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lead sleds shooting rest? #5558350 01/22/15 08:14 PM
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USMCatfish Offline OP
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I was hoping for some info on shooting rest. I was looking at the Caldwell DFT or the Lead Sled Plus. I know nothing about any of them and would take recommendations. It would be mainly used for rifles of various calibers.

Thk you
Steven

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5558386 01/22/15 08:32 PM
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I would not recommend them. I would get a good set of sand bags an use them in the front and back. Shooting with a led sled and then shooting normally will be different.

Walter


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5558403 01/22/15 08:42 PM
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I have a lead sled plus and love it. I shoot a 375 h&h and there is no appreciable felt recoil. I would buy mine again in a heartbeat.

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5558412 01/22/15 08:45 PM
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I use a Caldwell when sighting in the rifle.


It is far more important to be able to hit the target than it is to haggle over who makes a weapon or who pulls a trigger.

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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5558424 01/22/15 08:51 PM
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Rifles can shoot different in them versus out of them. Get better form and they are not needed.


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: J.G.] #5558433 01/22/15 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
Rifles can shoot different in them versus out of them. Get better form and they are not needed.


This is my take on it. You are changing a lot of variables between the sled and having the gun held by a human.


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #5558475 01/22/15 09:15 PM
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My brother has a lead sled and uses it often when he comes over to shoot. I don't bother with one. More than one rifle editor has written that the sleds--because they don't "give" with the recoil--can crack your wood stock from the recoil mortise back to the tang, especially in heavy-recoiling rifles or guns that are shot frequently.

Instead, I prefer to use my regular shooting rests with a sissy pad like a PAST harnessed to my shoulder when I shoot the big boomers.


"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple.....and wrong." H. L. Mencken
Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5558546 01/22/15 09:43 PM
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Prone, bipod, load the bipod, makes the recoil have to travel through your whole body. Shooting from a bench you basically have a hinge at your hips allowing your torso to be pushed back = more felt recoil.

Prone isn't for everyone, though, I get that and have seen it.


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5558598 01/22/15 10:11 PM
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I have one and consider it a must anytime you want to lessen or eliminate the chance of human error. I let one of my rifles slip off a tree and fall squarely on the top of the scope last season. I used the lead sled to later check it and found it shooting eight inches high. However, after readjustment, I found the rifle was still producing tight groups without a problem.

They can also be useful in comparing different brands of ammo, again because it eliminates human error.


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: dawaba] #5558634 01/22/15 10:31 PM
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Originally Posted By: dawaba
My brother has a lead sled and uses it often when he comes over to shoot. I don't bother with one. More than one rifle editor has written that the sleds--because they don't "give" with the recoil--can crack your wood stock from the recoil mortise back to the tang, especially in heavy-recoiling rifles or guns that are shot frequently.

Instead, I prefer to use my regular shooting rests with a sissy pad like a PAST harnessed to my shoulder when I shoot the big boomers.


This gets my vote, I have heard the same thing. When I was shooting 1000yrd F-Class open with my 14lb 7mmWSM, I would shoot 60-100 rounds throughout the match. I have a Vais brake which is WONDERFULLY effective but NRA rules do not allow muzzle brakes, SO, being a wussy, I used the PAST harness and it worked perfect, also simply a folded towel, binky or a soft sand bad was used, as long as it could absorb recoil without the abrupt stop of the led sled. I have used one (led sled) before and TO ME it was terribly awkward. But this is just me.


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5559125 01/23/15 02:13 AM
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I use one when working up a load for heavier recoiling rifles. 3 shot strings and 15-20 rounds per powder/bullet combo and spending an entire day at the range. The sled helps narrow things down relatively painlessly.
Once I have a 'node' or a couple of decent groups, I can dial in the exact load via my shoulder.


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5559141 01/23/15 02:20 AM
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I am not arguing for or against just curious. Does a lead sled or other device change the point of impact? If sighted in using one then going to prone, sandbags, bullbags whatever, will the actual POI be different? How can that be? FWIW I use bags or a bipod


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5559170 01/23/15 02:33 AM
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The lead sled is assumed to be more of a solid resistance than the human shoulder would be. It is also assumed there is enough difference to affect the rifle's movement in the mili-second between the ignition of the powder and the bullet clearing the end of the barrel. An expert marksman may be able to tell a difference in the point of impact between the sled and the shoulder. Those like me who are not that great of a shot can't. I have a sled, but don't use it because I need all the practice I can get.

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5559178 01/23/15 02:38 AM
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They're nice to take recoil out of magnums like 300 WSM I had. And yes they will crack the stock on heavy hitting calibers. It cracked my browning at the safety. I still use it on occasion but a bipod and bags are much better.

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: hermano W] #5559233 01/23/15 03:07 AM
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Originally Posted By: hermano W
Those like me who are not that great of a shot can't. I have a sled, but don't use it because I need all the practice I can get.


