Thread: portable bench

well I've been toying with idea for a while now because i am sick of the inconstancy of shooting of the bonnet of me hilux , it is still a work in progress but it was
time to take it out for a field test and think i should have done this 30 years ago.
has it has improved groups well yes and predictability and consistency.
the rifles i have tested so far are a 7mm SENDERO and HOWA 243W varmint .

now for about two years i have had this f class front rest and no rifle that had that type of mounting system so as soon as i
seen your portable bench's in the missedathon thread the penny dropped so as funds allowed i started to piece together
things i needed , some ally some decent bags bench and some ply , moneys tight around here so it took some time.



so i just had to wait for a day where two things would happen no wind and a ticker that would cooperate .
and the day came so i load up to go and just about got out the gate and started to get that shit feeling i get before me ticker go's to shit and it did so that day was wasted it was 18:00 before i was better , anyway lucky for me at this time of year we quite often get 2 to 3 days in a row that remain relatively calm so the next day still feeling a bit seedy from the day before all i had to do was grab rifles and ammo out of the safe's as all the stuff was left in the hilux as i had to leave it there.

i get to the farm and there's a slight breeze bugger it so i figure i would just have some fun getting used to the new set up
20 minutes later i am about to plonk a rifle on the bags and i just realized i hadn't noticed the breeze had fluffed out



so i fire some fouler's and then pop some coke bottles and now it's time to shoot a group at 500y and i must say this way is a lot more consistent than a lux bonnet and this was the result



so am i happy you bet your @#$$ I AM and the next time out was the 243



and as you can see i added some bigger feet for the front rest to make it more stable and made some base's for the rear bag, i will have to redo the 7mm as it is a lot better this way.
and the result for the 243W was even more to my liking.



so a long winded report from me....

cheers D

oops i forgot the target is way up there

Good project and great shooting!!

That is a good looking setup - is the folding ladder base permanently mounted?

Fantastic project and bloody good shooting.

thanks for the comment's and yes it took a long time to find some factory rifles that shoot and it would be cheaper to build one than keep buying and selling untill you find one that shoots.

the sendero came from the states after i found out a few things about the way our importer runs things..

Originally Posted by 308

That is a good looking setup - is the folding ladder base permanently mounted?

308 it's not a ladder it's one of them work platforms this one is by gorilla cost $59au at that big green shed i don't know if you have them in NZ

Righto deye, didn't know you were in Oz - we have those platform things here too - a good design and worth imitating

Good shooting!!!

Been using the exact same bench set up for a couple of years now. Placemakers in NZ was where I got mine. Works well on uneven ground to because each leg is independently adjustable for height. Folds up flat, and will fit cross ways in the back of the Toyota Surf.

Originally Posted by Blaser

Good shooting!!!

thanks took a lot of practice to get there

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

Been using the exact same bench set up for a couple of years now. Placemakers in NZ was where I got mine. Works well on uneven ground to because each leg is independently adjustable for height. Folds up flat, and will fit cross ways in the back of the Toyota Surf.

plus if you have a close look at the legs i put extra holes for that reason , and i copied the idea from another forum over here .

i just put another stock on me 243 so will have to have another go and see how it go's .


cheers D

This might interest you guys folds flat no nails screws etc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMmWAkoAkZ8

Another idea is using the (better two-level) Black and Decker Workmate as a base. You simply make up your ambi top and screw a 50x50 longitudinally down the middle. This gets clamped into the Workmate jaws. Very solid and quick to assemble.

Here's a very light one I made from a folding trestle frame





Takes 20 secs to set up

What I use as a front rest is a bit cheaper if you dont have a F Class or "proper" front rest, is a car scissor jack with a wide foot attached to the bottom and a pad attached to the top so it doesn't mark the rifle. I will see if I can get a picture of it later and upload it.

I just used an old ironing board as the legs.works well.

That's a nice setup there @deye223! I have one of those benches sitting in the garage... It is well covered in paint drips but that will just give be an excuse to get the paint cans out. Very simple and super light and portable.