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Posted: 10/30/2011 7:21:47 PM EDT
| Do I absolutely need a chronograph? or is that just a piece of equipment that is good to have? what do you usually look for when settling with a load? Just proper function, accuracy?....obviously I am completely new to this.. |
| I would say if you don't have any reloading equipment and just starting to reload, then don't worry about the chrony. Definetely a great tool but not necessary. Accuracy and consistancy is what you want when reloading. Also working on the perfect load requires safety. There are lots of books on reloading, do some reading and research before you get started. Just my 2 cents. Good Luck |
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Quoted: Do I absolutely need a chronograph? or is that just a piece of equipment that is good to have? what do you usually look for when settling with a load? Just proper function, accuracy?....obviously I am completely new to this.. been reloading for 20 years still don't have a chronograph, might get one one day |
| For me the search for a load is one that is, "accurate" , or is that one that will hit what I am aiming at. I started working up loads for my Kel-Tec SU-16 by looking at the reloading books and creating "ladders" with different powders, not paying much attention to published velocities as the books are shooting 20 to 24 inch barrels and mine is 16. I found a few loads that work very well with my combination and am thinking it would be "fun" to have the velocity, but can live without it. I personally am looking for the smallest group, at the range that I am shooting at when shooting paper. |
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Been using a Chrony for about 20 years now. FWIW a chony takes all the guess work out of reloading and saves much valuable time and ammo which is even more important.
Sure you don't need one when you're just getting started, but if you want to proceed beyond the amateur level, there is no other way to know what your actual ammo and weapon combination are giving you, performance wise. Don't mean to get anyone's ire up but my chrony is hands down my most valuable piece of reloading equipment! |
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I've been reloading for about 18yrs now, and I only purchased a chronograph two years ago. Knowing exact velocities was never a major concern for me when I was just reloading to plink or for hunting (as the reloading manuals had sample velocities listed for the various charges), now that I am shooting more targets, and just shooting more in general, I've found its nice to know just how much or how little a change of 0.1grain of powder is doing.
All in all, no, you don't need a chronograph when you start out, as a precise scale is far more important IMHO, but if you can get one on sale (thanksgiving, christmas, etc) they are very much worth having. 
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Agree, you don't need one up front.
Testing your ammo at the ranges you expect to shoot and beyond is more important. I have had hundreds of sessions where the best performance at distance wasn't the one with the best velocity statistics. I have multiple chronos and use them when the need comes up, but things don't extrapolate based on the chrono values in terms of finding the best group. It comes in handy when going from for example, sea level 70 degrees and moving to 8000 ft at 20 degrees. Then knowing your average velocity is handy. Having a chrono will come when you are caught up with the other essentials. You will get there in time. |
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Every reloader eventually wants a chronograph. Lots of surprises can be avoided and/or corrected if you have one. My club use to loan their chronograph out to members for one week periods. The waiting list was long and one week doesn't give you a lot of time. I eventually bought one and am glad I did.
Following the bullet manufacturer's guidelines as recorded in their manuals will usually keep you out of trouble. There is a percentage of people, on this forum and elsewhere, that honestly believe that the manuals are written conservatively (or lawyer reveiwed and approved). I am not one of them. Maximum loads as listed can cause issues in some rifles. Exceeding and bullet manufacturer's recommended maximum is unwise. Following this method you should be just fine. |
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It seems the general consensus is that you don't need a chrony. true, BUT.
I have been reloading for about 35 years and the best thing I did was to get a chronograph. You may work up the greatest load in the world, but you will always have that nagging question in the back of your mind, how fast is it? Also by having the velocity you can plug the numbers into a ballistics program for even more info. The cost of a basic chrony has come down to the point that it shouldn't be an issue. |
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I agree with the others, it's nice to have, but not Needed.
I've been reloading for about 17 years now, and I don't have one. However, I do know a couple guys with them, so I borrow it occasionally, especially when working out a load for various ranges, as said, it is so much easier to figure your ballistics when you know the actual velocity of your load in your gun. Otherwise, it's mostly my own curiosity (book values and real values are quite a bit different!) However, all my loads are always under book max, so I'm not too concerned about Hot Loads. |
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Chronograph is the difference between hitting an 18" Target at 600 yards the first shot or not.
I loaded many years without one. How did someone put that ? Loading without a chronograph is like loading in the dark. Don't shoot rifle, you say ? Try pushing 147 grain 9mm 1200 fps without one. The very first load when chronograph was new was 200 grain lswc on top of 5.2 grains Titegroup. I guessed it around 850 fps.....not. 950 fps. Also blew case out of .357 Sig one time. That shit hurts. Had I verified velocity that may have been avoided. Charge weight was within recommended range. Don't think you need a chronograph ? I didn't either. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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