I like to say that my lead sled takes my shooting skills out of the equation to test the accuracy of the rifle and ammo. Once I know what the rifle and ammo can do, it's time to set the lead sled aside and see how well I can do without it.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5559350 01/23/15 03:55 AM
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A lot of people speak negatively about them but I've used one for years, especially for load work ups and for my magnums. I've never had POI change. I used them for years verifying POI on my hunting rifles. The idea behind it is I wanted to remove as much of the human element as possible. When is then shot without it my rifles always had the exact same POI.

And if you have neck/shoulder issues they can really be helpful...I know because I do. :-)

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: Texas Dan] #5559352 01/23/15 03:56 AM
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Originally Posted By: Texas Dan
Originally Posted By: hermano W
Those like me who are not that great of a shot can't. I have a sled, but don't use it because I need all the practice I can get.


I like to say that my lead sled takes my shooting skills out of the equation to test the accuracy of the rifle and ammo. Once I know what the rifle and ammo can do, it's time to set the lead sled aside and see how well I can do without it.


Yep!

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: Stoney] #5559365 01/23/15 03:58 AM
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Originally Posted By: Stoney
I am not arguing for or against just curious. Does a lead sled or other device change the point of impact? If sighted in using one then going to prone, sandbags, bullbags whatever, will the actual POI be different? How can that be? FWIW I use bags or a bipod


I've heard people say it does but I've used one for years and have NEVER had one of my rifles have a different POI without it.

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: Deerhunter61] #5559425 01/23/15 04:31 AM
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Originally Posted By: Deerhunter61
Originally Posted By: Stoney
I am not arguing for or against just curious. Does a lead sled or other device change the point of impact? If sighted in using one then going to prone, sandbags, bullbags whatever, will the actual POI be different? How can that be? FWIW I use bags or a bipod


I've heard people say it does but I've used one for years and have NEVER had one of my rifles have a different POI without it.


I am just trying to wrap my head around the whole thing. Rifles manufacturers, let's use Weatherby as an example fire rifles at the factory, I am assuming they use a vise. That rifle I would guess has a POI from the factory regardless of optics since I doubt they scope each gun to fire it. Why would a gun held in a vise have a different POI than one fired from a human shoulder? My guess would be human reaction, flinch, muscle control, whatever. So that being the case how on earth do you sight a rifle in tuned to your own human variances? Can you replicate the flinch, muscle spasm et al with any reliability?


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5559969 01/23/15 03:24 PM
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I tried using my buddy's DFT to sight in a gun out at Alpine a couple of months ago and it made the gun too tall. I'm 6ft tall and could barely get my eye up high enough to see through the scope. Felt like I needed a bar stool. I ended up not using it and just going back to sand bags.

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5560028 01/23/15 03:58 PM
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I use the Lead Sled Solo to get my rifles sighted, and to compare ammunition. Mine is very lightly weighted, so it moves a little.

I am not a precision shooter so I can't begin to say if the POI is noticeably different. But I can say that after seeing how a given combination groups: I know when bad shots are likely because of me!


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5560277 01/23/15 05:54 PM
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I normally sight in with a Uncle Buds bull bag for the front and saddle bag for the back. But using the lead sled and being able to adjust elevation with a turn of a knob to exactly where you need it and it stays made it very nice.

I got to use a lead sled rest for the 1st time this weekend. I thought it did a really nice job in taking out the human error, you really got to see where the round was hitting. It made sighting in a lot easier, going from 5 round groups to 3 round groups.

Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5560569 01/23/15 08:32 PM
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Like other have said, I like them for sighting in a rifle. My range has them and it's nice that I can take a shot, realign the sled if it moved any and when I look back through the scope, it's right back on the bull. Since the sled holds the rifle in place, I can then turn my scope's adjustment knobs exactly where I want them and I don't have to worry about accidentally moving the rifle up/down/left/right like I have to when I try to adjust the scope from a bi-pod.


Thanks,
Rich
Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5561672 01/24/15 01:59 PM
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Lead Sled is like a Ransom Rest. Reduces human error to its lowest factor. I doubt if more than 1/100th of 1% of the shooters on this forum can control their grip, breathing, position, finger touch, heart rate or eye twitch the same as an Olympic shooter. Lead Sled allows a shooter to take several rifles and compare their ability, or test ammo.


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Re: lead sleds shooting rest? [Re: USMCatfish] #5564153 01/26/15 01:19 AM
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Just get it. I'm pretty new to shooting high powered rifles. I got one for birthday ( my wife is smart) and zeroed 270. Took it to range 5 more time to practice. Went on first deer hunt ever on 12/21 and smoked a deer from 95 yards without lead sled. Blah blah. Just get it and use the hell out of as u see fit.

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