Chronograph recommendations

[imperials]

I'm in the market to buy a chronograph and been doing a little research on them but I've been reading a lot of mixed reviews on almost all of them. If there is a good review on one... then right after there is two reviews saying how bad it is and not worth the money. I'm looking for a basic chrono. I don't need a printer or huge amount of memory and I don't have $600 for a Oehler. I just need to work up my pistol rounds for IDPA type shooting and to match factory type performance out of my 223/556. I've been looking at the Chrony's and CED's. can I get some opinions????

[XDRoX]

I had a Chrony and it sucked. Missed shots all day long and gave false readings. I have an Oehler now and love it. So I'd skip the Chrony and get a CED.

But some guys around here have and like the Chrony's so maybe I just got a bad one.

[Don the savage]

I saw some guys using a magneto speed down a pala and it looked awesome for rifle and revolver(attaches to the barrel with velcro) but useless for pistol. Available at brownells.

[Divernhunter]

Whatever you buy I suggest getting one that the sky-screens are seperate from the rest of it. I have had a Oehler for years and like it. Kind of like optics. Get what you pay for. I was at the range and a guy had one next to me(do not remember the brand) and his would not work unless he put a large shade over it. Then it still was hit and miss. Mine was working perfectly without.

[diver160651]

I'm in the market to buy a chronograph and been doing a little research on them but I've been reading a lot of mixed reviews on almost all of them. If there is a good review on one... then right after there is two reviews saying how bad it is and not worth the money. I'm looking for a basic chrono. I don't need a printer or huge amount of memory and I don't have $600 for a Oehler. I just need to work up my pistol rounds for IDPA type shooting and to match factory type performance out of my 223/556. I've been looking at the Chrony's and CED's. can I get some opinions????

http://forum.snipershide.com/s4-sniper%92s-hide%AE-equipment/187486-chronograph.html

Try rifles only in this thread.. The two best are the acoustic shooters chronograph, for ease no poi shift and down range possibilities but no sub sonic loads and the magneto, but poi shifts


Jt

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Slixxster]

I have a CED ProChrono Digital and it works great, reads all my pistol and rifle rounds and i didn't have any issue with sun, Bright, hot sunny day and read to my expectation. My buddy Chrony Beta wouldn't read my .45acp or .44mag and kept erroring out.

[mark501w]

PAC makes a good one no frills 100.00. Crony nice compact have to use shades little over100.00 depending on options.

[RugerNo1]

I have the CED. Neat thing about it is that you can easily replace the sensors or sky screens after you, or a friend, shoots it.

Or, you can just blame it on your friend.

[stilly]

I'm in the market to buy a chronograph and been doing a little research on them but I've been reading a lot of mixed reviews on almost all of them. If there is a good review on one... then right after there is two reviews saying how bad it is and not worth the money. I'm looking for a basic chrono. I don't need a printer or huge amount of memory and I don't have $600 for a Oehler. I just need to work up my pistol rounds for IDPA type shooting and to match factory type performance out of my 223/556. I've been looking at the Chrony's and CED's. can I get some opinions????

wow! 600 for an oehler! SOLD!

Chrony has been around for a long time. With that said, I THINK they are also canadian yes? eh? They were KIND of okay for paintball. But I do not like them from my own use of a red one for a while. I have a competition electronics pro digital chronograph that I got for $106 and it is kinda good, but lately I have been wondering if it is real or false in the data it gives me.

I have heard good things about CED and PACT2 or whatever thems are. I would look at the CED. Magnetos are good too, but not meant for moving pistol parts. HOWEVER, they told me they were making an adapter to use the magneto with most pistols, like a stand or something.

Good luck, Here is what I would do, Go look at ALL of the reviews and ratings on midwayusa and amazon for the different models you would consider. Add them up and may the best man win. Hey, it is ONLY a chrono, then get it and let us know how it works, then add your own reviews...

[Zenja]

Ive been using an inexpensive $100 chrony for years with great results
Z

[imperials]

Direct from the oehler site:

Production of the legendary Model 35P was resumed in 2010 and is continuing.

For your convenience, we pack a Model 35P Chronograph with printer and three Skyscreen III detectors, a four-foot mounting rail, and two folding stands in a hard-side case. It's ready to work.

The complete system price is $575 with $20 shipping for domestic UPS ground.

Price: $ 575.00


Here is the link:

http://www.oehler-research.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.15.exe/online-store/scstore/p-M35-P.html?L+scstore+swbl4048ffda53da+1373618527

[Wrangler John]

Back in the early 1980's I purchased an Oehler Model 33 chronograph. It set me back $180, (the equivalent of $508 today) a substantial sum of money for me, but I used the money from selling an article to Guns and Ammo to pay for it. It worked flawlessly since, and still does when I drag it out from nostalgia. In those days the sky screens used strips of plastic film and black venetian blind slats for diffusers, sophisticated stuff. I eventually replaced the original sky screens for the new model with purpose built diffusers.

About three or four years ago when Oheler reintroduced the Model 35P with the three screen proof channel and printer, I had to have one. After all, the 35P is two chronographs in one. I missed out on the original when they stopped manufacturing them and kicked myself ever since. The 35P uses a 9volt battery and has storage for a spare, while the old 33 used a collection of D cells, making it heavy, but with fantastic battery life. While expensive, the Oehler product is built to last and very accurate, and the printer cranks out little tapes with all the data for each load. With the old 33 I had to push the summary button and write down each number.

Both suffered from the same problems that plague all optical chronographs. Muzzle blast from the rifle or pistol tested or from neighboring shooters can interfere with the screens or electronics causing data loss. Oehler mentioned the necessity of protecting the electronic unit from blast, so I piled the range sandbags around it. Then there is the light. I would begin early in the morning, with everything working properly, but toward the afternoon the sun would creep behind the firing line shed placing the screens in shadow signalling the end of choreographing for the day. If the day was overcast, high velocity small caliber bullets may not register, so I'd have to remove the diffusers to get more light.

The biggest drawback is setting it up and taking it down. I'd have to arrive early at the range and get the screens set up 15" from the muzzle, then align everything with the target and the rifle. Once shooting began adjustments were only possible during cease fire periods. Same with breakdown, pull the target and juggle the screen setup back behind the firing line. In this regard the Chrony is easier.

Then came the Magnetospeed Chronograph. It attaches to the muzzle, does not rely on light at all, muzzleblast is of no concern as the bayo sensor is placed in the blast zone, and it can be set up and down during a firing period.There is no paper tape as the data is stored on a mini-SD card and uploaded to Excel on my desktop or laptop computer. Plus the entire thing fits in my range box. Now the Oehler's sit at home.

Which is best? If you can't afford an Oehler, and the Magnetospeed won't work for a pistol (you'd have to construct a custom mount and place the bayo on a rest) then get what you can afford. I just don't like any design that places the electronics down range, so that would suggest the CED M2 as the preferred choice.

[Cheep]

I have 2 Chrony's, 1 with a remote. They work good for the money.

[EL_NinO619]

Got this one and it works great. Competition Electronics ProChrono $99. I just order the software and cable to control remotely and display strings, power factor, ft/lbs, hi/low, avg etc. So for a $150 you get a great chrono with remote and software to track and display information. A+

[mark501w]

Good simple machine.