DMF38
Member
I'm just curious to know what everyone's experiences have been with different types/brands/models of chronographs. Which ones are the best for the money, most reliable, etc.?
Chronographs
- Thread starter DMF38
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mc223
Member
Shooting Chrony Beta Master works for me. Simple, quick. easy to set up and take down. Plenty of info, and accurate enough for most common shooter, reloaders needs. Add a printer and you can just staple your printouts to your target for quick reference anytime.
I have 2 models of the Shooting Chrony I bought from Midway and they both work great, no problems. They have a sale of some of them now and the cheapest is the F1 for about $70. I have one of these for about 4 years. This gives you the velocity and you have to write it down and do the math later. From there you decide what features you want and pay for them. The other Shooting Chrony I have I bought because one place I shoot I have to set it up in front of the bench and the model has a remote readout (wired) and does the math for you. I can't see the readout easily on the F1 at the distance I need to set it up there. You can get them with printers and any thing else you think you might need.
You'll wonder how you ever got along without it once you start using it. Makes it a lot easier to tweak a load for accuracy versus trying to do it on targets. It lets you see how a grain of powder either way, seating depth, and other factors you can change to make what you thought wwas a good load into a superaccurate load.
You'll wonder how you ever got along without it once you start using it. Makes it a lot easier to tweak a load for accuracy versus trying to do it on targets. It lets you see how a grain of powder either way, seating depth, and other factors you can change to make what you thought wwas a good load into a superaccurate load.
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Hud
Member
I have the Shooting Chrony Beta Master as well, with the printer. It works great for me. The Masters also retain all shot string info. (6 strings of 10 shots ea.for the Beta) in memory without external power, which can be interfaced & downloaded to a PC. I got mine from www.eabco.com/chronyshooting.htm . I believe their prices are a little lower than Midway. Also check out the manufacturers' site at www.shootingchrony.com/index.htm .
Sharps Shooter
Member
I like my Chrony F-1. It’s reliable and only cost about $60.00, I think. My wife bought it for me for Christmas a few years back so I’m not sure what it would cost these days. Anyway, it’s basic – no remote readout, it doesn’t store the figures, it won’t calculate standard deviation, and it sure doesn’t print a report. But I can read what it says while still seated at the bench and I simply jot down the figures in a notebook and bring them home after my shooting session. Then I plug those figures into an Excel spreadsheet on this computer and it’s pretty easy to calculate averages and standard deviation. And believe me, it has to be easy with my limited knowledge of Excel, or any other Office software for that matter. After getting everything plugged into the spreadsheet and letting this computer do the calculations, I can print the spreadsheet off if I want a paper copy.
Then again, I'm primarily a hunter - not a precision, bench rest target shooter. You might need a more elaborate setup than what works for me.
Then again, I'm primarily a hunter - not a precision, bench rest target shooter. You might need a more elaborate setup than what works for me.
Critter183
member
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- Aug 13, 2004
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I just ordered a Chrony from here:
http://www.eabco.com/chronyshooting.htm
They had the best price I could find. Haven't used it yet. Haven't gotten it yet. lol
http://www.eabco.com/chronyshooting.htm
They had the best price I could find. Haven't used it yet. Haven't gotten it yet. lol
Dr. Dickie
Member
I got the ProChrono from Midway
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=852429
(under $99 when you catch it on sale).
Used it for over a year now and it has been great.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=852429
(under $99 when you catch it on sale).
Used it for over a year now and it has been great.
The Bushmaster
Member
I use a Pact Mod 1 and have for about 15 years. Quite satisfied with it.
armoredman
Member
I have an F-1. I used it ONCE, and six shots into the game, I hit one of the sky screen supports. Oops. I got another one from Chrony, but it's too long, and I have been too occupied to trim the sucker down to use it.
I will use it again, because now I want to chrono my rifle loads too.
How far out do I set it up for rifle work?
I will use it again, because now I want to chrono my rifle loads too.
How far out do I set it up for rifle work?
The Bushmaster
Member
I use 5 to 8 feet for handgun and 10 to 15 feet for rifle (around 12 feet for my .30-06). You may have to experiment with distance. Muzzle blast can really rack havic with readings. Most chronographs can see the shock wave.
Lennyjoe
Member
I use an F1 chrony and its worth the $65 I paid for it at Sportsmans Warehouse.
I use it for reloads as well as shooting my arrows to see how they are performing.
I use it for reloads as well as shooting my arrows to see how they are performing.
shooting on a shoestring
Member
Oelher 35P simply the best
Built near Austin, Oelher goes way back to the beginning of chronographs and they also do strain gauges to measure chamber pressures. They use 3 skyscreens instead of 2 like the others. The Oelher times from start to middle screen and also from start to final screen, compares the two readings and flags the data if the first is not exactly half of the second. Thats really cool because screens can be triggered by everything from wind, muzzle blast or radio waves. Proof chanel assures you the data is real.
Also with the Oelher, the skyscreens can be placed farther apart than chronys (2 feet for all the chronys I've seen). I keep mine set at 4 feet but can easily go to 8 and I believe 16 (I've never needed that much accuracy). The more distance between screens, the more accurate the timing (less timing error).
The Oelher also does all the math, mean, standard dev., extreme spread, and displays it and prints it on the little box sitting safely on your shooting bench. The only parts in front of the muzzle are the replaceable skyscreens. From direct experience, anything in front of the firing line will be hit by someone some time. I've shot one skyscreen about 2 years ago and some jerk in the lane next to me somehow shot one about a year ago. Either time, no big deal just $35 and all new parts came to my door, chrono good as ever.
I paid $400 and some change for my Oelher 35P and its been worth alot more and will last longer and out perform 4 chronys. If you reload, its as important as your press.
