Speed of Reloads

Is there any instrument available to check the speed of your reloads? I don't think a chronograph used for checking the speed of a bullet will work, correct?

I am aware of reloading data tables, but I don't use those exact loads.

 

You better use the Powder Mfgrs loading data and use a good Powder Scale, I use an RCBS Electronic Powder Scale, and a MEC loader w/adjustable Loading Bar it has
both Powder & Shot adjustments, and I dial in my Loads, I only load Powders w/less than 10,000 PSI.

Safety is the Utmost Important factor Reloading. Do not Exceed Powder Mfgrs. Specs under any circumstances.

NONE of my Longshot Loads are Over 10,000 Psi, even at 1560Fps, w 1 1/8th Shot.

Gary Bryant.............................Dr.longshot

 

I used an earlier model of the first reviewed model in this link to chrono some 12 gauge shells.

https://www.swggun.org/best-shooting-chronograph-review/

I do not know what kind of deviations from published data you are using. You may or may not want to discuss them to get some feedback.

 

I am recoil sensitive Gary so my reloads are way below those in reloading data tables. I am just curious as to the speed. They are safe, I have been shooting them for many months. If anyone can figure out the speed using data they have I would appreciate it. This is my reloading data: Thanks.

 

Have you checked the Powder Drops w/ a scale? You did not mention that?

I have a lot of the latest loading manuals will check them for you.

GB....................................DLS

 

Yes, Gary, I did check them with a scale. It is the same as the amount in the MEC bushing chart. From the reloading data I have I figured that my singles load is about 1000 fps and my handicap and 1 oz doubles is about 1150 fps. Just wanted to confirm. Thanks.

 

Your 1 oz is approx. 1180 fps the other 2 are about 1080 fps, no loads showing CCI primers in my manuals

GB............................DLS

 

Gary, according to the Hodgon website with the CCI 209 and 19 grains, which you get with a MEC 30 bushing the speed for the 1 oz is 1180 fps. I use a MEC 28 bushing so I figured the speed is about 1150 fps. That's they way I came up with the estimates for my singles and handicap loads also. Yeah it's not scientific that's why I would like to chronograph them.

 

There is a company that will test your reloads and send you all the info on them. Just don't know the name.
Also a lot of Mec bushings drop less powder then listed. I use a good digital scale to check weight.

 

Mike J, you can't, can't, can't trust a bushing chart and modify its recommendation to suit yourself and have any idea at all how fast your shells are going.

There are ways to find out, starting with a scale and ending with a chronograph.

Neil

 

Neil is right (as usual) I've only be reloading a few years but found out early on that the bushing charts for my old MEC are not spot on. I weighed mine with an electronic scale and found it off quite a bit, I think I went down 2 bushings to get the throw I wanted. I have also been able to use a chronograph to measure the speed, the old style with the photo-eyes. It may be off a bit due to spread of the shot but it's not too far off.
I measured my load just a few days ago, with AA hulls, Win 209 primers, 20.6 gr of CSB-1 I was getting an average of 1210 fps. I really like this load, I'm shooting it well because I've been using it for several years now.

 

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/shotgun

STS hull, 1 1/8 oz
Hodgdon Internat'l, CCI 209, Rem. Fig. 8, 17.8 grns, 7400 PSI, 1090 fps

STS hull, 1 oz
Hodgdon Internat'l, CCI 209, WAA12SL,18.6 grns, 7400 PSI, 1180fps

Question - Why change wads and primers between your singles and handicap loads? Especially considering Claybuster 8118-12 is a clone of Figure 8 Wad.

 

Question 2 - What is your Handicap yardage?

If recoil reduction is your goal, why use different Handicap load? Have you tried your 16 yard load at your handicap distance?

If recoil reduction is your goal, why not a 1 ounce load at 16 yards?

 

I am on the 22yds. I am very satisfied with my reloads, I am just curious about the speed. I shot my 16 yds load up to 20 yds but I think I need a bit heavier now.

I use the Remington Fig 8 for handicap because they seem to be more "slick" than the claybuster so I assume less friction in the hull. Don't use them for singles because they are more expensive.

 

Mike J, you seem like a candidate for experimenting with a chronograph. Just the Prochrono digital is cheap enough to take a chance on and here's how to use it:

It was just the sort of question you are asking that led me into a lifetime of testing fun, starting with a chronograph and ending...well, it hasn't ended yet.

