Hey Coffinmaker: I'm agreeing with ya on your last post, even pullin ya out from under the bus for the possibility of postin a non OP post, but I do believe it's a good post and has merit.
In the 47 years I've been reloading and shooting everything from smokeless powder shotgun, centerfire handgun and rifle, blackpowder cartridge, cap and ball, and muzzleloader rifle, I've never owned or used a chronograph. Never have had the need or desire for one. If given one, I'd give it a shot and if not needed, maybe sell it and buy some new spurs
. (even though I've never worn them or wanted any).
When reloading I've always researched whatever I was loading, staying within whatever load chart I was using for primer, powder and bullet or shot. I'd stray some maybe not using the loads .357 diameter Speer 125 g HP and using say a Sierra 125g HP bullet. Same with primers, might use a different brand once in a while if they were close to the same ignition factor. If a tested load was rated at x fps velocity from a 6" pistol barrel and I was using a 4" barrel, well I'd just subtract around 50 fps for each one inch or add if the other way around and have an idea of my handloads velocity. Same with rifle loads, same with whatever blackpowder firearm I was shooting. As long as other shooters have tested and chronographed what I'm reloading or loading whether it be smokeless or blackpowder and I'm at or within safe likeness of their loads, I know approximately how fast that bullet or shot is traveling. If it's hitting steel, a tin can, a target of opportunity, a paper target, four legged game or birds on the fly--that's my objective--and to do it accurately. Oh yeh, to make a bang and smoke when shooting black too.
No rub on those of you who like to use a chrono and need to know the fps of your loads to the tenth degree. I'm fussy about a lot of things when I reload and shoot, but the chrono bit "ain't" one of them. As CM stated, the other guys have already written it down and that's good enough for me, I can load up or down and have a ball field knowledge of velocity/fps. Again, if a chrono is anybody's need, no sweat, I'm not belittlin' ya in any way, JMO of what's needed and not needed. As CM posted, this post is not in the spirit of the OP's original post intention (but I think it is) and as good Ol' CM posted-- "the boards have been really quiet", so here's something to read on a bright Sunday morning.
Good shooting everyone. Crow Choker