One thing I got in the habit of doing when chronographing loads was to use my RWS pellet gun and a select group of pellets to check the set up start and finish of session 5 rds at start tells me the set up is good and working 5 rounds when done tells me nothing has changed. A spring piston air gun with the exact same pellets is very consistent. I had bead blasted a sheet of plexiglass to cover my screens to give good non direct light. Seemed to work. A piece of frosted plastic for bathroom windows or shower doors would work also.
Jim,
You can stop them faulty readings by aiming about 6-7 inches low.
But that only works once......
You will learn far more at the casting, loading, and shooting bench than you ever will at a computer bench.
+1 on that. I do the same with my rimfire. Also,I had some issues with my Pact PC 2 not reading also one day and all it was,was a little accumulated dust on the sensors.I've had my chono for as long as there were only two to choose from,Pact or the very expensive other one," O ". I wrap bandannas around the sensors for dust covers.I also tape the wires to the rail so they do not just hang from the unit and put needless wear at the connection.Handle wires with care when storing them.I use velcro to tie them in place along the rail for storage.I really like my Pact.It's been a good one.
You guys crack me up! , Yeah thought about aiming low.
I just made some new screen covers from some plastic sheeting I had, buffed them with Scotch Brite. need to try today. Might even out the light better.
A question was asked of me about accuracy and ES readings. The gentleman did not want to step on my post but it is OK.
I never use the chrono to work loads, only to see what I have once accuracy is found. I prefer to work loads first and many times the largest ES is more accurate. The thing is a distraction to me. I also hate to set it up. Look across it and tweak it a thousand times. In the heat and bugs, I just want to shoot, find what I want and get it over with.
The 30-30 Marlin is proving to give me groups of 1" and under at 100 with cast. A friend gave me a box of Sierra 125 gr flat nose HP's but I don't know what to do with them. I don't hunt with a rifle and I sure would not use these bullets on deer. Be like running a deer through a wringer washer!
I got all readings today. Shot the 30-30 Marlin And got this;
150 RCBS with 18 gr of 4759.Hu 1873 .5 fps, low 1830.2, SD 17.7, Mad 13.8, ES 43.3 and ave was 1850 fps.
My 187 with 3031 was high 1903 fps, low 1873. SD 21.7, Mad 15.4, ES 30.8 and ave 1888.4. I did get over 1900 with a few shots.
4895 was Hi at 1760.1, low 1684 .9, SD 30.8, Mad at 23.7, ES 75.2 and ave at 1710.2
The target shows the 4759 loads out but the hole in the center was both 3031 and 4895, 50 yardsAttachment 111024
Strange 4759 was not good with the 150 RCBS, all info I have shows it was the best powder. I need to work 3031 with it, it is the right size at .311".
Feels kind of good to see a hole just get larger with the two other powders.
Frosting on the cake is with a home made mold.
I am seeing 3031 the perfect fit. I have worked every other powder that can be used and some loads guys post, like 4227, etc, were so sad, I quit trying.
I really do try what you fellas say.
You can see that the smallest SD did not mean much.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |