Hello everyone,
Long time reloader but never owned a chrono until I decided to start loading subsonics recently. I tried doing some research so I apologize if my questions are basic. Chrono used is the caldwell G2 that sits upside down and has LED lights.
So, I went out today and tested some 223 and 300blk handloads. I did some 10 shot strings and 5 shot strings with various weights and was very surprised at some of the random FPS spreads I saw. In general my strings would be within reason ~10-50 fps then all of a sudden I would get a shot that was 100 to even 200 fps off in a string. I'm pretty sure my loads were consistent as I took my time and hand weighed each and every round, trimmed to same size seat depth etc. After seeing this I decided to try a 10 shot string of factory 223 and saw 9 shots with reasonable spread ~3000 then right in the middle of the 10 shots I got a shot that registered 2500 fps which really makes me think its the chrono or placement of the chrono.
I had the chrono maybe 4 feet away from the muzzle but it was on rough grassy ground and might have been at a tiny bit of an angle. I'm not sure if that affects it or not. I'll post 2-3 strings below for reference but I'm looking for any advice possible as I can't properly analyze my handloads until I can rule out it being the chrono or not. If it does turn out to be the handloads then at least I know my data is correct and can work from there.
Set 1: H335 25 grains. plain jane 55 grain hornady fmj bt
2759, 2937, 2640, 2829, 2704, 2826, 2737, 2826, 2917, 2921 - This was probably the worst spread of the day at 297!! (other than the factory ammo being over 500 cause of one shot)
Set 2: H335 25.6 grains. plain jane 55 grain hornady fmj bt - This set had an average spread close to 2800 but 2 random bullets were almost 3k which I just don't understand
2804, 2999, 2953, 2823, 2813, 2764, 2767, 2832, 2804, 2818
Set 3: Varget 26.2 grains, 55 grain fmj
2883, 2909, 2888, 2882, 2865, 2932, 2878, 2827, 2859, 2868 (Spread 105 SD 28.36)
My 300blk spreads looked a LOT better so maybe it is just my 223 loads and not the chrono but I still find it strange seeing a 500 fps dip in factory ammo and the huge spread I was seeing. Let me know your thoughts.
Long time reloader but never owned a chrono until I decided to start loading subsonics recently. I tried doing some research so I apologize if my questions are basic. Chrono used is the caldwell G2 that sits upside down and has LED lights.
So, I went out today and tested some 223 and 300blk handloads. I did some 10 shot strings and 5 shot strings with various weights and was very surprised at some of the random FPS spreads I saw. In general my strings would be within reason ~10-50 fps then all of a sudden I would get a shot that was 100 to even 200 fps off in a string. I'm pretty sure my loads were consistent as I took my time and hand weighed each and every round, trimmed to same size seat depth etc. After seeing this I decided to try a 10 shot string of factory 223 and saw 9 shots with reasonable spread ~3000 then right in the middle of the 10 shots I got a shot that registered 2500 fps which really makes me think its the chrono or placement of the chrono.
I had the chrono maybe 4 feet away from the muzzle but it was on rough grassy ground and might have been at a tiny bit of an angle. I'm not sure if that affects it or not. I'll post 2-3 strings below for reference but I'm looking for any advice possible as I can't properly analyze my handloads until I can rule out it being the chrono or not. If it does turn out to be the handloads then at least I know my data is correct and can work from there.
Set 1: H335 25 grains. plain jane 55 grain hornady fmj bt
2759, 2937, 2640, 2829, 2704, 2826, 2737, 2826, 2917, 2921 - This was probably the worst spread of the day at 297!! (other than the factory ammo being over 500 cause of one shot)
Set 2: H335 25.6 grains. plain jane 55 grain hornady fmj bt - This set had an average spread close to 2800 but 2 random bullets were almost 3k which I just don't understand
2804, 2999, 2953, 2823, 2813, 2764, 2767, 2832, 2804, 2818
Set 3: Varget 26.2 grains, 55 grain fmj
2883, 2909, 2888, 2882, 2865, 2932, 2878, 2827, 2859, 2868 (Spread 105 SD 28.36)
My 300blk spreads looked a LOT better so maybe it is just my 223 loads and not the chrono but I still find it strange seeing a 500 fps dip in factory ammo and the huge spread I was seeing. Let me know your thoughts.
