Wouldn’t it feel nice if your shooting bench could follow you anywhere? That’s right, I’m talking about portable shooting benches.
While the shooting bench in the competitive arenas is fine, they are not meant to be portable. If you have a shooting range in your backyard and aren’t really committed to the permanent setup, a portable shooting bench makes the most sense.
When you look for portable shooting benches, you will find quite a few options including aluminum shooting benches. But not all of them are meant to be suitable for your tasks. Some may favor the smaller weapons while others may support your long-range endeavors.
How do you find the best portable shooting bench, you ask. Well, that’s easy! That’s why you are here, aren’t you? Let me make it straightforward for you and help you choose your ultimate shooting bench!
How To Choose The Best Portable Shooting Bench?
Now that you know what are some of the best options on the market and why they are so sought after, how do you figure out which one is the best for you? That’s a very good question. Don’t worry, I have come prepared. Allow me to help you figure out this equation as well.
Stability
The first thing you would look for in a bench rest is the stability. If the bench rest isn’t stable to begin with, it won’t be able to keep you or your gun stable at all. If the legs are made out of poorly crafted materials, they will break almost immediately.
Make sure to choose a benchrest that is stable enough to support you in any environment and uneven surfaces.
Portability
The main reason why you would want a portable shooting bench is portability. If it’s not portable, why would you want it, right? You might want to go for a portable shooting chair that is not too heavy for you.
Keep in mind, that we are different in size and shape, and our capability of lifting weights is different. Make sure the rest you are buying is within the weight lifting capability of you.
Weight Capacity
The next thing to keep in mind is the weight limit. Some of the chairs I have mentioned above are made out of polyester. On top of that, they are sitting on a hollow pipe structure. So, yes, they have weight capacity.
Make sure to take a chair that can comply with your body weight and the gun’s weight. If the chair doesn’t support your weight, then you need to look for something else.
Budget
Last but not least, is the budget. As you can see, not all of them are equipped with a barrel/gun rest. Some of the tables will only come with tabletop and nothing else. When that happens, you will need to provide your own bipod/tripod/benchrest. That will cost you extra money.
Or you could go for the ones that come with gun support, to begin with. If you know how much you are willing to spend for the combo or the set, you can easily figure out which one is the best for you. Make sure to make up your mind beforehand. It will make the decision easier.
1. MTM Forest Green PST11 Shooting Table
When you search for portable shooting tables, PST-11 from MTM Forest will always come on top. Due to its popularity and weight balance features, this table is often considered one of the best shooting tables on the market.
While it doesn’t have any fancy design features or locking mechanisms to keep it stable, it does have steel legs. The legs are quite well designed and they lock in place when you fold them for portability.
The weight of this table is only 14 pounds! Making it one of the lightest portable shooting tables on the market! If you are after something durable and isn’t equipped with bells and whistles, the Predator Shooting Table from MTM makes a lot of sense!
Pros
- Affordable.
- Durable steel legs.
- The locking mechanism has no issues.
- Lightweight.
Cons
- Some hunters have complained about the stability in uneven places.
- The top plastic coating should have featured more gripping power.
2. Kill Shot Portable Shooting Bench Seat
The next one I recommend is from Kill Shot. A lot of tables won’t gun with a gun rest, let alone an adjustable one. But Kill Shot has decided to go against the tide and present an affordable portable shooting bench.
The legs of this table are made out of steel. It’s durable and lightweight. Unlike some other metal legs you might find, this one is hollow inside. Which makes it easier to carry. That doesn’t mean it cannot handle any weight.
The polyester-made seat and the table can hold up really well. The weight holding capacity of this table is 300 pounds. Rest assured, you and your gun will stay on the table no matter what! As for the table itself, it’s around 33 pounds. That’s not as light as the MTM, but it’s not too heavy either. Thanks to the great weight balance of this table, you can carry it around like it weighs nothing.
Pros
- Adjustable height for young and adults.
