Working up loads for 270 WSM and 300 WSM. In the past I've used my Caldwell Lead Sled in load development but sometimes just shoot with sandbags. My question is: do you think using a lead sled affects accuracy and if you do, in a positive or negative manner. TIA
Leadsled or sandbags
- Thread starter Pineman
- Start date
RL338
Handloader
- Mar 23, 2017
- 3,369
- 5,490
Watch a video of rifle being shot in a sled and pay attention to the barrel. That’s enough for me to never buy one.
300WSM
Handloader
- Dec 24, 2011
- 962
- 577
Sandbags all day for me...
Allow me an explanation...
I assume you're not shooting a match so the closer you can get to real world shooting/hunting the better off you'll be.
If I'm resting on sandbags I'm still shouldering the weapon and there's just more of me involved.
I always finish with a real world group of resting the gun but standing. In other words one rest...like it would be using a branch or shooter stick....(real world situations)
Like put a stool on the bench, sand bag on it...shoot
cloverleaf
Handloader
- Sep 10, 2006
- 4,397
- 1,056
Bags- mostly because on the benches I use the rest is too high. Also- when I ve worked the public sight ins- I have seen a couple of occasions where some one gets all out of whack strapping a rifle in to a sled. In extreme cases I've seem people break stuff (fore arms and cheap rings) because they want things "solid". This is extreme and dumb so I'm not suggesting you would do this. However, I cant seem to get comfortable, really comfortable, behind the sleds Ive used so I need to twist or put unatural pressure on the rifle to make it work. It seems to affect "my form" if not the reaction of the rifle, and thereby my groups. Been having lots of shoulder and back issues the last several months. Just so happens I picked the 250 up tonight and was able to shoulder it w/o pain for the first time in several months. Was surprised how easy and natural it felt, and how steady it seemed compared to recent days.
Comfort, and being able to pull the trigger consistently without imparting anything to the rifle is important for groups. I seem to do that best off bags. "Bulls bag type" and a bag jack of some kind is what I use. Experiment....borrow or try other peoples stuff if you have opportunity.
Heres my usual set up. Note: the rifle is set up on top of the main bag for the sake of the photo. It rest down in the bag so the pistol grip rests on the reqr bag. CL
Comfort, and being able to pull the trigger consistently without imparting anything to the rifle is important for groups. I seem to do that best off bags. "Bulls bag type" and a bag jack of some kind is what I use. Experiment....borrow or try other peoples stuff if you have opportunity.
Heres my usual set up. Note: the rifle is set up on top of the main bag for the sake of the photo. It rest down in the bag so the pistol grip rests on the reqr bag. CL
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hunter24605
Handloader
- Apr 30, 2016
- 2,548
- 4,257
It’s going to come down to what you’re most comfortable with. Used properly a lead sled works well. I have one and like it, except I find I’m forced into unnatural positions using it. The biggest thing is don’t overweight it, allow the rifle to free recoil. Also there’s a shift in POI between the sled and bags/free shooting. I think that’s because the sled makes me put pressure on the rifle differently. I mostly use bags and as of late I’m using a bullsbag and it’s awesome. Try both and see what you like. Just don’t go nuts trying to make the sled too rigid. Recoil has to go somewhere, and if it can’t move, the stock and optics absorb it.
300WSM
Handloader
- Dec 24, 2011
- 962
- 577
And then there is this
That recoil is going somewhere alright.
I don't like the center only Bud's Bull bag style but I'd still use that over a lead sled all day every day
It's also a personal thing with me. I despise the impersonal shooting a sled brings.
I want as much of me involved in the shooting process.
I don't mind feeling the recoil....
Sort of like it..perhaps I'm deranged but I like to know my weapons through and through and enjoy feeling the immense power something of 7 pounds or there about can produce.
highoctane
Beginner
- Apr 20, 2018
- 129
- 187
I use two Protector leather bags. One front and one for the rear. This gives me good stability but still leaves me in control of my rifle.
xphunter
Handloader
- Sep 15, 2005
- 1,239
- 2,223
Personally, I am not a fan of the lead-sleds.
