Duane Mellenbruch
posted this
30 April 2010
I am primarily a handgun shooter, and may fall into a classification of “serious plinker". I do not compete, although I have shot the NRA Hunters Pistol course. I enjoy shooting the cast bullets rather than spending the money on Jacketed bullets. I have a fair number of molds for many calibers of rifle and handgun. I do not own and have never used a chronograph. I do not feel particularly hampered by that fact either.
I do not play with unusual powders or extremely heavy or light bullets so I pretty much stay with published data and am comfortable with that. I have been enjoying this hobby since the 70's and only 5 or so years ago decided I could use a thermometer. That is because I am now playing with antimony and blending it with lead as a home caster may need to do in the future as the supply of good WW dwindles to nothing.
Since I have no large bears or cougers in my back yard, I do not need to develop maximum charges for those handguns. A bullet weight and velocity sufficient to nick a golf ball at 25 yards is about all I really need.
When developing a load for a new gun or bullet, I will usually start near the bottom of the velocity chart and work up until I find an accuracy load as mentioned above. I have also gone a little below the starting load if the bullet groupings suggest that might be worth while. I let the gun tell me what it wants, I do not try to beat it into submission. That just is not fun and if it is not fun, I really do not want to be involved in that project. Perhaps my approach is too relaxed for some and they would prefer to test and ducument each and every primer, powder, seating depth, and alloy hardness. I think that the Chrono might help to document those details, but do not think that it would actually show where the most accurate load is. It would only show consistant velocity. And it might be that the most consistant velocity is at the high end, where the alloy has failed and the groups are now a pattern.
I would not turn down the opportunity to run a few of my loads across the screens, but I certainly would not weep and wail if the “numbers were not favorable to an accurate load".
I think that it has already been noted that the jacketed bullets might benefit from the use of a chrono, but there are sufficient other variables with cast bullets that might be of more importance than just a consistant velocity. Just an openion and certainly not intended to offend those that feel a Chrono is the very best investment they have ever made. I spent my money on a lead hardness tester instead. I can use that every day and set up time is seconds not minutes. Duane Mellenbruch Topeka, KS