Which would you trust...

[supratt96]

...your chronograph, or ballistic calculators when it comes to determining velocity?

I chrono'd a 6mm BR load at 2833 fps, which seemed a little slow to me (30.3 gr varget behind a 105 Berger VLD out of a 30" barrel). With a 100 yd zero, I had to come up about 11.75 MOA for 600 yds. I checked that against two different ballistic calculators and bothe said velocity was more like 2925 fps. Which would you believe?

 

[RedGoat]

Re: Which would you trust...

Trust your real world ballistics. The chrony is more for showing you consistency.

Several shooters with multiple chronographs have reported that some read higher or lower than others.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Which would you trust...

Garbage in, garbage out. How accurate is the ballistic cofficient published for that bullet? How accurate is the 600 yard range? Measured by chains or GPS...or laser rangefinder? How accurate are the moa readings on your scope? Lots of variables including the accuracy of your chronograph. Altitude? Barometric pressure? Lots to consider before answering that question.

 

[The Surgeons Ghost]

Re: Which would you trust...

+1 to the live data!

 

[JGorski]

Re: Which would you trust...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lakeway</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...your chronograph, or ballistic calculators when it comes to determining velocity?

I chrono'd a 6mm BR load at 2833 fps, which seemed a little slow to me (30.3 gr varget behind a 105 Berger VLD out of a 30" barrel). With a 100 yd zero, I had to come up about 11.75 MOA for 600 yds. I checked that against two different ballistic calculators and bothe said velocity was more like 2925 fps. Which would you believe? </div></div>

Hornadys Ballistic calculator gives me a come up of 13 MOA @600.

 

[highridge1]

Re: Which would you trust...

Chronograph is a good tool but check real world results.

 

[gutshot53]

Re: Which would you trust...

Live data for sure! Go test the program and make adjustments as necessary!

 

[Rob01]

Re: Which would you trust...

Run the load over a chrono to get your velocity, punch all the correct data into a ballistics program to get data and then go check it with actual shooting.

I don't have the luxury of having a 1000 yard range but I do the first two parts of the above for matches and it has worked out very well for me. I also know my scope tracks correctly though so if yours hasn't been checked or is off then don't expect ballistics programs to work very well as even if that data is right what is coming off the scope isn't. It will also not give you proper velocity if you try and back math your velocity from real world trajectory data.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Which would you trust...

I am with Rob01.