To add to what Davetooley said, while you say you don't operate above the upper parameters for a load, a lot of times you are nowhere near the velocity you think you are getting, based on the manuals. In fact, you may be well above or below what you think you are getting. The biggest example of this for me was when I chrono'd a load that my buddy had loaded for his 22 Nosler. It was shooting almost 300 FPS above book speed for that powder load. There were absolutely no signs of pressure on his brass. I checked the powder amount - which was as it was supposed to be. He was running faster than a 22.250. Checked it over the chrono again. He still runs that load. I've also had times when I thought my "book load" was shooting at a decent clip, later to chrono it and find it was barely moving - far below the book minimum. For guys who go online to obtain their drop dope and wonder why they are missing - actually KNOWING what your speed is helps a lot. The data output is only as good as the data input. The chrono won't give you a good load - but it does provide data that you can use to help find a good load.
Is a chronograph necessary?
- Thread starter wildfan99
- Start date
I have 2 older Chronographs. I quit using them because they were a pain in the butt to set the screens up in front of the bench and holding up other shooters. It took at least 15 minutes just to line the screens up so I wouldn't shoot them. They were fun to collect data with. When I quit using them I had enogh data to make an accurate drop chart out to at least 350 yds. with several bullets and powders.. Good enough for GH hunnting. If I was a young man I would be tempted to get something like the newer radar based units.
For what the Op is doing, the chronograph is absolutely, not necessary for his stated goals. That being said, I can only speak for myself, once you've worked with a good chronograph you might be hesitant to work up loads without that chronograph again, going forward. As long as you've never had one, you won't miss it. I'm not sure I can say the same for everybody if they've had one.
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Even though I never owned one, if you can afford one, I'd get one. The velocity data would be useful to have as season temperatures and air density change, it would be useful to measure specific load velocity consistency, and it would be useful for using drop tables giving you some real velocity numbers rather than trying to estimate them.
When I got into this game 50+ years ago they were too cumbersome for my liking. In addition, for several years while I was in this sport, I had limited finances.
Today, while not cheap, the new models are much simpler to use. One of the guys at the range has one that simply sets up next to his rifle. I think he said he paid $600 for it. However, at this late stage in my shooting life it doesn't make sense for me.
When I got into this game 50+ years ago they were too cumbersome for my liking. In addition, for several years while I was in this sport, I had limited finances.
Today, while not cheap, the new models are much simpler to use. One of the guys at the range has one that simply sets up next to his rifle. I think he said he paid $600 for it. However, at this late stage in my shooting life it doesn't make sense for me.
You probably are the only person on here who read the instruction manual and knows how to use it lol
CJ6
Silver $$ Contributor
I highly doubt that.
I kind of felt the same way, not being the youthful guy anymore. And I did have other chronographs to use. Getting a Garmin has made checking a load so easy compared to before - and is so compact, it actually gets lost in the bottom of my shooting bag. Literally the size of a SLR camera.
Yet that's the one the guy at the range uses. Very easy to use and compact. He let me use it and I was surprised by some of the numbers I got, higher than book value by 150 to 175 f/s or so.
Pressure vs speed. Maybe for some if you are shooting exactly the same setup as the bullet or powder manufacture uses.
I shoot a rifle that is 4" to 6" longer than any posted data and if I followed the book for speed and pressure I would consistently be showing over pressure long before I reached a max load. My gun consistently runs 100+fps faster than all published data, even at start loads.
I shoot a rifle that is 4" to 6" longer than any posted data and if I followed the book for speed and pressure I would consistently be showing over pressure long before I reached a max load. My gun consistently runs 100+fps faster than all published data, even at start loads.
You don’t have to use the exact same set up as the manual you just have to do some high level arithmetic and add or subtract 25-30 fps per inch of barrel length from the published velocity. If the velocity in the manual says you should be at 3000 fps and you’re at 3,100 with a barrel 4” longer than what they used you’re in the right ballpark. If you’re getting 3,200 then you’re probably running a little hot.
Obviously, it’s not an exact science but with some common sense a manual can keep a person from going off the rails.
