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I was contemplating getting a lead sled. trying to weigh the pros and cons. the main reason I'm considering it is that my right shoulder is is bad shape and can't take too much abuse. I can shoot 30-30 stuff ok if I sit up straight, but I can't shoot anything if I'm leaning forward or laying down such that the recoil hits higher up on top of my shoulder - that's quite bad. Heavier recoiling guns I'll only shoot standing up.
I've read a little and it seems that the lead sled might actually shift your point of impact which seems counter productive. also, it seems that it would increase the LOP and it seems like it would be awkward to try to wrap your body around a contraption to shoot. I also read that the lead sled can be hard on rifles and scopes.
I dont' have a lot of heavy recoiling rifles, but do have a 348 that I need to load for and shoot soon
I never had a use for one. It might be fine for doing chronograph work with lots of ammo testing, but I wouldn't count on the point of impact using the sled being the same as shooting without it.
I've only tried one once, I wasn't too impressed as the LOP gets a tad longer. Also if it has pointy feet it's going to scratch up a bench top.
Also it's proven that when shooting holding or not holding the forearm will cause POI changes.
If shooting shotgun slugs I can see using one to get close but then doing final minute adjustments off bags while holding onto the forearm- especially with a gas gun or pump gun. 12 ga slugs will make you wish you weren't a deer hunter!
Like ESisk and our British brethren, shoot heavy recoiling gun from a standing rest.
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I wound up building my own, from scrap lumber and about $20 in hardware-store stuff. I found that it was possible to build one that did NOT add to the length of pull, and allowed functioning of lever actions without moving the gun, as well as 'AR' type guns. It also adjusts for length of the gun, from a Garand to a 'shorty' CAR-15, and of course any length levergun.
I just wanted a rest that would remove the 'me' factor in testing accuracy (by allowing weights if needed), plus one that would allow LEVERGUNS and guns with 'high capacity' magazines, to be used without problems of clearance.
If the issue is recoil (much of my motivation was 'clearance' as shown in the above thread), you could just use a thin sandbag positioned vertically in front of the shoulder, and that would probably absorb much recoil and be of minimal cost. An 'L' shaped one would be perfect, essentially functioning as a 'rear bag' and cushion at once.
It's 2025 - "Cutesy Time is OVER....!" [Dan Bongino]
What Mr. Sisk said -- if you are shooting heavy-recoiling rifles. Somewhere I have a photo of the standing rest used by the gunsmiths at Holland & Holland for regulating their heavy African doubles. It looks a lot like a college professor's lectern, allows the shooter to fire from standing and lets his whole body take the recoil.
Any rifle rest that supports the rear of the rifle behind the buttplate can cause stock damage if the rifle has much recoil. It doesn't givie like your shoulder gives, so eventually the stock will crack, or the mounting points will work loose.
Standing bench is the way to go. I have a 2 ton truck with a tall flatbed I use at my personal range. Put a couple boxes of 375 Weatherby down the pipe the other day no problem.
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Yep a 'recoil pad' that is slung over your shoulder or cushions it, plus a rifle tripod, might help alot.
I sometimes use a rifle tripod that is just essentially a tall and sturdy camera/telescope tripod with a rubber clamp on top that grabs the receiver of pretty much any gun.
