A chrono is HELPFUL, but not really needed to learn what you need to learn. Actually, one can simply shoot at graph paper from a longish range, say around fifty yards, and figure it out pretty well if they know how.
By charging from a very low end, such as say ... 1000psi, and shooting a small group, then charging another 100psi or so higher and shooting another group at a line the same level, and so on and so on. one can see the impacts move higher ... then level as the charge is increased, then stabilize, then begin to fall as the charge gets too high. If the results are all documented, on can now zone in on the EXACT beginning and ending charge pressures for the gun. Now recharge and count the number of shots until the poi falls too much ... if you NEED more shots, you will prolly need to lower the power of the gun, or modify it so it gets more shots at that level.
When one wants to find an optimum power level for a given gun/pellet combo, he can shoot several likely candidate pellets at the long range target with his gun charged to the "sweet spot", select the best pellet, and then vary the power up and down in small discrete increments until he either sees an improvement, or decides there is no such improvement to be had with that particular pellet, and move on.
Once the most accurate pellet and power level is known, you continue to shoot until the impact point drops too much, then note whether the low end of the air charge is higher or lower. If its lower, charge to a proportionally lower level at the upper end and see if the POI is where you expected.
Anyhow, I'm not saying a chrono isnt USEFUL, just saying you don't really NEED it. In reality, all that shooting at long range will also help you to learn the gun better and improve your shooting, so you get a bit of useful side benefit! The only serious use for my Chrono is to verify the power limit on Field target guns is close to, but not exceeding the limit.
I USED to be a Chrono junkie many years ago, and I still own three of em, but the more experienced I get, the more I realize the true benefit I get from them is pretty limited in comparison to actual shooting on targets. As to computer ballistic programs, I now see they have no practical use for me other than Internet debating.
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