Just bought a chronograph....So now what

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tbooker

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Not sure if this is the right forum for this or not but here it goes

I just bought a chronograph as everyone seems to say that it will improve my reloading/accuracy. I know the basic principal of a chrono is to measure an objects speed. My question is how does one use one to better the ammo one produces. Now please be gentle with me as I am relatively new to the reloading thing and definitely new to the chrono thing.
 
Measure the speed of a few handloads and see how consistent they are, it should tell you if accuracy was undermined by variance in speed or there's another factor you need to be looking at(bullet weight/seating depth etc.). BTW I'm no expert either, but this is what I would do first.
 
Just be carefull not to shoot it...........................I know guys that are on their 3rd one ...................................Harold
 
First thing to do is put a bullet right through the parts that count. Apparently there are 2 types of Chrono owners, those who have shot theirs and those who have yet to. I am of the latter camp (does a nick on the upright count that may or may not be mine? :D)

Might as well get it over early, it will be less worrisome later.

tbooker said:
My question is how does one use one to better the ammo one produces.
Click to expand...

Theory is that rounds that fall close together in velocity (10-15 fps Extreme Spread for match rounds) will group together tighter since they should be spending the same time in the barrel thus exiting the barrel at the same point during it's vibration or "whip".

This holds more true at longer ranges that the elevation spread will be less with lower SD.

ES = Extreme Spread
Highest velocity minus lowest velocity for the string fired over the screens.


SD = Standard Deviation
The standard deviation is a number that describes uniformity. The smaller the number, the more uniform velocity. A standard deviation of zero means every velocity was the same. A standard deviation of 29 fps means you expect two-thirds of the individual velocities to be within 28 fps of the average.
 
I think the mistake that is made is forgetting that up close the barrel being beneath the sights, it may appear that you are aiming for air, but the projectile will be beneath the point of aim.

Congrats on the purchase. You can figure out if you are continuing to gaining speed as you work up a load, how fast its going, and whether the loads are consistent in velocity. All I've done with mine is establish the velocity. I let the paper targets tell me if the load is consistent. I guess with the chronograph you can see if the problem is inconsistent velocity and not another problem.
 
tbooker said:
Not sure if this is the right forum for this or not but here it goes

I just bought a chronograph as everyone seems to say that it will improve my reloading/accuracy. I know the basic principal of a chrono is to measure an objects speed. My question is how does one use one to better the ammo one produces. Now please be gentle with me as I am relatively new to the reloading thing and definitely new to the chrono thing.
Click to expand...

Mind if I ask where you bought it and what they are worth?

Jim
 
Look up "ladder testing" I find is saves me from chucking expensive bullets down range. Chrony helps because it could tell you if increasing your powder gives you actual FPS gain and to avoid "KABOOM!"

Also once you average your muzzle vel. you could enter the information into a ballistics calculator to get a better chart of your bullet's flight.

Cheers.
 
I bought it from Shootin Chrony web site. I paid $236.46 all in to my door. This was for a Gamma Master, the one that has the remote display as well as the printer. They have other models that are cheaper.
 
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