IMPORTANCE OF A CHRONOGRAPH - AT LEAST TO ME

[Nevada Ed]

There is a reason most companies use the 4" barrel for 38 Spl data..........
and the fine print states the fps came from a 6" barrel.

+1 on BB not telling lies on the ammo's fps.

If it works........ great.
If not try another brand.

Sorry, but that is just how it works,

 

[Kiwi cop]

I chronograph so I make PF in competitions and to know trajectory tables in my rifles.

One issue is that the barrels in my guns will not be the same as those used by the authors of reloading manuals.

 

[dr. mordo]

I agree that chronos are fascinating to play with. I have definitely been disappointed with most of the factory ammo I have tested, and most load data falls far short of the predicted outcome (I know why, but it's still disappointing).

However, I chrono'd the Underwood 44 SPL 200gr Gold Dots, and they were actually a bit hotter than Underwood claimed. Underwood claimed 975 fps, I measured 1056 fps from a 4" M29 (I bet it would have a been ~1100 from a M24) and 1017 fps from a 2" 44 SPL.

So Buffalo Bore isn't the only company meeting its claims.

 

[chief38]

I agree that chronos are fascinating to play with. I have definitely been disappointed with most of the factory ammo I have tested, and most load data falls far short of the predicted outcome (I know why, but it's still disappointing).

However, I chrono'd the Underwood 44 SPL 200gr Gold Dots, and they were actually a bit hotter than Underwood claimed. Underwood claimed 975 fps, I measured 1056 fps from a 4" M29 (I bet it would have a been ~1100 from a M24) and 1017 fps from a 2" 44 SPL.

So Buffalo Bore isn't the only company meeting its claims.

I have never bought any Underwood and although I've heard of the brand, I am not familiar with it. I'm glad to hear there is at least one other Company that lives up to what they claim!

 

[Rock185]

I've been reloading since '67, and first had access to a friend's chronograph in the late '70s. I know most shooters could care less, but I've enjoyed using chronographs since back then. I admit to being ballistically curious, and to me a chronograph is an indispensable part of my reloading gear......ymmv

BTW, I agree that Buffalo Bore is right on with their advertised velocities. I've seen the same with CorBon. Years ago, I did purchase some CorBon .380 ammo that was way slower than advertised. I had 5 rounds left, and sent it back to CorBon. CorBon was very up front in their response, and indicated they were trying a different powder, and the ammo I sent back did not meet specs. They sent me two boxes of ammo at N/C, which did meet velocity specs. I understand that CorBon is under new ownership now, and don't think I've tested their current product.

 

[chief38]

Maybe, but I see a lot of results of Murders and other shootings in the Big City. The victims thereof don't seem to notice whether the ammo that hits them has been chrono-approved. When bullets of any kind hit them, they're either dead or seriously injured.

Almost any bullet of any weight, caliber, velocity and configuration can kill someone - I agree with that. The purpose of shooting someone is to take them out of the fight as fast and efficiently as possible and not necessarily to kill them.

Supposedly, more people have been shot and killed with a .22 than any other caliber but many bled out and died over hours and could still be capable of doing harm immediately after being shot.

At least in my mind (some may disagree) the faster a projectile flies, the more weight it has and the more reliable it expands, the better the stopping power would be in general terms (there are exceptions of course). I also like to use a Chrono to make sure I am getting the velocity that the manufacturer states (or at least in the ball park that is). Each caliber and weight have sweet spots for expansion. You could have a perfectly designed bullet that will reliably expand at a certain velocity threshold and yet at slower velocities actually not expand at all while over penetrate.

I just do what works for me and my opinions are based on my own findings and experience. I do read and watch, however I always test/verify for myself as many things are only hyped up, therefore I have confidence in the ammo I use for EDC.

PLEASE NOTE: Over the 40 years I've carried, there have been more than one occasion that a trusted tried and true Factory load I usually carried was either mis-manufactured or defectively manufactured as they fell far short of their designed and intended velocities. That is why I always like to shoot a few rounds of a new lot I buy through the Chrony. JUST to make SURE it's doing what it's supposed to.