Part 2 in my Statistics for Shooters 3-part series focuses on how to analyze muzzle velocity consistency, which is critical for us as long-range shooters. This article shows how to apply the concepts from Part 1 to get more insight and make better decisions related to muzzle velocity. It provides practical answers to some age-old questions: Should we look at ES or SD? How many shots do we need to fire in a string? How do we get the most value from the shots we fire at the range? I spent an absurd amount of time arduously crafting this article and creating visuals so it was approachable by shooters who aren’t math nerds because I firmly believe these concepts can help a TON of people in the long-range community.
Read More »Barrel Length and Velocity
I recently had an opportunity to fire the same 223 Remington ammo over a chronograph out of 3 very different barrel lengths, and recorded the muzzle velocity differences I observed. The chronograph was an Oehler 35p, which is one of the most accurate in the industry. The ammo fired was Federal’s 55gr FMJ ammo, and all of it was out of the same box. Here are my measured results: Barrel Length (inches) Average Muzzle Velocity (fps) 20″ 3019 fps 16″ 2837 fps 7.5″ 2135 fps Here is an inferred trendline based on the measured velocities for other 223 Remington barrel ...
Read More »Oehler 35P Chronograph Manual
Oehler Research definitely makes the best chronographs in the industry … hands down, no argument. I had a chance to talk with Ken Oehler at the 2013 SHOT Show, and have to say it was one of the most enjoyable conversations I’ve ever had with someone regarding ballistics. Ken knows his stuff, and is an expert among experts in shooting sports. I’ve used an Oehler 35P, which is the pro-sumer grade model they offer (i.e. model targeted at professionals or high-end consumers) and can say they are a joy to use … and VERY accurate. You get very few errors and ...
Read More »Chronograph Accuracy Tips – 15 Practical Tips to Increase Accuracy & Reliability
“No mere gadget, the chronograph is one of the most powerful tools imaginable in load development and problem diagnosis. A bullet’s velocity is one of the major contributors to its behavior, and if you don’t know what its velocity is, you may never understand that behavior. But knowing why the bullet behaves as it does, you can take intelligent corrective action that wasn’t available to you before.” – Dan Hackett, Precision Shooting Magazine A chronograph can be a powerful tool … but if you get more than a few “ERROR” readings in a row, you may be tempted to put ...
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