Best sled to use for sighting in

[lunchbox]

What is everyone's choice for a shooting rest for sighting in new loads or just for a day of shooting if you dont want to feel the recoil.
And does the rest move when you shoot or are there ones that dont move at all?
I have a rest but dont like the thing at all. was just a cheap one that I got and when I shoot it jumps all over the place and is a pain to put back and get the gun back on target

[ozark]

I am satisfied completely with the Benchrest. It is well made, easily adjustable and stable. It absorbs nearly all the recoil without extra weights but can be weighted down. It contains a level to adjust for cant and IMO would be hard to beat. Very effective and ideal for sighting in a rifle. Any solid table or normal shooting bench accomidates it well.

[jims]

I use a Lead Sled so the recoil does not bother me on the bench.

[deadeer]

I use the standard Caldwell lead sled. It works very nice. With no added weight, I can shoot the ML10II with full power loads for as long as need be without pain. You need some free recoil or your scope would not last long.
Jay

[artjr338wm]

I have two design specific recoil reducing rests. Rest #1 is the Caldwell Lead Sled DFT. I have shot several 100 loads with it, all of which were high or very high recoil recoil loads. Used with one 25lb bag of lead shot, it reduced felt recoil to a enjoyable level.

Rest #2 is a now discontinued sharp Shooter rest that is adjustable for hight only. I modified it to accept a 25lb bag of #7 lead shot and removed the rear leg and replaced it with a med owl ear bag filled with heavy sand. I ended up with more or less a free recoiling rifle rest that adds about 30lbs to the weight of any rifle or shotgun I shoot off it. It also reduces recoil to a enjoyable level.

Now for what i do not like about them.
The Caldwell LS/DFT has a small but noticeable amount of wobble to it when you shoot off it. I also had to use blue lok-tight to stop various parts of it from vibrating loose as did happen often with frequent use. I even lost one of the nuts that hold the front rest on to the frame at of all places, while at the range with no replacement nut to be had.

I also experienced a dramatic difference in my POI (7" to the left) from shooting off the LS/DFT and off hand or from shooting sticks, so that is why I no longer use mine, but other peoples experiences might not be the same as mine.

As far as my SharpShooter rest goes I only have two complaints about it. #1-I have to reposition it after every shot and get it back on the target and #2-it is not windage adjustable, so I must make lateral adjustments by shifting it by hand and that can be time consuming as is repositioning it after every shot.
But I have used it for 12+ years and 1000s and 1000s of high recoil shots from my .338wm, 7mmSTW, .300wm, 12ga slug guns, magnum MLs and lastly my 10ML-II shooting loads on par with .375 H&H recoil and it has served me extremely well. And unlike my LS/DFT my SharpShooter shoots the same POI as when I shoot it using non-bench hunting shooting form.

I prefer it over my more modern windage and elevation adjustable LS/DFT.

A recoil reducing rest I recommend you give a look at is the "Hyskore Ten Ring Reciprocating Rest". It is available at Midway SS item #915-133. Cost $164.99

I will say first and fore most I have no first hand experience with this rest, but if it works as advertised and is simple to use it would be a great rest in that it eliminates the need to reposition the rest for both elevation and left to right location after every shot, which gets to be more hassle than you might think in a all day shooting session.

I have been trying to find one to give a hands on going over so to speak be fore I invest my $$$ in one. I guess if you are that interested in a Hyskore rest you could post a request for user opinions of it, as I will before I decide to buy one or not.

In any event I would strongly recommend if you are considering buying one, you find a LS/DFT or plane Lead Sled and give one or both a complete as possible going over before you buy.

Good luck,
Arthur.

[Richard]

While I have made some modifications to my Lead Sled DFT, I love it! Art.........I have a fix coming up for that looseness. Mine is solid as a rock and the front rest no longer loosens up. I should get a post with some pictures up this week.
Richard

[artjr338wm]

Sounds good Richard. I did learn to work around the wobble problem of my LS/DFT and shot some of my best ever groups with it. I just found the POI shift I experienced with it unacceptable. I am rather certain the POI shift was at least in aprt related to the form I used to shoot off it, but I never had that problem when using my SharpShooter rest.

[deadon]

I used a leadsled for first time today. Richard mentioned it in one of my many post asking questions. It was great Thanks again Richard . I do have 2 25lb cast iron weights that fit perfect and are locked in. I am 5' 8", weight 180 lbs and am old too. I have shot everything from a 22 to a 416 rigsby and that HURT. This leadsled is the ticket!!!!!!

[splinter]

Benchrest is what I use.....

[pposey]

love the leadsled, with a shoulder that can't take the pounding I can still shoot,,, had a hard time getting used to it, finally filled some sand bags and placed them around the sled to rest my arms on that that helped bunches