Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Tailgate benchrest

I had posted my tail gate bench rest on other threads. The tailgate wire kept getting in the way, so I built second generation model. This one extends beyond the support wire and is much more comfortable. It's also long enough to support a free standing Magnetospeed chrono without having to hang it on the barrel.

Early one:





Latest version:
Sacks of deer corn headed for the camp. I posed this photo, it's not set it up to shoot. Will do that later.
5/8" plywood, 3/4" would have been too heavy, IMO.



By screwing and gluing the 2x2 braces to the 2x2 front piece, the overhang is fairly stiff and stable. The plywood is wide enough to cover the gap between the tailgate and truck bed. Rounds kept falling thru, no more.

Looks nice. Is it loud with the reverb of the shot coming off the truck cab?

Looks good. I really like engineuity.

A friend of mine fired his STW which has a muzzle brake from his tailgate. It just so happened the brake was even with the taillight. Not only was the red taillight lens destroyed, the bulb and the reflector behind that was destroyed!

I once had a Dodge/Mitsubishi P/U. I had my bench set up next to it and was shooting a 7RM. The left front hub cap fell off from the side blast. It must not have been put on that tight.

There is no noticeable increase in sound from the cab. With the old set up, the bed would catch rounds from autoloaders. With this set up, I'm not sure if the gun will be positioned forward enough for that to happen, or if they'll fly over the side of the bed. Yet to try it out.

The taillight is far enough forward from the muzzle, hopefully, to be protected from the blast. I do shoot a 26 Nos, which makes quite a fuss. In fact the rifle shown with the new set up is a 26 Nos I just bedded in a B&C Medalist for my hunting bud. It is a very early '60's vintage M-700, was a 7RM, now wears a 26" Shilen Match tube.

I have a .300 WM with a brake. It tends to scatter stuff left near the muzzle. I had a sheet of load data lying too close. It was shattered by the .300 brake.

DF

Very nice!

This is what I built about six or seven years ago.

I can only shoot to 150 yds on my property. But it is only a three mile drive to the BLM where I can get out to 700 yds, or a 1000 yds and beyond should I wish.





I originally designed it to be used from the sitting position. I have since redesigned the stinger portion to allow the bench to be adjusted from a sitting position, up to where a six foot tall individual can easily shoot from the standing position.

I actually prefer to use it from the standing position for shooting ground squirrels or targets.

I add a couple of light duty ratchet straps from the bench up to the stake pockets of the truck to take out the bounce while transporting, and increase stability while shooting.

I like that, especially the high/low option.

The high, standing position is preferred when shooting big boomers. Those guns will beat you up, shot from conventional sitting position. Standing lets your body absorb the recoil better.

I agree with Ringman, I like innovation...

DF

Nice units but watch where you use them. I think this would still be considered "shooting from a vehicle". Muddy

I don't use mine to shoot critters, just targets and on private land, not near any roadway.

So, I think it's OK in that regard.

DF

Cool! You guys are smart! Who knew!!

Surprised...?

DF

Just realized why your extension is that long, clears the lowered tailgate perfectly...

DF

Great ideas! Thanks for posting these photos.

It's only illegal if you get caught...

DF

The dimensions are such that it may be used from right or left positions. Turned around to shoot the other direction, it sits up close to the tailgate.

But, yes, the way it sits in the photo allows the tailgate to be used for an ammo rack or to sit a spotter.

I don't know about the rest of the country, but in Idaho it is perfectly legal to shoot from the vehicle in non-hunting scenarios.

Looks good DF.

I shoot off my tailgate quite frequently w/o plywood, but it is rhino lined. I do park at a slight angle for comfort. It works quite well for paper punching on gas line ROWs around here when one wants to stretch out a bit.


I have a portable shooting bench I use at times, but the truck is more stable for precision as long as it's not windy and no one else is touching the vehicle.

I also have a very nice shooting bench, it even has a set of long legs for standing use with big bores.

The tailgate bench is lot faster and easier to set up and is long enough to accommodate the free standing Magnetospeed.

DF

cool setup, where did you get the magnetic rifle holder?

On line somewhere; I can't remember.

Do a word search on line.

Letting guns cool, open bolt in upright position, seems to work well and pretty fast.

DF

tagging this thread