So here's my situation. I shoot at my own range on my farm and I'm shooting right at 4000 fps so that rules out the lab. I'm retired so I have plenty of time to do what I want and don't have to worry about anyone else or other shooters like at a public range. I've looked into the Mag but have concerns about it impacting the point of impact when shooting. I'm not shooting for any type of competition other then against myself. I'm just shooting for fun and to see just how small I can get my groups without doing anything above what I would call basic reloading. I don't turn necks, weigh/sort cases or bullets or anything else that I consider next level when it comes to loading. I'm shooting just regular old rifles, Ruger 77's and No.1's with no additional work other then better triggers on a few. So I guess what I'm trying to decide is should I worry about the POI issues with the Mag or not? Oh and one other thing and in todays world of hard to find and expensive when you do, I really dont want to waste any more powder or primers then I have to. Sorry for the long drawn out spiel, just wanted to give an accurate overview of what I'm doing. Thanks for any and all recommendations!!
Magneetospeed or traditional chrony
- Thread starter jaytee
- Start date
I'd but an Oehler 35p. .Spot on reliable and very good company to deal with. I've used a 33 and a 35 for about 30 years.
Bring its your own range you can set up a solid base for the screens and leave it set up.
PS- I shoot those same "boring" old Rugers like you
Bring its your own range you can set up a solid base for the screens and leave it set up.
PS- I shoot those same "boring" old Rugers like you
I love my boring old Ruger's!! I do own a couple of 700's but I just have a real soft spot for a nice 77 or No.1 with some fine walnut!! And I like being different from the crowd.
HandgunHTR
Gold $$ Contributor
Anything that hangs off the end of the barrel has potential to affect POI. That being said, I normally work up a load for accuracy by using the 5-shot ladder method (5 rounds of each powder weight going up incrementally). Once I have a load that shoots good, I run it through the chrono to get velocity. I realize that this probably uses more components than just shooting a one-shot ladder through the chrono and looking for flat spots, but it has worked for me. Since I do it that way, I really don't care about the group when getting velocity, so a Magnetospeed would work for me.
The reason I don't have one is that I also use my chrono for my bows and crossbows, so the Magnetospeed won't work for me there.
The reason I don't have one is that I also use my chrono for my bows and crossbows, so the Magnetospeed won't work for me there.
rjtfroggy
Gold $$ Contributor
jaytee, here is the deal of the day.
You get a gold membership ($50) and pay the shipping from Ct. to Mo. and I'll send you a older prochrono digital that is new in the box, ( came from Midway I think). Because I used to shoot on public range I was never able to set it up so I bought the Magneto for ease of setting up.
You get a gold membership ($50) and pay the shipping from Ct. to Mo. and I'll send you a older prochrono digital that is new in the box, ( came from Midway I think). Because I used to shoot on public range I was never able to set it up so I bought the Magneto for ease of setting up.
Magneto sure is easier to setup than an optical, but yes, POI can be a really big issue- had almost 12inches impact difference on a Steyr 6.5x55- to the point where I almost scrapped the gun before I found the culprit. Having your own range gives you the option to build a semi-permanent housing/structure for your optical chrono that could negate the setup hassle- think “birdbox” with white insides and a light that is already aligned and a footprint marking so you just need to put the chrono inside and you’re good to go.
Has anybody tried mounting a Mag to a tripod that would sit just in front of the barrel at obviously the same level that it would still pick up the bullet but not actually be attached to the barrel? Think of a short section of steel or plastic tube for that matter that holds the mag at the same level as the end of the rifle barrel and this is mounted in a stand of some type or a tripod and it can be moved or positioned as needed at the end of your shooting bench.
Walnut and Steel is where it's at!
I was just doing a scope swaparoo with a few "uglys" I'm working with this spring
Jaytee, I've seen pics of an adapter that attaches to a handstop rail or a picatinny type rail under the forearm that positions the Magneto forward under the barrel but no contact with the barrel. Don'r remember if a commercial unit or home made.
Frank
Frank
Wiser Precision and MK Machining make off barrel mounts.
Mounting it totally off-gun seems like a recipe for shooting the bayonet.
SSL
Gold $$ Contributor
I have just recently switched from my old Shooting Chrony to a Magnetospeed and I'm not going back. The ease of use without dinking with levels, perfect lighting, correct distance, tripods, adjustments and alignment is well worth the price all by itself. Does it affect POI? On most barrels, yes. That's going to happen with most anything you hang on the end of a barrel. My Savage VLP .243 has a heavy, fluted, barrel and doesn't seem to care, nor does my sporterized '03 .30-06. My .17 has a relatively skinny barrel and throws the shots by maybe 1.5". My Ruger #1Bs in .22-250 and .280 both move the group maybe .5". My Ruger American Predator .223 about .75". It really makes no sense to try to tune a load with the unit hanging on the barrel and then expect it to shoot the same way without it.
As for sensitivity, it easily records even my little 20-grain, .17-caliber bullets at well over 4,000 fps. without a miss, something my old Chrony struggled with even with 'blackened' bullets. The only shots it has missed were the first two, and that was my error. The strap was not tightened correctly and allowed the unit to droop a bit, giving error messages.
