Chronograph

[jvpark]

I'm looking to get a chronograph. Not something I see myself using a lot, so I'm looking to spend around 100-ish.
Few questions.

Do I need to get one that has the diffusers (plastic bars) or can I get one that does not?
What's the best compact version to buy?

How do you set them up and has anyone ever shot the bars?

[stilly]

I have heard some things about different ones. If you are only shooting rifle, I suggest you try a magneto. They attach to your barrel and do not use light, but magnetic thingys instead. They are supposed to be REALLY cool and accurate even for full auto.

They cost around $250 though- BUT, it is worth it.

I have heard good and bad things about MANY of those chronies out there. I think the CED-M2 or whatever is supposed to be good but I have not used one. I picked up one but I forgot what kind it was. It was gray.

Those diffusers usually come with them and they allow the sensors to be somewhat shaded so that they can SEE your bullet travelling overhead instead of having to squint due to the sun being really bright and in their eyes. (make sense? Makes sense to me.)

The problem is that I THINK the CED-M2 or whatever it is called will also run around $200 or so but hey, if you are developing loads, then it is good to have a good machine to test with. I wish I had a better chrony then the one that I have because it acts like me in that half the time I do not know if it is being serious or ****ing with me. I hate it, and I tend to personificate (bushism) items so if it keeps screwing up I will start talking **** to it and then go slap it off the tripod cause it pissed me off and then I have to start all over. I can see why people shoot their chrony and I doubt that it is always an accident. I can't wait to put a 44 mag through my lcd and watch the thing blow to bits some days. When I accidently do that I will be accidently filming that particular load as well and it will be accidently uploaded to you tube to accidently show other chronies what can happen if they keep accidently shaving and adding numbers when they should not be doing it.

Mine is a: Competition Chrony Digital and I got it from Midway for $106 after shipping. If you hurry they have them on sale for $99 until January 31, but you can still find them all over. I got it mainly because I could go to the range and shoot like 10 different loads and it would store them in memory and then I could come home and revidew them and write them down like a good little scientist.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/852429/competition-electronics-prochrono-digital-chronograph

I got it because it had good reviews but as always, when using unregulated light with these things you will have flucuations and errors. ALL chronies that use light will have this issue but some are more refined than others.

IF I had to do it over again I would give this one a try:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/773378/ced-millennium-2-chronograph-system

If it sucked then I would have a look at this one: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/988...acket-and-case

I would stay away from the Chronies line because I used them for paintball and I was not impressed, although it did register my wristrocket as shooting 193 fps at 3' from the yokes...

BTW, you will find many folks saying that the Chronies are good little setups too. If you get one, get the green or higher. The one with the detachable face plate seems to work good.

[Bill Steele]

I have a Magnetospeed (attaches to the barrel) and it gives reliable readings, I don't think I have ever missed a shot when I had the right projectile selected in the setup pages. I love it for testing my shotgun loads as it gives very relaible readings and I don't have to worry about shooting the chrony.

The two downsides with the Magnetospeed is when you use it to do load development, depending on your barrel contour, it can have a pretty big effect on the harmonics, such that a "perfect velocity" for a given bullet may move around some when you take the Magnetospeed bayonet off the barrel and shoot the load. Another negative of the Magnetospeed is it won't work with autoloading handguns.

My conventional CED gave up the ghost a while back, so I got a Prochrono, it has worked flawlessly as well. Here is the unit I got: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/852...al-chronograph

[GeoffLinder]

Shooting Chrony is a very good choice to get started.

http://www.shootingchrony.com/products_SCMMCM.htm

All chrono's typically need sky screens to block ambient light from the pickups. They can work well without them in the shade, but they are more reliable when you use the sky screens.

[stilly]

I have a Magnetospeed (attaches to the barrel) and it gives reliable readings, I don't think I have ever missed a shot when I had the right projectile selected in the setup pages. I love it for testing my shotgun loads as it gives very relaible readings and I don't have to worry about shooting the chrony.

The two downsides with the Magnetospeed is when you use it to do load development, depending on your barrel contour, it can have a pretty big effect on the harmonics, such that a "perfect velocity" for a given bullet may move around some when you take the Magnetospeed bayonet off the barrel and shoot the load. Another negative of the Magnetospeed is it won't work with autoloading handguns.

My conventional CED gave up the ghost a while back, so I got a Prochrono, it has worked flawlessly as well. Here is the unit I got: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/852...al-chronograph

Figures you would have one of those magnetos. I think they might work with a Desert Eagle because the barrel does not move and they said they were working on something that might attach to the picatinny rail of other handguns but that will still leave a lot of guns out, like any of my older 9mm and .380 and whatever else.

Hey how do you get your prochrono to work right? I have used mine flawlessly in the morning when it was bright and sunny WITHOUT the diffusers and then in the evening without them, it gained about 15-50 or so fps on each shot so that finally I had lilgun 44 mag loads hitting at 1700-2000+ fps per shot. Almost perfect 15 step increments.

