Thread: Chronograph advice

Looking at the replies, I should have mentioned another couple of things up front.

I have a self-imposed limit of 300y because the 243 shoots pretty flat to there and I'm concerned about effectiveness at longer ranges. And my shooting ability.

As I'm planning on shooting pretty flat I want a chrony for gauging pressure not so much for drop charts. I am a beginner reloader and am not confident at recognising pressure signs, I would feel more confident using a chrony I think.

Finally we're lucky to have the 110y RRGC range here in Palmy but I don't have access to a longer range. The good thing about the RRGC range is that it is covered and pretty consistent light (shade) so hopefully that will mitigate some of the issues with light effecting the chrony.

Again apologies if I'm a bit slow I'm just trying to learn how to reload and am still at the theory stage not had a go yet.

Originally Posted by Moutere

A cheap chrono will most likely give you average data anyway.

I was planning on shooting 3 shot groups and averaging the velocity is that what you mean?

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

ok I will say it.....
you using a .243 good on you.

so you are going to be shooting out to?????300-400 yards...... so what use is chronicgraph information to you???? you arent going to be likely shooting far enough to need to dial up so you arent going to need velocity to last 10fps

if you sight in 3" high at hundy...going to be point and shoot out to somewhere around 250 and spine hold at 300.... its only going to take a couple of rounds to verify your drops...which you will do anyway after using chronograph.

near enough is good enough for ballistic chart to give you your drops give or take an inch.....
but Im a bush hobbit who doesnt shoot past 350 so what would I know...

You're dead right, as I should have said at the beginning I don't want it so much for drop charts, more for gauging pressure.

Originally Posted by dannyb

Also knowing your velocity will give you a good idea on if your close to max pressure especially if you aren't seeing typical pressure signs or are too inexperienced to identify them.

This is exactly what I want one for.

Originally Posted by Grasshoppa

https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-7200.../dp/B00HTN5DTE

cheeeeeeeep

That is cheap. Will probably go with that if I go ahead.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings All,
My chronograph is an Oehler 35P that was bought in 1991. It was expensive but I won't need another one. I run a 4 foot screen spacing wihch gives consistent results and the three screens measure velocity twice to alert you to a dud reading. It is still sensitive to light conditions so I pick my days for chronographing, bright overcast being the best. Two of the most important uses for it is validating load data and estimating pressure. If you are getting close to max velocity from the load data then your pressure is likely to be close to max as well.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by dannyb

^^^^^^this^^^^^^^
I like a lot of others when I first started reloading thought I was doing great things because I could get better Velocities than book max without getting pressure signs, In reality in some cases I was flirting with disaster as velocity is a very good indication of pressure and a sign often overlooked.
just cause you don't get a sticky bolt or ejector stamp doesn't mean you aren't close to or over pressure.

Sums it up well.