You mentioned wasting components - I 'wasted' components with the Chrony too. Just too blamed hard to get it perfectly aligned to both register the shots AND hit that little bullseye at the same time. I'm not obsessed with speed, unless that's where my best groups occur, so I first find the most accurate load for a specific rife/bullet/powder and then donate a few rounds to chronograph that load so that I have an accurate speed indication to enter into various apps (particularly Strelok Pro) for an idea of ballistic performance. Accurate input is absolutely critical for downrange performance calculations and expectations. Also pretty handy for knowing where the load can be expected to hit when using those 'hash marks' go for quick field sighting with scopes having 'ranging' reticles. Doesn't beat actual field testing at those ranges, but it gets you mighty close.
As for sensitivity, it easily records even my little 20-grain, .17-caliber bullets at well over 4,000 fps. without a miss, something my old Chrony struggled with even with 'blackened' bullets. The only shots it has missed were the first two, and that was my error. The strap was not tightened correctly and allowed the unit to droop a bit, giving error messages.
You mentioned wasting components - I 'wasted' components with the Chrony too. Just too blamed hard to get it perfectly aligned to both register the shots AND hit that little bullseye at the same time. I'm not obsessed with speed, unless that's where my best groups occur, so I first find the most accurate load for a specific rife/bullet/powder and then donate a few rounds to chronograph that load so that I have an accurate speed indication to enter into various apps (particularly Strelok Pro) for an idea of ballistic performance. Accurate input is absolutely critical for downrange performance calculations and expectations. Also pretty handy for knowing where the load can be expected to hit when using those 'hash marks' go for quick field sighting with scopes having 'ranging' reticles. Doesn't beat actual field testing at those ranges, but it gets you mighty close.
boltman13
Gold $$ Contributor
1st Develope your most accurate load.
2nd Find that load's average velocity, Extreme Spread, and Standard Deviation. I do 10 rounds and compare the first 5 to the second 5. If a wide difference do 5 more and compare to the others.
3rd Plug your velocity and conditions into your Ballistic Program.
4th Believe it.
Magnitospeed velocities have never failed to get my load on paper at 1,000 yards in F-Class.
2nd Find that load's average velocity, Extreme Spread, and Standard Deviation. I do 10 rounds and compare the first 5 to the second 5. If a wide difference do 5 more and compare to the others.
3rd Plug your velocity and conditions into your Ballistic Program.
4th Believe it.
Magnitospeed velocities have never failed to get my load on paper at 1,000 yards in F-Class.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I have a chrony and a Magneto speed. I like the magneto speed because I can take with me in my gun bag. It never leaves my truck. I use it to check speed. I leave it off when shooting for groups. When I find a group I like I install it and have a look see. Like wise if we are out pdawg blastin or whatever and a bud wants to try it.. It's there.. Only takes a few minute to set up. My Shooting Chrony gathers dust at home.
FWIW I don't recall seeing any change in impact. When the snow melts I'll do a test.
FWIW I don't recall seeing any change in impact. When the snow melts I'll do a test.
You don't want a MS if your looking for accuracy while shooting velocities. There will be different POI and accuracy will not be equal to a clean barrel rifle (No Chrono attached). I bought the Caldwell Ballistic Chronograph. The newest model that looks upside down. Great unit and accurate. Plus I can shoot arrows thru it and get velocity from archery equipment.
Want to be different! Buy a used crony for cheap and cut it apart to move the screens further apart. 3x further apart reduces the read out speed by 3x. The cool part is that the speed of the electronics are slow and the reason it isn't as accurate as a magneto or the labradar. The extra distance will improve the accuracy and provide a more favorable distance to calculate the speed.
SSL
Gold $$ Contributor
Interesting idea, but have you checked it against another accurate chrono? I would assume that the electronics are designed for the bullet 'shadow' to pass over a specific screen separation. The length of time between passing over the first screen and the second determines the speed. I know when I once failed to completely unfold mine I was getting 300-400 fps faster readout than it should have been when completely unfolded.
I don't like the idea of hanging ANYTHING on the barrel. Barrel harmonics are affected way too much by doing that, IMO. That said, I use an Oehler 33. Old but it gives me what I need to know.
When I do load development I always shoot over a chronograph. I load 5 rounds (per group) with the same amount of powder and get velocity readings from each group. This way I'm not wasting any components. I want to know the chrono info for all the groups, even the ones I won't be loading. It gives me an overall picture of what's going on with that particular powder, primer, bullet, seating depth, etc. combination. Occasionally you will get two groups of cartridges that shoot the same group size. When in doubt as to which combination to use I look at the chrono readings and usually go for the one with the best ES/SD. Without using a chrono during load development I wouldn't know this.
Any way, that's the way I do it.
When I do load development I always shoot over a chronograph. I load 5 rounds (per group) with the same amount of powder and get velocity readings from each group. This way I'm not wasting any components. I want to know the chrono info for all the groups, even the ones I won't be loading. It gives me an overall picture of what's going on with that particular powder, primer, bullet, seating depth, etc. combination. Occasionally you will get two groups of cartridges that shoot the same group size. When in doubt as to which combination to use I look at the chrono readings and usually go for the one with the best ES/SD. Without using a chrono during load development I wouldn't know this.
Any way, that's the way I do it.
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