Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Chrono, Yes or No

The speedometer analogy is a good one. Without a working speedometer, or chronograph sooner or later you'll get into trouble. Unless you drive like grandma or only load at minimum levels. I'm not one to hot rod my loads, but if I own a 30-06 I don't want 300 Savage equivalent loads either. There is absolutely no reason not to be able to achieve excellent accuracy and at least match factory velocity levels. It depends on the cartridge, 30-06 and some others are loaded very conservatively in factory form and those speeds can easily and safely be beaten. Other more modern cartridges can be matched for speed, but rarely beaten. But I'd not start approaching top end loads without a chronograph. I've seen examples of over pressure while still well under the book max load. With a chronograph I know when I'm getting close without going over.