Trusting reloading guides?

songdog

I have 2 different reloading manuals here and one says that a bullet goes out at 3300 fps, yet i have another book that states all ofthe reloading info for that caliber by all of the different reloading companies and it states that the exact same bullet has arange from 3000fps to 3550fps. How can i tell how fast my bullet is really going without having a chrono? As I know that 500 fps can really change the ballistics of a bullet, especially a litlle 55 gr. varmint round.songdog

7mm_ultra_mag_is_king

the velocities in the books will vary depending on the chrono used and what type of gun was used. Many will dissagree but different length barrels and porting/brakes effect velocity greatly. Believe it too that weather conditions will vary velocity but not 500fps. Another thing is the books will publish a string average and that will make the published velocity vary. Only way I know to check bullet speed unless you got good eyes and can count VVVVEEEEERRRRRRYYYYYY fast you will need a chrono. They are not expensive and I recomend every reloader has one.and don't be a bit surprised when you find that you crono at different velocities than what the book says.

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when all else fails........................

songdog

Yeah i always wondered how much weather affected a bullet. Last spring i sighted my coyote rifle in at an indoor range where the temperature was 70-75 degrees. a friend and i went to Colorado to hunt and the weather was around 10 degrees for the high. I could not hit * out past 200 yds. I figured it must have been the weather as my rifle was only 1 in. high at 100 yds. 1.3 at 200 yds. and right on at 300 yds. I do not feel that bad though being that he missed a coyote at only 30 yards with a scoped rifle. It was aruger Mini 14 and that rifle is no longer in his posession. I bought it off of him for only $200 b/c he was so pissed. Then i truned around and sold it last month for $450.songdog