No Lead Sled/Power ?

[WayBeau]

Please bear with me as this is two-part inquiry.

First, is there a way to safely and accurately use sand bags to serve the same function as a Lead Sled? I was looking at buying a sled, but can't really justify the cost if I can acquire the same results with my sand bags. I'd like to get my rifle dialed in out past the usual 100 yds. Which brings me to my next question.

I have my rifle (Ruger M77 30-06, Redfield Revolution 3-9x50) sighted in at 100 yds with the scope set on 6x. I'm thinking POI should stay true to POA (obviously taking into account drop for distance) if I 'crank' the power up, but would like to hear some thoughts on the subject. The reason I ask is because I had dialed it back to 3x this past weekend and missed what should have been a 'slam dunk' shot on a nice 8pt. (the jury's still out whether Buck Fever had anything to do with it ). When I moved it back up to 6x I seemed to be on the money again. Just wondering why this might be. . .other than user error.

Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions/comments.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

did you shoot the rifle at the range on the 3x setting?

 

[WayBeau]

did you shoot the rifle at the range on the 3x setting?

No. I sighted it in set on 6x. The deer was closer than I had thought and I lowered the power to get a better sight picture, i.e. so I could see more of the deer through the scope. I'm really hoping it was just buck fever, because I REALLY don't want to have to replace the scope.

 

[Float Pilot]

Sand bags = yes. It just takes some fiddling around.

Change of power = Maybe. A good high quality scope will stay zeroed. Lesser quality scopes will not. How close was your miss?

 

[jmr40]

I only use sandbags, no sleds for me.


I zero my scopes on the max power setting. While modern scopes are pretty close there is always the possibility of POI to change slightly as the magnification is moved. Usually .5 MOA or less. It is less likely to happen as you move up in scope quality.

After zeroing I then set my scope on the lowest setting and check zero at various ranges out to 100 yards. Even if it is off .5MOA from 9X down to 3X, I'll never notice it at 3X and out to 100 yards. I hunt with my scopes on the lowest setting and rarely ever move them. No need to do so for most shots 100 yards or less. If I need to take a longer shot the scope goes right to the highest setting where I know it is perfectly zeroed. No possibility of POI changes at any other magnifications.

I never use anything but the lowest, and highest settings. If an animal, or target is far enough away to need more than the lowest power, there is no reason not to using the most magnification available. If you are taking a long shot there is usually plenty of time to change your scope setting. If you need to take a close shot, there is NEVER enough time to move it back down to a lower power. Lots of missed game shot at 25 yards with scopes on 9X.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

go set it to 3x and see what it does on paper

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

JMR hit the nail on the head. I have a Redfield Revenge 3-9x42 scope and I sighted it in 2" high at 100yds on max power. Early in the deer season I hit a deer on 4x power at 60yds. I noticed no poi shift. I aimed at the white hair on the chest and that is what I hit.

Set a target 50yds shoot at max power then shoot at lowest power and see what happens.

 

[WayBeau]

How close was your miss?

I have no idea. If I'd seen it, I probably would have incorporated some quick Kentucky Windage and taken another shot. . . .that is if I hadn't managed to get the fired shell jammed when trying to load the next one. LOL. It was truly a cluster-you-know-what.

 

[MistWolf]

The shift should not have been enough to miss a deer. If the scope does shift POI that much, it's defective

 

[CraigC]

If you could affect the same results as a sled with sandbags, they never would've invented it. I use a sled and for me, that means I can test all day long without fatigue. Without it, perhaps 20rds with a .30-06 class cartridge but bruising is guaranteed. That said, you should be able to do what you want to do without a sled. You may have some parallax issues that will show up on paper at very short ranges but it shouldn't be enough to effect your deer hunting.

 

[natman]

A good scope won't change POI when you change power. A cheap scope often will - by an inch or two at 100 yards. If you completely missed a deer at close range either the scope is grossly defective or there was a loose nut behind the recoil pad.

 

[WayBeau]

If you completely missed a deer at close range either the scope is grossly defective or there was a loose nut behind the recoil pad.

LOL. It's like I told my father-in-law in between his fits of laughter, I can handle the fact that I missed if it was user error. If the scope is defective, which I don't think it is since I shot a doe later that day, that's another story. As much as I'm itching to get out to the range and answer this buring question, I'm not too eager to spend too much time outside in the temps we're having at the moment.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've only used sandbags for sight-in and for testing loads, for many and many a decade. It never occurred to me that there was ever a safety issue beyond normal common sense. As far as achieved accuracy? Many sub-MOA groups.

I always sight in on max magnification with a variable. So far, ancient Redfields and Leupolds haven't changed POI at low magnification, at least not enough for me to ever notice at the bench or in the field.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If you could affect the same results as a sled with sandbags, they never would've invented it.

+1
Now I'm not doubting that many people can hold just as steady on the right sandbags, but the lead slead's function isn't only to hold your aim true. It nearly eliminates recoil, taking flinching out of the equation.

For the OP's situation, if the gun is on target from a lead slead, it will be on target from a sandbag. And the power you sight in at shouldn't matter.

Like Art, I sight in on the highest setting, usually 9x for me, and then adjust as needed in the field. Usually in my stands, I set the magnification on 3x or 4x and adjust up if needed for longer shots. If you don't have time to adjust, you probably didn't have time to make a good shot anyway.

 

[jerkface11]

What range was the deer at when you shot at it?