Scope Problems Due to Lead Sleds?

[MTlager]

Use them for a boat anchor. But don’t tie your rope to it when you throw it overboard!!

 

[Creedmoor02]

I have a Caldwell lead sled S.I. with a rubber butt stock that I USA for load development( Would that be hard on the stock and scope?

 

[Creedmoor02]

I mostly use it as a fancy rest.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I have a Caldwell lead sled S.I. with a rubber butt stock that I USA for load development( Would that be hard on the stock and scope?

Harder on your load development than anything else because lead sleds make a rifle shoot like crap compared to a good front rest and bag or good bipod and bag.

Lead sleds create a large amount of muzzle rise on one hand when not strapped down and an abnormally low amount of rise when strapped down. Not to mention that all of the rifles recoil is negatively affecting the position of the rest by erratically upsetting it on every shot. I don’t care if you put 100 pounds of weight on a lead sled, the recoil will upset the rests position every time. Nothing about a lead sled allows a rifle to recoil freely how it was designed and without upsetting the rest which allows the greatest levels of accuracy.

 

[Creedmoor02]

Harder on your load development than anything else because lead sleds make a rifle shoot like crap compared to a good front rest and bag or good bipod and bag.

Lead sleds create a large amount of muzzle rise on one hand when not strapped down and an abnormally low amount of rise when strapped down. Not to mention that all of the rifles recoil is negatively affecting the position of the rest erratically upsetting it on every shot. I don’t care if you put 100 pounds of weight on a lead sled, the recoil will upset the rests position every time. Nothing about a lead sled allows a rifle to recoil freely how it was designed and without upsetting the rest which allows the greatest levels of accuracy.

Thanks fo the info, I guess the sled will just collect dust…

 

[Riesel]

After reading these replies and the comments from other threads posted at the bottom of this thread, I have pretty much concluded what I already suspected. I don't use a Lead Sled and shoot off bags and if I have a hard recoiling rifle I'm either testing or zeroing I use a very large slide on recoil pad. What's really weird is that most customers immediately think their barrel died and are in need of a new one. Usually not happy when I tell them it's the scope and actually want to argue about it. Sometimes you just can't please 'em.
Riesel Out.

 

[RustyInBend]

get a muzzle brake....or find a new sport...or switch to rimfire.

... or shoot everything suppressed. The recoil reduction of a brake, but more civilized.

 

[jdh47]

I've never liked the lead sled. If you are sighting in for hunting, use a tripod or bags. After sighting in shoot your rifle for group in a situation as much like you'll be in when hunting to see if the group changes poi. Other than that the sled might make a decent cleaning stand even if it needs to be modified.

 

[SEGARE]

I bought one when they first came out. I used it with a 25lb plate. I never had any problem with damaging a scope or stock, but the reasoning to not use one was sound enough that I stopped using it. I couldn't even tell you where it's at now, and I wouldn't sell it to an unsuspecting shooter.

 

[skeeljc]

The sudden stop is the killer. Shoot free recoil!

 

[46and2]

The sudden stop is the killer. Shoot free recoil!

You will not do that too many times with a 300 RUM.

Shooting in field positions or against the shoulder at the bench is not a sudden stop. Your shoulder gives as recoil dissipates.

 

[MrFrankZ]

I’ve lost track of how many times that I’ve heard/read that the lead sleds cause trouble with scopes. Even if only half turned out to be true, it’s still enough for me to not want to risk my gear. Watched a guy at the range before an out of state trophy hunt shoot all over the target because his scopes adjustments were not working, using a lead sled. Like it was already said, learn how to shoot your rig or get something that you can handle. YMMV
Gary

Agreed. My own personal experience is sighting in a whelen for a friend. Got it dialed in, life is good, he's happy, has a good hunting season. The next year he sights it in and uses a Caldwell lead sled. He calls me saying it won't group for anything. I take it back out to test it off of my trusty bag and he's right. It's just a mess. Can't say 100% that it's the sled but tribal knowledge points me in that direction.

 

[divingin]

I’m not sure that I’ve seen anyone actually use lead with their Lead Sled. Most people I see are just using them for a handy way to support their rifle.

I have. Usually makes for many trips to the car to get set up. Most guys I see with Lead Sleds aren't guys who have figured out that a cart is useful.

 

[Rat Rifle]

I think most serious shooters know the Lead Sled was developed to control the recoil from rifles that could HURT YOU when shot from a bench. I think these heavy hitters should?/ can be zeroed in from the bench, then go to the sticks or aim and fire as would be done in the field.

I think most BR shooters agree interrupting recoil kills accuracy. I once responded to a post where someone was complaining about poor accuracy while shooting from a lead sled. I pointed this out to him and his feelings got severely hurt.

I have a neck injury, so I dial in My 7 pound 444 Marlin/ 265 grn pills, standing erect, shooting from sticks. Minimizing the effect, but it still concerns Me, so I only shoot it minimally.

I guess My conclusion is, Lead Sleds are to control heavy recoil safely and provide hunting accuracy.

 

[rardoin]

I've had a Lead Sled kill a Burris scope on a .300 WM and my father killed a beautiful Weatherby wood stock on a .300 Weath Mag and the Zeiss scope that was mounted to it. The stock split at the tang and the cut-out for the bolt handle. He had a 25lb round weight on the base with a 25lb bad of #8 shot on top of that. Perhaps with less weight this would not happen (or a much lighter recoiling rifle) but I don't recommend using a Lead Sled.

 

[troupe]

Lead Sleds are the short death to many firearms lives, scopes, stocks, etc. Stay away from them. Simple physics.