which one would you consider indispensable?

for sure a chrony will tell you how the fps is in your gun but with a scale you can pick the right pellets for one after the other in the same hole

I for one are not a fan of the chrony, it might be a tool for measurement but accuracy is not a tool it is something you thrive for, granted the scale is another tool but for accuracy

am I biased, YES

warren

and remember "it's 30% the gun and 70% the shooter"

but soon decided the decent pellets were close enough and accuracy
I was and still am experiencing is pretty good and improving. Also
decided not to sort, size, clean, etc. - well clean if they're really
dirty. I do lube with Slick 50 One Lube.

Chrony comes in handy.

I believe the "chrony is bad thang" goes back to when a smith/tuner
would tweak/tune/mod a gun and those that had it done would post, brag,
sing about the muzzle velocity. Sometimes the smith/tuner would too.
Then another smith/tuner or air freak tinkerer would take the same gun
and squeeze more juice out of it - higher MVs. The first smith/tuner
would start posting chrony junkie this and that and accuracy and reliability
are important blah...blah...

Airguns, firearms, cars, etc. - boys will be boys and yes I'm a boy too! LOL

Herb

Hi,

I use both and I find that the chrony is great for diagnostics (to see of the gun is sick) and it is beyond necessary when you pull a gun apart to be sure that all is well after it is reassembled.

BUT

I use the digital scale once a week when I open a new tin of Kodiaks (I shoot about a tin of 200 every 5 days on average). I sit and watch History Ch. with the scale in front of me...I have 3 empty tins labeled:

less than 21g

21.10g to 21.15g

21.16g to 21.20g
...watching TV makes the time go fast and soon I am done.

...the trajectories are not really any different between the 3 weight categories, but what I HAVE noticed is that the lighter weight Kodiaks do not fit into the breech as snugly...the heavier pellets seem to be heavier, fit tighter in the breech, and be duller in their finish and not as smooth of a finish.

I check my scope's ZERO at 50 yards before each hunt and I do that with only 1 of the weight categories and that weight category is what I shoot until I am finished.

I know that when I get a "flyer" it is 99% ME that is the cause, but I have noticed that I get fewer flyers when the pellets are in the same weight range and of a similar fit in the breech. Perhaps it is the way that the gun reacts to the fit of the pellet in the breech and then the way that (( I )) react to the gun when firing….just an unscientific observation but worth noting.

Here is a link to the scales page on the website where I got mine….there are about 10-12 to look at.

http://www.toplinedigitalscales.com/catalog.php?action=110&cat_id=65

Here is a link to the page that has mine on it. I paid $55 for mine, but I see that they have it on sale for $44 and a deal where you buy 1 and get 1 free.

http://www.toplinedigitalscales.com/catalog.php?action=124&item_id=393

Good tip is to get a buddy to split the cost of the $44 and you each get one for $22.

SCALE TIP OF THE DAY: Put a ink mark in the center of the weighing platform and place the pellet right over that mark for added consistency and accuracy when weighing a pellet.

Hey Curtis,Tim here. Thanks for the "back up" on chronys. I will never back off from what I have said about chronys,like you said,a great diognostic tool. I do not yet own a scale,I believe I must get one. Like others say about chronys vrs/phone book,I must open my eyes. I respect your advice,Tim.P.S. When I load a pell that fits too loose,or too tight,if Im shooting for "keeps" I shoot it into the ground. We that are "in touch" with our guns know when we load a bad pell!?? Even the best pells. are not as consistant as we would like? Tim.

Hi Tim,

Thank you for the kind words; I really appreciate it. I try to give the best advice that I can.

Like I said, I use the chrony but not that often. I use the scale once a week or so....just ordered another 20 tins of .22 Kodiaks today so the scale is going to get a workout in a week or so.

If using a scale sounds nutty, well....my girlfriend shoots 10 meter and won't even use my scale as she says that it is not accurate enough...hers weighs out to the closest 1/1000th.

Hey Tim, I saw on the History Channel a segment on the Marine Shooting Team. They have a dedicated group who loads ammo for the team.

One person does NOTHING but size the brass shell casings...another does NOTHING but add the primer caps...another does NOTHING but weigh the slugs, another does NOTHING but add the powder....another does NOTHING but press the slug into the casing.

Then each round is numbered and put into a cartridge box that has the serial number of the gun that those rounds were loaded for.

Each gun's preferences are documented and then rounds are custom fit and loaded for THAT gun.

When accuracy is the PRIMARY consideration, can you really go too far? That is a question that each shooter has to answer for themselves

Again, thank you for the kind words!

Sincerely,

-Curtis

PS…What airgun do you shoot the most…am thinking of a post on loading pellets with pictures for you and the gang…

"When accuracy is the PRIMARY" consideration, can you really go too far?"

this statement can only come from a mind that does not tolerate "just good enough". it just is not near perfection and thou you cannot achieve that plateau AT LEAST TRY

I have a friend that bought a $3,000 computer and then got a 14" inch screen, does that make sense? NOOOOO. it's like someone shooting 10 meters with a $5,000 air gun and buying the pellets at Wal Mart

just when you think you are satisfied with your "RIG" another one comes with the same air gun that is just superior and that is because he places "attention to detail" above what is good for you

the example Curtis talks about the Marine Shooting Team is taking that attention to detail to another level and is based on taking pride in what you do. apply it to everything you do in life and see the changes around you

warren

PS: I learn more everyday, may that be from yesterday, today or tomorrow

and remember "it's 30% the gun and 70% the shooter"

apply it to everything you do in life and see the changes around you.

Again warren, you are 100% right in my opinion.

I'll never forget the day that I was working on fixing a cheap pine wood chair with my Grandpa in his workshop. I didn't finish the sanding job to "exhibition grade" standards, HIS "old school" STANDARDS, but what the heck, it was just a cheap pine chair that wasn't used unless there was company eating over or playing cards and that is exactly what I told him when he called me on it.

He looked sad and kinda looked down and walked away while saying, "A man that doesn't take pride in his work ain't much of a man..."

I watched him walk in the house then I looked at that dang chair through 3 smokes and a soda. With a big sigh I started back in sanding and did it right...made him happy to say the least.

Many other times in my young life he had to say to me, "A man that doesn't take pride in his work ain't much of a man...".

His shaming me with words helped me to build good character and work habits...it really helped me in school and in my adult life.

Yeah, I am a nutty perfectionist and it kills me inside when I see "slop" work, but I can honestly say that I am proud of my work efforts in most everything that I do.

Thanks Grandpa....you were right.

---------------------------------------------------

In keeping with this strings subject, I DO understand that not everybody can afford to spend the extra $$$ on a digital scale, or on a chrony, or fancy scopes, or even expensive guns, BUT, in the quest for accuracy, people can keep their guns clean on the inside and out and in good working order, check for loose screws, etc....that goes a long way in the accuracy department and it shows PRIDE in your gun and in yourself, even if it is a $60 WalMart special.

Just do the best that YOU can and you will have gone FAR!

-Curtis