Caldwell Lead Sled Ballast Question

p-17

p-17

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Surrey, B.C.
I was fortunate enough to be given one of the Lead Sled II units for Christmas.

As most of you know, it works by using lots of weight. My question for you all is where to get the weight in question? The Lead Sled is clearly designed to be used with 25-lb bags of shot. Where is this available in the Vancouver area at non-bank-breaking prices?

As an alternative to bags of lead shot, does anyone have any experience with other types of weights in these units?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I can't wait to take this baby out to the range!
 
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I use two 25lb barbell plates on the tray.
Alternatively, a friendly welding shop may have some cast iron plate laying around that could be cut to size.
 
Can you get 25 lb plates onto the tray? I measured it and then went to Wal-Mart and measured the diameter of the 25 lb plates and found them to be too big to fit on the tray.
 
Not sure which weights you measured ... but the plastic ones that are filled with concrete (the cheap sets) are much larger than the higher quality Steel barbell weights. That may explain your difference in sizing.

Grand a pair of old jeans, make shorts out of them, use the cut off legs to makke good strong bags, then visit your local garages and tire shops and beg for a few pounds of wheel weights. If you explain you are oonly using them for ballast, you'll usually get them cheaper than if they think you're going to melt them down for some other purpose.
 
There is a rumor amuk that anchoring the sled too firmly will play havok
on your scopes.
I ended up sending two into warranty.
When I use mine, I put no weight in my sled now.
 
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i use some old work out ankle weights found at a garage sale for nothing - the straps even hold onto the sled.
 
I use 2 bags of wheel weights from tire shop...30lbs in each bag. Slide one bag under the frame and drape the other overtop...Works perfect
 
There is a rumor amuk that anchoring the sled too firmly will play havok
on your scopes.
I ended up sending two into warranty.
When I use mine, I put no weight in my sled now.
Click to expand...

Actually using a lead sled, or any type of device that prevents a heavier recoiling rifle from recoiling, is a great way to crack a stock.
 
X2. A rifle needs to recoil otherwise all of the force is directed onto the lug or any other contact points. Hit a piece of wood with a hammer that is allowed to move then hit another piece of wood that is solid and cannot move. You'll see the difference.

Use a good shoulder pad like the PAST if you are recoil sensitive.
 
powdergun said:
Use a good shoulder pad like the PAST if you are recoil sensitive.
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Thanks for taking the time to respond. However, I didn't ask for opinions about whether I should use my new Lead Sled or not, nor did I imply that I am either a novice shooter or particularly recoil sensitive. I simply asked for opinions about sources of ballast.

If anyone wishes to respond to the question that I posed on this thread by trying to discourage me from using my new Lead Sled (a major shooting product from a big company that is widely used in North America and sold in every big box hunting store), then feel free to do so, but at least provide direct, documented evidence of problems caused by this product rather than generalized pontifications.

For the rest who have taken the time to respond so far, I thank you for the suggestions about getting some wheel weights from a tire store. I had thought of this possibility but was not sure about it. The fact that a number of you seem to have used these wheel weights successfully makes this a serious option for consideration.
 
p-17 said:
Thanks for taking the time to respond. However, I didn't ask for opinions about whether I should use my new Lead Sled or not, nor did I imply that I am either a novice shooter or particularly recoil sensitive. I simply asked for opinions about sources of ballast.

If anyone wishes to respond to the question that I posed on this thread by trying to discourage me from using my new Lead Sled (a major shooting product from a big company that is widely used in North America and sold in every big box hunting store), then feel free to do so, but at least provide direct, documented evidence of problems caused by this product rather than generalized pontifications.

For the rest who have taken the time to respond so far, I thank you for the suggestions about getting some wheel weights from a tire store. I had thought of this possibility but was not sure about it. The fact that a number of you seem to have used these wheel weights successfully makes this a serious option for consideration.
Click to expand...


No offense or pontifications intended. Just simply suggesting an alternative.
 
A sled is a great thing for finding out if your tryin to set up a scope and grouping your rifle but it must be able to have some recoil, that is how it is built, to soak recoil up and save your shoulder if you are using that heavy of a firearm, I have only used one to set the scope or try to find the group because I was never that good to constanly keep the cross hairs on a target that tight to make these 1/2in groups. Just my thoughts, also I used lead shot to weigh it down, easier to move around.
 
If anyone wishes to respond to the question that I posed on this thread by trying to discourage me from using my new Lead Sled (a major shooting product from a big company that is widely used in North America and sold in every big box hunting store), then feel free to do so, but at least provide direct, documented evidence of problems caused by this product rather than generalized pontifications.
Click to expand...

I have personally witnessed two instances where stocks were cracked when using a lead sled/gun vice type device. One was a 338win mag with a wood stock, and the other a 375H&H with a B&C synthetic stock.
 
stubblejumper said:
I have personally witnessed two instances where stocks were cracked when using a lead sled/gun vice type device. One was a 338win mag with a wood stock, and the other a 375H&H with a B&C synthetic stock.
Click to expand...

I also have seen one wood stock go south while the shooter was using a Lead Sled.
Another 338 Win Mag, a rifle that I do not find particularly offensive in recoil using conventional sandbags/rests.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
p-17 said:
I was fortunate enough to be given one of the Lead Sled II units for Christmas.

As most of you know, it works by using lots of weight. My question for is where to get the weight in question? The Lead Sled is clearly designed to be used with 25-lb bags of shot. Where is this available in the Vancouver are at non-bank-breaking prices?

As an alternative to bags of lead shot, does anyone have any experience with other types of weights in these units?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I can't wait to take this baby out to the range!
Click to expand...

Crown royal bags filled with bolts/nuts work fine. Large zip freezer bags work fine in a pinch as well. The sled alone is heavy so you don't need to get too carried away with huge weight.
 
Also, if you don't mind paying for them, any Dive (SCUBA) Shop will have an assortment of lead filled bags - usually in 1 and 2 lb sizes. These bags are mesh to allow water to drain out. Not as cheap as wheel wieghts and making your own bag, but they are an option.
 
Once again, thanks for all these suggestions.

As to the stock splitting issue: I have read about it, and I know that the problem gets worse the bigger the magnum you try. Having said this, big magnum rifles are prone to stock splits generally, unless they are reinforced and properly bedded.

The point is well taken that using the Lead Sled moves the recoil forces from sharing the shooter's shoulder and recoil lug/bolts to the recoil lug/bolts exclusively. This means that unless your stock is properly reinforced and bedded, the Lead Sled is going to exacerbate your bedding issues. However, I don't personally own anything bigger than a .300 Winchester Magnum and I don't see myself owning anything bigger than a .375 H&H in the foreseeable future (and all my rifles are bedded, in any event).

My main interest is to use it for playing at the range with my various hunting and Palma-type rifles. I also have a friend who is elderly and suffers from serious arthritis (in addition to being a world-class shooter and multiple tournament winner with a .308 target rifle). To date, he's not been able to fire even my .30-06 hunting rifle because of his arthritis. The .308 in a target rifle is about his maximum tolerance for recoil. I figure we could both enjoy using this Lead Sled.

In the circumstances, the suggestions that I don't need to go above 25 pounds of weight are well taken. I may just start with 25 pounds.
 
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