How do you use your Magnetospeed?

[miningshawn]

I would like to hear how you use your Magnetospeed for developing loads. I have a Labradar, but by the time I load the truck to go to the range I have so much stuff that I usually just grab the MS.

I use the MS in two different ways. If I am working with an all new combo I load a series in 0.2 grain increments and fire in a string about 10 seconds apart - aiming is optional - and observe velocity nodes. I usually perform this test twice. Scenario: Load development for a 30-06 using RL 16.
1.) Load from 52.5 to 55 in 0.2 increments using the same bullet, primer, brass and seating depth. If I have fired brass I will also turn it for consistent neck tension.
2.) Set up a target (very generously sized) at 100 or 200 yds.
3.) Have a pen and paper ready!
4.) Load - aim - shoot - eject - observe case for pressure, write down velocity.
5.) Repeat
If pressure signs show, I stop. Then I graph the velocities and look for stable velocity across 3-5 increments.

The other way I use it is to confirm velocity AFTER I have developed the load. Say that I found a 0.3MOA load at 55.1gr (using an OCW and\or Berger seating). I then shoot 5-10 across the MS and find ES and SD from that. I have shot the MS with no point-of-impact shift on heavy barrels but have seen it wander with thin profile barrels - So I don't "trust" my point-of-aim to point-of-impact with the unit attached.

I usually go to the range the evening before or the morning of a competition and shoot 5 over the MS to confirm my speed versus altitude density and to foul the barrel.

What other uses am I missing? This has been my go-to chrono just because it is so easy to use and fits in the range bag. Not to mention the battery life is huuuuuge compared to my Labradar. I also like that it doesn't take up bench room or have me wandering around in front of the firing line.

 

[Buzzsaw]

i sold mine and went back to a pro chrono with bluetooth

it was just too much trouble switching back n forth on rifles

 

[D-4297]

Use mine for load development and velocity checks when changing powder lots . Primarily to adjust a load into a velocity window . Nothing special . Just base data . The Woody Hayes rule .

 

[mike06]

When I get a good round on target at 100 yards then I speed test. If I have 3 or more rifles to test at the same time I break out my CED.

 

[338 dude]

I would like to hear how you use your Magnetospeed for developing loads. I have a Labradar, but by the time I load the truck to go to the range I have so much stuff that I usually just grab the MS.

I use the MS in two different ways. If I am working with an all new combo I load a series in 0.2 grain increments and fire in a string about 10 seconds apart - aiming is optional - and observe velocity nodes. I usually perform this test twice. Scenario: Load development for a 30-06 using RL 16.
1.) Load from 52.5 to 55 in 0.2 increments using the same bullet, primer, brass and seating depth. If I have fired brass I will also turn it for consistent neck tension.
2.) Set up a target (very generously sized) at 100 or 200 yds.
3.) Have a pen and paper ready!
4.) Load - aim - shoot - eject - observe case for pressure, write down velocity.
5.) Repeat
If pressure signs show, I stop. Then I graph the velocities and look for stable velocity across 3-5 increments.

The other way I use it is to confirm velocity AFTER I have developed the load. Say that I found a 0.3MOA load at 55.1gr (using an OCW and\or Berger seating). I then shoot 5-10 across the MS and find ES and SD from that. I have shot the MS with no point-of-impact shift on heavy barrels but have seen it wander with thin profile barrels - So I don't "trust" my point-of-aim to point-of-impact with the unit attached.

I usually go to the range the evening before or the morning of a competition and shoot 5 over the MS to confirm my speed versus altitude density and to foul the barrel.

What other uses am I missing? This has been my go-to chrono just because it is so easy to use and fits in the range bag. Not to mention the battery life is huuuuuge compared to my Labradar. I also like that it doesn't take up bench room or have me wandering around in front of the firing line.

Everything that you do but get it off the barrel with a wiser precision mount

 

[Ned Ludd]

My MagnetoSpeed has sat in its box ever since I purchased a LabRadar. When I did use the Magneto during load development, I always loaded up 10 rounds for each parameter (charge weight or seating depth) I was testing. I would fire the first five for velocity with the MagnetoSpeed attached, while getting "warmed up" and trying to shoot the best groups possible. Then I would remove the Magneto and shoot solely for groups with 5 more shots for each test load. Although it worked for F-Class shooting, this is not ideal as the velocity and group data did not originate from the exact same shots.

There is no way around the fact that the MagnetoSpeed can alter both group size/shape and point of impact when attached. It's a weight attached to the end of the barrel, not unlike a barrel tuner that cannot be readily adjusted, and it can change barrel harmonics; the very thing we are trying to tune during load development. Using a method to measure something that actually changes the property you're trying to measure is not a good approach. Can you get away with doing it? Sure you can. A lot depends on your specific precision requirements. But still, it's not the greatest approach. Some people currently use an alternative means of attaching the MagnetoSpeed to the rifle so that it isn't directly attached to the barrel. As described above, I loaded extra rounds so that the groups used to assess load parameters weren't fired with the bayonet attached. Both of those approaches work, but I find the LabRadar to be a much simpler approach over the long run.

