Just curious, sort of in relation to my previous post looking for a .30 cal bullet to try out, is there a certain technique/method to work out a load for the round without a chrono? I know I can work up to a good group and watch for pressure signs, but anything else I'm missing?

You got. Just shoot for groups and watch for pressure signs, and follow the mfg data for the powder, bullet, and brass combo you are running. If you go over max, work up to it, and only go over it by a few tenths or so. I like working backwards from max, and going up in .3 grain increments to start, then maybe fine tune it if needed.

Chad is a "know it all"

jk... take his advise, accuracy has zero to do with a chrono... prep work and attention to detail are your friends

In all reality yes you need a cronogragh to build accurate ammo, if you want consistent ammo it sure helps to see the extreme deviation spreads on the loads you work up. On a side note grafs has a pretty good crony on sell for under a hundred bucks with free shipping on any order over $100.

You want tight groups with tight ES/SD to develop an accurate long-range load at 100 yards.

A bughole group at 100 yards with bad numbers will fall apart and show extreme vertical deviation the further you go out. Whereas, an ok group with great numbers will usually hold together all the way out.

The trick is finding a chronograph your trust. You'll only know if/when your numbers match your long-range performance.

I just realized I completely miss-read the question.

"Without a Chronograph"


Yes: Develop your load at the max distance you intend to shoot at. Preferably during favorable environmental conditions. If it shoots well at your max distance, it will shoot well up close.

- Sorry.

So if I can't get max ranges at a range, am I screwed? The range here only has 200 yards max

200 is ok, better than 100. 99% of the time the bullet has settled down 300 yards and out but you never know. If it groups well at 200 yards, I would still trust it until I found a longer range to do a final test.

Alright I'll get to work. Honestly I don't think I'll have to worry too much. I dont see being able to take anything over 200 yards in NW Florida

Oh don't sweat it then. Just shoot for group and call it a day.

Reloaded for years before I bought a Chrono and some of the loads I developed before the ability to measure the velocity have proven to be very consistant, or I consider extreme spread of 15fps another was 7fps for a string of 20 shote to be very consistant. Knew they were accurate but did not know the velocity.

Like already mentioned attention to detail and consistancy is important to accuracy

I've had loads that chron. w/a 3 fps spread on 5 shots, and grp'd
poorly, compared to some w/23 fps spread...Watch going over the
max....Sometimes, one forgets that it's the BULLET, AND BULLET
PLACEMENT, that kills. Not some mystical velocity...ect...We've
all been guilty of pushing it. Most of Texas due to temp, and
our altitude will be from 50-150ps below the manuals...DD