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Finally getting near completion for Silverstone Shooting Centre (we open on Sept 9th) but we have a decision to make so I thought I'd ask here.

Which would you prefer, a bench to shoot from (solid, fold down) 1m deep and 1.5m wide (the width of the bay) or separate shooting tables, we are thinking the predator table.

Any thoughts?

Thorney wrote:Finally getting near completion for Silverstone Shooting Centre (we open on Sept 9th) but we have a decision to make so I thought I'd ask here.

Which would you prefer, a bench to shoot from (solid, fold down) 1m deep and 1.5m wide (the width of the bay) or separate shooting tables, we are thinking the predator table.

Any thoughts?

Whatever you do don't forget the southpaws

have you thought of cast concrete tables such as the ones commonly in use in the US ?

Separate tables, southpaw friendly. A bench is only good for holding black powder reloading stuff.

Shooting from a bench requires it to sit alongside you.

kennyc wrote:have you thought of cast concrete tables such as the ones commonly in use in the US ?

That's the way I would go if they can be left in position - not expensive, can be cast on site, plenty of designs on line, weatherproof, solid.. Nothing worse than trying to do some serious benchrest or ammo/rifle testing on a springy wobbly wooden table. A bench is really only suitable for plinking fun.

Here's some:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=co ... ORM=HDRSC2

Thorney wrote:Finally getting near completion for Silverstone Shooting Centre (we open on Sept 9th) but we have a decision to make so I thought I'd ask here.

Which would you prefer, a bench to shoot from (solid, fold down) 1m deep and 1.5m wide (the width of the bay) or separate shooting tables, we are thinking the predator table.

Any thoughts?

Concrete top on a breeze-block base will be best, cheapest and last forever. PM me on vinceb@targetshooteronline.com and I'll be happy to send some pics of what the UK Benchrest Assoc. use.

The problem with the concrete ones is that we also want to have practical shooting events and anything fixed would interfere in that, the bench idea is that they fold up, but looks like separate tables makes more sense. We've already got height adjustable stools with rubber feet so we are trying to come up with the best solution for everyone.

why could you not just move in front of the tables for the practical events?

See the various pics on www.stourportonsevernpistolnrifleclub.co.uk.
This layout works for us and has done so for many years. For practical and similar events we normally use the "B" range and shoot from in front of the fixed bench.
Fred