3D printed rail for load development

J

jgray

Private
Minuteman
Feb 11, 2023
41
75
Denver
#1
I was just playing around with my 3D printer & learning 3D modeling and I cooked this thing up for shooting development loads.
So far better than hauling a lead
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sled around and it actually works.
IMG_2470.JPG
 
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#3
Nicely done.

I wish I had your 3D Printing know - how.

Rifles generally need a sack of potatoes to recoil into - your body - which generates different harmonics (big fancy word hardly any of us truly understand but throw around left and right regardless) as opposed to when they’re fired on a rigid rest.
 
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#4
When fired from a rigid rest, a good portion of that recoil energy reverberates in places where it shouldn’t…

…your scope mount, the glass, etc.

Try shooting it the way you’d usually shoot it, even through load development.
 
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#5
chevy_man said:
Bipod and bag.

Lead sleds are dumb. They disrupt the recoil and rarely do heavy recoiling rifles shoot the same outside of them as inside.


If you can't hang onto the gun, consider smaller cartridges.
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I have no problem hanging onto that rifle , with my handloads that Howa prints .220 groups no problem from a bag.
This was an exercise in free recoil /adjustable bag riders and testing my 3d modeling skill at the same time. Ya know, no matter what, there's always somebody out there like you looking for fault in everything. What have you made from scratch lately?
 
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#6
jgray said:
I have no problem hanging onto that rifle , with my handloads that Howa prints .220 groups no problem from a bag.
This was an exercise in free recoil /adjustable bag riders and testing my 3d modeling skill at the same time. Ya know, no matter what, there's always somebody out there like you looking for fault in everything. What have you made from scratch lately?
Click to expand...

One of my personal irritations is people shooting/sighting in off sleds and expecting the same results free hand. With your amazingly detailed explanation it came across as the rifle being locked into your plastic rest.

Exercise all you want, it feels like a waste of filament to me. The thing about sharing your exercise is you might get differing opinions. Not trying to get you riled up, but get you thinking about actual benefits.

I'm a tradesman. My job is to make something out of nothing everyday. I'm not all that amazed with 3d printing. I can draw in AutoCAD and fusion, but I send my stuff to the CNC mill.
 
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#12
308pirate said:
Believe it or not some people spend the time that you spent on that on training instead.
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Did I not say “load development”? Somewhere in the post.. I live 15 minutes from my club (500 yds) I’m single, reload all my own, love shooting golf balls and enjoy sunsets on the range.
I train every time I go. My motto is my next shot will be my best shot.
 
#13
People see things in such a small lens. Pick one part of a thing and comment on a single facet of that thing.
I don’t have hobbies, I have lifestyles and obsessions. Motocross, supercross, sports car racing now precision shooting.
I build all my own, study, practice and train and championship wins are my reward. There have been many.
I only do a “thing” if it’s mechanical, technical and requires precise human performance.
That said, I take exception to your training comment, respectfully of course.
The point is take every opportunity to improve. If it doesn’t work figure out why and do it better next time.
If any thing fails in what I do, I know who did it and that would be me.
 
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#14
Ah, don’t sweat it. Roll with the punches. There are a lot of punches thrown in the Hide. Most are razzing. If prickliness is sensed, it’s like chum in the water lol 🩸🦈🦈🦈

Anyway, are the front bipod feet flat? Are they “trapped” so they can only go fore/aft?

Any mention of the lead sled will get you (deservedly) tons of crap, as it is stupid. Your shoulder isn’t even on the buttstock on the versions I’ve seen.

I think one needs to test like you shoot…maybe I’m wrong? 🤷‍♂️
 
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#15
It’s made to recoil freely. I don’t own a lead sled. I believe you have to allow the recoil but control it with as much precision as you can. Whether it’s from position or a bench. Feet are flat and will slide in the track like the rail in the rear. So far it’s printing really good groups. Some days we have good days and other days not so much.
Shooting development rounds I’d rather limit the human component so my data is trustworthy.
 
#16
jgray said:
Shooting development rounds I’d rather limit the human component so my data is trustworthy.
Click to expand...
Your data is not reproducible because the rifle will not behave the same when recoiling against a human while perched on a tripod, big bag, or on a bipod on uneven terrain.

This reminds me of a certain fool I know of who spent hundreds of rounds in load development for his pistol shooting it from a Ransom rest to then go shoot it in practical pistol matches. No wonder he was in C class then and is still in C class now.
 
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#17
jgray said:
People see things in such a small lens. Pick one part of a thing and comment on a single facet of that thing.
I don’t have hobbies, I have lifestyles and obsessions. Motocross, supercross, sports car racing now precision shooting.
I build all my own, study, practice and train and championship wins are my reward. There have been many.
I only do a “thing” if it’s mechanical, technical and requires precise human performance.
That said, I take exception to your training comment, respectfully of course.
The point is take every opportunity to improve. If it doesn’t work figure out why and do it better next time.
If any thing fails in what I do, I know who did it and that would be me.
Click to expand...

IMG_4302.gif


Don’t worry.

Lots of little boys here.

Low - achieving, no - account losers whose only avenue of feeling like big d*** playas is here on the Hide.
 
#19
jgray said:
Did I not say “load development”? Somewhere in the post.. I live 15 minutes from my club (500 yds) I’m single, reload all my own, love shooting golf balls and enjoy sunsets on the range.
I train every time I go. My motto is my next shot will be my best shot.
Click to expand...

Oh. It makes sense now.

jgray said:
People see things in such a small lens. Pick one part of a thing and comment on a single facet of that thing.
I don’t have hobbies, I have lifestyles and obsessions. Motocross, supercross, sports car racing now precision shooting.
I build all my own, study, practice and train and championship wins are my reward. There have been many.
I only do a “thing” if it’s mechanical, technical and requires precise human performance.
That said, I take exception to your training comment, respectfully of course.
The point is take every opportunity to improve. If it doesn’t work figure out why and do it better next time.
If any thing fails in what I do, I know who did it and that would be me.
Click to expand...

I have 4 dirt bikes and 2 mountain snowmobiles in the garage.

Since we're talking about irrelevant things, what kind of sports car racing do you do fellow sports enthusiast?
 
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#21
jgray said:
I was just playing around with my 3D printer & learning 3D modeling and I cooked this thing up for shooting development loads.
So far better than hauling a leadView attachment 8506164View attachment 8506165View attachment 8506166 sled around and it actually works.View attachment 8506163
Click to expand...
I like this! Small, compact, sturdy, and isn’t invasive to how you handle the weapon, unlike a lead sled. It allows you to shoulder the weapon the same as without using it, and allows you to put your arms in a natural shooting position on the bench, and steadies the front and rear and allows for micro elevation adjustments on the rear while shooting.
 
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