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Caldwell's Lead Sled

clownboy
Anyone have a product review on these?
I noticed that there are different models of these as well. The newest one is a Dual Rail? Just thinking this might be a good thing for sighting in.

Best.

Brad
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Comments

25 comments

Date Votes
  • big cds
    i have the dual rail model & i love it!! it has a better adjustment system than the original. i inquired about the new model w/the quick adjust arm but some people said that the knobs were not very durable.
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  • FEENIX
    I have the original ... got them on sale for $89.99.

    PA110130.jpg

    Installed a couple of $1.99 straps and use my snow tire chains for weight.[:p]

    Works like a charm.

    Ed
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  • clownboy
    Okay, gotta get me one of these and add the straps!

    The tire chain idea is a good one as well. I am digging for weight possibilities and that may work. I was wondering where I was going to find buckshot in bags around here.

    Do you have to readjust after each shot or does it keep the rifle pretty much in place?

    Thanks Guys!

    Brad
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  • jonk
    quote:Originally posted by clownboy


    Do you have to readjust after each shot or does it keep the rifle pretty much in place?

    If it doesn't, there's not much point to it... I'll be interested to hear this myself as I've thought of buying one.
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  • Hiline345
    I bought the dual frame but I haven't used it. I did have a different system that didn't have anywhere to put weights so yes the rest jumped around. I also use a hydraulic trigger so nothing would influence the shot( I am shooting a 300 Win Mag). I am looking forward to using my new Caldwell Lead Sled DFT.

    Cadwell also makes bags that have handles on them so all you have to do is place lead shoot bags in them they work great and they cost around 9 bucks. But really any kind of weight will work.
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  • clownboy
    Found this video that shows it being used. Looks like it holds a lot of promise. Doubt I will have the eagerness to put an egg between me and the rest though.

    http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/caldwell/catalog.asp?product=lead-sled-plus&tab=video


    Brad
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  • XP100
    A customer came in my shop with a 375 H&H with really nice wood that was shattered while using his his Lead sled. It looked like to much recoil and not enough give using the lead sled. The recoil has to go someplace, if there is no give it will transfer to the stock.
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  • clownboy
    Very Interesting. Never even thought about that before.
    What about if you have a recoil pad on it?

    B
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  • XP100
    Recoil pad may help. I think part of the problem was the highly figured wood was very dense and it is not as strong as wood with a straighter grain.
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  • FEENIX
    quote:Originally posted by XP100
    A customer came in my shop with a 375 H&H with really nice wood that was shattered while using his his Lead sled. It looked like to much recoil and not enough give using the lead sled. The recoil has to go someplace, if there is no give it will transfer to the stock.


    A friend that recommended the Caldwell sled has been shooting a Ruger M77 Safari Magnum 375 H&H 23" bolt action rifle for at least 2 years now without any problem.

    Perhaps the customer had a defective stock to begin with or a hairline fracture that by coincidence got worst during the sled use ... just a thought for your consideration.
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  • FEENIX
    quote:Originally posted by clownboy
    Okay, gotta get me one of these and add the straps!

    The tire chain idea is a good one as well. I am digging for weight possibilities and that may work. I was wondering where I was going to find buckshot in bags around here.

    Do you have to readjust after each shot or does it keep the rifle pretty much in place?

    Thanks Guys!

    Brad




    Brad,

    Forget about the commercial and save the egg for a nice scramble breakfast.

    For $30+ for a bag of shots, my set of snow tire chains works as well.

    Yes, I still need to readjust every shot but not as much. The straps help secure the gun but not clamped tight where the rifle does not have any give.

    Good luck!

    Ed
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  • Rocky Raab
    Broken stocks are VERY common when using those sleds. As mentioned, if you pile on enough weight that the thing doesn't move, there is no way for a stock to withstand the recoil.

    Nor will the gun shoot to the same point of impact as when it's in the sled, so "sighting in" with one is pointless.

