So, I went and shot about 200 of my latest 45 ACP reloads yesterday. I had a mixture of Federal and Winchester brass that had been once fired. I used Titegroup 5.5 grains and WLP primers. The slugs were Hornady 230 grain FMJ seated to 1.255 OAL and crimped to .467. I am going to back off of my crimp to about .469-.470 in the future. I had plunk and case gauge tested all rounds.
They all shot without any issues through both my HK 45t and my 1911, but in comparing them side by side to Federal American Eagle 230 FMJ, I was shooting slightly better groups with my reloads, but shooting lower as well. Like 3-4” lower at 25 yards.
I am thinking that I need to develop the loads to shoot a bit flatter, but I am concerned about doing so without having used or acquired a chronograph. My thought is, if I went to 5.6 grains of powder, I’d be fine, given that at 5.5 grains I was maybe a little underpowered, but I am considering just trying to start using a chrono.
Any recommendations on a basic and easy to use chrono for checking reloads?
They all shot without any issues through both my HK 45t and my 1911, but in comparing them side by side to Federal American Eagle 230 FMJ, I was shooting slightly better groups with my reloads, but shooting lower as well. Like 3-4” lower at 25 yards.
I am thinking that I need to develop the loads to shoot a bit flatter, but I am concerned about doing so without having used or acquired a chronograph. My thought is, if I went to 5.6 grains of powder, I’d be fine, given that at 5.5 grains I was maybe a little underpowered, but I am considering just trying to start using a chrono.
Any recommendations on a basic and easy to use chrono for checking reloads?