Has anyone used the Caldwell Lead Sled for benching Big Bores?

I was warned by a Medical Doctor the danger of Eye damage from repeated exposure to heavy recoil, specifically retinal detachment. I was told that people who are far sighted are more prone to this. He recomended the lead sled which is what he uses, again it is only for sighting in?
Sure wouldn't want to cause eye damage

I use one on a regular basis. I'm currently using 50 pounds of lead shot to weight it down. It does an excellent job even with the .416 Rigby. Having just had shoulder surgery again for the third time yesterday it is the only way I can shoot for the next couple of weeks.

I have also thought about buying one. Good start of an informative thread.

I use one also. It makes my 416 Remington Mag a pussycat. Since I don't load for a shotgun I use 4 bags totaling 4000 52 gr hollow points from a bulk buy

Harry,

Where the heck was that sled while I was pounding my dumb country ass on keiths bench a while back........or did you leave it home just for the entertainment

I've been interested in buying or making up an equivalent rig.

Anyone experienced significant POI changes between the sled and off the shoulder shooting?

Opps...sometimes you just say too much on these damn forums.

I have found that the POI is higher with the sled. Off the shoulder the rifle recoils more straight back, kicking your ass, instead of rising

quote:

Originally posted by raamw:
... I was told that people who are far sighted are more prone to this ...

Nit picking: Regarding the risk of retinal detachment, it is the near-sighted or myopic folks who are more at risk. They have the longer optical axis eyeballs (from cornea through vitreous to retinal macula) more susceptible to torquing in recoil.

However, it is also the elderly who are more susceptible to retinal detachment. This would be a tissue weakness issue. Alas the protoplasm doesn't get better with age.

All elderly folks are presbyopic, due to stiffness of the lens and poorer function of focusing muscle in the eye with age. They may not be truly far-sighted, just can't focus up close as well as they did in youth.

So actually it is the presbyopic myope (near-sighted) who is most at risk. Especially anyone who has had retinal damage previously.

Marfan's syndrome individuals will dislocate their lenses more easily, but they don't live long enough to worry about presbyopia ...


Lead Sled: Great for load development after shoulder surgery, but not for final zeroing of sights. If I am getting beat up some days, I just stick a 25 pound bag of lead shot between the rifle butt and my shoulder, but for final zero, I have to get rid of that.

And, don't you know, that any of these methods will put more stress on the stock, and be more likely to crack a stock from recoil, as compared to the more free movement of a natural hold and go with the flow.

Could someone plaes post a pic of this lead sled device ??

The Caldwell Lead Sled practically eliminates recoil! The “Sled†reduces punishment to your shoulder up to 90% by trapping recoil energy in the frame of the rest. That makes your time at the range more enjoyable and provides for faster, more precise sight-in and load development. The lack of felt recoil while shooting also puts an end to flinching. This prevents you from developing bad shooting habits that might cause problems in the field. Designed for all calibers but is especially effective on medium to large caliber rifles and shotgun slugs. (Examples: .30-06 - frame only reduces recoil 66%; 12 gauge slug - one bag of lead shot reduces recoil 82%; 458 Win Mag - two bags of lead shot reduces recoil 89%.) The user-friendly portable design includes an adjustable-height front rest and large rubber feet. Uses Caldwell brand Universal Front Bags.

Lead Sled

Thanks T Carr,

this would be the answer to all our big bore benching requirements, if you could get a zero over the bench using that it would be great then out in the field shooting at game you barely seem to notice recoil.

My Wife used it when she benched her .460 Wby. At 5' 2" and 101 lbs. she thought it was too girlish and shot it off hand from there on. We sold the sled to a I.T. Tech who uses it to sight in his .22 mag. rifle. Charlie

Maybe somebody mistook my intention, don't get me wrong I love shooting Big Bores, not unusal for me to fire 100 to 150 belted mags per sessions ranging from my 300 through 458, but when a medical profession sees you doing something that could results in some permanent damage I must listen, I surely do not want to cut my shooting career short which would include hunting due to some ill conceived notion being a girly man, I never thought much of wearing a seat belt, ear or eye protection or even recoil pads, why not a recoil management system...seems logical to me.

Beware of using these kick killer bench rests, I have seen many a stock cracked and many a scope ruined because the recoil has no place to go...

I have a very expensive rest that almost takes all the recoil out of any rifle, if its straped down, and it will tear hell out of things that way...I do not strap it down anymore and its much better, but I am still suspect or any of them...

For what its worth, but I would hate to see anyone ruin a fine rifle, out of a lack of awareness....

Good point Ray, makes sense something has to give but even making a 416 feel like a 308 would be good, anyhow I haven't seen a gun yet or peace of wood I would trade my eyesight or yours for as of yet

The recoil does have a place to go. The weighted front end comes up during recoil. The gun is not strapped down so what's the difference between the lead sled and your shoulder?

I have used the "lead sled" for a few hundred rounds of load development with 416Rigby. It definitely takes the "bite" out. of the recoil. I simply use extra sandbags which are readily available at the range.I am with M16. I dont believe the recoil is more likely to be damaging to the rifle. Recoil is transmitted to the sled and it moves but it definitely reduces the amount getting to the shooter.

Observed POI shift?????

I haven't noticed any POI shift when using mine with my Lott or other rifles.

When working up a load and having to shoot 40-50 rounds through the Lott, it certainly reduces the flinch variable from the equation.

-Steve

My rifle (CZ 550 with Roger Ferrell Modifications)shoots the same off the sled or bags, No change in POI.It is a little harder to hold tight off the sled.