How many of you use chronographs to check your reloads?

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I had a shooting chroney f1 that was around 100.00 us. I winged it with a .380 one day and just barely missed the sensor. It still worked and lasted a while until it hit it center of mass with a .223. I found another F1 at walmart.com for $69.00 and it arrived last thursday.

 

[Samari Jack]

Got one about a month ago. Love it for verifying loads. I packed up enough 6x6 wood blocks in front of my chrony to the level of the eyes of the chrony to catch any wayward pistol rounds. The down side is I have the cheapy model and have to walk up and read each test fire. If used my .308 or 5.56 obviously I would need thicker wood and it would need nailing down. The wood also seems to deflect muzzle blast that can cause erroneous readings. I put clear tape over the eyes to keep debris out. The whole apparatus sits on a 55 gal steel drum.

 

[David Wile]

Hey folks,

All the years I have been reloading I have never owned one. I have on a few occasions tested some loads on a friends machine, but I have never felt I had a need to buy one for my use. I was always interested in bench rest shooting rather than speed, and my loads are never at the hot end of the loading range.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[jr_roosa]

I'll be happy when I finally shoot mine. The sensors have been a little wacky ever since it got rained on, but not enough to be worth a trip back to the shop.

-J.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I am not too concerned about target and plinking pistol ammo, but definitely use my chrony for rifle calibers.

If I ever load some pistol hunting ammo, the loads will go thru a chrony.

 

[joed]

I always use a chrony to verify my loads. I've had occasions where a load from a book runs 300 fps slower in real life. I want to know these things.

Haven't noticed big differences with pistol but rifle is an eye opener at times.

 

[RyeDaddy]

I use one with every handload workup, but not until I've found the one that shoots best. That way I'm not chasing velocity. It's important to know actual velocity to plug into the ballistic calculator for drop and wind values. Some people never shoot past 100 yards, I could see it not mattering to them.

 

[iblong]

I allways use it in load development or if I change a component in a known load,Its the only way to know whats really going on.

 

[Stormin.40]

I am a nerd and like the extra data while working on loads. I started reloading without a chrony but really like knowing where I stand in regards to velocity.

 

[mookiie]

I have been reloading for about a year and a half and just got one. I am looking forward to the extra data.

 

[exbrit49]

I use a Chronograph to verify velocities every time I change any component. I like to be conservative on loads and look for longevity out of the brass. The other major reason is that usually a favorite safe load is dialed in after starting on the low side of the powder charge listed in the reloading manual, only by using a chrono can you see if you are staying on the safe side. You can also see the relationship between velocity and accuracy.
A chrono is the only way to really nail down a perfect load for any given firearm. Manuals only give a starting point and a maximum.
I buy powder in bulk and as soon as I open a new container, I load 10 pieces and take them to the range and check speed with the chrono. Its surprising that there is usually a slight difference in the powders. Not enough to give any overpressure, but enough to see on the chrono. From the velocities shown I can usually go back and dial in a tweak to the amount of powder now required. I do the same any time I use a different component. Improved accuracy and matching a given load to a specific firearm is the ultimate and it takes a chrono to do it!

Roger

 

[243winxb]

Sold my chronograph many years ago. Nice toy, but got tired of dragging it to the range. It had the "new" sky screens, replacing the card board with the thin copper wire to start and stop the timer. The bullet had to hit both wires to record a shot. The guy i sold it too, put a bullet into the screen, first shot.

 

[groundsclown]

Ordered a pro chrono digital last week & took it to the range this morning for a shake down. (and yes, it came back in 1 piece)
No major surprises in my fps of my reloads.
My cast 38's dewc ran about 940...a little higher than what I guessed (gp100 6")

GP100 with mag loads gave me a few read errors.
LCR using 38+P's gave a few errors as well.
Both I think were from being to close...muzzle blast

What was surprising is that full power 44 mags read without a hiccup.

All in all I think they're money well spent. I mean how many have 5, 6 or more manuals with all the free published load data online but won't get off of $89-$119 for a tool to verify their loads....Silly

 

[GTS Dean]

I've only recently started using a chrono, after many years of careful handloading of quite a few calibers. As a general rule, all of my rifle loads were a good bit below the published specs (5% or more low), most likely owing to shorter barrel lengths than tables indicated. I found that my .44 magnum handgun loads are reasonably close to book numbers, because most data is based on 7.5" revolvers.

Your mileage may vary. Be careful.

 

[1SOW]

re pistols: Competitors with load speed restrictions/requirements need one.
Loaders looking for S.D. bullet speeds find chronos a tremendous help.
Loaders who like to tune their pistols for range use also get benefits from a chrono.

I just did some preliminary work-up for my first S.D. load in a short bbl pistol. It would have been sheer guess-work without a chrono.

To make them go bang is easy. To make them go bang and get specific speeds for function makes a chrono a great tool for the price of a small order of bullets.

JMO

 

[hdbiker]

I'm forever playing with differant bullets,powders and primers with my rifles and pistios. I'd be lost without my Beta Modle Shooting Chroney.Bought about 12 years ago at Cabelas for 129.00.biker

 

[joed]

I use a Chronograph to verify velocities every time I change any component.
Roger

You are the reason I have a chrony. I want to know what happens when I change components like a new lot of powder or a different brand of primer. It's been an eye opener in many respects.

I've found in most cartridges the best accuracy comes in near the max loading. Also know what happens as the barrel fouls or how hot and cold days effect performance.

Yes, it may be a pain to set up but it has provided me with a wealth of information.

 

[MachIVshooter]

You have no idea what your loads are doing without one. Doubly so if you're like Clark or, to a lesser extent, me, and push the envelope.

If where your bullet is going to land matters to you, you need to know how fast it's going.

 

[Hondo 60]

How many of you use chronographs to check your reloads?

Me!
I have a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital Chronograph

(I wanted to answer just "Me", but I got an error message, saying my message was too short)

 

[Ky Larry]

I don't shoot pistol matches so I couldn't care less what the velocity of my loads are. I load for accuracy, not speed. I stay below max listed loads. Someone stated earlier that you have to know how fast your bullet is going to know where they will hit. I disagree. I have a different method of knowing bullet drop at different ranges. I set up targets and shoot them. JMO.

 

[Eb1]

I do.

 

[Waywatcher]

I just started using one. It is wondrous.

With it I have discovered how consistent my different loads are, and have tried different loads accordingly. I have found some powders to be position sensitive, some more resilient. I've found with 2400 powder in .357 Mag sometimes going up 0.5 grain of powder cuts the ES by more than half!