Built near Austin, Oelher goes way back to the beginning of chronographs and they also do strain gauges to measure chamber pressures. They use 3 skyscreens instead of 2 like the others. The Oelher times from start to middle screen and also from start to final screen, compares the two readings and flags the data if the first is not exactly half of the second. Thats really cool because screens can be triggered by everything from wind, muzzle blast or radio waves. Proof chanel assures you the data is real.
Also with the Oelher, the skyscreens can be placed farther apart than chronys (2 feet for all the chronys I've seen). I keep mine set at 4 feet but can easily go to 8 and I believe 16 (I've never needed that much accuracy). The more distance between screens, the more accurate the timing (less timing error).
The Oelher also does all the math, mean, standard dev., extreme spread, and displays it and prints it on the little box sitting safely on your shooting bench. The only parts in front of the muzzle are the replaceable skyscreens. From direct experience, anything in front of the firing line will be hit by someone some time. I've shot one skyscreen about 2 years ago and some jerk in the lane next to me somehow shot one about a year ago. Either time, no big deal just $35 and all new parts came to my door, chrono good as ever.
I paid $400 and some change for my Oelher 35P and its been worth alot more and will last longer and out perform 4 chronys. If you reload, its as important as your press.
CDignition
Member
I have had the Oehler 35P, Pact, and CED Milennium..I liked the CED the best...it had alot better eatures, also has PC download capability, and figures out the Major/Minor load factors... Very nice
doopt22
Member
I have a chrony alpha. It works great. When i get bored i pull it out and let my to boys shoot spit wads across it. there 5 and 6
My first chronograph was a stone-age Custom Chronoraph model, back in the early 1970s. On this one, two paper screens printed with a metallic ink pattern had to be changed for EACH SHOT, and you couldn't fire at a target while taking speed readings.
To get the reading, after the shot a knob was turned through about six or eight positions, and the numbers at each position where an indicator light lit up were added together. Then the total was found in a printed table, and VOILA'...there's your velocity! And some guys think they have it rough today???
At the time, I loved it. Actual velocity figures for personally-loaded ammo were VERY RARE in those days. It sure destroyed a lot of "estimated velocities" among handloaders!
Since then, I used a first-edition PACT Model One until fairly recently, when it finally started showing its age and began acting-up after about 15 years or more of intensive use. My wife took the opportunity of my new "need", and gave me a CED Millenium for our Anniverary last year.
It's clearly a full generation or more ahead of the PACT, with big readouts, an array of soft-touch control buttons, and many other neat features. I REALLY like this instrument. The screens are mounted on a steel-conduit boom which slots into the front of my benchrest, and the screens' midpoint is ten feet from the face of the bench. This has worked fine for everything from the .22 Long Rifle to full-blast (literally!) .416 Rigby loads with over 100 grains of powder. Did I mention that my benchrest resides in my 1995 GMC shooting-dedicated van???
My wife bought this CED from Dillon Precision, and I'd say she got me a gem. From replies here, it sure looks like the Chronys have achieved wide market "penetration"....
To get the reading, after the shot a knob was turned through about six or eight positions, and the numbers at each position where an indicator light lit up were added together. Then the total was found in a printed table, and VOILA'...there's your velocity! And some guys think they have it rough today???
At the time, I loved it. Actual velocity figures for personally-loaded ammo were VERY RARE in those days. It sure destroyed a lot of "estimated velocities" among handloaders!
Since then, I used a first-edition PACT Model One until fairly recently, when it finally started showing its age and began acting-up after about 15 years or more of intensive use. My wife took the opportunity of my new "need", and gave me a CED Millenium for our Anniverary last year.
It's clearly a full generation or more ahead of the PACT, with big readouts, an array of soft-touch control buttons, and many other neat features. I REALLY like this instrument. The screens are mounted on a steel-conduit boom which slots into the front of my benchrest, and the screens' midpoint is ten feet from the face of the bench. This has worked fine for everything from the .22 Long Rifle to full-blast (literally!) .416 Rigby loads with over 100 grains of powder. Did I mention that my benchrest resides in my 1995 GMC shooting-dedicated van???
My wife bought this CED from Dillon Precision, and I'd say she got me a gem. From replies here, it sure looks like the Chronys have achieved wide market "penetration"....
Don't Tread On Me
Member
I have the Shooting Chrony Alpha Master. I got it on sale from Midway for $99.
I was originally going to get the Beta Master, but have zero use for memory features. The Alpha will save long strings during use at the range but loses this when you turn it off. I write down the strings after I shoot them by simply reviewing the string. It gives all details such as high, low, SD, avg and each shot.
The #1 thing to have is a remote. You can put it on your bench and easily record data. Also, it prevents the entire unit from being destroyed if the chassis is hit by a bullet. Another advantage is that you can easily see the screen, this is handy if the chrono must be put out far when using a powerful rifle. Finally, sometimes a chronograph might error and you need to reset it by turning it on/off. If you don't have a remote, you must wait till the line goes cold to check on it (if you're at a public range)
So far mine has been flawless. Hasn't missed a single shot.
I was originally going to get the Beta Master, but have zero use for memory features. The Alpha will save long strings during use at the range but loses this when you turn it off. I write down the strings after I shoot them by simply reviewing the string. It gives all details such as high, low, SD, avg and each shot.
The #1 thing to have is a remote. You can put it on your bench and easily record data. Also, it prevents the entire unit from being destroyed if the chassis is hit by a bullet. Another advantage is that you can easily see the screen, this is handy if the chrono must be put out far when using a powerful rifle. Finally, sometimes a chronograph might error and you need to reset it by turning it on/off. If you don't have a remote, you must wait till the line goes cold to check on it (if you're at a public range)
So far mine has been flawless. Hasn't missed a single shot.
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