    Just another unintended consequence of magnumitis.
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  • Okie743
    Think about what is happening if you place your buttstock against a Brick wall and start shooting!
    No room for absorbing the shock load except the stock!
    I would not load the sled down for 0 recoil!
    You can use a sissy bag on your shoulder and get good results from the big mag's![B)]
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  • big cds
    to reply to the weight issue: i shoot a 7mm ultra mag & a 300 win mag but i do not put any weight other than my hand on the top of the scope. yes i have to move back on target but it helps me test dif. loads & guns without a blue shoulder.
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  • Okie743
    yes i have to move back on target but it helps me test dif. loads & guns without a blue shoulder. (by big cds)


    Very good! I did not mention that when testing and target shooting the hard kickers I also move the eye BACK from the scope so as to only see just a small white space in the scope at the crosshairs on target and this results in lots more eye relief and saves the eyebrow! Full view (eye closer to scope) in the scope is not needed when target is not moving and shooting from a rest![B)][:I]
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  • Odawgp
    I had the dual rail model

    I didn't like it, to cumbersome

    I never could get into it comfortably

    bipod and sand bags work better for me

    So I sold it
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  • cory136
    I havhe orignal lead sleds shoot everything from 22-250 to 300 ultra in it works great use 3 small sand bags have to readjust for each shot but very little I would recomend one
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  • Mobuck
    Did anyone besides me read the magazine article about spitting stocks by putting too much weight on those things? It's one thing to take the sting out of recoil but another to use a solid pintle mount.
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  • Okie743
    quote:Originally posted by Mobuck
    Did anyone besides me read the magazine article about spitting stocks by putting too much weight on those things? It's one thing to take the sting out of recoil but another to use a solid pintle mount.


    Read this posted above few days ago!
    Think about what is happening if you place your butt-stock against a Brick wall and start shooting!
    No room for absorbing the shock load except the stock!
    I did see that several were SPLITTING and getting the recoil lug area broken!
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  • 5mmgunguy
    It is a piece of junk. Seen to many broken stocks. Melt the lead and cast bullets...and throw the sled away. What are you a man or a mouse, a little recoil never hurt anyone...but your stock in a lead sled, well that is another story!
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  • clownboy
    quote:Originally posted by 5mmgunguy
    It is a piece of junk. Seen to many broken stocks. Melt the lead and cast bullets...and throw the sled away. What are you a man or a mouse, a little recoil never hurt anyone...but your stock in a lead sled, well that is another story!


    I personally only wanted one to make sighting-in easier. I had my recoil problem taken care of a while back by installing a new recoil pad. But before the pad, after shooting several boxes of ammo out of the rifle my arm was black and blue. Made doing my job the next day miserable not too mention the flinching I was doing on the range. So not buying the "Little recoil never hurt anyone" bit.
    It almost caused me to get rid of my new rifle.

    Best,
    Brad
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  • FEENIX
    quote:Originally posted by clownboy
    quote:Originally posted by 5mmgunguy
    It is a piece of junk. Seen to many broken stocks. Melt the lead and cast bullets...and throw the sled away. What are you a man or a mouse, a little recoil never hurt anyone...but your stock in a lead sled, well that is another story!


    I personally only wanted one to make sighting-in easier. I had my recoil problem taken care of a while back by installing a new recoil pad. But before the pad, after shooting several boxes of ammo out of the rifle my arm was black and blue. Made doing my job the next day miserable not too mention the flinching I was doing on the range. So not buying the "Little recoil never hurt anyone" bit.
    It almost caused me to get rid of my new rifle.

    Best,
    Brad


    Brad,

    All I can say is it works for me ... esp. during load development on two .300 WM rifles and one .338 WM rifle. Four of my friends also used my sled to sight their rifles for this hunting season.

    Transition from barrel cleaning to shooting is a breeze. Good luck and happy safe shooting/hunting.

    Ed
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  • clownboy
    Thanks for the encouragement Ed.
    I do plan to buy one when I get a few extra dollars. With Christmas and the Holidays approaching I have to be a bit more conservative or the wife will have me for dinner. But I think with proper care and common sense I can make one of these work for me. And I never even thought about a "field cleaning" angle. Spot On!

    Brad
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  • FEENIX
    Brad,

    I know what you mean. Cheers!

    Ed
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  • N8Will
    the learning curve wasn't cheap but if you only use on bag of shot it will allow for enough give and really take the bite out of heavy recoil. We broke the stock on a Ruger M77 338 win while shooting 250 gr bullets. But have since shot everthing from 300 RUM and 375 ruger plus alot of smaller ones. IMOP I like it because it take alot of the human error out when testing loads.
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