So I Borrowed A Chronograph Today...

[emrah]

I posted this on another forum, but since cast boolits are involved, I'll repost here too:

Been loading for a few years now, but I don't have a chronograph so I had NO idea what my loads were doing as far as velocity goes. That is, until today...

I borrowed a PACT chrono from my boss (also an avid hunter and handloader), and man, I GOTTA get me one of these things!

Some loads were what I expected and others were a surprise! I shot the following loads:

1. 1911 (4.25" barrel): 200gr. SWC, 5.7gr. Unique: 885 fps average (faster than I though!)

2. Savage Axis .243 Win: 100gr. Partition, 39.0 IMR-4350: 2840 fps ('bout what I expected).

3. 24/47 8mm Mauser: 170gr. Hornday RN, 46.0 gr. RL-15: 2200 fps (give or take) (slower by a couple hundred fps than I expected)

4. Winchester 94 Ranger (16" barrel) .30-30: 181 gr. cast (lubed, sized to .311, Alox lubed), 16.0 gr. 2400: 1645 fps (about what I expected).

Man, what have I been missing! I was happy that my .30-30 loads were above 1600 fps. I want to be safe using it for a sub-100 yard deer load.

My .243 load kicks ***! Sub-MOA to 100 yards. I am dead-nuts on at 200 (actually 207) yards with a 1.5" group. Can't argue with that!

My .30-30 load is good, but I get a high flier on the first shot, then MOA to 1.5" groups (100 yards) on subsequent shots. Then other times, I'll get dead-nuts on on the first shot. Weird.

Either way, I think a chronograph is in my future!

Emrah

[emrah]

Oops, I meant 20" barrel for the Win. 94.

Emrah

[Wolfer]

Every serious reloader needs one or needs a buddy with one. They are the handiest things when working up loads.
Sometimes though you just need to look at the big picture. Many years ago I bought a rem 760 in 30-06 and spent considerable time working up loads for it. The gun seemed awfully persnickety but I finally found a load that would shoot.

According to my 1978 model Sierra manual my 165 SBT was going 2800 fps. I was happy, my gun was happy, and many deer fell to this combination. Then one day I got a chronograph and lo and behold my cherished loads were only going a fuzz over 2500 fps. I set out to make this right and soon learned some things.
1. I could get this bullet close to 2800
2. It kicked like a bay mule
3. It wasn't accurate enough to suit me

It finally dawned on me that when I didn't know my loads were inferior I hunted with confidence.
The deer I shot evidently didn't know I was using inferior loads either. I've since turned this old gun into a boolit gun and were both happy again

[Colorado4wheel]

Look at the CED over the PACT.

[emrah]

Wolfer,

Amen to that! I was really surprised the 8mm Mauser load was that slow. It's essentially a .30-30 load (albeit with .323 bullets) or a .32 Win load. It's pretty damn accurate though! Wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer with that. I've gone higher (47.0, 48.0, etc.), but for this weight bullet, the 46.0 works best. Besides, it's an old war horse and is used more for fun than anything.

Emrah

[454PB]

A chronograph is probably the most useful tool I own for handloading. I've owned one in one form or another for over 35 years now, and currently have two of them.

The first one I owned used fragible printed screens (made with silver ink), and it cost 30 cents per shot......2 screens @ 15 cents a piece. I soon learned how to make my own screens using the fine wire off of electric motor windings.

[jmsj]

I've been reloading for nearly 30 years and my wife got me one for a Christmas present just this last Christmas.
It has been quite an education getting actual velocity readings instead of just guesses. I wish I had gotten one years ago.

[Ozarklongshot]

I've had a beta chrony master for years and I use it every time I reload. It's just one more tool for gathering information on what you are doing and it's a very good tool at that!!

[stubshaft]

I've shot many a boolit over the Oehler before even attempting to put it onto paper.

[303Guy]

I've had my Chrony for over a year before I finally used it. Happily, it confirmed my guestimations and did indeed give me better data. Funny thing is I haven't used it much since. I want to but ....

You know, I still 'read' primers!:confused: Tells me nothing about velocity and probably very little about pressure although I do think that getting consistent primer 'appearance' is important in accuracy. Now a chronograph takes all the witchcraft out of it.