Do I need a chronograph?

[BoomFlop]

So I am a new Reloader. Started in January. Feel pretty confident in my process and have been seeing great results.

I love shooting tiny little groups! I do not currently shoot long long range, I am wanting to develop loads that are as small and consistent as I can. I only really have availability to a 100 yard range, which sucks.

So, my question is do I purchase a Magnetospeed Sporter for Data and to check load consistency or not? Will it save on components?

Pros, cons and opinions?

Thanks everyone for always being helpful!

Steve

 

[GLTaylor]

Chronos are most useful for showing you velocity nodes. Low ES and SD is not critical for short range shooting up to 3-400 yds. Nice? Yes. Critical? No. Your rifle will tell you the same thing.

You can shoot bugholes with pretty dramatic ES/SDs.

If you one day wish to or can shoot 500, 600 or beyond then a chronograph is very helpful. JMO

 

[BoomFlop]

Do you do load development based on group sizes and the check velocity? Do you fire 1 or 2 rounds at each charge weight to find velocity flat spots and do seating to tighten groups?

Thanks
Steve

 

[GLTaylor]

I usually shoot 3 shot groups to find a promising powder load. I go up in 0.5gr increments. When something looks good I retest at 0.2gr increments above and below. Once done, final is seating depth if I don't like the shape of the group. Last is speed to develop my drop chart.

 

[LVJ76]

Hi Steve:

I have used them twice and did not find much benefit from them, except getting SD and ED, which was sometimes good but the group was not.

My process is the same as @GLTaylor , except I use ballistics apps to determine the muzzle velocity of my loads.

The times I used chronos I got the same info I did with the apps as far as velocities, so really no need for them.

Using this method has worked for me out to 700 yds so far, haven't tried it further yet.

Stay safe bud

 

[BoomFlop]

You guys might end up saving me $190!

LOL

Steve

 

[Deleted member 115654]

Everyone needs one. They cost less than a crappy Chinese scope.

 

[fmuguira]

Need, No. A useful tool, absolutely!

 

[P7M13]

As stated by @fmuguira , not needed but very useful and certainly not essential.
There are those who may scold you that a chronograph is essential to determine if you are overpressure on your rounds. I have two, a magnospeed and chrony beta and have used them a dozen times in eight years.
Knowing my MV is useful for dope cards, but more often than not, I'll determine that stuff empirically.

Edit to add: I like knowing what velocities I get out of my loads, but have found the most accurate are seldom the fastest, and have read other shooter's claims of 3000 FPS out of a 28" tube, 338 Lapua with 90gr of Retumbo under a Berger 300OTM, and the best I'll see is 2800 at 94gr. Do I think I'm doing anything wrong? Nah, my bullets are touching at 300 yards.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Another thing a chrono is handy for is if you change lot # of powder (for example) and you're load recipe isn't shooting as well now. It's likely due to the velocity being different causing the load to be out of the "sweet spot". You can use the chrono to understand if you need to add powder or reduce powder.

 

[corsair4360]

As stated by @fmuguira , not needed but very useful and certainly not essential.
There are those who may scold you that a chronograph is essential to determine if you are overpressure on your rounds. I have two, a magnospeed and chrony beta and have used them a dozen times in eight years.
Knowing my MV is useful for dope cards, but more often than not, I'll determine that stuff empirically.

Edit to add: I like knowing what velocities I get out of my loads, but have found the most accurate are seldom the fastest, and have read other shooter's claims of 3000 FPS out of a 28" tube, 338 Lapua with 90gr of Retumbo under a Berger 300OTM, and the best I'll see is 2800 at 94gr. Do I think I'm doing anything wrong? Nah, my bullets are touching at 300 yards.

I agree with your comment "but have found the most accurate are seldom the fastest," My reloads are always the most accurate I can develop, then I get velocity to know the trajectory.

 

[LVJ76]

Agreed, fast isn't always accurate and in my case they hardly ever go together. 100 fps more don't matter if you can't hit what you are shooting at.

 

[1894C]

I am baffled by the lack of chronograph usage from this post. In my mind the chrono is essential to this process of long range hunting and shooting. I will not waste my time shooting 700 yard groups with a 50 FPS ES load. If you wanna shoot beach balls in the wind that's fine. When you want to shoot softballs in the wind, you need a low ES. Hard to find that if you don't have a chrono.

Plus terminal velocity kills.

 

[GLTaylor]

The original question was in reference to short to mid range shot distances.