Medium budget chronograph?

Status
Not open for further replies.
troy fairweather

troy fairweather

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2018
Messages
13,831
Location
Up State New York
Think I'd ask for one for Xmas, nothing to pricey maybe $200 range. I don't have a smart phone so some would be out because of that. What ones do you like and use. Thanks troy.
 
Do you have a laptop?
I have the Comp Electronics Pro Chrono and like it.
It works stand alone, but I bought the cable adapter to hook it up to a laptop, that way you can save the results to a file for later.
Otherwise a pen and a note pad will work to write down the info off the chrono.
I think the Chrono alone runs about $120 give or take.
https://www.competitionelectronics.com/product/prochrono-digital/


This is the kit to hook it up to a windows laptop.
https://www.competitionelectronics.com/product/prochrono-digital-usb/
$40

Bought a cheap $120 Acer laptop to use with it. Much cheaper in case it gets broken than my phone.
(not only that I like leaving the phone in the car at the range so oppsss, sorry work left my phone in the car:D)
 
Last edited:
Dudedog said:
Do you have a laptop?
I have the Comp Electronics Pro Chrono and like it.
It works stand alone, but I bought the cable adapter to hook it up to a laptop, that way you can save the results to a file for later.
Otherwise a pen and a note pad will work to write down the info off the chrono.
I think the Chrono alone runs about $120 give or take.
https://www.competitionelectronics.com/product/prochrono-digital/


This is the kit to hook it up to a windows laptop.
https://www.competitionelectronics.com/product/prochrono-digital-usb/
$40

Bought a cheap $120 Acer laptop to use with it. Much cheaper in case it get broken than my phone.
(not only that I like leaving the phone in the car at the range so oppsss, sorry work left my phone in the car:D)
Click to expand...
my laptop draped out about two months ago, just don't have the money to fix it or think it's worth fixing. Thanks for the info I think the kind with the display will be fine tho.
 
Never asked them but I understand they will replace them for 1/2 price if they die from Lead poisoning.
(chronos tend to do that.....mine hasn't yet but I hear stories about it)
 
Last edited:
Dudedog said:
Never asked them but I understand they wil replace them for 1/2 price if they die from Lead poisoning.
(chronos tend to do that.....mine hasn't yet but I hear stories about it)
Click to expand...
Ya I think I've seen that, I believe there's a guy who repairs them to. The kit with the stand would be nice,
 
Dudedog said:
Never asked them but I understand they wil replace them for 1/2 price if they die from Lead poisoning.
(chronos tend to do that.....mine hasn't yet but I hear stories about it)
Click to expand...
I lost one early this year. She was old and I put her down.
To the OP, I have a Chrony Beta with the remote (cable) display. Does the basics and also allows you to download to your PC for inserting into a spread sheet, if you’re into keeping records.
 
I have used the Competition Pro Digital for a little while, putting hundreds of rounds over it. Very easy to use. You can record up to 9 strings, with, IIRC, 99 readings per string. Automatically saves for later retrieval. It's sidelined right now with lead poisoning. I haven't contacted Competition yet about repairs.
https://www.amazon.com/Competition-Electronics-538002-SSI-ProChrono-Chronograph/dp/B0028MTBJ4


Bought a Chrony Beta Master off someone at this forum. Pretty slick setup. Compact travel size. A little tricky setting up the diffusers. Nice readout/memory module separate from the sensors, that connects with a phone Jack style cable. I have only taken this out once to the range.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015307343


I think the Chrony Gamma Master includes a printer.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015307623
 
Richard Jay King said:
https://dawsonprecision.com/ced-m2-chronograph/

I do not have one of these but I do use their light screens on a chrono of my own deisgn and they are most excellent! I would think the whole unit would be just as good..
Click to expand...
Memory storage has been expanded 500% from 220 velocities to over 1,000 stored velocities. Stored string size can range from a single velocity up to 500 velocities and up to 500 different strings.
Click to expand...

Wow, 500 strings. That's a lot of shootin'. :)
 
I use my cheapest one most often because it stays with me the most.

it was $20 with a coupon years ago and add a momentary push button to a headphone plug and it has more features.

Still, need a pen an paper though.

 
I have a Chrony Beta, $40 from a friend. I’ve choreographed most of my black powder pistols with it. I think it holds up to 30 shots in memory. 10ft telephone type cord

Edit: Reading the second line. I taught the shots to dance. Freaking spell checker. :rofl:
 
Last edited:
I have the ProChrono Digital that I picked up on sale for just shy of $100.

I haven't had issues with it not picking up shots on sunny days but I've come to the conclusion that it can't divide time fine enough to distinguish less than 5 fps. I have no reason to think the mean velocity is off because downrange results pretty much line up with ballistic calculators, but it makes calculated SD highly suspect and ES only slightly less so.

I heard LabRadar is about to have a sale soon.
 
I've have the CE ProChrono with a BT adapter on the side, for 5+ yrs now. So if you ever think you want to collect the data the BT is the way to go. The only time I have had problem collecting data was when I mounted it too close, and very late in the day. I set mine up at 15' for rifle, 10' for pistol. I've only had it miss data once as the sun was going down. I use the sun screens at all times mainly because it gives you the window for where you want the bullet to pass over/through. I spend a little extra time setting mine up so I don't want it to suffer lead poisoning.

On a side note the spiders are really bad where I live. I have to keep the optic windows covered when not in use. Or a spider will make it it's home. Even setting it up and using I normally find spiders starting to make their web using the sun screen supports. This is normally less than a 2 hr session.
 
Howland said:
I have the ProChrono Digital that I picked up on sale for just shy of $100.

I haven't had issues with it not picking up shots on sunny days but I've come to the conclusion that it can't divide time fine enough to distinguish less than 5 fps. I have no reason to think the mean velocity is off because downrange results pretty much line up with ballistic calculators, but it makes calculated SD highly suspect and ES only slightly less so.
Click to expand...
The newer ProChronoDLX has a "faster" clock and seems to chronograph below the 5fps resolution you describe.
 
Here's another good review for the CE Prochrono. The only time it didn't pick up shots when I tried to use it in a light drizzle. Otherwise a solid performer.

I did add on the bluetooth adaptor which is a slick piece of equipment to have.

Edit: I just checked a bunch of bluetooth results saved on my phone and it seems my unit has a 1 fps resolution.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
Budget chronograph?
Replies
14
Views
519
Okie_Poke
Okie_Poke
21H40
Favorite Chronograph? Why?
2 3
Replies
57
Views
2K
kcofohio
kcofohio
W
  • Locked
Chronograph?
Replies
22
Views
1K
Hunter0924
H
Tim A Marcia
  • Locked
Chronograph recommendations?
2
Replies
47
Views
3K
LoonWulf
LoonWulf
L
  • Locked
Chronograph question
2
Replies
43
Views
1K
Dudedog
Dudedog
Back
Top