I bought one as more of a confidence booster to tell me what my loads were at. I didn't have any issues shooting 1/2 moa at 900 yards without one. I was extremely close on my estimates of fps. I most certainly let the rifle tell me what it liked and not what I wanted it to do. I did this process with three rifles and once I was confident on the loads, I then checked it behind the chrono. This worked for me but your mileage may vary.
Do I need a chronograph?
- Thread starter BoomFlop
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I've got a cheap prochrono. It needs light to work good and doesn't work sometimes in the shade. I done alot of load development with out a chronograph. They are nice to have but can sometimes be a hinderence if you are too focused on reading it. I start watching the Chrono after my groups start looking good. I use it to find what velocities nodes potentially there and which ones that are going to be the most beneficial to capitalize on. It is a helpful tool but I done alot of load development with out one. I get by just fine with the one I have. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about getting one until you have the extra cash to get one. And don't let it frustrate you when you do get one.
Buster Hemlock
Well-Known Member
Is it essential? No, definitely not at short range, ask short range BR shooters who load at the range based on what they are seeing in their groups. However, I believe it's essential for my type of shooting. The amount of data you can gather from a good chrono out ways it's cost in components when shooting longer distances. I've shot lots of bug hole groups at 100 yards that have over 100 FPS ES and the same load looks like shotgun patterns at 300 yards. A chronograph is essential for me. Also trusting book numbers are accurate for powder charge and velocity can get you into trouble with either over pressure rounds for your rifle or more often than not under and less velocity. Most test barrels for pressure testing are minimum spec and produce higher pressure and velocity than factory rifles.
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Hi Steve
Once you have a chrono you will never go back. I would sell a gun before I sold my LabRadar. It tells the truth about velocity. It makes working up a load so much easier and saves so much in components to pay for its self. While testing or working up loads I chrono every shot. That and what temp it is gives you a lot of valuable info about your load. Velocity high then pressure is high. You will be a better hand loader in the end with a chrono. With the cost and availability of components today I would recommend a chronograph for any serious reloader.
Henry
Once you have a chrono you will never go back. I would sell a gun before I sold my LabRadar. It tells the truth about velocity. It makes working up a load so much easier and saves so much in components to pay for its self. While testing or working up loads I chrono every shot. That and what temp it is gives you a lot of valuable info about your load. Velocity high then pressure is high. You will be a better hand loader in the end with a chrono. With the cost and availability of components today I would recommend a chronograph for any serious reloader.
Henry
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- Jan 26, 2015
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They are a wonderful investment. Just understand that your choice (Magnetospeed) will change your poi unless you use a weiser(?) mount or similar.
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
Anyone that reloads and likes extreme accuracy (Little Bug Holes) needs a chronograph !!
The reason a chronograph is needed, Is the chronograph is unbiased and doesn't know when you are having a bad day. Everyone has there own way of using a chronograph while load testing, and here is mine.
First I select the bullet style and weight I would like to use based on the barrel twist.
Second, I look at load data that has powder charges that are near maximum pressure and near 100 % case density. Then I load in the middle of the powder charges listed using the same primer listed.
Now I am ready the test using the chronograph. I don't worry about the accuracy at this point because I am looking for a stable/consistent load velocity. The lower the SD's the
the better more the components are compatible with each other.
Once I find a low SD load (Consistent combination) I can then change one component or measurement (like bullet seating,) at a time. I like and use the magneto speed because I start looking for the best Load first and then If I think it may effect the accuracy I will take it off. Most of my rifles have heavier contours and the Magneto speed has little if any effect on the barrel and the accuracy because of it's weight (Ounces).
This process of looking for one thing at a time has reduced the number of rounds needed to arrive at an accurate load to less than half, and normally Will take less than 25 test loads.
I also have a Oehler 35P to chronograph while checking or zeroing point of aim and giving velocities at the same time if needed.
By using a chronograph for load development, It is not a hit and miss operation and It tells you the effect of any change you make, with out the human factor.
