Chronograph?? Is it necessary

Mudduck

Mudduck

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Okay - So now Ive started reloading but from what Im reading it seems without a Chronograph Im somewhat limited to really know what my loads are doing. Yes or no - how important is it for target shooting?
If you do believe it is a necessary piece of equipment what is the best bang for the buck and who usually has good prices on them?

As always, thanks for taking the time to share your experience and wisdom
 
A chronograph is one of the cheapest ways of getting factual information about what your loads are actually doing. As such, I think a chronograph is an essential tool for my load development. It is also a really interesting way to deal with the B.S. that some people who have never used one believe about their rifle/loads. Facts are always fun and useful.

I think there are many chronographs that will do an adequate job for the average loader. Modern technology makes them pretty reliable, and I don't know of one that won't give you the high, low, average, extreme spread, and standard deviation of a string of rounds. Printing might be nice, but I just take a notebook when I use my older non-printing model. Make sure you can get replacement "sensors" and sky screens because, sooner or later, someone will shoot them.
 
Yes. I had no idea what my loads were doing before I got one. It told me my rifle has a tight chamber and I can get max velocity from relatively low charge weights.

I bought a chrony beta master (that way I wouldn't have to strain my ageing eyes looking for the display) and the only time I get errors is when I have someone on the bench beside me fire with a magnum (the benches are close at my range).

Some say pay more for a better one but it works well enough for me. Maybe one day when I'm not paying child support I'll upgrade but I haven't seen the need yet.
 
Yes and no. If you are creating minute of moose loads that are not at the upper end of published data, you can probably get by without one. But if you are after accuracy, the benefits are tremendous as it is really the only way to really prove to yourself how consistent your ammo is. I don't run every single round I shoot over the chronograph, but once past the initial load development and into the tweaking stage i certainly do.

After you get one, you will wonder why you didn't get one sooner.
 
Before I bought one I was saying, why do I need one ?? Now that I reload for 10 different calibers, HELL YES , is the answer. You can read peoples loads online, for their guns and see what they say they are getting , but is it true info ? I took multiple loads based on the same gun, same barrel length, matched all the brass, weighed the bullets, powder weighed every round and none of my loads were close to the listed load data. Every gun is different, every place you shoot, due to weather, elevation and the such is different. You will only be guessing what your loads are doing, just like I was. Buying a chrony was a super investment and it should be in every handloaders equipment list, because it tells you the truth ! Some handloaders don't run a chrony, as they are happy with how their rounds are shooting and grouping, but there is still the unkown. How fast, what the bullet drop will be over a marked distance. Unless you run a chrony and know exactly what your rounds are doing, again, your guessing. I would rather know, tired of guessing .
 
I have found a chronograph is more useful for shooting than reloading.
You can develop loads for accuracy and find max pressure loads without a chronograph.
Where I find the chronograph comes into use is:
1 - determining shot to shot consistency, however this will also show up in long range accuracy as vertical dispersion at a set range.
2 - determining velocity for ballistics, however this can also be determined by plugging in bullet drops at different ranges using a ballistic program like JBM.

So while it is not necessary I have found it can speed up a reloading program and save $$ on components.

Dan
 
rral22 said:
A chronograph is one of the cheapest ways of getting factual information about what your loads are actually doing. As such, I think a chronograph is an essential tool for my load development. It is also a really interesting way to deal with the B.S. that some people who have never used one believe about their rifle/loads. Facts are always fun and useful.

I think there are many chronographs that will do an adequate job for the average loader. Modern technology makes them pretty reliable, and I don't know of one that won't give you the high, low, average, extreme spread, and standard deviation of a string of rounds. Printing might be nice, but I just take a notebook when I use my older non-printing model. Make sure you can get replacement "sensors" and sky screens because, sooner or later, someone will shoot them.
Click to expand...

This, above.

Useful tool.

Not a requirement by any means, but a useful tool, if you wish to get serious and also if you wish to try to push the performance levels up into the top end of the range.

All 'need' has to be based on YOUR usage!

Beyond some very basic stuff, you don't 'need' very much equipment to reload, after you buy your components (powder, primers, etc.). Some stuff (a press, dies, bench) makes life easier, some stuff improves consistency (scale, caliper for measuring) but you don't 'need' them, just to reload. You will want them, if you are reloading for accuracy or max performance, though.

Yeah. Need is pretty much relative to purpose.

You CAN calculate your performance, using such info as the Bc of the bullet, and the drop at different ranges with the same sight settings (lotsa math, and no, I can't giv you the formula either :D ), or simply shoot it and learn the trajectory by doing so, but a Chrony is easier.

Cheers
Trev
 
joe-nwt said:
Yes and no. If you are creating minute of moose loads that are not at the upper end of published data, you can probably get by without one. But if you are after accuracy, the benefits are tremendous as it is really the only way to really prove to yourself how consistent your ammo is. I don't run every single round I shoot over the chronograph, but once past the initial load development and into the tweaking stage i certainly do.

After you get one, you will wonder why you didn't get one sooner.
Click to expand...

Minute of moose load, yeah. That's where I was before I chrono'd my loads. I have to admit I'm into tech so I have "Shooter" on my phone and tablet and I'm constantly inputting different bullet and wind velocities. I know what my loads do. That said, when I'm sitting in my blind (same one I've been sitting in for 30 years and my dad for over 50) I have a pretty good idea where to place my shot at any yardage Mr. Critter might show up.
 
A usefull tool but not totally necessary. Does help depends on what you are trying to acheive. Even the cheap chrony (the one I have) is a good one. It's like everything once you start using it logging wind and temp you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Leroy
 
I also use my chrony to test my bows with different arrows. It just gives you one more step of info. Some don't care, I love it, wouldn't do without it, and hell it's cheap !
 
It is a must, when you get very close to the perfect rolled one the# of standard deviation and extreme spread will confirm that you are there, a # of 3 of SD and under 10 of ES will tell you yep i've got it... If you want one any brand will make the job, my advice to you if you have the mean, go for a Oehler, great fullproof, exact tool... JP.
 
I eventually use them on most of my reloads, but to be perfectly honest, I tend to use them more for creating the basis for a drop chart. I think it is better to judge the results in terms of accuracy regardless of what the chrnoy says. ES and velocity are really superfluous if the results are acceptable. Besides, I have a hard time placing lots of faith in their shot-to-shot accuracy.
 
To shoot tiny group at 300 metres, the SD and ES have to be insainly low, your part is done for the round, wind, shooter attitude and anything out of your control will change the result, never had a great load and great results with high #... except velocity and ogive weight... JP.
 
If chronograph says I have a good load, and the long range target says I don't then I'm believeing the target.

If the chronograph and ballistic program predict that the drop will be X, and the tape measure says its Y guess which one I'm going with?
 
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