Purchasing a quality-crafted shooting bench can become very costly, but with a few materials and some simple carpentry, you can make an inexpensive one of your own.
What You Need
To build your shooting bench, you will need two pieces of 3/4-inch plywood, some wood glue, and a few handy tools, such as a drill, welder, and circular saw for cutting wood to specific dimensions. You will also need 12 lock nuts, preferably nylon; four steel mounting plates, each measuring 4 by 4 inches; three galvanized pipe couplings, 1 1/2 inches; three pieces of galvanized steel pipe, 1 1/2 inches, to make the legs of the bench; and 12 bolts, 2 1/2 inches by 3/8 inch. A clear polyurethane finish will put the finishing touches on your bench when you are done.
Making the Bench
With the wood glue, attach the two pieces of plywood together and allow to dry about 24 hours. Once dry,cut plywood into the desired shape you want for the bench, keeping in mind that the front should measure 27 inches across and the back 15 inches across. By adhering to these measurements, you ensure that your shooting bench will be level for precision shooting.
If you prefer to have indentations in your bench to make shooting a little easier, cut your desired indentations in the board now.
Finishing Your Bench
Sand the edges of the table and then apply the polyurethane finish, allowing this to also dry for 24 hours. Once dry, weld the couplings to the steel mounting plates at an 18-degree angle, bolting them to the top with the couplings angled away from the center of the bench. Keep in mind that one mounting plate should be attached to each of the front corners, while one should be attached at the center of the back of the bench.
Adding Legs to Your Bench
The galvanized steel pipe will serve as the legs for the bench. Take the steel pipe and screw into the couplings, tightening so that pipe is flush with the top of the bench. This completes your shooting bench.
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