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I just got a Caldwell lead sled for Christmas... anyone else use this to sight thier smoke poles in? It looks like it should be perfect.. mine has the strap to hold down the muzzle end of the rifle.

Be REALLY careful using a Lead Sled, You can Break a Stock in them! I would put the Non slip Feet on a Towel or other Slick surface so it can Slide, and i would NOT tie the Muzzle Down, Nor Ad any weight to the Sled. Just use it as a Secure Rest to Shoot from, You really need to allow your Rifle to Recoil Naturally.
 
I normally only shoot light loads...I wouldn’t think 60-70 grains of powder on an 8lb firearm, would generate enough recoil force to break the stock. I should be ok.. I’ll use it and report back. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Lewis is 100 % right. Lead sleds just don't allow the gun to move naturally under recoil like they should. This causes way more force on the lock area than you realize.
 
I can still hit a trash can lid at 25 yards 5 out of 5 shots....most of the time. So I don't really need a lead sled.
 
Any rifle sighted in on a sled will shoot a different group when used off the sled.
The Lead Sled is made for CF Hand-loaders to use during a load development phase to eliminate the human hold/grip variable of the rifle so that the actual load variables can be determined.
Even for CF folks, once those optimal variables are determined they often move on too fine tune the load in more real world competition or shooting situations.
Or they might use the sled for bench shooting prairie dogs,,
For most of us in this Traditional world of shooting and our simple BP rifle shooting conditions, a "supported"-"typical hold" of shooting serves us best.
I "bench" my rifle(s) while doing load development for sure,, but it's a stack of sand bags up front to support my hand while holding the rifle, (I don't support the rifle, I support my hand), and usually a bag or two under the butt to steady my shoulder position.
 
My dad has an older version of the Caldwell lead sled, I've borrowed his on several occasions to sight my muzzleloaders in...I've not had any issues and shoot competitively with my club often.I received a new version of the lead sled for Christmas this year...mine has an optional strap that goes over the muzzle...I spose this should have been my original question..to strap the muzzle or not..but it has actually been answered, so thanks guys!
 
What necchi said is right on.

I have had 2 different Lead sleds over the years, i used them for Centerfire Reload Development a BUNCH, Basically everytime i shot, I became dependent on it, I really liked them! Back in that time i was unaware they Would/could cause a Change of POI when the Rifle was fired from the Shoulder? I should have tested this, But fact is I didn’t, i just took it for Granted. I was shooting my Remington 700 7 Mag, My Taylored Reloads would Honestly Shoot a Dime at 100 Yards (i have those Targets) I killed my Bull Elk and Deer that year, Both Animals were hit Way higher than i meant??? I am a Low behind the Front Shoulder Shooter, I actually Broke the underside of the Elks Back?? He Obviously Fell immediately, But it made no sense whatsoever how I could have gotten that high? I wrote it off as me being excited, i had to Shoot Fairly quick, and i had to Shoot off hand. Without checking my rifle (Another BAD Mistake) I moved on to Deer hunting, i ended up Killing a Nice Whitetail buck, Again my Shot went way to high? Here again i was EXTREMELY lucky, This shot was over the Lungs, and just missed the Backbone (What they call the “Void”) The buck made it over a Steep Bank and Gone, when i started down the Bank i spotted him Laying down, There was enough “Shock” That it Stopped him, But i had to shoot him again, Which really Bummed me out! I try and be as Sufficient as possible when Killing Game, The only good part about the Whole deal is that i Got him, and he didn’t get away Wounded! After i got the Deer home, Skinned, and took Care of, i headed out to the local sandpit to check Shoot my Rifle. I forgot my Lead Sled And almost Turned around to go back and get it! But i went on without, GLAD I DID THAT! I threw a Coat over my Hood and Shot, at 100 Yards i was somewhere around a 10-12” To high??? My Group was nice n tight, It was then that it Dawned on me, LEAD SLED! I had ALWAYS shot that Rifle from my Sled with 25 Pounds of Lead in it. In fact I cannot remember ever test firing that Gun without a Lead Sled?

Moral of the Story, if you use a Lead Sled Make DARN sure and Check POI against your Shoulder just as if you were hunting, Don't just trust that it will be the Same! If you shoot a Magnum Rifle that has noticeable Recoil, There is a REALLY good Chance you will experience the Same thing that i did above. Smaller, light recoiling rifles will not likely show as much, Maybe not at all? But stil make sure and Check against your Shoulder before Hunting

As for using a Lead Sled with these Old Sidelock Muzzleloaders you are asking for problems, Like Broken Stocks at the Wrist, These Guns REALLY need to Free Recoil.

I do more Bench/Target Shooting than anything else, I really enjoy seeing what i can get out of my Rifles, be it Centerfire Or Muzzleloader, After my Negative Lead Sled experience, I decided to Go with a Free Recoiling Setup. This is a Sinclair Heavy Varmint Front Rest (about 20 pounds) And i use a Rear Sand Bag Filled with Lead Shot (About 18 Pounds) This Setup is ROCK solid, Yet it allows my Rifle to Naturally Recoil

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Nice bag set up. I use a common Caldwell Deadshot front bag for my CF stuff. I filled it with used Walnut shell from my tumbler, ;).
(what else ya do with the stuff?)
But I still gotta bag it up and grip the Ml's, just works best for me.
My club has a few lead sleds available in the locker for folks to use. I tried'm, never had too much luck.
I got tired of the old shot-bags filled with sand too.
With permission, in lieu of a membership fee one year,, I sat down at the sewing machine and made up 100-12x16 canvas bags. Filled them all with a 50/50 mix of poly pellets and chicken grit, tied and stapled.
They work great. Of course the members beat'm up,, but occasional repair and adding some every few years has kept us all happy.
I'm not sayin the sled is at all wrong, it's a good tool when used proper, it's just not the Alpha and Omega of accuracy.
 
I'm not sayin the sled is at all wrong, it's a good tool when used proper, it's just not the Alpha and Omega of accuracy.

I fully agree! I felt bad to even respond to the OP, kinda Seemed like i was Peeing on a new Gift, That Was DEFINITELY not the intent! But I really feel it’s important to Share with others the Negative effects that Lead Sleds Can cause.
Lead Sleds Can stil Work AWESOME With the Feet sitting on a Towel, Pillow Case, Anything so they Can Slide under Recoil, They stil Help absorb Quite a Bit, Just use it as a Solid Platform to rest your Rifle in, You can stil Utilize the fine Adjustments etc. The Problem comes From Weighting them Down, therefore Restricting the Rifle from doing it’s natural Thing when fired
 
I fully agree! I felt bad to even respond to the OP, kinda Seemed like i was Peeing on a new Gift, That Was DEFINITELY not the intent! But I really feel it’s important to Share with others the Negative effects that Lead Sleds Can cause.
Lead Sleds Can stil Work AWESOME With the Feet sitting on a Towel, Pillow Case, Anything so they Can Slide under Recoil, They stil Help absorb Quite a Bit, Just use it as a Solid Platform to rest your Rifle in, You can stil Utilize the fine Adjustments etc. The Problem comes From Weighting them Down, therefore Restricting the Rifle from doing it’s natural Thing when fired
I never got the feeling you were “peeing” on my new gift.. lol, i got thick skin. I was simply asking if anyone else used the newer SOLO model to sight thier rifles in. I’m going to use it... but with my light loads and as suggested, maybe out a pillow case under the feet to allow it to slide a little.
 
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