J E CUSTOM
rammac
Well-Known Member
Handloading ammunition is detail oriented. If you choose to ignore detailed information about velocity, which follows pressures, then eventually you'll have bad things happen.
If you ignore the details you can falsely believe that using the amount of powder recommended in a reloading manual will be safe and produce the same results with your case/bullet/primer, and I'm sure that most beginners and lots of old hands at reloading think that way. And most of the time you will be safe, you wont necessarily get the same results but you wont cause damage to anything either.
Unfortunately, there are combinations of components, while using a book recommended powder charge, that will create unsafe conditions and if you don't use a chronograph you'll never know it. Most often visual signs of pressure in a cartridge don't really show up until you've exceeded SAAMI and CIP max pressures. Very often semi-hard or hard brass (hardened from resizing) wont show any signs of damage until pressures reach somewhere around 70,000 PSI. If you use a chronograph and you see velocities that are above what is expected then it's a pretty good bet that the pressures are higher than what you expect too.
If you only use powders and components recommended in the reloading manual, and you never exceed their powder charge recommendations, most often you will have no problems, but, it is possible to use a powder lot that produces unexpectedly high pressures (that's why they recall powders from time to time) but without checking the velocities you wouldn't know that.
So yes, I feel that a chronograph is necessary. Without one, you aren't able to monitor possible unsafe pressure issues.
If you ignore the details you can falsely believe that using the amount of powder recommended in a reloading manual will be safe and produce the same results with your case/bullet/primer, and I'm sure that most beginners and lots of old hands at reloading think that way. And most of the time you will be safe, you wont necessarily get the same results but you wont cause damage to anything either.
Unfortunately, there are combinations of components, while using a book recommended powder charge, that will create unsafe conditions and if you don't use a chronograph you'll never know it. Most often visual signs of pressure in a cartridge don't really show up until you've exceeded SAAMI and CIP max pressures. Very often semi-hard or hard brass (hardened from resizing) wont show any signs of damage until pressures reach somewhere around 70,000 PSI. If you use a chronograph and you see velocities that are above what is expected then it's a pretty good bet that the pressures are higher than what you expect too.
If you only use powders and components recommended in the reloading manual, and you never exceed their powder charge recommendations, most often you will have no problems, but, it is possible to use a powder lot that produces unexpectedly high pressures (that's why they recall powders from time to time) but without checking the velocities you wouldn't know that.
So yes, I feel that a chronograph is necessary. Without one, you aren't able to monitor possible unsafe pressure issues.
rammac
Well-Known Member
Sorry, J.E., you posted while I was typing. We seem to be saying similar things and I didn't mean to steal your thunder.
I say yes. How do you dial dope if you don't know velocity? How do you validate your reloading process and changes in lots of powder or primers? They aren't that expensive but one of the major tools in quality reloading for accuracy and repeatability. If you don't want to spend the $ on a chrono, why would you want to spend money on all the other reloading gear and components, not to mention the time involved in the whole process. It would have been better/cheaper to just buy cases of ammo from a quality manufacturer.
The more you become involved the likelihood you'll want one will grow. Just bight the bullet and get the Magnettospeed. I have one and it's a great and useful tool. Very easy to set up also.
tnek13
Well-Known Member
Get one you will find the usefulness rewarding it may take a while to understand but you will
esshup
Well-Known Member
Another yes vote here. Precision shooting is about consistency, and without a chrono you don't know if your fps is consistent shot to shot. Also, there is a thing called temp sensitivity with some powders. For instance, how would you know the powder you are shooting has a 2 moa drop when there is a 40°F drop in ambient temperature? I had that happen to me.....
D
Deleted member 115654
Guest
Th level of denial is amazing. NO handloading book, NO list of suggested loads and NO article is written w/o the use of a chronograph. How anyone thinks they can develop consistent, accurate long range loads w/o a chronograph escapes me.
dls guide
Well-Known Member
If you are into reloading , then you should buy one.......
