Chronograph Recommendation

J

Jeffm004

New member
The one I got from Dillon 3-5 or more years ago that has gone nuts. E1 a lot, E0 sometimes and the velocities are definitely wildly not correct. Does anyone that has used one for more than a couple years and maybe used a couple have any other recommendations?

I'll see what I can figure out, maybe call Dillon.

I'll add a spotting scope if you are so inclined. I have two cheap ones violating buy once, cry once. I will get a decent of of those as well. I have started loading rifle to 200. I'm hoping it is me :/
 
If I were buying today I'd buy this.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Competition-Electronics-Prochrono-Digital-Chronograph/37466422

I bought one o these years ago and still use it

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shooting-Chrony-F1-Master-Chrony/21635114

Both are plenty accurate for normal reloaders. I've seen test resuts comparing both to the more expensive models and the readouts are within 5-10 fps most of the time.

Mine works well MOST of the time. But for unexplained reasons I've had a couple of days over the years where I simply got numbers that made no sense. I just had to pack it up and stop using it. Next time out it worked fine. It seems to happen to others as well based on reading posts here and on other gun forums.

The ProChrony gets very good reviews and recommendations and is very close in price. In this link actually cheaper, normally I see it about $10 more.
 
If you mainly shoot rifle, get yourself a MagnetoSpeed. Great chronographs.

What I normally do is shoot my workups first to find my load, so I know the chronograph isn't messing with Barrel harmonics. Then when I find my load, I'll strap the MagnetoSpeed on and find the velocity.


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The chronograph while not really a necessity is a very good nice to have. Mine is an old (20+ Years) Oehler 35P. If I were to shop for one today things I would look for would be PC comparability, the ability to interface with a laptop or workstation PC. Think about what features you personally want or need and then look at the offerings.

My observation has been those using the MagnetoSpeed units seem pleased with no major complaints. The same can vbe said for those using the Shooting Chroney F1. Find one that meets your needs / wants and go for it. Just make sure you compare features so you end up with what you want.

Ron
 
Depends on what you are wanting out of it for me. I have 3 that I use most often. The shooting chrony stays setup on a tripod in my shop. Bought it years ago and after a Sportsmans warehouse coupon only cost me $20.

I also have the pro chrono that's quick and easy to setup and the pact XP pro that takes longer to setup but has more features than any other chronograph that I know of.

IMG_20161115_124226_479-1_zpsdbze2qp1.jpg
 
Are you sure that chronograph is at fault.
It could very well be the light conditions on the days you use it.
Deffusers and shades help only so much if the light is the problem.
It makes a real difference with my old Chrony.
Before giving up on the one you have, try it on a clear, but overcast day without any harsh sunlight and strong shadows.
Just a thought.
 
JeffM004,

I've been through the Chronograph mill over time. The Oehler 35P was perhaps the best optical chronograph at handling questionable lighting conditions, but by far the most trouble to set up out front with long screen spacing and double photographers lamp holders. Also got a CED Millenium before the M2 came out and got IR light screens for indoors and used them outdoors, too, with a portable power supply and with cardboard (opaque) over the unit to get light variables out of the picture.

Finally got tired of waiting for a ceasefire to set up, of getting the height to match the line from gun to target, of annoying people who had to wait for me to finish setting up and get a target set out, causing me to have to pause and wait for second ceasefire to complete one of the two operations, and of people whose shooting skills I have no clue about asking to take a few shots through it at no risk to their own wallets. Broke down and got a Labradar unit, which has no lighting dependency, works even at night (because no light is involved). Sets up in 30 seconds on the bench, so you can't shoot it accidentally. Doesn't attach to the barrel so it doesn't affect barrel harmonics. Takes velocities at several ranges as the bullet heads to the target, and records data on an SD chip of up to 32 GB, which you'd be challenged to fill in a lifetime, and that any computer can read if you lose the USB cable. Guaranteed minimum accuracy of 0.1% (3 fps out of 3000 fps). The only issue is you need a tripod if the benches aren't long enough to set the unit adjacent to the muzzle.

But it's not cheap. Cheaper than the current price on an Oehler 35P by 6%, but comes without a tripod or bench base or carrying case, so by the time you get what you need, its about the same, just more data and more convenience and better weather condition immunity. It sort of boils down to how much guaranteed accuracy and what your time is worth. There is one YouTube video panning it because the tester couldn't get his copy to work at all, but mine is fine and others have reported theirs are fine, so I think he just needed to exchange it for another.

Another new possibility at just over half the cost of the Oehler and Labradar instruments is the acoustic Super Chrono, but the description in the YouTube videos is that it detects shock waves, so it wouldn't work for subsonic bullets, if that is true, so it's mainly for rifle shooting. The problem is I could not find a downloadable manual to confirm that or get a good spec comparison.
 
I got the Oehler 35p when they first came out and few years ago one of the wires for battery connect broke. I called and their still in business and they told me how to fix it and was pretty simple but it didn't turn on. I called and send it back and about wk after they got it, got call from them that everything is fixed and on it's way back to me. I ask how much and was told it was warranty fix. Guy told me they honor their warranty and it's in back of operating instruction I got with it as follows . Our customers are reasonable; if they shoot a screen accidentally smash a chronograph, they expect to pay for repairs. If something breaks, wears out or just dies, we fix it for free.