- Portable.
- Durable steel legs.
- 300 lbs weight capacity.
- Adjustable weapon rest.
- Strong polyester top.
Cons
- Can be heavy for young shooters to carry around.
- The polyester can be cut with sharp objects. Carry your hunting knife carefully.
3. Caldwell Stable Table Lite Ambidextrous Seat
Caldwell is another popular brand when it comes to portable benchrests. Their tables are quite sturdy and they are known for lasting a long time. This lite table from them doesn’t look like the best thing in the world, but it is surprisingly well-built!
The legs of this table are made out of steel pipes. While they are hollow and lightweight, they can hold up really well. Even if you weigh over 200 lbs, the steel pipe and the seat made out of weatherproof polymer will hold you up just fine.
While there were some rumors about the tabletop not holding up in the long run, you will find countless arguments against that rumor. Weatherproof and sturdy plastic is perfectly fine as a tabletop for long-range shooting. Thanks to its collapsible nature and less than 30 lbs weight, you can carry this anywhere you go.
Pros
- Extremely portable.
- Lightweight and sturdy.
- Will hold up weight just fine.
- Can work with different bipods.
- The seat is comfortable.
- Collapsible.
Cons
- Cannot adjust the height of either the seat or the table.
- The lack of cushion can lead to irritation for some shooters.
4. Caldwell DeadShot FieldPod Rifle Shooting Rest
If you are looking for the most comfortable shooting bench, then Caldwell DeadShot is the thing you have been waiting for. This comfortable-looking chair is made for shooters who don’t want to skimp out on the experience just because they are in the wild.
Instead of having a table at the front, it has an adjustable gun rest that you can move forward or backward depending on the distance you are comfortable with. You can also increase or decrease the height of the gun rest with a small hand-adjustable knob at the base.
The choice of material for legs here is aluminum pipes. While some of you have had bad experiences with aluminum pipes previously, this one isn’t going to be one of those experiences. With around 26 lbs of weight and polyester cushioning, this is without a doubt the best portable shooting chair with gun rest.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable. Perhaps, the most comfortable shooting chair you will find.
- Collapsible.
- Adjustable gun rest.
- Suitable for long-range shooting.
- Lightweight and portable.
- 360 swivel movement.
Cons
- Doesn’t feature a tabletop.
- Hard to find in stock.
5. X-Stand Hunting Shooting Bench with Swivel Seat
At first glance, this one is one doesn’t look that unique compared to the rest of the options so far. But it does have some features that set it apart from the competition. The first thing you would notice is the leather finish on the seat and the bench compared to plastic or polyester.
To some, it may have been the wrong choice while others have welcomed it with both arms open. The legs of this rest are made out of steel. It’s also the most preferred choice when it comes to the legs of chairs and tables. Instead of powder coating, X-Stand used paint.
The barrel support on this rest is simply amazing. It can put up with heavy guns and it won’t budge from your shaking either. On top of that, it has some pockets on the side where you can store your ammo and empty shells. But that’s not all, the chair is a swivel one. If you want to change the direction you are shooting without leaving the chair, you can do that.
Pros
- The cushion is extremely comfortable.
- Useful side pockets.
- Vinyl tabletop.
- Barrel support.
- Swivel feature.
Cons
- Powder coating on the legs would have made more sense. Paint can start to wear out with moisture.
Conclusion
A portable shooting bench is something that every long-range shooter should have in their arsenal. The thing is too good of a value to ignore and will help you a lot in your all-day shooting adventures.
I hope I managed to help you figure out the best portable shooting bench for you. If so, I’m glad. The decision is not an easy one to make, I’m well aware of that. But if you know what you are looking for in the bench and how much you are willing to sacrifice for that, you can figure out the best bench for you with ease.
With that said, that’s all for now. Hopefully, you had fun reading it and learned something new in the process as well. Thanks for spending your precious time with me. Will see you on the next one.