Lead Shot for Caldwell Sled Rest?

[Cannonball888]

I just got a Caldwell Sled Rest with 4 bags that hold 25lbs of lead shot each.
What size shot do people use? It seems that too fine a shot would fall out the gap at the zipper key. Could I use pea-sized gravel instead? It's cheap and non-toxic. I think lead would be overkill since I don't need 100lbs to anchor my rest.

 

[308sc]

the one guy i saw that had one just had about 4 bags of number 7 shot, they are little bags. but are HEAVY. I assume gravel would work just as well but it will take more gravel to equal the weight of lead.

 

[Jim Watson]

Price of shot these days, I would sure give pea gravel a chance.

I don't know what kind of bag the rest comes with but I would not transfer shot, just put the shot bags themselves in the pan.

 

[rr2241tx]

Lead shot has really gotten very pricey for ballast. I'd give Pea Gravel a try. The TV ads show using 100# of shot, but the instructions that come with the rest are pretty specific about not using more than 50# of ballast to avoid breaking your stock. I filled up a blue jeans leg with pea gravel and sewed it shut with leatherworking twine and a palm needle. Looks a little redneck, but I got a new pair of shorts and a ballast bag out of a pair of jeans that were too ratty to wear to work.