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Turkey Guns & Shooting => Turkey Guns => Topic started by: BHhunter on December 14, 2011, 04:13:54 PM

Title: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: BHhunter on December 14, 2011, 04:13:54 PM
For those of you using Lead Sleds, what are you using for weight and how much? I don't reload and was kind of shocked to see $40 for a bag of lead shot. Looking for an alternative and curious how much weight is actually needed. I will be shooting my Mossy 935 and a Win Model 70 .30-06 from it.
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: HogBiologist on December 14, 2011, 04:41:23 PM
couple of small sand bags.  I shoot at a local range (public) and use 2 or 3 of their small sand bags.
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: hookedspur on December 14, 2011, 05:21:09 PM
Quote from: LaBiologist on December 14, 2011, 04:41:23 PM
couple of small sand bags.  I shoot at a local range (public) and use 2 or 3 of their small sand bags.
Same here .
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: devin4484 on December 14, 2011, 06:35:02 PM
wheel weights is what my uncle used and ill be doing the same around 12/25 lol.
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: allaboutshooting on December 14, 2011, 07:10:23 PM
Quote from: BHhunter on December 14, 2011, 04:13:54 PM
For those of you using Lead Sleds, what are you using for weight and how much? I don't reload and was kind of shocked to see $40 for a bag of lead shot. Looking for an alternative and curious how much weight is actually needed. I will be shooting my Mossy 935 and a Win Model 70 .30-06 from it.

I'd recommend as little as possible and use it only for sighting-in your gun. Too much weight and too many shots can create some problems.

Thanks,
Clark
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: BHhunter on December 14, 2011, 07:21:13 PM
Quote from: allaboutshooting on December 14, 2011, 07:10:23 PM
Quote from: BHhunter on December 14, 2011, 04:13:54 PM
For those of you using Lead Sleds, what are you using for weight and how much? I don't reload and was kind of shocked to see $40 for a bag of lead shot. Looking for an alternative and curious how much weight is actually needed. I will be shooting my Mossy 935 and a Win Model 70 .30-06 from it.

I'd recommend as little as possible and use it only for sighting-in your gun. Too much weight and too many shots can create some problems.

Thanks,
Clark
I'm curious now, what kind of problems from too much weight?
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: Deputy 14 on December 14, 2011, 07:40:20 PM
Using too much weight on a lead sled or other shooting rest of that style will not allow the firearm to move enough rearward to dissipate the energy from the recoil.  It will cause the stock to absorb all the energy and put to much strain on it. Could result in bolt or receiver damage or a busted stock.  :policeman:
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: BHhunter on December 14, 2011, 08:59:00 PM
Quote from: Deputy 14 on December 14, 2011, 07:40:20 PM
Using too much weight on a lead sled or other shooting rest of that style will not allow the firearm to move enough rearward to dissipate the energy from the recoil.  It will cause the stock to absorb all the energy and put to much strain on it. Could result in bolt or receiver damage or a busted stock.  :policeman:
That makes sense. Thanks
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: gobbler74 on December 15, 2011, 09:10:11 AM
Quote from: BHhunter on December 14, 2011, 04:13:54 PM
For those of you using Lead Sleds, what are you using for weight and how much? I don't reload and was kind of shocked to see $40 for a bag of lead shot. Looking for an alternative and curious how much weight is actually needed. I will be shooting my Mossy 935 and a Win Model 70 .30-06 from it.

I like around 10-12 lbs


Quote
Tip: A 25 lb lead shot bag can run $25 and up ...  but you can save your dough, use an old sewn up sweat pant leg, about 18" will leave enough to sew up one end and trim off the other before tying it up etc  stuff it with $25 worth of those previously lost pennies and you still got your money on the hip.
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: chatterbox on December 15, 2011, 07:03:01 PM
Quote from: Deputy 14 on December 14, 2011, 07:40:20 PM
Using too much weight on a lead sled or other shooting rest of that style will not allow the firearm to move enough rearward to dissipate the energy from the recoil.  It will cause the stock to absorb all the energy and put to much strain on it. Could result in bolt or receiver damage or a busted stock.  :policeman:
This is why I won't use one. I'm afraid of a busted gun.
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: WyoHunter on December 15, 2011, 07:39:13 PM
Quote from: allaboutshooting on December 14, 2011, 07:10:23 PM
Quote from: BHhunter on December 14, 2011, 04:13:54 PM
For those of you using Lead Sleds, what are you using for weight and how much? I don't reload and was kind of shocked to see $40 for a bag of lead shot. Looking for an alternative and curious how much weight is actually needed. I will be shooting my Mossy 935 and a Win Model 70 .30-06 from it.

I'd recommend as little as possible and use it only for sighting-in your gun. Too much weight and too many shots can create some problems.

Thanks,
Clark
Glad you mentioned this Clark. That energy has to be absorbed by something.
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: bird on December 15, 2011, 08:33:16 PM
Two 5 lb. ankle weights work perfectly for me and they are inexpensive to boot.
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: allchokedup on December 15, 2011, 08:40:16 PM
I too used sand bags. The large Caldwell weight bag filled with sand works great for me when I sight in my guns. Lead cost way too much!
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: gobbler74 on December 16, 2011, 09:19:44 AM
I love my sled have used it for 5 years with probably 20 different turkey guns. Cheaper and more expensive autos from Mossy to Browning.
Trick is to use common sense and not load your sled down as if it were going to be stationary. If there is a lack of it..then refer back to OG to weight instructions.

8-12 lbs not including sled weight will absorb plenty of recoil from 20 ga to 10 ga and allow the sled to recoil with the gun. 
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: BHhunter on December 16, 2011, 01:04:29 PM
Thanks for the advice all. a lot of good ideas. That's why I like this sight, sometimes the answer is right in front of your nose but you just don't see it till somebody brings it up. There are two 5 lb ankle weights sitting on the shelf collecting dust, now they have a use.
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: bird on December 16, 2011, 03:00:28 PM
Quote from: BHhunter on December 16, 2011, 01:04:29 PM
Thanks for the advice all. a lot of good ideas. That's why I like this sight, sometimes the answer is right in front of your nose but you just don't see it till somebody brings it up. There are two 5 lb ankle weights sitting on the shelf collecting dust, now they have a use.

There you go brother.  Not a penny spent either!   :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: Gadget on December 16, 2011, 03:39:17 PM
I've been shooting with a lead sled for 5yrs or more now, started with the original and have the DFT now.


What is even more important than the amount of weight is the surface your shooting on, if your shooting on carpet or some surface that does NOT allow the sled to slide back into your shoulder then don't use any weight at all, you shouldn't really shoot on carpet at all, wood is not as bad but it still grabs and doesn't slide well. The best thing to use is a composite table like the Caldwell stable table, I have one and it works perfect. I use either no weight or 1 25lb bag of shot with this setup, either way the sled will slide back into my shoulder with turkey loads, that's very important in order to safeguard against damage to gun or scope.


(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u121/rhewett/DSC01277.jpg)
Title: Re: Weight for Lead Slead DFT
Post by: allaboutshooting on December 16, 2011, 06:27:17 PM
Good advice all around. As little weight as possible and a surface that allows the sled to slide.

Thanks,
Clark