I just bought a good lead sled but have a few questions. If I zero my shotgun with a lead sled will my poi be the same in a hunting situation? I've read were the poi will be different due to the recoil being managed differently. Im not familiar with them so I figured I'd ask some of y'all who may have experience with them. I've also heard they are bad for the stocks. Any tips and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
I don't have a lead sled but have been using a bench master for 25+ years. I have two 25# bags of lead shot on the legs, never had an issue with anything. Now I'm not sitting at a bench an doing a lot of shooting, I use to check guns are still "on" every season or if I am sighting in new gun/scope.
MK M GOBL
I use one. Use 2 25lb lifting weights. All my turkey and hog guns are synthetic stocks and no damage. I zero all my guns in with it and have no problems in the field with hitting where I aim.
Use one no issues but they will make you want to waste more shells because it is so much more pleasant to shoot again
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I sight in 22's and deer rifles and pattern shotguns with mine — never had a poa- poi problem — if it will work with those rifles should not be a problem with the shotgun— never had it scratch or ding a stock they have nice padding at the butt and forearm area. Shoot away with pleasure!!
I bought a lead sled several years ago for 2 reasons. The first one was to manage recoil and the 2nd was to reduce human error. I haven't had any problems in the field after zeroing my guns in. I did have one of my guns stock become loose after patterning. I tightened and have never had a problem since. You'll be glad you bought one. They are money well spent.
Money well spent, I have the lead sled solo. Works great for me, used to use sand bags but got tired of hauling multiple bags to the range.
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I would shoot at least one or two without the sled to make certain everything is the same. There's so many things about turkey hunting you cannot control, sighting in your gun is not one of them. If you cannot take the recoil of a couple shots without the sled what's the plan when your hunting lol.
I use a lead sled to sight in a turkey gun (or any rifle for that matter) and make sure my gun is still on at the beginning of every season. Have use it for quite a few years now.
I shoot a 12ga Encore and it kicks pretty hard. Use to put weight on the sled, but now I just use the lead sled with no weight on it. I was worried about damaging the gun and I did find the gun to shoot a touch higher when not using the lead sled. Not real high, maybe 3 inches at 40 yds. I have also experienced a loose stock and had something go wrong with the action of the Encore (sent it back to TC and they fixed it for nothing). Can't say for sure if that was from the sled but I feel better shooting it with no weight on it and the recoil isn't bad at all. Plenty steady for sighting in too.
I use one and love it. No complaints with poi or gun damage.
Never had a poa/poi change when using the sled. Also, never notice the recoil when shooting a turkey ;D
Thanks a lot. I was just trying to reassure myself about using it. It sure will take the human error away. Also make it a lot easier to sight in with fewer shots. Thanks everyone.
I stopped using mine , got tired of breaking things , scopes ,stocks, bases. I think it has to give a little or something else will.
I use it on a new gun to get it close. I have experienced POI difference between lead sled and shoulder mount. I always make final adjustment shooting from shoulder
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The one I bought has a spring so that it gives when you shoot. I'm not going to put weights on it either but will sure check poi vs poa off of shoulder after sighting it in on it.
We always use one when we sight in or check zero on any of our guns. I have never had any issues with broken/damaged guns, scopes, or mounts. We've never had poa/poi issues either.
Older models are clunky, newer are very well-thought-out. I never had a problem with any guns or scopes and I've been shooting with one for about 8 years now. I suppose a scope from a department store may have an issue with contained recoil but it can also have the same problem if you sneeze over it.
I would like to have one for shooting multiple shots checking patterns with various load and choke combos.
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I bought a Primos Group Therapy bench rest. It is already heavy, but it can take lead or sand bags on the trays. It's very adjustable, fits alot of weapon styles and the best part? 60 bucks as opposed to at least double that for a Caldwell. We sight in EVERYTHING on it. Even xbows. I did put a piece of closed cell foam in the stock cradle to eliminate any chance of damaging optics or stocks. Never see a point change from the rest to shoulder.
I use the Lead Sled DFT for shotguns and rifles. I don't always add weight to the tray, and have not had any stock cracking or change in poi up to 300 Wby Mag. The DFT is pretty heavy just by itsself.
If I had one of those remote trigger pullers I could totally take human error out of sighting in.
I will agree that you will go through more shells!
I use my lead sled without any weights.
I have used a Lead Sled for about 15 years. I also use two 25pd steel lifting weights as its anchor.
Have shot dozens of turkey guns off of it and there is no difference in point of impact that I can detect.
I also have used it for tons of rifles with no effect noted.
I will say that if you have a pistol stocked shot gun it is difficult to get to sit straight...but other then that I love my lead sled. I am lucky enough to have a 100 yd range here at the house and I let it sit on shooting bench year round. It is starting to show signs of wear, on my second set of pads and they are almost gone...some rust!
Best
Longbeards
Thanks eveyone
I have been using the lead sled for 12 or so years,,,, sighted in
Dozens of guns over the years and never an issue!!
I give it a big two thumbs up!!
For what it's worth Ive used one many times. I think they are ok for rough sight in and testing loads. However I'd do final zero without. I have had my POI change using one compared to not using one. I prefer final zero to be close as possible to how I'll be hunting most of the time with said weapon.
There's a big difference between a gun sled and a gun vice. A gun vice (often mistaken as a wgun sled though) locks the gun in. This is when problems are known to arise, because there is not enough transfer of energy leaving the gun, this scopes get permanently thrown off, stocks break, and other potential issues.
A gun sled will allow the gun some movement and should be used more for steadying a gun and reducing the recoil (sight in purposes) while the vice is for working on guns like mounting a scope or a red dot.