Rossi Rifleman

Technically, the only thing a shooting chronograph can tell you is how fast your bullet was traveling when it passed by the photoelectric cells. However, this velocity is very important information, because it helps you determine other important data points related to internal, external, and terminal ballistics. It’s not uncommon for actual velocities to be very different from advertised velocities; I’ve seen differences as high as 250 fps with centerfire rifle cartridges. The only way you can make accurate ballistic calculations is to know a load’s actual velocity from your firearm. And for that, you need a chronograph. Here are five things you can glean from that information that can make a real difference in your shooting.