Lead Sled Opinions

[nobody]

Happy Sunday everyone!

I’m curious everyone’s opinion on any of the “Lead Sled” type rests. We went out yesterday and sighted in my brother’s new tikka 270, dad’s 22-250, and my Howa 1500 Hogue 7mm rem mag. My dad and brother were using dad’s lead sled knockoff without any additional weight, and I was shooting from bags. Once we all got sighted in, we took turns poking at the gongs at our local range. I had a lapse in judgement and threw my 7 mag down on dad’s lead sled since it was mostly pointed at the 500 yard gong and touched off a shot. I hit the gong dead center, but holy cow was the recoil reaction violent! Insane muzzle rise and the whole rest system jumped all over the place. I removed the rear portion of the rest and just used the front rest and my left hand to stabilize the back of the gun and let 2 more shots fly, both impacted on top of the first. We then packed up and headed home.

I had never used a lead sled, and I really didn’t like the lack of freedom of movement it caused.

My question is more whether or not you’ve ever actually damaged a gun or scope by shooting from a lead sled or similar rest. I’ll never do it again personally after seeing what it does to a magnum cartridge, but am I being overly sensitive? Could I have damaged my gun or something else inadvertently, or am I over thinking? Have any of you actually broken a gun or scope using one of these?

 

[Afhunter1]

Lead sleds have killed many scopes. I won’t use one anymore.

 

[nobody]

Lead sleds have killed many scopes. I won’t use one anymore.

Ever seen one kill a rifle (split stocks, bent components, etc)? I’m hoping my one shot didn’t do my new toy in...

 

[Cahunter805]

Terrible product that so many people really like. Without weight in them they aren’t as damaging and your rifle should be fine.
They don’t allow a good cheek weld either. A front rest/bipod and rear bag is what I prefer.

 

[wyosam]

Parafernalia for lost and desperate souls. If you want to shoot the rifle, shoot the rifle. I always hear about a “firm rest to set zero” or “want to see what the gun is capable of”. Who the hell cares, if you can’t shoot it then it doesn’t matter where the zero is or what the rifle is capable of.


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[nobody]

Terrible product that so many people really like. Without weight in them they aren’t as damaging and your rifle should be fine.
They don’t allow a good cheek weld either. A front rest/bipod and rear bag is what I prefer.

that’s what I’ve always done. Like I said, lapse in judgement. Just wanna take care of my new toy

 

[nobody]

Parafernalia for lost and desperate souls. If you want to shoot the rifle, shoot the rifle. I always hear about a “firm rest to set zero” or “want to see what the gun is capable of”. Who the hell cares, if you can’t shoot it then it doesn’t matter where the zero is or what the rifle is capable of.


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Yup. Like I said, I zeroed from bags (like always), and just let off one shot from it after a lapse in judgement. Not a fan, but I’m hoping it wasn’t the one shot that did my rifle in ya know?

 

[83cj-7]

The most entertainment is a guy using a lead sled for a 340 wby mag and one of those hydraulic syringe things to actually “squeeze” the trigger. He did not contact the rifle at all. Totally free recoil. Scary! Did it shoot good? Not a chance. Oh, and no Scope ring in the world could hold his scope in place.

 

[nobody]

The most entertainment is a guy using a lead sled for a 340 wby mag and one of those hydraulic syringe things to actually “squeeze” the trigger. He did not contact the rifle at all. Totally free recoil. Scary! Did it shoot good? Not a chance. Oh, and no Scope ring in the world could hold his scope in place.

Haha never in a million years would I do something like that. Any damage to the gun? Or just his ego?

 

[83cj-7]

He thought that’s just what you were supposed to do. Obviously not a bright bulb.
Damage? Well, imagine this. A 100yard indoor/underground shooting range where tou shoot down a 4ft diameter buried pipe. The barrel on his rifle would jump up and smack the pipe on every shot. He thought nothing of it.
You have no idea the crap you see working in a gun shop.

 

[nobody]

He thought that’s just what you were supposed to do. Obviously not a bright bulb.
Damage? Well, imagine this. A 100yard indoor/underground shooting range where tou shoot down a 4ft diameter buried pipe. The barrel on his rifle would jump up and smack the pipe on every shot. He thought nothing of it.
You have no idea the crap you see working in a gun shop.

That would cause some damage for sure... but nothing caused by the lead sled?

As someone who sees lots of “crap,” do you think me taking one shot in a sled with no weight would hurt my gun? It may sound dumb, but I’ve heard lots of horror stories. Do I have anything to worry about? I’m assuming once won’t hurt, but all you ever hear is the worst outcomes possible. I won’t be using one again, but making sure the damage isn’t already done

 

[83cj-7]

I doubt that it hurt anything.

 

[nobody]

I doubt that it hurt anything.

I’m hoping not and don’t think it did, since it put 2 dead on at 400 after that.

 

[woods89]

The most entertainment is a guy using a lead sled for a 340 wby mag and one of those hydraulic syringe things to actually “squeeze” the trigger. He did not contact the rifle at all. Totally free recoil. Scary! Did it shoot good? Not a chance. Oh, and no Scope ring in the world could hold his scope in place.

But at least he was covered for those less than optimum shot angles.............

 

[Afhunter1]

Ever seen one kill a rifle (split stocks, bent components, etc)? I’m hoping my one shot didn’t do my new toy in...

I havent seen gun damage but I am sure at some point something would break. I highly doubt that point is just one shot but I guess you never know. If I had to guess I’d say you are ok.

 

[nobody]

I havent seen gun damage but I am sure at some point something would break. I highly doubt that point is just one shot but I guess you never know. If I had to guess I’d say you are ok.

Thanks. I’m guessing I’m ok too, since it hit perfect afterwards. But like you said, you never know. It only takes one straw to break the camel’s back

 

[Skykarp]

I have never found that I’ve shot accurately off of a LS. Always done better from a front raisable and rear bag. Even if you do shoot great off of a sled, it may not translate to the field.

 

[nobody]

I have never found that I’ve shot accurately off of a LS. Always done better from a front raisable and rear bag. Even if you do shoot great off of a sled, it may not translate to the field.

I agree. My dad has never gotten great groups, and I think that’s why. Like I said, I’ve never used it until I put 1 shot through it yesterday, mainly wondering to what extent it’ll damage the gun, even if it’s just one shot

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Unweighted, I think they can be good if you are trying to eliminate shooter error, saving rounds in finding a good load.

 

[nobody]

Unweighted, I think they can be good if you are trying to eliminate shooter error, saving rounds in finding a good load.

Does the weight make a difference with how much damage can be done? Like more weight = more force on the mounting hardware, scope, bedding pillars, and action screws?