Lead sled... worth the price?

[silicosys4]

RC.....Bollocks. Obviously you've never used a lead sled.

1. The same reason people don't like to take them to the range, is the same reason they are useful as hell even without the expensive bags of lead shot. The thing weighs about 35lbs by itself, its a heavy sucker. Most of the time I don't use any additional weight.

2. Until I see one, see pictures, or hear direct testimonials about someone who's rifle had a perfectly good wood stock that wasn't split or cracked prior to being fired in a lead sled that cracked on the sled, that's just another internet rumor. If you've ever shot off a lead sled you know they aren't bolted down, and aren't an immoveable block of concrete that you are pounding your rifle off of. Even a fully loaded sled moves a bit under recoil.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

I don't see that I have a use for one, so I'll say not worth the price.

I typically shoot from field positions (prone, seated, standing) so I zero from those positions. The rifle will recoil slightly differently in my hands than locked down in a lead sled. This will affect zero slightly. Jeff Cooper talks about this briefly in "The Art of the Rifle" when he says that even in a rested position, one should hold the rifle in their hand and place the hand on the rest.

 

[Mike J]

I still haven't used a Caldwell Lead Sled but-When we were zeroing rifles this year my buddy said something about several of us going together & getting one. I told him to wait & let me see what I could come up with. I had some 1"x4"x1" 3/8" channel laying around as well as some 2"x2"x1/8" angle iron. I went online and looked at a picture of one & used the materials I had plus some 1/4" bolts & nuts and a piece of 3/4" rod to make a very similar contraption. Oh I also used a piece of the leg of some tore up blue jeans & some kitty litter to make a bag for the front. & I put a piece of sheet metal on the bottom for a tray. I bought a bag of play sand at Wal Mart to use for weight. It works perfectly. I should have taken a picture. Next time I am over there I will see if I can get one. The church I have been attending lets members hunt on their land. I left it in one of the sheds there so whoever needs to can use it to sight in.

 

[Swampman]

I've probably fired about 250 rounds of .338 Win Mag from a lead sled with a wood stocked Ruger M77. I haven't had any problems with the stock whatsoever. The wood on this rifle is straight grained through the wrist and the action has been glass bedded.

So in my extremely limited experience, no it won't crack the stock.
A more powerful caliber, highly figured wood, lack of glass bedding or an undetected flaw in the wood of a particular rifle might lead to different results.

I do know that if someone gave me a Best Quality Hollands Double in .700 Nitro Express, I sure as heck wouldn't shoot it off a lead sled.

FYI: To clarify my situation, I don't actually OWN a Lead Sled, I just bum one from a buddy who does when I need it. I like the Lead Sled, but I don't know if I'd actually spend $120 to get one. Luckily, my friend looks at my chronograph the same way.

 

[aka108]

I have never used one. My objection is carting something around that requires a great deal of weight to be carried also. Same objection to some of the shooting bags that when filled weigh 40 to 50 lbs.

 

[gspn]

We have a lead-sled at the farm and use it to sight in perhaps 20 rifles a year.

It is an awesome tool for zero'ing rifles. We use two 25-lb lead bags which soak up all of the recoil. This lets you focus on making sure the gun is on.

After that though you have to make sure the shooter is on. So once it's zeroed you take it off the sled and shoot from field positions.

The lead sled is very good for it's intended purpose of removing human error from the sighting-in process. This might not sound like a big deal for those who just shoot two or three rounds per year, but there are days when I've had to track down a problem with a rifle and went through a box of 300 WSM. The lead sled is a lifesaver in those scenarios.

 

[CraigC]

The rhetoric about the weight is just that. The Sled itself is not that heavy. No moreso than any good adjustable front rest. I use two 25lb bags of lead shot and I keep them in the Caldwell bags. The lead shot is not permanently attached so you do not carry the whole thing at once. Not a big deal whatsoever for something that will save your shoulder from bruising. As usual, most the negative comes from people who have never used one.

 

[mljdeckard]

I took the new bargain-model plastic one to the range, shot sub-moa with my first batch of 22-250 loads with no weights at all. Not sure what else it is supposed to do for more money.

 

[rcmodel]

RC.....Bullocks. Obviously you've never used a lead sled.

Bollocks??
Or Bullocks??

I'll have to look that up in my Funk & Wagnells and see if I should be insulted or not.


But Actually, I have used a lead sled.

My buddy bought one years ago so he could stand to shoot his .460 Weatherby off the bench.

