Do I need a chronograph?

[Painless300]

I use a Magneto Speed after load development. The only time I use before is when I run my pressure test and really not looking at accuracy just want a good idea of where my speed is and what my brass and rifle is telling me about pressure. I pull it off after that. Once I find my powder load node I put it back on and check speed, ES and SD's if they are way off I'll fine tune my power load. Repeat for seating depth.
The MS can effect your grouping and POI especially on pencil barrels but if you use it correctly the issues can be negated. Using right now on Proof Carbon Sendero and has very little effect on groups or POI.

 

[Craveman85]

I use one all the time in load development. Not a magnetospeed though. I also use mine for archery stuff so I don't think that one would work. A few of my friends borrow it from time to time. Maybe you can get a few other guys to pitch in on it.

 

[Bob Wright]

It's one of the many measuring tools we use to develop and monitor handloads. Mic's, calipers, scales and chronos. I couldn't have fixed or verified my loading processes without any one of these tools.

 

[freddiej]

Steve,
Chronos are wonderful if you are shooting long range target and would like to see if your load is consistent. if your brass is consistent, and your powder is performing like you want it to.
For hunting applications they are nice to know what your true speed is. so know someone that has one and borrow it once in a while for new loads and such.
for me, a gunsmith, I use a friend's Chrono when I have a perplexing problem with primers failing or piercing or blowing out. sometimes the only pressure sighns are a hole in the primer and I like to know if the load it just too high pressured (too fast for the estimated speed of the load). I had a 308win Rem 700 long range target that no matter what you put in it the primers would blow out and the small piece of the primer would be found in the bolt body along side or in the striker spring. I even loaded minimum loads from my pet loads and they were over pressured. I cast the chamber and it was nearly 0.002" below minimum SAAMI. or said another way; 0.001" over the round in every dimension. A recipe for disaster. I sent it back to Remington and they finished the chamber with another reamer. all problems solved.
you do not need to have a chrono, I would put it on the "it's nice to have" list. I would not put it on the "necessity" list.

 

[Ward Thurman]

You guys might end up saving me $190!

LOL

Steve

Don't fall for the shiny object syndrome - unless you're an OCB data freak. I have thought of getting one just for the fun of generating my own data. But I am an OCB data cruncher.

 

[Deleted member 115374]

For shooting 3-400 yds. certainly not necessary, I prefer a well constructed high b.c. bullet over velocity.

 

[villagelightsmith]

It's not absolutely necessary unless you want to know what's happening with your loads. Without it, you're shooting "blind." It's like trying to check pressures without a micrometer or better, a strain gauge. It allows us one more measurable parameter to puzzle, ponder, and fiddle with; and that is the reason many of us roll our own ammo. They aren't terribly expensive. A used Chrony or a new Caldwell adds a lot of pleasure to our puzzling.

 

[Philward]

I have one I bought used a few(15) years ago, I use it for comparative purposes but don't rely on it for absolute values since it's not calibrated. I don't think any of them are to be honest, aside from the really high end ones. And mine has a 22 cal hole through the front metal above the lightscreen made by the previous owner. I use it with archery equipment and for initial load development.

Really though you have a loading manual and those guys have done the velocity measurements and testing. Adjust for your barrel length and you should be pretty close, at least close enough for what you're doing right now. They are kind of a pain to set up and get lined up unless you use a Magnetospeed.

 

[david g ranes]

Simple question do you like chasing your tail which equates to added expense no you don't have to have one but in the long run it will save you loading expense I positively wish I would of had one from 1977 to today instead of 1995 maybe some of my hair wouldn't have fell out through the years I hope to continue learning this forum is one of the ways I vote yes to you needing one and so does Donald J Trump. David

 

[window licker]

Buy the chronograph! Velocity is about the only veirifiable constant you have to validate firing solutions.

 

[dfrahm]

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.

Can you direct me to how to get consistent velocities, and using the chrono data? Here is from a .243, ten shots and SD

	Standard Deviation of 10 shots
Shot #	FPS	subtract the mean (average)	squared
1​	3610.0​	-6.6​	43.56​
2​	3612.0​	-4.6​	21.16​
3​	3539.0​	-77.6​	6021.76​
4​	3636.0​	19.4​	376.36​
5​	3650.0​	33.4​	1115.56​
6​	3587.0​	-29.6​	876.16​
7​	3566.0​	-50.6​	2560.36​
8​	3633.0​	16.4​	268.96​
9​	3653.0​	36.4​	1324.96​
10​	3680.0​	63.4​	4019.56​
Average	3616.6​		1662.8​
			40.77794​

 

[robpiat]

Can you direct me to how to get consistent velocities, and using the chrono data? Here is from a .243, ten shots and SD

	Standard Deviation of 10 shots
Shot #	FPS	subtract the mean (average)	squared
1​	3610.0​	-6.6​	43.56​
2​	3612.0​	-4.6​	21.16​
3​	3539.0​	-77.6​	6021.76​
4​	3636.0​	19.4​	376.36​
5​	3650.0​	33.4​	1115.56​
6​	3587.0​	-29.6​	876.16​
7​	3566.0​	-50.6​	2560.36​
8​	3633.0​	16.4​	268.96​
9​	3653.0​	36.4​	1324.96​
10​	3680.0​	63.4​	4019.56​
Average	3616.6​		1662.8​
			40.77794​

Those are some crazy numbers.

 

[25WSM]

Well the chrono already helped you. You this load had high sd. You also know which brass caused most of it. I always reshoot a brass that gave a bad speed to see if it repeats. Check your trim lengths too. You have something off a bit here to give this erratic sd. Check your scale too. Make sure there is no breeze or even an ac vent running. Beam scales can stick if they get dust on the agates. What is this load.
Shep

 

[Bill28]

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

Definitely don't buy a crappy scope!