Just got started reloading .223 to feed my AR's, hopefully will expand to doing .38SPL and 9mm if pistol powder ever shows it's face around here. Worked up some ladder loads but was thinking that having a chronograph would probably be a good idea rather than just watching for overpressure signs and going off accuracy to work up a load for each rifle with this powder/bullet. Finally got paid out from a survey that I did six weeks ago, so went on Walmart.com and ordered this F1 chronograph. $86 with tax, free shipping. Hopefully it helps me save a lot of powder!
Nothing wrong with any of the Shooting Chrony models. The F1 is a good entry level unit.
I've got a Beta Master. I really do like the remote display on the Master optioned models. My eyeballs aren't as good as they used to be and it's embarassing to grab the bincos just to read my chrony LCD.
Truthfully, I don't use it quite as much as I should anymore. Mainly just for my rifle loads. I do clock some of my pistol loads but only for curiosity.
One thing I have found with shooting over a chronograph...
(This was before I started taking the ladder test thing seriously)
Once I find a "sweet spot" load for a particular rifle I note the velocity. If I do need to work up a different load by changing powder and/or sometimes the bullet brand, if I can get close to that same velocity with the new combo (safely within data limits of course) I've found that the new load will probably group and shoot to point-of-aim similar to the pet load. Not always but it has gotten me a lot closer right from the start.
Now I tend to do more ladder tests (and am learning to read the results better), but I still shoot over the chrony. And yes, many times a certain velocity is still a sweet spot after a powder brand/type change.
I'm pretty much brand new to reloading, and I prefer to take it cautiously. I shot my first five reloads in the AR that's the most "broken-in" a couple weekends ago and was just happy that all of them fired...no primers set too shallow, no feeding problems, none blew up and took the rifle with them...that sort of thing. The fact that they shot a 4" group at 50 yards was beside the point, I really didn't expect a 23gr charge of BL-C2 to shoot the center out of the bull. That was when I started thinking about "How do I know when it's right?" I mean, I could just ladder load until that particular rifle started shooting really good, then keep going until it started shooting not so good, but recognizing overpressure signs is probably yet another "learned skill" that I don't have. If I can find a reasonably accurate load that's well within the spread, I'd be happy. I plan on trying all the different powders that I can lay my hands on in my selected calibers...I have a friend who has been reloading for quite a while and he insists on using only Winchester powder and primers and he gets kinda wild-eyed when I suggest trying other powders and working up a load, but then he doesn't have a chrono either, which was another consideration for me, given the hit and miss availability of powders even for rifle hereabouts.
Congrats! I have a CE Pro Chrono, and love it! Best money spent! I carry mine with me every time I work ladder test. I also use mine a lot for my pistol loads I shoot in IDPA, and USPSA. Enjoy, and welcome to the addiction!
Congratulations. I've used a Crony for many years to develop hunting rifle loads and found that having a way to measure velocty is a MUST for me for reloading. You can guess about the various pressure signs and get by if you're careful, but if you want to maximize what your rifle can do, you must measure velocity and compare your results with known standards.
It is especially useful for sorting out various ammo available for your AR. Recently got my first Stoner type rifle and was shocked to find various commercial loads claimed to be Nato spec. running 400 FPS slower than actual military ammo. I consider that unacceptable and would have never known without my own cronograph.
Good on ya for taking the plunge . You'll never be sorry.
Will be doing some shooting tomorrow, but leaving the reloads at home, will just run some more factory stuff through the newer builds to get them all broke in and make sure everything is running good with them. So far not a problem one with any of the three, I'm at 200 rounds through the 1:9, 100 through the 1:7, and 20 through the 1:8...yep, only 20, took me a bit to figure out I was hitting about 2 FEET low, the "rail height" sights that I bought for it were evidently intended to go on a low profile gas block instead, so back they went, now waiting for the scope mount to arrive next week.
Have used various Chronys for years-love them...Be careful of rifle with high rings-somehow a hole will appear in your Chrony
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