How often do you use your chrono?

[hounddawg]

for me the only purpose of a chrono these days is to get my FPS for scope comeups after load development or to check after a large temperature swing


Myself I only use my chronos at the end of my load development. During load resting the POI of the rounds tells me everything I need. I shoot short range benchrest at 100 and 200 and long range F class out to 850 yards and I could care less what the statistics say. All that matters to me is where those rounds hit. I have yet to find a load that shoots bugholes at 100 yards when developing a load that did not hold up at long range.

 

[tangolima]

I use Chrono, upgraded to labradar, mostly to verify GRT simulation results. Not really care the speed variation either. I also use the trend of POI to find loads for accuracy.

We have been in lean years. I have to use whatever components available for handloading, including powders that have limited load information. GRT (similar to quickload) is very handy. But I need to collect test results to verify / calibrate the model.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Reloadron]

My Chronograph is an older Oehler 35P I use it maybe three times a year if working up a new load or occasionally to see if primers or brass with the same charge make any difference in velocity. That old Oehler was a gift from the wife over 20 years ago and still does the job just fine.

Ron

 

[MarkCO]

You did not give me the choice for my answer...

All phases of load development, charge - seating depth- AND to get the FPS for scope adjustments.

When I go to the range and the rifle has 500+ rounds on it since the last chrono. I will check it. I also chrono some factory and some known reloads out of a new barrel/rifle. When it settles, I know I can then start working on a load for it. Most of the time, just a small tweak from a prior load if in the same caliber.

I also use it to check a rifle out for changes in velocity due to other than perfect fundamentals during practice.

 

[hounddawg]

You did not give me the choice for my answer...

guess I should have had a choice - A heckuva lot !

thought I had that covered with choice 5 lol

 

[Shadow9mm]

You needed a "Other" option for you poll.

I use a Chronograph for the following.
Working up loads
Testing primers
When shooting rifles to re-verify velocity if i'm in a different location, or temps have changed a fair bit.

I have never used a chrono when testing seating depths. One I have my powder charge set I adjust in 0.003 increments, I found it made no difference in my use to velocity, only adjusted when the bullet left the barrel for stable spot in the harmonics.

as far as frequency, I use it pretty regularly, generally every other outing, sometimes more.

 

[std7mag]

I didn't see the option i would have chosen in the poll.

I use mine after i find my powder charge. FPS is, what it will be. Mostly looking at ES/SD.
If they are acceptable to me, then i'll use the velocity to plug into my ballistics calculator, and shoot at distance to true my velocity.

 

[MarkCO]

I have never used a chrono when testing seating depths. One I have my powder charge set I adjust in 0.003 increments, I found it made no difference in my use to velocity, only adjusted when the bullet left the barrel for stable spot in the harmonics.

I generally agree, but I still leave it on as a double check.

 

[Stugotz]

99% of the time while I am at the range. I record the weather conditions in a booklet that I have for that rifle along with all of the data on the particular load I am shooting at the time. I will refer back to a particular entry to see what best matches the current conditions I will be shooting in on that particular day. Oh, and I have been using a LabRadar for a few years now.

 

[jmr40]

Usually only when developing a new load just to ensure I'm not getting too close to an overload. Once I'm happy with a load I almost never use it. In fact I've pretty much settled on which loads I use and haven't used mine in a while. But I'd not want to try to develop loads without one.

Using the data to enter into a ballistics chart is secondary. I do it, but for what I do I don't think it is all that important. I'm not going to be shooting past 600 at the range and probably no more than 1/2 that at game. Not that much difference in bullet drop at those ranges with anything I shoot.

Sometimes just for fun I set it up. Can be interesting to see what type of velocity I get with different rifles.

 

[pete2]

I have one but seldom use it, more fun to be shooting. I have used it to check vel. on air rifles and some pistol loads for power factor. I did check some of my .38 in a 642 revolver. Never used it on a high power rifle or a .22. I develop rifle loads for accuracy per the loading manual. Only for hunting rifles, no long range target shooting.

 

[Nathan]

When I bought a Labradar, it tripled my usage because it is soooo easy to setup.

 

[Plainsman]

Load development and checking rimfire loads/velocities for MPBR.
Also, anytime I’m using a newer load in a different season for the first time.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I pretty much only use mine when I am trying out new ammo or need to determine the velocity of an already chrono'd ammo in a different gun.

 

[Pathfinder45]

I quit using it after I shot it.

 

[iosteyee]

I use mine after finding an accurate load. Though I've found lab radar to be more accurate than any chrono I've tried.

 

[Bart B.]

Never used one for load development.

Only used one to see the different average velocities across several people using the same rifle and ammo.

 

[Hawg]

I don't have one. Never needed one.

 

[bacardisteve]

Anytime im working on a new load. Helps to identify nodes of I run them over chrono. Im always looking for single digit es/sd If i can get it. The farther you shoot the more its going to matter. A 35fps spread wont show itself shooting groups out to 300yds or so without a chrono but take that same load out farther and it will quickly ruin your groups and at 1k yds may cause you to miss altogether.

 

[44 AMP]

Actually quit using the one I had a couple decades ago...