My chronograph

[Gm weatherby man]

It has taught me lots, kept me from blowing my head off, and help me pick more loads as well as see what the big bullet company's were passing out for fps. I has changed the way I look at things in the past 10 years. Hot about you? :idea:

 

[Oldtrader3]

No real surprises with my chronograph except for the .280 Remington. However, I had already clocked these "maximum" 140 grain Ballistic Tip handloads a few years ago and knew that they were 200 fps below the loading manual's data, at least in my rifle. Based on case capacity and sectional density, I already knew from extrapolating data for the .270 Winchester and the .30-06 cases what maximum load range in grains, was for this 140 gr bullet based on the 130 gr, .277 bullet. Basing this on the 165 gr, .308 bullets which have the same SD of approximately .247, extrapolated to the 140 grain .284 bullet in the .280 Rem. This told me that the factories are loading the .280 Rem really at low pressures and about 3 grains of IMR4350 below maximum, probably because it was introduced in the Remington 740 rifle.

All of my other calibers came out about where I expected for the loads that I have been using for many years (in some cases over 45 years) of using these loads in several rifles. This in no way minimises the chronograph data, it just confirms what I already had learned, loaded and worked up to years ago, plus many years of hunting with these calibers.

The only really new caliber that I own is the .338 Federal and it runs pretty close to the compiled data in the reloading manuals, give or take a grain of powder. Plus it is a relatively small case for the caliber diameter which makes it somewhat predictable. This is a good thing actually, as an engineer, I am not very accepting of complete "surprises" in reloading.

 

[SJB358]

Love the chronograph. One of the pieces of equipment I would not wanna do load work without. Scotty

 

[aka Hunter]

Shooting and reloading is much more enjoyable because of my speed-o-meter -- in fact, I probably wouldn't shoot as much without it. Based on the readings I've gotten (which include some very disappointing results with factory ammo), I question the MVs tossed about by many shooters who don't use a SOM.

 

[DrMike]

Without a chronograph, you are guessing at that is happening in your loads. Whilst you may be able to say that you are not seriously over pressure, and while you may have an accurate load, important details will always be left to your imagination. The absence of a chronograph may account for some of the wild stories I read on various forums.

 

[Gm weatherby man]

Example for me lately was had loaded some 125 bt with a mid charge of h414 according to the nosler manual. It kicked lick a mule, getting 3100 fps, and shown signs of pressure on case. Funny thing is it was my first 1 hole group of three shots I ever got. I've also had high pressure signs in a few other guns a bottom weight charge, so I threw that powder out. :?