5point9straight6
Regular
- Location
- Deep River
If so, how good does it work? Are you happy with it?
Does anyone use PressureTraceII equipment to measure chamber pressure?
- Thread starter 5point9straight6
- Start date
I wouldnt waste time or money..taped on/glued on strain gauge?..just follow reloading manual and use chrony.....watch for pressure signs...sticky extraction, ejector marks, loose primer pockets, excessive velocity, extremely flattened primers, measure case head expansion with micrometer.
I would opt for quick load software instead.
I would opt for quick load software instead.
I have pressure trace from RSI, it's VERY accurate
If you enter the data precisely.
It will even pick up the pressure "flutter" as the bullet passes
Through a muzzle brake.
Its not worth it unless you want to do allot of wildcating and
even then???
If you enter the data precisely.
It will even pick up the pressure "flutter" as the bullet passes
Through a muzzle brake.
Its not worth it unless you want to do allot of wildcating and
even then???
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
You have a problem with cutting edge technology? Because that's what cyanoacrylate bonded strain gauges with digital DAQ systems represent. I've used them industrially, and if I had a couple thousand dollars I didn't need I would probably build my own system. No question in my mind it would better than all the unreliable witchcraft methods you mention for knowing how much you are stressing the gun.
Thats WHY I use a manual, chronograph, and pressure signs.
Pressure Trace has been widely discussed , does it work?....yes.....is it neccesary to use it to safely reload a standard cartridge in a modern rifle action?....No!
If your into wildcatting or
If you using an older rifle or obscure cartridge then by all means go for it.
# #24mehavey
Senior Member#Join Date: June 17, 2010Location: VirginiaPosts: 3,028
Pressure Trace is another data point not unlike a chronograph. Set up correctly & calibrated (within whatever the design error budget is determined to be) it tells you specfic information about what 'is' at a specific moment in time, and under the specific conditions of bullet/case/powder/chamber/barrel. But PSI/Chrono provide simply that -- data points -- and tell you nothing about what things#might#be under different conditions. Internal ballistics programs like QuickLoad provide that theoretical "might be" cabapility to project#future#performance under#different#conditions.#Taken alone, the ubiquitous chronograph provides a single-point of emprical data to confirm/deny/calibrate the theory that is QL. Pressure Trace provides a#second#point of calibration (measurement errors notwithstanding). All three together give me a lot more insight into what's actually going on inside that high-pressure bomb six inches from my face & eyes compared to blindly following 'a manual' -- particularly when the manuals disagree.#And given the discussion here, it also appears the PSI might give additional insight into far beyond simple peak pressures/normal curves. We need to bee careful what we wish for....
Last edited by mehavey; February 15, 2011 at#12:27 PM.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/942440/3
http://www.shootersforum.com/handlo...-you-good-witch-bad-witch-pressure-trace.html
Missing Something
Regular
Pressure trace isn't for everyone. As mentioned, it does work, it does need some knowledge of ballistics and yes it does need to be calibrated to work properly.
I have used mine for doing load data on some older cartridges where there is no "load manual" and Yes I found it to work. Its not that expensive (depending on your definition of expensive
) But when you have "NO" data to work with its a useful tool.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
The question was never if it was necessary, it was if it worked, which you concede, it does.
The quote you provided is a bit enlightening in that he characterizes strain gauge data as "another data point not unlike a chronograph". In fact, the chronograph is the only analogy he can make because it is the only other performance indicator we are able to directly measure. You can measure deformation of case heads, but very few people do, and even so that is only an indirect measurement of pressure. None of our observations of primers, ejector marks, hard extraction etc. can be considered measurements. They are imprecise and often misleading indicators that are subject to much interpretation. And, they can really only tell one thing, that is if your peak pressure may be getting dangerously high. These indicators make a 19th century ballistic pendulum look like a precise tool of modern science in comparison. Watching for "pressure signs" cannot compare to strain gauge data in terms of accuracy, reliability or depth of information.
Chinbullco
Regular
- Location
- NW Alberta
Knowing chamber pressure before exceeding limits is important. I'm guilty of shooting bullets and loads that have no published load data. Pressure trace looks looks like a must have for me. It is much more affordable than the Oehler Shooters Lab system. I would like to see any reviews on this product. This beats the old "Powley Powder Computer and Pressure indicators" cardboard slide rules.
