Shooting Rests ?
#6
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
From: Adirondacks
#7
The rest set up I use depends on the type of shooting I'd be planning for that rifle, but I NEVER use "sleds".
In general, I use an adjustable front rest (Ransom) and rear sandbag. Sometimes I'll just use the bi-pod on the rifle, or an X-bag (bulls bag) with a rear sand bag.
I don't like sleds, because it's an unnatural interface between me and my rifle. If I wanted a "mounted gun", I wouldn't use a shooters sled (Lead Sled), I'd use a real receiver mount, meant for long range precision shooting. The lead sled type rigs are generally more stable than your average shooter, but it doesn't tell me anything about how the rifle would shoot in my hands. Not just how it would group, but where it would POI. I've seen guys clamp down into a lead sled, zero, then take the rifle out and have the POI shift over an inch. I've also seen guys over weight their sleds and crack their stocks.
Good shooting is about letting the rifle shoot where it wants to shoot, and making sure it's pointed at what you want to hit. Sleds are a brute force method, that add too much pressure to the rifle itself.
In general, I use an adjustable front rest (Ransom) and rear sandbag. Sometimes I'll just use the bi-pod on the rifle, or an X-bag (bulls bag) with a rear sand bag.
I don't like sleds, because it's an unnatural interface between me and my rifle. If I wanted a "mounted gun", I wouldn't use a shooters sled (Lead Sled), I'd use a real receiver mount, meant for long range precision shooting. The lead sled type rigs are generally more stable than your average shooter, but it doesn't tell me anything about how the rifle would shoot in my hands. Not just how it would group, but where it would POI. I've seen guys clamp down into a lead sled, zero, then take the rifle out and have the POI shift over an inch. I've also seen guys over weight their sleds and crack their stocks.
Good shooting is about letting the rifle shoot where it wants to shoot, and making sure it's pointed at what you want to hit. Sleds are a brute force method, that add too much pressure to the rifle itself.
#10
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,178
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Missouri
I love using my Caldwell Lead Sled when sighting any of my Rifles in...especially if I'm using a larger Caliber Rifle like my 30-06 or the .270 WSM Rifle.Its a lot easier on my shoulders and I can shoot some really tight groups.I usually shot around 3 groups with 1 Rifle then adjust my scope if needed...then I shot another Rifle and let the first 1 cool down before shooting any more thru that 1st Rifle.I even used the Lead sled for sighting in my CZ-USA .204 Varmint Rifle which has very little recoil....got it all lined up,right on the money then I shot it free-handed on a padded rest like I do all my other Rifles.
I can even leave the Rifle in the Lead Sled and adjust the scope perfectly if I want to do it that way or if I measure how high or low the bullet is hitting and if its to the right or left I adjust according to how many "clicks" I need to adjust the scope.I had a Friend that was shooting a 300 WIN Mag and another Lever-action Rifle (a 45/70 maybe) that had some pretty good felt-recoil and he was thrilled with the results...even had several other Guys at the Shooting Range ask to use it and I let them get their Rifles lined up with better groups.
I can even leave the Rifle in the Lead Sled and adjust the scope perfectly if I want to do it that way or if I measure how high or low the bullet is hitting and if its to the right or left I adjust according to how many "clicks" I need to adjust the scope.I had a Friend that was shooting a 300 WIN Mag and another Lever-action Rifle (a 45/70 maybe) that had some pretty good felt-recoil and he was thrilled with the results...even had several other Guys at the Shooting Range ask to use it and I let them get their Rifles lined up with better groups.
Last edited by GTOHunter; 12-08-2011 at 06:56 PM.