Whats yer secret? :? Other times when I SHOULD have used the diffusers and I did they failed to register shots so when I took them off they worked fine. Now the front of mine has a few powder burns (which is why they make the removeable face I think) and it has crapped its pants once or twice but it is still kicking...

[Na-vah-duh]

Pro-Chrony is nice. It's generally $99.99 on sale. I've been happy with it. + They have a semi "warranty" on breaking it as well. Its not a matter if you'll shoot it but when!

[Bill Steele]

Figures you would have one of those magnetos. I think they might work with a Desert Eagle because the barrel does not move and they said they were working on something that might attach to the picatinny rail of other handguns but that will still leave a lot of guns out, like any of my older 9mm and .380 and whatever else.

Hey how do you get your prochrono to work right? I have used mine flawlessly in the morning when it was bright and sunny WITHOUT the diffusers and then in the evening without them, it gained about 15-50 or so fps on each shot so that finally I had lilgun 44 mag loads hitting at 1700-2000+ fps per shot. Almost perfect 15 step increments.

Whats yer secret? :? Other times when I SHOULD have used the diffusers and I did they failed to register shots so when I took them off they worked fine. Now the front of mine has a few powder burns (which is why they make the removeable face I think) and it has crapped its pants once or twice but it is still kicking...

I have heard that they would come up with a mount for the Magnetospeed for semi's, but I have looked at the problem and can't figure how you would do it, you need the bayonet to be really close to the flight of the bullet (unlike an optical chrony). Not being the most creatove guy in the world, I am not saying they won't come up with a mount, just that I couldn't figure how to do it.

On my Prochrony, I always use the diffusers and have used it in cloudy, bright sun, shade and even the rain the other day (light rain, when it really started to come down I took it down at the cease fire). I set it up about 20' away from the muzzle, so no powder burns, although I have not shot any hot H110 loads out of my shorty .44RM either . I don't think it would work indoors, but that doesn't matter as the indoor ranges I shoot at never allow anyone forward of the line.

[GeoffLinder]

The Pact MKIV is the one I like best.

http://pact.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=34

It is not only a chrono, but is a great shot timer too. What I really like about it is that the electronics stay back at the bench with you and the display is right in your face. This means you only have cheap and easily replaceable sky screens and sensors downrange :-)

[NiteQwill]

I have the magnetospeed. Great chrono. Downside is lack of support for semiautos.

It's damn reliable and easy to use, too.

[Fyathyrio]

CED M2 is nice, and I've never had to threaten it with harsh language and physically abuse it. I didn't want to spend that much either ($200), but the multiple positive reviews sold me. Yes, I do use the screens, they came with, and I've managed to not shoot them yet. When I do, they are roughly $20 to replace. The computer and readout are separate, so anything else on the chrony I may eventually shoot is also inexpensively replaced. Hook up to the computer with USB cord, download and copy to Excel, or just keep the raw data. Has a large amount of shot data storage (I forget how much) that will not be lost when turned off. Besides reliably capturing my reloads, it's even captured the pellet velocity from my Gamo air rifle.

Convince a reloading friend he needs one, then borrow it!

[Clownpuncher]

I have the Shooting Chrony Beta Master. I got it for Christmas and have taken it out twice. It works great and folds up into a compact little set up. I put some of that blue painters tape on the bars so I knew where to aim through. I got a little too close to it and it registered the muzzle blast out of my .45. Said I was shooting 3200 fps LOL. As long as you follow the directions it works great. It has the diffusers, from what I read it's mostly for sunny days so it can "see" the bullet. I really like the detachable face of the Beta Master. It's nice to have the readout right there with you and you can clear it or skip shots without going up to the unit itself, which if you are on a range usually involves a cease fire.
Overall, for $130, I think it was a good investment.

[Horton Fenty]

I currently have a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital and love it. Very simple to set up and use. More importantly it always works and has never given me a hard time over lighting conditions. Usually can be found on sale, like now, for $99.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/852429/competition-electronics-prochrono-digital-chronograph

Before that I had a Shooting Chrony Alpha Master and the thing was almost worthless. Pain in the butt to set up and constantly gave me issues unless the stars and planets where in complete alignment.

At some point your probably going to shoot your chronograph, I've killed one. That's reason enough not to go out and buy the nicest most expensive unit. Always use a target close behind the chrony to keep your aim tight. A lot of people, myself included, replace the metal diffuser rods with wooden dowels. That will save your chrony from damage when you do finally hit one.

[Wrangler John]

I have the Magnetospeed chronograph along with two Oehler models. Never again will I mess with a photoelectric chronograph. Best advantage is mounting and dismounting the Magnetospeed during a firing period, and never having to align the sky screens again. No cords to tangle or stand to mess with. Best part is that it never runs out of light as shadows pass over the screens, or records errors when nearby muzzle blast triggers the screens.

I was toying with the idea of buying a second bayo to mount on a front rifle/pistol rest that would align the barrel with the sensor, it doesn't have to be mounted on the barrel itself, but I so seldom chronograph handgun loads it wouldn't be worth the effort. Overall the Magnetospeed is far more practical than the old photoelectric models.