They replaced everything inside. Our gun club has pads for the chronograph so doesn't take up much time setting one. We have on 4 benches 100yds and 2 benches 50yds. Our club is membership so no one get upset with someone trying to set one up or calling cease fire and most times they get help if they need it.

We have couple guys that have the Magentospeed and it sets up easy. Since it doesn't look like I'll wear out the 35P, I'll just keep using that and I'd miss set the 35p at 100yds/200yds.
 
For the money, hard to beat jimro's recommendation. I have one, works every time. Is it less accurate than some others, probably but for my needs its more than accurate enough and inexpensive. I had a PACT, it worked well for a awhile but then it stopped. Thought about sending it in but heard horror stories about support from pact so figured I just buy a new one.
 
1) I bought a shooting chrony, and shot a hole in it with a handgun first trip to the range.
2) I bought a shooting chrony, and shot a hole in it with a handgun first trip to the range.
3) I bought a pro chrono, and shot a hole in it with a handgun first trip to the range.
4)a) I bought a pro chrono, and did not shoot anything but rifles over it. I has lasted many years.
4)b) Then I practiced with a handgun shooting a group into a target, and verified I could hit the target before shooting over the chrono. It has lasted many more years.
5) I bought a magna speed. I put it on a 10/22 and shot it. I have not shot it since. It is still on that rifle. It is a hassle to mount. I don't remember what buttons to push. Maybe it has one button and I have to talk in Morse code, I don't remember.
4)c) Still using that pro crono. I built 5 rifles in September, worked up loads by working up to brass yield and backing off a safety margin, got a velocity for each from the chrono. Then I plugged it into Quicktarget. I got a bullet drop chart printed out. I Sighted in all 5 rifles to 500 yards and shot 3 animals in October. The Chrono was helpful to the chart that was helpful to the marks I made on the scope turrets, that were helpful shooting animals at long range. Unlike the rest of the internet, a chrono has nothing to do with working up a load for me.
 
Labradar hands down. Find some friends and split the cost. Most accurate, easy to use and it's great to download the data. It breaks it down in a nice spreadsheet. Get a tripod off amazon, a small metal one. I love mine. I have owned a bunch of chronos. Second choice is magnetospeed, of you can attach it to a rail so you don't experience any POI shifts

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns
 
take a look at the one
lab radar has out. I might be getting one of these soon.

go to search and type in lab radar
 
cv73,

Looks like you didn't read the posts already up for Labradar. My post #7 has a link you can click and save yourself the searching.
 
I have the Crony. For the beginner its a good unit, remote display on the table (forget what model you needed to get that but its the only way to go_)

More than enough info for the average user. Labrador only for advanced per Unclick (and I did see his link!)

I too tried to put a hole in it, failed, but not by a lot. Its got a bullet sized dent in the far end where it just clipped the lip but missed the eye. Phew

Now I am MUCH more careful.

Years back my brother told me there were two kinds of moto cycle riders. Those who had gone down and those who would go down. Hmmmm

It didn't take too long before I joined the club. Good news was it was slow and all it did was dent a camera lens (still worked) and my pride (and a puzzler as to how it all went off as it did not make sense to this day, but so it goes)

You might want to shoot it someplace safe just to get that over!
 
I have had 3 chronographs.

RCBS Ammomaster - total piece of junk, IMHO.

Caldwell - good serviceable unit, easy setup, connected to my smartphone easily and it just worked.

Magnetospeed - my current unit. I have used it on an AR, other rifles from 22 to 308. Pistols, the picatinny adapter is great, easy to mount etc. I have also even used it on several revolvers. Data stored on a memory card for easy transfer to your computer. This one gets my vote. A bit pricey but the easy setup is worth the $$ and you can even use it at an indoor range.
 
I have the Alpha Crony. Great unit for about $130. The problem with any crony is the fact they become fussy in the sun. Many times my Crony is "hit or miss". My Crony functions best in bright overcast conditions. Passing sun and clouds is a problem and I get a lot of errors. Low sun angle is also a problem so shooting early am or late pm will also cause inconsistent reads. Ang of course I not afraid to admit i've shot a few sun shade rods by not paying attention from engaging multiple targets without readjusting the position of the crony unit ! :confused:
 
I have the RCBS Ammomaster that was given to me. I can't complain about its results or operation.

It wouldn't be my first choice if I were buying a new chronograph
 
I have had the Competition Electronics Prochono Digital Chronograph for about a year and a half. I also owned a Shooting F1 Chrony but I shot it in the face :eek:. The Prochrono is way less finicky, doesn't have those annoying 3 piece shades, and looks way better. it is built pretty tough too because I shot one of the guide rods with a 9mm, hit it so dead center that the guide rod bent and the bullet started to fragment but the chronograph still worked fine and had no visible fractures. Also, get the bluetooth attachment, it is a very convenient accessory and eliminates the need for paper or printing, and the app that comes with it does all the calculations for you and stores all shot groups and data on your phone.
 
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