How beneficial is a chronograph?

[Dylan_ky]

I've been thinking about buying a chronograph to test some of my reloads. My dad and I were discussing chronographs today and his opinion is that as long as my loads are accurate I wouldn't really need to know their velocity. I told him knowing velocity could determine drop at distances as well as ranges at which bullets will still perform properly (reliable expansion).

Is it really worth buying a chronograph?

 

[witchhunter]

Welcome to THR. I reloaded very accurate ammo without a chrono for many years. It is a helpful tool to learn SD and help confirming loads. I chrono almost all of my loads now, I guess to get more data. Lower SD means more consistent ammo at longer ranges.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I didn't use one for years. I finally bought one. It is handy for doing ballistic calculations regarding drop.

 

[rcmodel]

I told him knowing velocity could determine drop at distances as well as ranges at which bullets will still perform properly (reliable expansion).

Thats only if you believe the published ballistics coefficients from the bullet manufactures.

I'm old-school like your dad.
I have never owned a chronograph in 50 years of reloading.

Always more interested in accuracy, and I don't really care if the book says they should be going 3,200 FPS.
And mine are going 3,000, but still shoot 1-hole groups and kill coyotes at 500 yards.

You can't trust published B/C numbers, as they can vary from one barrel to the next.

So you still have to Load'm and Shoot'm at long range to see what they Really do anyway.

rc

 

[beag_nut]

I would love to have a chrono, but it would be a waste of money for me, since none of the ranges I can go to allow them, for one reason or another. So, do your research about that aspect ahead of time.

 

[Duvel]

If I only loaded the published charges, with the published bullets, in the published brass, with the published primers, at the published temperature, out of the the published barrel, then no, I would not own a chrono.

But since I deviate from what's not published, I own a chrono.

 

[cfullgraf]

I like having a chronograph for a variety of reasons.

It is not necessary to have to make good ammunition.

Actually shooting at the various ranges is the best way to determine bullet drop. Sure wish I had access to a 500 yard plus range instead of just 100yards.

 

[LeonCarr]

I have loaded for 26 years and won't load without one.

Without a chronograph you have no idea what your loads are really doing. Please follow all safe reloading practices.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Hardtarget]

I've loaded since the mid/early '70's. I don't have a chrono. I've not bought one for the reasons mentioned. I've wanted one...for the reasons mentioned.

If you will feel better with one, then go for it. After all, its a hobby. If that is a piece of hardware that you want then you will like having it ready to go. You might not use it much but if it answers a question and eases your mind then its worth every penny.

Let us know your choice and how it works. You might give me the little push and put one in my gear bag!

Have fun at the range!

Mark

 

[GW Staar]

I like having a chronograph for a variety of reasons.

It is not necessary to have to make good ammunition.

Actually shooting at the various ranges is the best way to determine bullet drop. Sure wish I had access to a 500 yard plus range instead of just 100yards.

You just need to move to a less crowded part of the U.S.

Here in N.M., my small town range goes to a 1000 yds, and has cameras & screen to verify hitting something that far. One of the most popular events is a Sharps event.....yes....they even dress the part. They don't allow 50BMG on the range tho.....tears up the targets.

I have a new CED Chronograph, bought a year ago, then a I.R. kit for it last fall. And yet I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for past checking for safety on hotish loads. Waiting for comfy weather to start learning to use it. I know that FPS beyond published loads, means I need to lessen the load, to be safe, whether or not I catch or see all the high pressure signs.

I have a .22-245 wildcat that I want to start shooting......not much published data. For that it seems wise to watch that one's speed and pressure with care.....seems to me the chronograph can help me with that.

 

[wlkjr]

It's a good idea to have one if you load for USPSA matches where you have to make Power Factor.

 

[Slamfire]

I am of the opinion that a chronograph is a great tool and provides answers to questions that you might have had, but had no way to answer.

One thing chronographs have done is kill the great Wildcat era. After WW2, up to the time of cheap chronographs, the alpha and omega, the center of the universe, was velocity, and how to get more velocity. Used to read article after article about the latest, greatest, fastest wildcat, and how everyone had to have it. Once chronographs came out, shooters were able to compare cartridges and velocities. Very few of the wildcats were worth the fuss and feathers to own. The famous Weatherby double radius shoulder was a fraud, it did nothing towards increasing velocity. The wildcat era was built on bed rock ignorance. Shooters did not have the means to test the hype nor the apples to oranges comparisons that were in print. Once we had the means to test some of the claims, the era ended with barely a whimper. The whole construct was an advertising house of cards , a fantasy land created by Corporate advertising bureaus. A small puff of knowledge, and it all came down.

Palma shooters are very particularly about knowing the velocity of the their 155's. They have to get the speeds up to 3000 fps or more, or they don't get the performance they want. Every one of the good Long Range shooters I know, they know the velocity of their bullets. A number of them are very particularly in finding loads with low standard deviations and extreme spreads.

Barrels differ. My Krieger barrels produce higher velocities than my Wilson barrels. Since there is no such thing as a free lunch, those higher velocities were also developing higher pressures. Being able to see the high velocities, this confirmed my suspicions and I cut my loads to cut the pressures.

