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Posted: 11/25/2016 8:22:09 AM EDT
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After reloading for a few years now I decided to go ahead and pick up a chrono. Did some research and settled on the Competition Electronics ProChrono and took it out today, Turkey day, to try out some loads I've developed.
For the most part my numbers were what I expected, a couple were lower than I'd like but it was also in the high 40s during testing. Hoping summer velocities will be higher. Some of these are 5 round averages, some 10. Shot at 10ft. Test guns: 16" nitride 300blk 16" nitride 5.56 LCP G19 S&W 64-3 3" 
.380 90gr Gold Dot/3gr Bullseye Lo:708 Hi:783 Avg:751 9mm 115gr Berrys RN/6.4 True Blue Lo:1098 Hi:1150 Avg:1123 115gr XTP/5.8gr Unique Lo:1118 Hi: 1230 Avg: 1183 Federal 9BPLE +P+ Lo:1277 Hi:1298 Avg:1284 115gr Gold Dot (factory) Lo: 1177 Hi:1214 Avg:1197 124gr Gold Dot/5.9gr True Blue Lo:1015 Hi:1064 Avg: 1038 124gr Gold Dot/6.2gr True Blue Lo: 1121 Hi:1165 Avg:1139 124gr Gold Dot/6.3gr HS-6 Lo:978 Hi:1094 Avg: 1055 124gr Gold Dot/6.6gr HS-6 Lo:1081 Hi:1128 Avg:1104 147gr HST (factory) Lo:964 Hi: 978 Avg: 974 .38spl 158gr LHP +P Remington Lo:832 Hi:861 Avg: 849 .223/5.56 55gr Federal .223 Walmart Green box (new product, $6.44/20) Lo:2849 Hi:2949 Avg: 2894 55gr LC XM193 Lo:3115 Hi:3167 Avg: 3136 55gr Hornady SP .223 (factory) Lo: 2812 Hi: 2873 Avg: 2840 55gr Hornady SP/25gr H335 Lo:2849 Hi:2886 Avg: 2868 62gr LC M855 Lo:2879 Hi:2911 Avg: 2899 62gr Fusion/26.2gr CFE223 Lo: 2656 Hi:2693 Avg:2670 65gr Gameking/24.5gr TAC Lo: 2661 Hi:2754 Avg: 2719 69gr ADI SMK (factory) Lo: 2530 Hi:2569 Avg: 2544 75gr Hornady BTHP/24gr TAC Lo:2549 Hi:2588 Avg:2567 .300 blackout 110gr Vmax/19.5gr H110 Lo:2275 Hi:2347 Avg: 2319 120gr Remington UMC OTFB (factory, Barnes headstamp) Lo:2023 Hi:2073 Avg: 2045 125gr Sierra TMK/17.8gr H110 Lo: 2116 Hi: 2133 Avg: 2122 147gr M80 pull/14.5gr Lil' Gun Lo:1799 Hi:1907 Avg: 1864 I will be updating this thread as I continue to refine and test my loads. I have large quantities of the loads tested today set back in storage already. Not happy with the .380 Gold Dot speed...going to pull those. The 120gr OTFB was also disappointing. I would love for others to post up their data as well. Again, I'm new to reloading relatively so any suggestions to tighten up the variation on velocity is welcome. That said, I'm not a precision shooter nor do I own any precision rigs. These handloads group 2-2.5 for me (Fusion, BTHP, SGK) which to me is perfectly acceptable for defense or putting meat on the table and that is the sole intent of my ammo. I'm using the most basic of tools to accomplish my loading, a Lee classic kit. I'm going to be adding other barrel lengths in as well as time goes on. 10" 300blk, 14.5" 5.56 etc. Big thanks to my lovely girlfriend for helping me record and compile the data on Thanksgiving. *no chronographs were harmed during the making of this post* |
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Nice!
Using 223 as an example, I sometimes see velocity swings of 100fps from summer (100*+) to winter temps. It'll be interesting to see how they run six months from now. Maybe not necessary for everyone, but I think a chronograph is a great tool. It provides hard-number data, which is huge for those of us chasing that 'last little bit' |
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For me, the most important data during load development is the group size and drop.
I do chronograph everything but it is of secondary importance for me. If I had to give up one or the other, the chrono would go. From my chrono data I calculate mean, standard deviation and extreme spread. Based on that info, I calculate coefficient of variation = standard deviation / mean value. I have always been close with rifle data. Pistol loads, if I want to match handbook data, have to be worked up. |
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Quoted:
For me, the most important data during load development is the group size and drop. I do chronograph everything but it is of secondary importance for me. If I had to give up one or the other, the chrono would go. From my chrono data I calculate mean, standard deviation and extreme spread. Based on that info, I calculate coefficient of variation = standard deviation / mean value. I have always been close with rifle data. Pistol loads, if I want to match handbook data, have to be worked up. Definitely agree about the group size. In addition to that though since the intended destination of these bullets is ultimately flesh I feel obligated to research their expansion threshold and make sure they will operate as intended and what ranges they will be effective to. Sounds crazy to some but I'll take my 2moa 75gr OTM at 2600 over the same bullet at .2moa and 2100fps. I want it to do what I bought it to do which means MV. I just don't expect much more than 2moa from my rack grade barrels, backpack rest and my shooting ability. I think a better shooter and better barrel could shoot mine a bit better than I do. The best barrel I have is a BCM 14.5" standard CL and that's not exactly match grade. I was very pleased to see my 62 fusion load was very similar MV to 64gr Gold Dot (per Molon), my 75gr T1C OTM was extremely close to .223 TAP FPD 75gr and my 55gr SP load was practically identical to the factory version. I'm using a Lee perfect powder measure, no trickling etc so I'm happy so far. Still a lot to learn but I'm loving reloading. Getting lots of range time in these past 2 years. |
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Quoted:
Nice! Using 223 as an example, I sometimes see velocity swings of 100fps from summer (100*+) to winter temps. It'll be interesting to see how they run six months from now. Maybe not necessary for everyone, but I think a chronograph is a great tool. It provides hard-number data, which is huge for those of us chasing that 'last little bit' Agreed. These loads were worked up in summer so I know no pressure issues but it will be very interesting what the chrono says. I'm also interested if my 16" CL FN barrel will give different velocity vs a nitride 16". I need to chrono these loads in a 14.5" while it's still cold so I can do a winter vs summer/ 14.5CL vs. 16CL and compare velocity. Either way I consider the AR a 200-300m weapon so these speeds should do very nicely at those ranges all year long. |
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