And like I said, it doesn't help much atall, unless you pile a bunch of shot bags in it.

The thing weighs about 35lbs by itself,

Maybe yours does?

But his sure don't.

rc

 

[oneounceload]

Oh, and does it actually reduce recoil by 95%??

As RC mentioned, by piling bags of lead shot on it to minimize the recoil movement. Personally, I shoot my 7mag off a front and rear leather bag.

Don't want to pay $45 for shot? Get some old shot bags or similar and fill with spent primers, or sand, or similar

 

[ngnrd]

I find my LeadSled Solo and 25# bag of shot to be useful when spending a long day at the range working up handloads over the chrony. Is it absolutely necessary? Nope. Do I prefer it? Yup. Is it "worth it"? Well, I suppose that's entirely up to the user to determine. Like most other tools, it's cost-effectiveness depends on how much you'll actually use it.

 

[twofifty]

How easy is it -really- to make fine adjustments with the Lead Sled?

I saw two guys at the range fiddle and fart with Caldwell's DFT model (dual frame technology) trying to point the rifle to the target. Once of the adjustment screws stripped its threads. Once on paper they had a heck of a time controlling the finer adjustments. Who knows, maybe these guys drove up in the short bus.

For the big boomers, our range has a stand-up bench.

Basically, it is a height-adjustable smooth concrete top cast in a steel frame. The shooter raises or lowers the top by pumping a hydraulic cylinder. Place your big magnum on the rest of your choice. You shoot from standing (there is no seat) so that the body isn't hunched forward against the rifle butt. Shooting from front and rear bags, it is a very natural stance that lets the body roll with the free recoil.

Anyone shopping for bags ought to look at the "Protektor Model" line of full-grain cowhide bags. These beauties are made in Pennsylvania, and their mail order service rocks. The guys on their 1-800 line are shooters and hunters so you can rely on their advice re: choosing the right model.

 

[gspn]

How easy is it -really- to make fine adjustments with the Lead Sled?

I saw two guys at the range fiddle and fart with Caldwell's DFT model (dual frame technology) trying to point the rifle to the target. Once of the adjustment screws stripped its threads. Once on paper they had a heck of a time controlling the finer adjustments. Who knows, maybe these guys drove up in the short bus.

For the big boomers, our range has a stand-up bench.

Basically, it is a height-adjustable smooth concrete top cast in a steel frame. The shooter raises or lowers the top by pumping a hydraulic cylinder. Place your big magnum on the rest of your choice. You shoot from standing (there is no seat) so that the body isn't hunched forward against the rifle butt. Shooting from front and rear bags, it is a very natural stance that lets the body roll with the free recoil.

Anyone shopping for bags ought to look at the "Protektor Model" line of full-grain cowhide bags. These beauties are made in Pennsylvania, and their mail order service rocks. The guys on their 1-800 line are shooters and hunters so you can rely on their advice re: choosing the right model.

Making adjustments is the easiest thing since sliced bread. If you can turn a door-knob you can make the adjustment.

If you put the sled down in front of me I can be on the bullseye in less than 20 seconds. Those guys you saw had a problem.

It seems like there are some responses where people might be surprised that you are supposed to use bags of shot to steady the rest...it's called a "lead" sled for that very reason. The entire premise is that you put a bag or two of lead shot on the tray so that there is no recoil.

With 50 lbs of lead on the tray I get no recoil to the shoulder at all with calibers like .300 WSM, .45-70, 7mm mag, any .308 load.

We just put 25 lb. bags of shot into the caldwell carry bags. Piece of cake.

 

[tahoe2]

My local range has tons of sand bags and carpeted blocks of wood (4x4 or 6x6). I have only seen a lead sled used once, the owner loved it, I saw no use for it. just my opinion. I have been shooting off sand bags for more than 30+ years. No competition shooting, just zeroing rifles/scopes and testing loads. I have always felt that the shooter and weapon should become one, and that's how it gets zeroed for that shooter.
I help others zero their guns as well, but the owner of the firearm always needs to shoot the rifle to zero it. Everybody holds it just a little different; example: my buddy was getting 2" groups with his .284 Winchester-dead center @ 100, he asked me to shoot it, I got a 1" group 6" to the right. He said "what's wrong with my gun" I said "nothing" I have a different build, I wear glasses, you don't, etc...
Since then, he has taken two bucks and a doe with that gun/load combo.