A number of times I have used Accurate Arms data in developing a load, only to find over the chronograph, that their published data was way different from what I was getting over the chronograph. Their 44 Special data was so slow as to be worthless. Something was wrong and using my chronograph, I was able to adjust the charges till I pushed my bullets at standard velocities.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I like using mine, mostly for the data and to satisfy my own curiosity. If shooting pistol only and only interested in accuracy I don't see much need. Rifle I think it gets a lot more valuable. For me, it's just another data point. How close are my loads to what the manual's publisher got? Or in a few cases which manual is right? How fast is 22wmr out of a 6.5" pistol barrel?

Could I live without one? Sure. Would I replace the one I have if I ever manage to shoot it? Yes.

 

[ny32182]

I consider velocity to be a vital performance metric, especially for any kind of competition, and I would not load without one.

I don't care how my velocity matches up with what manuals say. I EXPECT massive differences between my gun and the manual, and am never disappointed. That is why I own a chrono.

 

[Reefinmike]

My chrono never changed the way my bullets hit paper but it does tell me neat things like how powder coated lead bullets go 125fps faster than jacketed with the same powder charge.

If I shot it, would I buy another?- Yes. Another would be ordered on amazon before I even left the range.
Do I regret waiting so long to buy one? Yes.

 

[Reloadron]

I believe the consensus will be a chronograph is a "nice to have". Do you absolutely need one? Not really, unless of course you want to collect velocity data and use that data. There have likely been a half dozen threads recently on chronographs so don't be shy using the forum search features.

All chronographs will tell you projectile velocity, from that point on it is a matter of added features. The more features you want, the more the chronograph cost. My chronograph is an ancient Oehler 35P. I like it because it prints out the data on a small paper tape. However, today's chronographs are really sweet in that they can interface with a PC and it's not unusual to see laptops on the range. Many also include their own IR LED lighting eliminating lighting issues.

So it really comes down to what you want for features in a chronograph for your needs.

Chrono Choices a recent thread.

Chronograph Suggestions, another recent thread.

The two links are very recent and maybe still active. They cover different models and brand names and the merits of different designs.

Ron

 

[joem1945]

I used to buy a bunch of surplus gun powder and some of it was mil surplus. Although the seller might have some general loading data a chrono was really needed. Now that surplus powder is no more I have less used for one. I find newer load books more useful.

 

[TimSr]

Is it really worth buying a chronograph?

I bought one shortly after I started reloading. Shot it after a few uses. Went many years without one until I finally got a new one. In all honestly, mine is most useful when I'm treading off the reservation and working one loads or with non-standard bullets for which I'm extrapolating from existing load data.

For general loading with standard listed components, I can only think of one time that the Chrony revealed anything that was not within expectations based on published data.

 

[Paddy]

I don't know much about them but I do know that my iPhone plugs into my Caldwell chrono which I paid about 70$ for and with their free app it does lots of cool data collection and storage. The only drag is setting it up. I'm debating making a steel rack for it that will be able to withstand a poorly placed shot, but even if I shoot this one eventually it's only $70 which seems reasonable.

 

[GBExpat]

For 30+ years I reloaded accurate ammo without a chrony.

I have a Beta Master CHRONY that I bought in ~2000 and sent it in to have the memory maxed out a few years ago.

When developing loads I have found that I much prefer knowing over not knowing both the speeds and consistency of those loads (which is sometimes a direct result of shooting technique).

FWIW


EDIT:
My "range" is in my backyard so I find it very easy to use my chrony. I have no experience with having to setup a chrony at a proper public or private range.

 

[ericuda]

Necessary, no. Nice to have, yes. i have my own range so i can set it up anytime. I like it as i can compare velocities between plated, coated and fmj. Makes it fun to compare.

 

[dragon813gt]

I have one and rarely used it. If other people were at the range it was a pain getting it set up w/out interrupting them. I found myself needing it more and more.

I've been going off book lately w/ a lot of loads. And Quickload is only a tool that has to be checked. UPS was kind enough to drop a LabRadar on my porch this afternoon. This one will go to the range w/ me every time. Takes about two minutes to set it up and nothing is in front of the firing line. No reason not to use it. I see the Doppler units coming down in price and completely replacing the older ones over the next decade or so.

Next on the list is pressure testing equipment. I want to see the pressure curve in real time. I have a lot of powders that there are applications for but no published loads. Velocity is only part of the equation. Seeing the pressure curve tells you a lot.

 

[Reloadron]

I have one and rarely used it. If other people were at the range it was a pain getting it set up w/out interrupting them. I found myself needing it more and more.

I've been going off book lately w/ a lot of loads. And Quickload is only a tool that has to be checked. UPS was kind enough to drop a LabRadar on my porch this afternoon. This one will go to the range w/ me every time. Takes about two minutes to set it up and nothing is in front of the firing line. No reason not to use it. I see the Doppler units coming down in price and completely replacing the older ones over the next decade or so.

Next on the list is pressure testing equipment. I want to see the pressure curve in real time. I have a lot of powders that there are applications for but no published loads. Velocity is only part of the equation. Seeing the pressure curve tells you a lot.

You and I both. I am thinking the pressure curve thing. Never got to it last summer but I want to make it a 2016 project. I want to record the curves. I also do not want to hit poverty getting there. Should you make any progress please do post what you are doing.

Ron

 

[griff383]

Its a great tool to have but definitely not a must. I use it for some precision/long range rifle stuff and subsonic 300 blk.

 

[Iron Sight]

Might compare it to using a dynamometer for engine building?

Do you really need one?