Jager
Gold $$ Contributor
For load development, a chrono tells me very precisely what chamber pressure I'm running. I have a shelf full of reloading manuals that I frankly almost never look at any more.
For competition, a chrono tells me if I'm starting to stray outside of my tune window, before that shows up on target.
Indispensable.
For competition, a chrono tells me if I'm starting to stray outside of my tune window, before that shows up on target.
Indispensable.
NF1E
Gold $$ Contributor
Over the years I have used a couple of Pro-chrono optical units then went to the LabRadar when it came out and now a Garmin travels to the bench when I am interested in development data. I think they can add a safety factor to the game. At 77, I like to take advantage of many options. I even use a Garmin off hand shooting. Whatta Hobby!
They are quite helpful. As many have said they are not absolutely necessary as DOPE can be derived from actual drop on target, but they aid in predictions.
I have found that their biggest aid is saving components during load development, and thus they basically pay for themselves if developing load data for multiple rifles. I can shoot a ladder in 0.1 grain increments and pretty quickly identify some good nodes from a velocity standpoint, especially when corroborated with vertical POI on target. I can then move straight to confirmatory 5-10 shot groups at these nodes and get broader ES/SD data. I would say it cuts the amount of components necessary by 2-3x which matters especially if shooting cartridges with a short barrel life.
I have found that their biggest aid is saving components during load development, and thus they basically pay for themselves if developing load data for multiple rifles. I can shoot a ladder in 0.1 grain increments and pretty quickly identify some good nodes from a velocity standpoint, especially when corroborated with vertical POI on target. I can then move straight to confirmatory 5-10 shot groups at these nodes and get broader ES/SD data. I would say it cuts the amount of components necessary by 2-3x which matters especially if shooting cartridges with a short barrel life.
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
You must have a real piece of junk.
Most that I’ve seen including the one I own show those numbers. It does come with directions but they weren’t needed, it’s displayed right in front of your face. The new ones take about 2 minutes to get it out of the box, turn on, and sit on the bench next to your rifle and you are ready to shoot.
I can’t imagine being serious about reloading, shooting, hunting and not having a chronograph. Anything else is just guessing.
^^^^^GARMIN^^^^^^^^^
I went for 30 years without a chronograph and did fine. Then about 10-15 yrs ago, I finally got a Shooting Chrony, and it helped, some, but was such a pain to set up and use that I rarely used it, which kinda defeated the purpose.
Then last year I bought a Garmin Xero C1 and WOW, what a difference. Super easy to use, fast, simple, etc. One of the best $500 investments I've made in shooting, very handy for doing load development, particularly for finding a charge "area" where MV stays almost the same across different charge weights ("finding charge weight nodes")...now I use it for most of my range CF rifle shooting (except matches)...
That said, I also agree with @spencercoc74 in post 14 above, using a chrono can create a rabbit hole and cause you to start paying too much attention to the wrong things, so use it judiciously ...
Then last year I bought a Garmin Xero C1 and WOW, what a difference. Super easy to use, fast, simple, etc. One of the best $500 investments I've made in shooting, very handy for doing load development, particularly for finding a charge "area" where MV stays almost the same across different charge weights ("finding charge weight nodes")...now I use it for most of my range CF rifle shooting (except matches)...
That said, I also agree with @spencercoc74 in post 14 above, using a chrono can create a rabbit hole and cause you to start paying too much attention to the wrong things, so use it judiciously ...
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Doesn't work for shotguns, at least it didn't work for my friend's BP shotgun using #6 shot ... and the manual doesn't talk about shotguns (except for slugs) ... I expected it to clock the wad, but nope...
I shoot benchrest and I care very much for accuracy. No a chrono is not necessary. Have you ever been at a State or National Bencrest match ? Shooters reload on site - adjust powder charge - specially 6 PPC shooters and none use a chrono or have the possibility to do so. I had Many Chrono over the years and end up seeing very little use..mostly used to make loads meet IPSC handgun power factor.
This being said - it’s a tool for those shooting long range to make droop charts and make load adjustment to obtain consistency.
But necessary - no.
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