Useless Chronographs!

[Lapua40X]

In my many, many years of shooting I never used (or knew much about) chronographs. I borrowed on about a year ago just to see what it's all about. Now I own one of my own; but I don't get too excited over the data it collects. Except for determining whether or not my loads are consistent, regardless of what the big MV number or little ES or SD numbers might be, I don't find the data all that useful. IMO, if the chrono numbers look good but the target looks bad, with a lot of vertical or other bullet hole anomalies, the "good" chrono numbers don't mean squat.
The chrono is one tool in my reloading tool box but the best tool in the box is a sense for what consistently puts the holes in the target nearest to center. Sometimes the best tool tells me to analyse and adjust the guy pressing the trigger.

 

[armistemjim]

Not to mention the fact that visible indicators do not always appear soon enough. A chronograph is also a safety tool for the reloader.

 

[Rustystud]

I own 4 chronographs, Chrony, CED, MagnetoSpeed, and Ohler 35P. I have lined all of them up in a row and fired the same shot through them simultaneously. None register the same velocities and or extreme speeds or standard deviations. John708 and I set up his CED and my CED and there was a 135-152 fps difference between the same models with simultaneous shots. I like the MagnetoSpeed for its convenience and not requiring light to work. I like the Ohler 35p for its redundancy. Chronographs are just tools to add some intel on how consistent your loads are.
Nat Lambeth

 

[stool]

DUH....
BULLETS BEGIN DEACCELERATING almost as soon as they leave the muzzle.
your three screen ohler will clearly show a decrease in speed over the 2 sets of screens. why would a series of chrono's give identical data ???...they should show decreasing velocity on each subsequent chrono.

I own 4 chronographs, Chrony, CED, MagnetoSpeed, and Ohler 35P. I have lined all of them up in a row and fired the same shot through them simultaneously. None register the same velocities and or extreme speeds or standard deviations. John708 and I set up his CED and my CED and there was a 135-152 fps difference between the same models with simultaneous shots. I like the MagnetoSpeed for its convenience and not requiring light to work. I like the Ohler 35p for its redundancy. Chronographs are just tools to add some intel on how consistent your loads are.
Nat Lambeth

 

[M14AMU]

In my many, many years of shooting I never used (or knew much about) chronographs. I borrowed on about a year ago just to see what it's all about. Now I own one of my own; but I don't get too excited over the data it collects. Except for determining whether or not my loads are consistent, regardless of what the big MV number or little ES or SD numbers might be, I don't find the data all that useful. IMO, if the chrono numbers look good but the target looks bad, with a lot of vertical or other bullet hole anomalies, the "good" chrono numbers don't mean squat.
The chrono is one tool in my reloading tool box but the best tool in the box is a sense for what consistently puts the holes in the target nearest to center. Sometimes the best tool tells me to analyse and adjust the guy pressing the trigger.

"Sometimes the best tool tells me to analyse and adjust the guy pressing the trigger."

HOWDY DOODY!! ;D ;D ;D

 

[XTR]

I only use a chrono when I'm doing OCW tests, and then I'm only looking to see where I am for the purposes of calculating come ups closer or to compare ballistics between bullets in a program to predict windage.

I'm fortunate to live 30 min from the range at Oak Ridge, and as a member there I can test my loads at long range so I don't rely on the chrono. I also shoot over my Beta Chrony w/o the screens so the data can sometimes be a little erratic if the sun is out. I just look at the average to tell me about where my loads MV is coming in, but in the end if the losd isn't shooting under a half MOA of vertical at 600, then I need to go back and figure out why.

 

[people]

I like using mine. It is a pain to set up but what speeds are you getting at 95 and at 0? Those numbers do not matter when you are doing what Mr. Salazar does. When you are a hunter those differences matter.