- Thread starter
- #10
xphunter
Handloader
- Sep 15, 2005
- 1,239
- 2,223
I have some of the best front rests and rear bags ever made, yet the majority of the time, I use a field bi-pod (Harris, Atlas, and Ckye-Pod) and a small field bag for the rear for load development and practice.
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,432
- 887
This is what works for me.
walkinhorseman
Beginner
- Sep 28, 2010
- 151
- 111
Charlies setup is the same configuration that I use. A properly bagged tripod rest and a rear bag. I have a number of rests with various bag configurations that match the forend contour of the rifle. Front rest placement is important and dictated by the type of rifle and bedding system. The front rest should never be placed on the absolute tip of the forend. This is particularly true with a rifle using the three-point bedding system. Probably the trickiest to bag properly is the Ruger No. 1. Weather permitting, I wear a riflemans coat whenever I shoot off of the bench. If I have a particularly hard recoiling rifle, I may add a strap on shoulder pad for recoil abatement.
The Lead Sled is prone to inducing vertical stringing. It's also been said that lead sleds are abusive to scopes and mounts. Lead sleds are a just an excuse for not learning how to shoot a rifle off of a bench.
Orezona
Beginner
- Jan 23, 2020
- 62
- 56
I like bags for rear and an adjustable rest for front. I make sure the front sling stud doesn't come in contact with front rest during recoil. Nice smooth slide to the rear during recoil. This doesn't apply to my experience with my 223 bolt Savage PC carbine. My tiniest group on that rifle was with a bi-pod and rear bags.
flyingagg
Handloader
- Dec 16, 2019
- 462
- 479
I use a leadsled for sighting in a scope. Very usefull for "one shot" sight in method. NEVER tie the barrel or rifle down to the lead sled. Just use it as a rest.
For the most part I use a setup like Charlie-NY or somethnig smiliar. If I plan to hunt from a tripod, I will confirm shooting with the tripod.
For the most part I use a setup like Charlie-NY or somethnig smiliar. If I plan to hunt from a tripod, I will confirm shooting with the tripod.
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,432
- 887
I typically rest the rifle so that the front rest is beneath the front bell of the scope. (as seen in the image above) This helps by not resting the rifle on the most flexible area of the stock (forend tip) and allows the gun to recoil without the front sling stud contacting the bag. If you don't pay attention to where the front sling stud is, and it's on or against the bag, it will definitely affect bullet impact on target.
Only time I use a lead sled is if somebody wants me to sight in a big boomer like a 300RUM and it's not braked.
I made my own front rest years ago and use it almost exclusively when shooting off the bench. Tried many other types of other peoples rests........prefer my own. Works really well for me..........some people say you should never use a stiff or solid front rest, but what they say and what my results have been, are 2 different things.
Very simple. Easy to throw on the floor of the truck when going shooting. Three short 2x6's glued and screwed together, and the top piece I cut in half at an angle on both pieces. I glued a strip of old carpet on both sides of the V shape on the top piece. I use it with a regular sand bag on the rear.
Here it is completely uncovered.........typically I use an old T-shirt bunched up on top. The carpet strip on the bottom is not attached, sometimes I use it to give me slightly higher elevation, sometimes not.
Here's how it is used most times.
I made my own front rest years ago and use it almost exclusively when shooting off the bench. Tried many other types of other peoples rests........prefer my own. Works really well for me..........some people say you should never use a stiff or solid front rest, but what they say and what my results have been, are 2 different things.
Very simple. Easy to throw on the floor of the truck when going shooting. Three short 2x6's glued and screwed together, and the top piece I cut in half at an angle on both pieces. I glued a strip of old carpet on both sides of the V shape on the top piece. I use it with a regular sand bag on the rear.
Here it is completely uncovered.........typically I use an old T-shirt bunched up on top. The carpet strip on the bottom is not attached, sometimes I use it to give me slightly higher elevation, sometimes not.
Here's how it is used most times.
TKessel
Beginner
- Feb 5, 2022
- 129
- 244
To me the lead sled was uncomfortable and I had better luck with sand bags.
