Folding Gun Rack

Very cool! Great idea!

I remember those from the rifle range at Fort Knox. Good job big P, jockmike

Thanks for posting this. I need to make one of these for my local American Legion Post. Thanks for the idea.

Great job. It looks like a fun project.

Great design! Looks like a great solution to the friend's need.

Form follows function. Good work, Dave
Tom

Glad to see another shooter on the forum. Was going to post an entry in the fall challenge for a "shooting" bench, but did not know how well it would be recieved.

Anyway. I have a stand like that on my list of to-dos. I will probably build it when I build me another target stand. My poor last stand was mangled by a shooter in the lane next to me, as his stand was a bit cock-eyed, and his rounds ate up the supposed for my backer board. No biggie, as he is a friend, and I made it from scrap anyway.

I like the design. Where did you get the felt strips?

Thank you for the posts, this was one of those quick fun projects.
If I do another stand, and it does not have to close up to fit in a narrow space, I think I would make the following changes:

Make two identical front parts and no rear support.
Offset the top slots to one side with a little more space in between them.
Connect the two tops back to back with hinges on top and the slots offset from each other.
This would make it deeper when closed, but you could put guns, or fishing poles on both sides.

The felt was from a yardage store, cut into strips and mounted with contact cement.

3Js, I think there are plenty of shooters here, and even those that chose not to respect the woodworking involved in these kinds of projects!

Just look at some of the beautiful gun cabinets that have been posted in the last few months.

Well done Dave. Shows creativity and imagination. Another quality project from "saved" wood.

Dave,

I think you should post that design on some of the shooting sights. I think it would be very well received. I am a member of a 1000 member gun club and it would certainly come in handy during large shooting events and deer camps. Heck, post the plans here and Ill make them available via the clubs web site.

anther LJ shooter here also. Nice rack <grin> I just love saying that when it is appropriate

That would be nice for my cowboy action shoots. Nice job!

A fellow LumberJock has taken the time to draw the plans for the folding gun rack. The plans can be found on Buckskins blog under listing " Folding Gun Rack #1: Drawings"

Dave -

Nice Rack!

For two sided storage, I have another idea. First, Lower the gunstock back-stop. You only need a small one (half inch?) to prevent the gun stocks from from slipping off. This would now allow high-combed trap shotguns to go on it without the high comb rubbing on the backstop when you try to get the gun's butt pad on the bottom shelf. Second, add another back-stop to the support side, adjust length/mounting point so that it still folds up. Finally, Now you could notch the top from both sides to achieve the double sided offset storage you seek, without using a hinge and increasing the width that much, although the top would have to be wider or the notches less deep. Obviously I am a shotgun sports guy, so I would make sure the distance from the bottom ledge to the top notches is not where a shotgun's mid-bead would be. Since most of my shooting buddies use over/under shotguns or single barreled break open shotguns, if the height is such that the top is above the forestock (but not on that all to easy to break off mid-bead), then the notches only have to be wide enough to accept a barrel, but that looks like it would be taller than the fine rack displayed above. In essence, rather than a second top with a hinge, put a second bottom on and just notch a single top from both sides? This way you get the same number of guns on the rack, but since the guns are on both sides, they are not packed in together as tight.

I made one with two tops and a hinge already, and I don't like the bulk of it, although it does work great. Your design seems more elegant and space efficient, think my ideas would work?

Tom

Thanks for the ideas Tom.
I don't see anything in your changes that wouldn't work.
I will try your ideas on the next one I build.

Can you give me the measurements of the peices you cut out. I am still an amiture woodworker.

Hi Sharpshooter,
I will work up the measurements and post them here for you.
Proclamator

Hi Sharpshooter,
Sorry for the delay, a good friend had a major stroke.

If you don't need it to fit behind a truck seat it is pretty simple.
It is two boxes put together like a step ladder, hinged at the top.
For the two top pieces use one board 5 1/2" inches wide, as long as you want your rack to be plus 3".
Draw a line down the center, 2 3/4", start at one end put a mark at 3" and a mark every 3" after that.
At the marks use a 2" hole saw to cut holes through the board, then simply rip the board down the middle and it will give you two top pieces. Stagger the top pieces so the slots don't line up on each side, this way the barrels will fit between each other on opposite sides. If you have any questions, please email me.
Proclamator

are there any plans for the gun rack? i am just a beginnger and would appreciate the help.