A nice shooting box for the range.

[LehighBrad]

I'm considering making myself a nice wooden shooting box to carry all my "stuff" to and from the range. Anyone out there have any pictures of their own hand made shooting boxes to share?? I'd like to try and get some ideas on construction, lid types, inside compartments, exterior decoration, hardware (hinges, latches, carrying handles, corner protecters, etc.)
Thanks in advance.

[coopersdad]

Brad:

Here are some photos of the one I made a few years ago.  I tend to make things too big, and then I take too much stuff....Anyway it is of 5/8" pine, 20" wide by 12" deep by 10 1/4" tall. The tree was killed by mountain pine beetles, which gives it the colors. Finish is just Watco clear oil.   I was trying to learn handcut dovetailing at the time so this was a practice piece.  I made it solid and then cut the lid off.  The sliding till inside is handy, and the box is just deep enough to hold powder cans upright.  The hardware is standard hardware store brass stuff. If I did another I'd either remove the lacquer from the brass so it tarnished, or better, use some steel hardware and try to make it look handforged.   Have fun with your project - it will go well with that nice rifle you just completed!



 

[Ky-Flinter]

Brad,

Here's a link to one I made and posted a while back.  http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=4855.0

Do a search here on ALR for "shooting box" and you'll find several.

-Ron

[David R. Pennington]

[Roger Fisher]

A shooting box maker I'm not; I suggest a box with a flat top (reason stated later) and a thick rope handle on top center of said box, so you can carry rifle and box on same trip from the car to the line/loading area. Some ranges allow you to drive right up to the loading areas (lucky buggers) If you make the box too large you will be expected to carry extras for all your buddies, and later on down the road you will have to fit it with an axle and wheels.... Old age you know!

Oh yeah, the reason for flat top is to sit on and rest during your trip to the loading area from  the truck>!

[smallpatch]

Gosh guys,  really nice boxes. But, you could live out of those for a while. All you need is a pouch and a horn to have a great day shooting.
Minimize, minimize, minimize..... it's just more fun.  Keep that box at home to store your stuff, or pack it for a week long trip???