spring and fall shoots.

    All-in-all a fun project that produced a nice bench.

    Going slow, it took about a half day to cut all the lumber (measure twice – cut once), and about six hours to assemble it. Griff was at work, so a couple of guys could have gotten it done a little quicker.

    The finished height is 32 inches, and the top’s main section is 33” deep by 51” wide. The left and right “extensions” are 16.5” deep by 11.5” wide each. This provides a 28” wide area between the two extensions for the shooter. Total area covered by the bench is 51” wide by 49.5” deep.

    Thanks for taking time to read this, and I hope you found it informative. I will close with a nice panorama of the well-stocked lake at GriffonSec’s place.

    IMG_2646 by Jerry R, on Flickr
    NRA Benefactor Member
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    "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."
    John Wayne - "The Shootist"

  2. #2
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    Very Nice Jerry! Certainly looks nice and solid...


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  3. #3
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    Solid... That thing has to have a few hernia's floating around in it! That's an awesome build-it-once bench, Jerry!
    There's no "Team" in F**K YOU!

  4. #4
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    Thanks guys. It was a fun project, and always good to spend time with my Son and Grandson.
    NRA Benefactor Member
    NRA Certified Instructor

    "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."
    John Wayne - "The Shootist"

  5. #5
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    Looks great Jerry! Two thumbs up from a master carpenter. All you need is to take a 3" hole saw and drill a recessed drink holder.
    The best way to survive a violent encounter is to be the one inflicting the most violence.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stone View Post
    Looks great Jerry! Two thumbs up from a master carpenter. All you need is to take a 3" hole saw and drill a recessed drink holder.
    2.

    2 drink holders. Gotta keep it ambi
    -One Nation, Under God

    -"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." ~ Michael Althsuler

  7. #7
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    Bwhahahaha!!!! Hell yeah!
    The best way to survive a violent encounter is to be the one inflicting the most violence.

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