Chronograph needed?

[Greg Curci]

I'm in the process of developing a load for my .308. I don't have access to a chronograph at the moment and can't go but one right now. Is it that important to develop the load knowing the FPS? Or can I get away with group size and checking for any signs of overpressure?

[smoothy8500]

You will get a wide range of responses from yeah, not necessary to absolutely necessary for figuring SD, and how will you input to your Kestrel?

[baih777]

Group size and pressure signs you will be fine.

Later if you want to play with different types of bullets and different powders. You will need chronograph for data

[kcheung2]

Needed? No. Helpful? Yes.

.308 is a pretty common cartridge to load for, and if you stick with common powders & projectiles for that cartridge, and stick with mid-level loads, you'll be squarely in the middle of a very well trodden path. Not optimized, but decent quality ammo that will work in a range of guns.

But if you want to go experimenting with powders, or try for the very min or max loads, or use very light or heavy projectiles, or are trying to squeeze the very last bit of velocity, or you're going for distance, then you'll absolutely need a chronograph.

[bigbossman]

Very useful if you plan on hunting.

[divingin]

Needed? No. Helpful? Yes.

Agreed

But if you want to go experimenting with powders, or try for the very min or max loads, or use very light or heavy projectiles, or are trying to squeeze the very last bit of velocity, or you're going for distance, then you'll absolutely need a chronograph.

Not so agreed. You will need a chrono if you're going to work up a ballistic table for your loads. It will come in handy if you want to compare how your loads and rifle fall with regard to published data. But experimenting with powder and projectiles (or primers) or working the edges of the charge tables is better done by examining physical evidence (group size and the fired case for the most part) rather than relying on a display.

If you're going for pinpoint accuracy, a chrono will give you insight on how consistent your loads are through your rifle, and let you know if there's room for improvement (extreme velocity spread, standard deviation.)

[stormvet]

Depends what you want out of your handloads, max accuracy, competition or hunting I’d say yes. Just for range, training purposes or general shooting no.

[bigbossman]

....You will need a chrono if you're going to work up a ballistic table for your loads.

Yup. That's why I have a chrono, and use it. It allows me to know my drops out to a given distance, and tells me my "point blank" range. Like I said earlier it is especially useful for hunting, just for this reason. I occasionally use it for competition loads, but mostly just shoot for groups in that regard and so chrono data for that is a mostly a curiosity.

Shooting long distance competition would be a different matter entirely, but for the matches I'm shooting in it isn't necessary.

[smoothy8500]

You don't "need" a chrono for any of the better ballistics computers( Kestrel, Strelok, etc). Use your real data drop/Dope at a given distance, more than 3-400 yards is better, and use the "Truing" feature to correct the muzzle velocity to match the recorded distance, drop, bullet BC, temperature, baro pressure/atmoshperics, etc. You could put any ballpark velocity number to start.

[NapalmCheese]

Stick with book min/max loads, STOP if ANYTHING weird happens (hard bolt lift, flat primers, etc.), and you don't need a chrono. Just shoot for groups at that point and run with the best group while hopefully not flirting max loads.

Want to find max loads to maximize your cartridge for hunting or long range shooting? You need a chrono. Velocity and pressure are related. If the book says you should be seeing 2800 fps from a 24 inch barrel and you're seeing 2900 fps from a 22 inch barrel, something is off and you should back down.