For several years I had a fabric building that I had my shooting bench in. It provided shelter for the bench and a place to store targets, pencils, spotting scope, etc. so that I didn't have to carry all of the stuff back and forth. That fabric building was 8'x8' and worked well enough but was just a little bit small due to the tapered sides. Also, I had to replace the fabric every three years. It was time to replace to fabric again and I decided to get what I really wanted - a permanent weatherproof structure.
Most of the prefabricated sheds at the big box stores such as Home Depot and Lowes didn't have the features that I really wanted, and I wasn't up to trying to build one myself this year. While on vacation this summer I found a company called Deer Run Outfitters that was a combination archery shop, taxidermist, hunting stand dealer, and shed/garage dealer. They represented a manufactured called Backyard Outfitters who builds everything from sheds to animal shelters to garages to deluxe cabins.
What I thought was neat about Backyard Outfitters was that they had "standard" base structures and their dealers, (Deer Run Outfitters), had a computer program with a list of "upgrades" and "add-on" you could get applied to a "custom" built structure. Each upgrade had a fixed incremental cost associated with it. In my case, I wanted:
8' wide x 10' long
Wider double doors
Two windows
Pressure treated skids, floor joists, and floor
12" spacing on the floor joints (for rigidity)
3/4" thick plywood floor (for rigidity)
The metal roof color, building color, and trim colors could be selected from a nice list of options, and delivery and set-up are included in the price. I've also looked into a safe firearms training simulator as another option for exploring training technology. What was really nice about this computer program was that with each option you chose, the building drawings and physical representations automatically updated. There was no guesswork as to what you were going to get.
That's a fantastic upgrade! Having a permanent, weatherproof shed dedicated to your shooting setup makes a lot of sense. I especially like the customization options and the ability to see the design updated before placing the order. The extra floor support, wider doors, and windows are practical additions. It looks like a well-thought-out investment that should serve you for many years. Thanks for sharing!
