Chronograph Usefulness

[dmoran]

A good chronograph (no matter what the brand, model, or price tag) with a good setup, that will simulate the POI's on the target to the majority of the shots, you have a good one with a good setup.
If a chronograph and its setup do not give 85% or higher simulation, all Averages, ES, SD, High, Lows, etc. are in to big of error for me look at as factual data. But if they simulate +85% and better, then you can look at any sample size as factual data.

Example: if I'm shooting at 500yds and my average say is 3000-fps, and I fire one it reads 3010-fps and hits above center on the target, it showing positive simulation. If I fire another and it drops low of center and reads 2990-fps, it also is showing positive simulation. Now say I get a big extreme, like say 3030-fps, it should impact higher on the target then others, etc., etc..

Personally, I strive for chronograph data and totally believe in there usefulness to my load developments. But if I'm using one that will not simulate, I'll work on the setup. If it still fails, they get sent back or replaced with ones that do. Setup is a key to most of them.... If we want laboratory results, we need to give them as close to laboratory setup as we can., no matter what the brand, model, or price tag - IMO

My 2-cents
Donovan Moran

 

[amlevin]

using your bore sighter --in bore laser type-- to set up the chrony will save a lot of grief.

Or cause you severe grief if you are using one that fits in the muzzle and forget to remove it before firing your first shot. :-[ :-[ Almost every range in the country has the remains of a bore sighter somewhere between the firing line and the 100 yard targets because the shooter got distracted and forgot to remove it after setting up his chronograph.

If you want to use one that utilizes a "spud" inserted in the barrel, then cut a 6" circle of cardboard, punch a hole in the middle, then insert the spud through the hole in the cardboard before inserting it in the barrel. This will at least obscure your scope/sight picture and give you cause to "notice" the bore obstruction. On a GOOD day you'll just create a bulge in the barrel near the end of the spud. On a BAD day-----------

 

[deadwooddick]

I've got both the old style and the magneto. In my humble opinion they're only good for historical data on velocity; after you've worked out the load, fine tuned with seating depth and neck tension, and have bullets going through the same hole. I rarely use them. Only when I get curious about bullet speed. The magneto is convenient, nothing elaborate to set up.

+1

 

[deadwooddick]

Also some advice the farther you can space the sky screens from entrance to exit of the bullet across the chronograph the more accurate it will be. This is one reason I prefer the CED over other brands well except for my model 82 that's the cats meow.

I can get 4 feet (e.g. improved resolution) with my 35P, can you get that w/ the CED ?

 

[artbosco]

I guess my original question should have been how useful for point blank BR and I'm thinking that answer is "not so much" as a couple folks said. Maybe I was just looking for some excuse to get the new toy, : but I think I'll buy new wind flags instead!

Now that's a Great idea.

You'll get plenty of use out of them, and they'll tell you what's going on out in front of you that maybe you were only slightly aware of.

Memorize this phrase: "The wind is my friend!"

Two good sources: Rick Graham's flags are great and so are Smiley Hensley's. I've got 5 of Rick's and 5 of Smiley's. Rick's site: http://www.brflags.com/

Smiley's address is 1670 N. Eastside Hwy., Elkton, VA 22827. Phone: 540-298-8368. Tony Boyer has been using Smiley's flags since the beginning of time/forever. Most of the flags you see pictured in Mr. Boyer's new book are Smiley's. Either one will serve you well.

 

[JamesnTN]

Also some advice the farther you can space the sky screens from entrance to exit of the bullet across the chronograph the more accurate it will be. This is one reason I prefer the CED over other brands well except for my model 82 that's the cats meow.

I can get 4 feet (e.g. improved resolution) with my 35P, can you get that w/ the CED ?

I have a 4' rail for my ced

 

[dmoran]

I can get 4 feet (e.g. improved resolution) with my 35P, can you get that w/ the CED ?

I have a 4' rail for my ced

deadwooddick -
I use a 8' rail with my CED (M1) when only using one of them (have 2).
When setup in tandem, I setup the 2nd at 4', inside the 1st at 8'
( like this: 1-----2----------2-----1 )
Both setup with Infrared screens, and use an acoustic at the target (Steinert)
Donovan

 

[johara1]

Tom, What is D smoking……… or maybe it 's in the air out there…… LOL…. jim

 

[Alex Wheeler]

The chrony was obviously broken. It will pin stripe next weekend, ;D

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I was messing with ya.
I am a believer of converging bullet paths. Its why I think a load can shoot good at one distance and not another. So I don't care what the chrony says.

 

[bozo699]

That load did pin stripe, it got better when the ES opened up. And now we know why my crony lives next to my consentricity measuring tool.
[/color
Tom

Tom, I am not sure that is correct, you guard that old concentricity checker with your life,...use it before every match, I rarely see you use your chrony! I agree with what you once told me the proof is on the paper but it is gratifying or rather there is a piece of mind knowing your loads are concentric and your es/sd is low. I like using a chrony for a reference, I know my gun shoots best around 3030 fps so I shoot for that and it varies with different powder lots, since I am too stupid to change from varget to 4895 it is worse for me! I try to keep my sd/es down low but once again all I really care about is what I see down range. For long range hunting and gong shooting I use the chrony to create a drop chart but even then I proof that by ranging and shooting and always I end up tweaking my drop charts as I build from the chrony at the muzzle and impacts at over a 1000 are two different things. I use mine for a starting reference and a trouble shooting tool.
Wayne.