Gear priority help

[ShebasDad]

I need a little help. I'm getting ready to order equipment again and need... want... to get the most uselful gear first. I just ordered a 200 rnd case of 140g ELDM's so...

The things I need in the order I think I should buy.
A kestrel w/ AB
Reloading dies
Magneto spee​​​​​​d / chronograph
Bullets, primers and powder
Spotting scope
​​​​​​Extra mag's

My whole list gets bumped down a spot if I can get into a training class close to home. If ya think I'm going about this wrong by all means say so.

As always thanks for any advice
Bill

 

[Sogan]

Where are you located for possible training classes?

 

[ShebasDad]

Arizona just south of phoenix. I can't find anything scheduled coming up.

 

[mpk1996]

you are kinda all over the place. do you plan to reload or not? if not, don't worry about that stuff. if you look at what you can sell 1x creed brass for, you may find its not worth it for you at the moment to reload. you can get away with iStrelok if need be, but the kestrel is a better solution. the mag speed is nice, but maybe you can borrow a buddies to find out your velocity. or get the sporter version to save some cash. you are going to need to true your data in a ballistics calc anyway, so its just a starting point. I would say you need to buy more ammo. 200 rnds isn't very much. you would be better off buying ammo with that money and training. download the pro version of istrelok for a few bucks and run with it. then get a kestrel with AB at some point down the road.

 

[afd77]

It may help if we know what your end goal is. Local matches or PRS? Just for fun distance shooting on a square range? Hunting? All of the things you have listed are good to have, but the priority of purchases may change quite a bit based on your plans. 200 rounds won’t last long, and at that point you either need to be able to reload that brass or buy more ammo. If reloading is a priority than dies and components should be at the top of that list. As mentioned above a ballistic app on your phone will work just fine so if it were me I’d move the Kestrel down towards the bottom. I think you’ll find the Magnettospeed much more useful after you’re capable of reloading and tweeking your loads.

 

[OH58DViper]

Reloading -

Sounds like you’re just starting out with LR/Precision shooting. If you’re asking about dies and components, then I assume you have a good press, scale, powder throw, calipers, caliber specific comparators, case trimmer, lube, bullet puller, etc...... if that is indeed the case then I would buy dies and components. The spotter and kestrel would go to the bottom of the list as you should be able to do fine on shooting steel through the 20x + power optic most people shoot long range with. If you have a private range then you don’t really need a chrono “yet” either, though that purchase would come immediately after load components to make things easier on your load data.

Magneto-

You can measure off an assumed velocity and then tweak the MV in ballistic AE and figure out what your MV is, based off of where your rounds impact vs the water line. It’s time intensive but it works. If your barrel is cherry expect your MV to change after 80-150 Rounds and speed up a bit. It’s hard to figure SD and ES without a chrono, especially if you’re shooting 500 and in. A 60 ES May not show at that distance but I assure you it will beyond that. Again, that’s where a good chrono comes in.

Kestrel-

I have a kestrel but I don’t use it unless I’m shooting past 1200. I just hit the update weather function on my AE app and it gives me an accurate enough solution for 1-2 MOA targets, if I miss it’s my fault not my dope.

Spotter-

I do love my S2 82 20-70 Meopta but that was a luxury purchase after 80-100K in gun stuff. I love phone scoping my load data so I can do latter tests and dope verification at just about any distance. Don’t get me wrong I can see a 2” dot at 800 with a 24x scope but watching trace in video is nice....just not necessarily necessary ha.

Mags, bags, and other gear-

Look for sales and check the PX. It’s amazing how fast you start to accumulate supporting gear, save some coin and buy quality used kit.

Good luck, especially if you’re married! Ha

 

[ShebasDad]

First thanks for the input.

right now I'm only able to shoot local PRS matches but do want to start traveling next year. I do plan on buying another case of ammo next payday. With what I've already got on hand that would give me 600+ cases for reloading.

I work 2nd shift so when I get out to practice most people are working. I struggle with wind calls so I figured a kestrel would be the most helpful for me the AB would just give me another way to check. The DA , Temp wind speed bla bla bla are kinda important to get the most out of my apps.

As for truing my Balistic apps ... in progress I just loaded Balistic arc and so far it's close enough that shooter error is more likely than bad dope. I also have sterlok loaded and same thing it's close but what's that saying crap in carp out

Reloading.... still getting things sorted out. Reading everything I can right now. Press scale tumbler misc odds n ends on hand. But I haven't bought powder dies or bullets until I do more reading. I figured the magneto speed would a good 180$ ish for the sporter version. And knowing my MV even for factory loads can't hurt.

Spotter would be nice to have and I will get one but for now my beat up old binoculars work to find stage targets.

I want to get into a PR class just have to find one I can get to that won't make me burn all my vacation time. On the up side the Phoenix area is blessed with some really talented shooters and the club finally has a new range and matches are being scheduled not the same as a class but for now it has to do. This last year has been all about upgrading gear. Lots of top ramen and Mac n cheese to swing an RPR and scope on one income.... and being broke all the time keeps the X away.

Again thanks for the comments they help.

 

[Sheldon N]

If you're truly on a top ramen/mac and cheese budget and wanting to shoot matches AND your first priority is wanting to place higher in matches, I would put all your money/effort into going to matches and practicing for matches.

Borrow a chrono from someone and get your velocity. One string of 5-10 rounds should give you an average velocity for your factory ammo. Use a combination of weather data (temp, baro pressure), map data for physical elevation and JBM Ballistics online free website to build drop charts and true your BC for distance - those will work just as well as a Kestrel and are free. Buy a $30 wind meter off amazon and use it to check wind everywhere you go, in addition to when you're shooting. Add dry fire practice and position practice to your range time. Make your time at the range focused on specific practice for improvement, not just burning easy shots from prone. Then dump all your available budget into ammo, travel, matches and shooting.

Now if your goal is just to slowly build up the collection of gear, I'd lean towards reloading as the first priority, and a chrono is part of the reloading kit IMO. Beware though... reloading does not save you money.