N1H1

 

Thanks N1H1. I'll read the materials. Maybe you might want to chronograph reloads for a fee. I would be interested.

 

There are people who do that; Tom Armbruster* is a name I remember, Mike J. I'm not one of them; my own backlog oft things to do is already too long. Should I shoot that veteran Wilkinson MX8 I bought at last year's Grand American or stick with the box-stock MX3S that I'm so satisfied with? Patterning will tell, but then when would I have time to shoot either of them?

N1H1

*If that's not correct then someone here will get it right.

 

N1H1, not sure what happened to the documents you posted. The articles had very good information. I particularly like the discussion on Peak pressure and Velocity.

Question. - for your figure 1.2, if you drop the results for the top and bottom five shots for each grain measurement shown and take the average of the remaining 10 shots and redo the plot of speed vs grains is the result nearly linear?

 

Mike J,
I suspect you are not the only one "don't use those exact loads". Searching this and other sites will reveal many loads and powders not in the book but professionally tested. When I use my Chrony, I use a couple factory shells to determine how my little box reads a factory 1200fps or 1235fps or some such shell....... I then apply any correction to my loads..... certainly not exact or professional but it works for me. Its really interesting to see just how close the Chrony is to factory numbers..... of course the question then is "just how accurate are they?"......... Larry

 

If you want to know what your actual speeds are, use a chronograph. No reason why it won't work. I have used my Shooting Chrony Beta successfully and have used a friends unit of another brand, can't remember the name. Just be sure to keep the distance between the muzzle and the unit to a minimum and be sure you are shooting directly through the sensing area. The shot hasn't had a chance to spread out much in the short distance and the wad will surely trigger the unit. Remember that high ribs may actually cause the shot string to be higher or lower than you may expect at these short distances. This same effect happens when shooting a scoped rifle. The sighting plane of the rib is not the same as the barrel. Best to start fairly close to the muzzle, say 5' or so. You may get error messages due to muzzle blast vibrating the sensing unit. If so, move it slightly further away and try again.
Chronographs will also measure the speed of an arrow from your bow.

 

I have a chronograph that I use to test the speed of my bullets I reload. I never used it for shotshell reloads because I thought that the wad and shortens might introduce errors. N1H1 claims (if I understand correctly) that the Chrono measures the speed of the first set of shots to leave the barrel so maybe shortening and the wad has no effect on the readings. I think I might just stick with extrapolating the speed for the load data I have.

 

Mike, chronographs work fine for shotshells too, You get the best results with an open choke; in fact, you have to use one if you want to test the uniformity (lets call it "quality") of your reloads. I regret I'm not able to lead you directly to it here, but Google can probably provide a link.

Neil

 

Shortens = shotstring in the post above. The smartphones think they are very smart and replace words they don't recognize lol.

 

No problem. Thanks Neil.

 

STOP acting like a spoiled child and use the PM function on this site.

For someone with such an inflated ego, you are NOT the sharpest crayon in the box .....

 

Neil how thin can you spread your BS, it is pretty thin now, Patterns with competitive Handicap Patterns is why Tom Wilkinson is improving mass produced Bbls.

A lot of Factory tubes with same Choke specs are out of tolerance, depends on what day of the week it was made, and was it correctly Marked.

Neil has not tested or shown his results with the Ceasar Guerini Full Choke tubes, He piddles with open Bores and Cyl bores at 13 yards, no distance checks at 33-35 yards.

I test them at the yardage Distance that I break Targets at, That is where it counts, and so does Tom Wilkinson, for his customer Specs for use at.

GB............................DLS Yours IN Sport

 

Mike J....... I am sure you find it interesting when we start beating up on each other just because we can but as you see, there is lots of interesting information available. Poking at each is fun but does not provide much but entertainment. Years ago I started working with Vectan powders, not so easy to get Vectan then but nothing was easy to come by. There was load data on line so I scrounged up the powder and used the on line information for data........ Then the data was not available for access for a while so I used the computer to make contact with Nobel, Kent and all sorts of individual shooters in Great Britain and Europe. They do things a bit hotter, use some data no longer available here.... I "proofed" them all with my Chrony after I changed to US numbers. Really close in all cases...... seems all US data uses 10,000psi as the magic number for loads...... across the water is a bit more liberal sometimes...... they also mostly use straightwall hulls referred to many as "eurotrash", you know, like the Federal Gold Medal and Gold Medal Grand. Take everything we post for you with a grain or two of salt, its all good and all fun............. Larry