Chronograph black powder loads.

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Gang,

I chronograph my black powder loads with an Ohler 33.  Yes, it's old, but it still works good.  One thing I've seen when graphing black powder loads is that the smoke and sparks can confuse the graph.  To solve this question I shoot through an opening in a baffle placed in front of the screens.  I've found that my readings are much more consistent this way.  My screen spacing is 4' and I place the screen stands about 10' from the muzzle.  This gives me plenty of room for the baffle between the gun and the screens.  Yes, this extra step does take a little more time, but I think that the effort is worth it.

DD-MDA

[Cuts Crooked]

I put a thin piece of cardboard on a wooden base that I made, in front of the chrony. Then I just shoot through the card board. This has worked great for me.

[Ranch 13]

I set the chrony out 20 ft from the muzzle and get good readings from blackpowder loads.
Unfortunately the Chrony died a violent death when a wad stack consisting of a lubed felt wad between two fiber wads ,flew through the read out... :oSorta looked like little ninja warrior frisbee's hangin out of it.

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Ranch13,

There's always risk downrange.  I've replaced screens too.

DD-MDA

[Ranch 13]

  That poor old Chrony had survived about 20 years of my wide and various experiments, had dimples in the front from still burning and unburnt powder kernels from the 4064 in the 45 colt experiment, was working on about the 4th set of guide rods.....But them wads done er in.

[fourfingersofdeath]

unburnt powder kernels from the 4064 in the 45 colt experiment,

That evil smoky-liss powder strikes again!

[Ranch 13]

  Yeh but it was kinda cool looking, even with all the smoketrails from those partially burnt powder kernels the velocity was close to 1100 fps from the Winchester

[wildman1]

Just chronographed one of my old C&B Hawkens. Projectile weight of 212gs, 5 shots average 1650 fps. Fixed sites and was hitting about 12" low at 300 yds. Very satisfying BOOM. WM