I think it is as necessary as any piece of gear for the reloader just as dies and bras bore brushes. One truely doesn't know the velocity unless you measure it. We fret over .002 in COL or Trim to length. We as a group are looking for the velocity and accuracy, which is driving the Magnum craze.

My brother bought a Chrony F1 at a gun show for 80 dollars. Cheap. It may not be as accurate as a high price model, but you have some idea of trends. If you check the Firarms review forum for a thread "Ruger Accuracy" you will see the accuracy results for my .308 loads. But we Chronoed the loads of 5 shots average for a .308....2860 fps. That was not what excited me, all the shots were within 15 fps of each other!!!! THAT is consistancy. NOW does this mean I have a rifle/load combo to take on the 7MM and 300 Ultramags? No. The main issue is I have a consistant load. And working backwards on a measured range with drop (center averaging) we have varified the chrono reading by equation. Straitghforward math really.

The chrono is a tool, and with todays technology and as cheap as they are ther is no reason for a responsible reloader not to have one.

Had a guy at the range at the same time and he had a "real scorcher" 25-06 load. We put it on the chrono, shot 5 shots. He was more than a little concerned how his 120 g 25-06 was shooting slower than a 165 g .308. It was is the same issues of accuracy, I have tried lots of combos and I am not a velocity nut, I am a consistancy nut. I have a very good match of combinations. He on the other hand has to do a little more work, and that is not a bragging situation, the guy didn't know. The chrono clears up foggy estimate of the velocity, and calls BS on unrealistic claims. I have heard many times there is NO WAY to get more than 2700 fps out of a .308, well, that is not true, but before the chrono I believed it.

LAST POINT. The gun manufacturers KNOW you don't have a Chrono and you probably are not going to get one. SO, you believe everything stated about a brand new cartridge, but there is no verification. Truth of the matter, I M only 200-250 fps slower than most mags. I don't think the trade off of higher recoil, increased cleaning frequency is worth the small amount of increase in velocity (which is not the same as increase in accuracy) is worth it.

As a reloader I have done EVERYTHING wrong. I use RP brass, I use IMR3031, I moly coat my bullets (with spray), BR CCI primers, didn't worry about clean cases (I now have a trumbler though) or tight tollerance of Trim to length.

I have a .308 shooting 165 g GK 2860+/-15 fps, and it shoots a .375 moa at 200 yds. This is through a 26 in barrel, and the last wrong thing a Ruger no less.

CHRONOGRAPHS just give you knowledge on what is happening. When you measure BS walks.

Dana