Usually I shoot my 375/408ct off pods or bags in the field but had a new load for my Gibbs 505 so I thought I d use a lead sled for shooting and sighting. Great grouping but then switched to shooting sticks. Big difference - Shot 6moa high and right. Centered scope and grouped 1-2 moa out to 200 yds. Good lesson for not shooting off a sled for sighting in for Africa.

That Lead Sled was flinching!

I am one of many who DO NOT recommend shooting any big bore from a Lead Sled. Cracked and broken stocks are only one issue.

Agree wholeheartedly. Only use for a lead sled is developing loads and even then, I don't like to load them down too much or use them with wood stocks. Sight in off sandbags -- hold the rifle down. Don't rest a double on the bags, etc. Ya'll know the drill.

For the uninformed, why would there be a difference as long as the stock and not the barrel were resting on each?

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Ya'll know the drill.

Interesting about the stocks cracking. A friend used the sled for testing his rifle before our trip to Africa last year and his stock was found to be cracked. Must be the explanation. Love the humor about that damn lead flinch.

Here's a tip: Google Evoshield. It's an Underarmor type T shirt with a pocket. It comes with a two-part epoxy pad. You start the curing process and mold the pad to your shoulder. Once cured, it spreads the recoil energy over a larger area. It greatly reduces felt recoil.

It's not just the stock that takes a beating. Nor is it only an issue with big bores. An overloaded lead-sled that is effectively immobile during recoil also wreaks havoc on scope rings and scopes.