 

[blastit37]

I use my MagnetoSpeed to sort my cases by velocity. It doesn't matter to me where the bullets hit, just the velocity of the round. I have measured the volume of the cases that fall outside of the velocity mean and they are high or low as the velocity indicates. I try to get the ES under 12 and that brings the SD below 10. This is using Lapua brass in my 30-06 1903A3 I shoot in club matches. I had to modify one of the plastic mount bushings to fit my rifle and I mount the unit 90 deg. form vertical to avoid the bayonet lug but it works for me. This is much easier for my 77 year old eyes and fingers trying to measure the volume of all of my cases accurately.

 

[Bc'z]

I use mine strictly for a velocity report after load is tuned for making a drop chart.

 

[Bill K]

I only use mine, after I have a accurate load or two developed for a individual firearm, then I check to see what velocity it/they are doing.

 

[wkdickinson]

I started out using mine as a load development tool (ES, SD, velocity node, etc.), but now I've have taken the advice from many here, about letting the target tell you what load works best. So now I use it primarily to tell me the velocity after having found the right load from the target. I have only used my MS V3 on rifles with very heavy target barrels and I don't find it affects POI or if it does, it is well below the margin of error that I as the shooter bring to the process.

 

[RegionRat]

I stopped using mine when I got a LabRadar.

I mean, why run twice? Once for speeds and another for groups?

Unless you are running a rig like the ELR guys that offloads the bayonet from the bbl, I don’t like the effects on the groups or POI. Not all rigs are worth that effort.

Doesn’t it make more sense to save the wear and tear on yourself and run point of impact tests while getting speed at the same time for the same trouble?

When I am lucky, and a rig performs well, load development is two sweeps, one for charge and one for seating depth. A medium lucky case requires follow up for one or both of the speed or depth, but confidence dictates how many tests and what data is collected in terms of velocity and atmospherics.

 

[jpx2rk]

I use mine after I find a powder/brass/bullet combo that works just to see what the speed is and go from there.

 

[rjtfroggy]

Lately I use it for a paper weight.
I let the target tell me what the gun likes.

 

[Texas10]

There's a big argument about which is more important, consistent velocity, or consistent groups. Some say let the target be the final judge. Others promote the idea that the first step in load development is to find the point of best charge combustion, best ES and SD, and develop from there. This is may or may not be important depending upon what distance you're shooting. At 1000 yds when shooting for groups, combustion consistency and low ES/SD is quite important, right up there with good wind reading skills.

At shorter distances is becomes less important. A couple feet per second at 100 yds is pretty insignificant, but approaching the transonic region in flight at distance it becomes crucial to hitting the target while still supersonic or at least flying at it's best.

 

[Straightshooter1]

A chrono's SD/ES numbers doesn't really tell you anything more than how well you're loading your cartridges (measurements of the precision of the loaded cartridges). I've had very good SD's and ES's and yet on paper there were poor results until I found the load that fit into my barrel's accuracy node. Having cartridges that produce low SD's and ES's and then tuning to find accuracy node(s) at an acceptable velocity is the second aspect to getting good results on paper. Then of course . . . the 3rd aspect is one's shooting skills. Sharpen all three aspects to a fine point, and I'd bet you can't help but be very competitive.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I use mine to get velocity of a developed load. If it groups well and is consistantly grouping the same then all I need to know is velocity for my drop chart. Sometimes I use it just to compare powders/loads for velocity.
Love to have a Lab Radar, but I can almost buy another rifle for what they cost.

 

[Webster]

I would like to hear how you use your Magnetospeed for developing loads. I have a Labradar, but by the time I load the truck to go to the range I have so much stuff that I usually just grab the MS.

I use the MS in two different ways. If I am working with an all new combo I load a series in 0.2 grain increments and fire in a string about 10 seconds apart - aiming is optional - and observe velocity nodes. I usually perform this test twice. Scenario: Load development for a 30-06 using RL 16.
1.) Load from 52.5 to 55 in 0.2 increments using the same bullet, primer, brass and seating depth. If I have fired brass I will also turn it for consistent neck tension.
2.) Set up a target (very generously sized) at 100 or 200 yds.
3.) Have a pen and paper ready!
4.) Load - aim - shoot - eject - observe case for pressure, write down velocity.
5.) Repeat
If pressure signs show, I stop. Then I graph the velocities and look for stable velocity across 3-5 increments.

The other way I use it is to confirm velocity AFTER I have developed the load. Say that I found a 0.3MOA load at 55.1gr (using an OCW and\or Berger seating). I then shoot 5-10 across the MS and find ES and SD from that. I have shot the MS with no point-of-impact shift on heavy barrels but have seen it wander with thin profile barrels - So I don't "trust" my point-of-aim to point-of-impact with the unit attached.

I usually go to the range the evening before or the morning of a competition and shoot 5 over the MS to confirm my speed versus altitude density and to foul the barrel.

What other uses am I missing? This has been my go-to chrono just because it is so easy to use and fits in the range bag. Not to mention the battery life is huuuuuge compared to my Labradar. I also like that it doesn't take up bench room or have me wandering around in front of the firing line.

What do you call a velocity node?

 

[DaveTooley]

I have never used a chrono of any make to tune a rifle. Only to get a velocity number.

 

[miningshawn]

What do you call a velocity node?

Where velocity stabilizes across 3, 4, or 5 load increments.

I made a quick chart because a picture is worth a thousand...

 

[Straightshooter1]

Where velocity stabilizes across 3, 4, or 5 load increments.
View attachment 1200122
I made a quick chart because a picture is worth a thousand...

Hmmm??? The only way I'd have any confidence in the results is if test is repeated and the results are the same.