First welcome to the forum. Lots of good information and advice here.
My thoughts on your chronograph and concentricity may be a bit different. First on the chronograph, I have an Alpha Master. I really do not think it is a great product. On an individual shot basis it can give fairly frequent well off readings. If the velocity and POI add up, I believe it. If not, I discount the chrony reading as bad. If you average 10 shots or so, then I think the average has some relative accuracy, especially if you throw out the obvious bad readings (Russian Judge Method). I find the unit is much more reliable with only the rods for alignment installed, and not the plastic top thing that always falls off anyway. I think a unit that does not have the remote indicator (Chrony calls it the Master option) and control, would be next to useless. My unit and others I have talked to, say the same, responds to the shock wave from other shooters at the range. It is constantly displaying errors and false velocity readings. The remote unit allows you to record velocities on paper as you go, and reset the thing when it goes stupid (converts to metric) from the shock waves. I don't think you gain much when going up in Chrony models as they seem to use the same basic unit and only add relatively useless bells and whistles. There are a few recent threads on chronographs and you may want to read them before you buy. I suspect there is better than the Chrony out there -- but is the price worth it? Only you can answer.
I'm convinced the chronograph is more useful than a concentricity gauge. The chronograph will explain why changes in temperature and other loading changes effect velocity. It is also helpful in identifying nodes for incremental loading. It will help prevent going in circles due to lack of velocity data.
The problem I have with concentricity is what are you going to do about it? Will you use it to initiate buying better sizing and seating dies? If so, why not spend the money on better dies instead of the gauges to measure it. Same with brass. Better in my view to buy Lapua brass up front rather than buy a gauge to tell you that you should not have bought the cheaper stuff, or worse still used the mixed lot, mixed brand stuff you picked up at the range. The poor mans concentricity gauge is a flat mirror. Just roll the loaded round on the mirror and trust your eye to see wobble to tell you if you have a problem. Also, consider that jamming your bullets will potentially minimize the impact of eccentricity.
Hope that helps some,
Ron
My thoughts on your chronograph and concentricity may be a bit different. First on the chronograph, I have an Alpha Master. I really do not think it is a great product. On an individual shot basis it can give fairly frequent well off readings. If the velocity and POI add up, I believe it. If not, I discount the chrony reading as bad. If you average 10 shots or so, then I think the average has some relative accuracy, especially if you throw out the obvious bad readings (Russian Judge Method). I find the unit is much more reliable with only the rods for alignment installed, and not the plastic top thing that always falls off anyway. I think a unit that does not have the remote indicator (Chrony calls it the Master option) and control, would be next to useless. My unit and others I have talked to, say the same, responds to the shock wave from other shooters at the range. It is constantly displaying errors and false velocity readings. The remote unit allows you to record velocities on paper as you go, and reset the thing when it goes stupid (converts to metric) from the shock waves. I don't think you gain much when going up in Chrony models as they seem to use the same basic unit and only add relatively useless bells and whistles. There are a few recent threads on chronographs and you may want to read them before you buy. I suspect there is better than the Chrony out there -- but is the price worth it? Only you can answer.
I'm convinced the chronograph is more useful than a concentricity gauge. The chronograph will explain why changes in temperature and other loading changes effect velocity. It is also helpful in identifying nodes for incremental loading. It will help prevent going in circles due to lack of velocity data.
The problem I have with concentricity is what are you going to do about it? Will you use it to initiate buying better sizing and seating dies? If so, why not spend the money on better dies instead of the gauges to measure it. Same with brass. Better in my view to buy Lapua brass up front rather than buy a gauge to tell you that you should not have bought the cheaper stuff, or worse still used the mixed lot, mixed brand stuff you picked up at the range. The poor mans concentricity gauge is a flat mirror. Just roll the loaded round on the mirror and trust your eye to see wobble to tell you if you have a problem. Also, consider that jamming your bullets will potentially minimize the impact of eccentricity.
Hope that helps some,
Ron
