RCBS Ammomaster Chronograph

by
posted on December 2, 2010
201012292727-xw7361tar-9097_f.jpg

Few items can be as important to shooters, hunters and handloaders as a chronograph. Yet it seems that a minority of those enthusiasts have one. Consider this: Without knowing a load’s velocity from a given firearm, you cannot accurately determine trajectory, drift, energy, and ultimately, downrange performance.

If there has been a limitation on individuals owning a chronograph it has been price. The new AmmoMaster from RCBS is an affordable, effective option for those who want to know what their firearm/ammunition combination is really doing.

The $155 AmmoMaster is self-contained, meaning that all of its components, from screens and cords to diffusers and accompanying support arms, are held within the unit’s hollow cavity. The display/keypad unit detaches for use. This, coupled with the unit’s dimensions 25 3/4 by 15 5⁄8 inches—and its 4-pound, 2-ounce weight, makes for convenient transport.

Setup of the AmmoMaster is quick and easy. With the body affixed to a standard camera tripod, the two screens are placed in the corresponding slots in the body. Next, the four diffuser supports are connected—one to each side—to the screens, then, following the numerical patterns on the diffuser sections, the two diffusers are assembled and connected atop the supports. The display is then detached and the two 20-foot-long-cord ends from the screens are inserted into the corresponding slots—start and stop—in the display/keypad, and a single 9-volt battery is connected on the backside of the keypad unit.

The AmmoMaster requires a minimum distance of 10 feet from the muzzle for most firearms; however, magnum chamberings and larger calibers might require even greater distances. Although the unit has an 86-sq.-in. shooting area, the ideal projectile path is 4 inches above the bottom of the screens’ profile. As such, the shooter must be cognizant of the projectile’s path in relation to the line of sight when using an optic—typically 1.5 inches—or certain iron sight configurations, such as those found on AR-15s. When using a shotgun, one must take into account the pattern spread. In fact, RCBS recommends removing the side supports and diffusers when using a shotgun for this very reason. Fortunately, the company sells replacement parts. For use indoors, incandescent lighting is required.

The unit can measure velocities in feet/second (50 fps to 7,000 fps) and meters/second, and the user can add—via shooting—or delete data from current and past strings through the “Edit String” function. All memory can be removed if so desired. The AmmoMaster has a 100-shot memory, consisting of 10 strings of 10 shots each. Although velocity is displayed after each shot, at any time a string’s specifications can be viewed through the “Stats” feature. In this mode the shooter can scroll through high, low and average velocities, as well as extreme spread and standard deviation. By selecting “Enter/New String,” the shooter can begin a new string without deleting the previous string’s data.

Because of the varied outside venues American Rifleman staff uses to test products for these pages, an RCBS AmmoMaster sent for evaluation has proven itself indispensable. For months now the unit has performed without issue, and its small, easily transported size has endeared it to the editors.

Contact: RCBS; (800) 533-5000; www.rcbs.com.

Latest

Revolutionary Art Of Don Troiani
Revolutionary Art Of Don Troiani

The Revolutionary Art Of Don Troiani

By using surviving artifacts, eyewitness testimony, accurately reproduced uniforms, original firearms and the thorough study of battle sites, Don Troiani has done more than imagine what happened 250 years ago. His art is as close as it can get to a true representation of what period combat would have looked like.

The Armed Citizen® April 21, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Captain John Parker's Fowler: Witness To History

While thousands of firearms were used in and around the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, few survive today. One survivor is the flintlock fowler used by Capt. John Parker of the Lexington militia.

New For 2025: Mossberg 590M Standoff & 500 Slugster Pump Shotguns

The Mossberg 500 is one of the most popular pump-action shotguns ever made. That doesn’t keep the company from making updates and improvements, as evidenced in the new-for-2025 590M Standoff and 500 Slugster series.

Preview: Warthog Sharpeners V-Sharp Elite A4

Warthog USA’s V-Sharp Elite A4 pairs the company’s most feature-packed portable blade-sharpening unit with a detachable wooden base for added stability.

The Men & Guns Of Lexington Green

On April 19, 1775, 250 years ago, approximately 80 armed militiamen from Lexington gathered on their village green to confront several hundred British infantrymen. The events of that morning began a conflict that would ultimately establish the United States of America.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.