Chronographs

[CNC_Apps_Guy]

Since this is a Long Range section of the forum... Chronographs. Any brands to stay away from? It's pretty much a forgone conclusion that having one is mandatory.

Thanks.

[castgold]

I tried out a friend's Chrony and it was a bit complicated and awkward to set up. It provided the data I needed and then some, but I ended up buying one made by Competition Electronics it was much simpler to get set up and running.

[Fjold]

I like a unit that sits on the bench next to me, instead of having the readout down range. I like to fiddle with the numbers between shots and even on a private range it's a pain to get up and scroll through the options. At a public range it would be impossible.

I have a PACT model 1 that I bought in the early 80's that just quit working, it worked great for years and gave all the necessary information such as Standard Deviation, mean average deviation, etc.

Since it's so old PACT doesn't support the software anymore and none of their new parts will retrofit it. I'm waiting to get a discount code from Midway to order a new one.

[kcstott]

I have a Chrony and don't agree with it being complex to set up and get running.

You still have to set it on a bench or tripod like the pro chrono

You still need to use sky screens like the pro chrono. Now if your buddy was using the printer well he could have not use it an made the set up easier

Here's the deal the Chrony Chono is about the best you can get for the money

and My next Chrono is going to be a Chrony Beta master and I'm going to pay for the memory up grade.
Total cost with upgrade and trade in of my old Chrony F1 $140 shipped.

Two I would not waste my money on a Pact as the customer service there is horrible.

Three the CED chrono has enough bad reviews that I would pass it also looks very poorly constructed and cheep wouldn't last long in a range environment.

If I had the money and the need I'd buy a Ohler and be done.

That said I can Highly recommend a Shooting chrony or the Pro Chrono
I have experience with both and they both work good and have great accuracy

The problem with any chronograph is its sensitivity to bright light and they do not work under florescent lights.

Get that problem solved and they function great.

You need to be prepared to shade the chrono on a clear bright day.

As for all the memory and computer downloading and BS I don't have a use for it. When I found out that SAAMI throughs out the last two digits of any chrono reading they get it kind of cleared things up.

See SAMMI when they publish Pressure and velocity data they just round it off to the nearest +/-90 fps so measuring to the foot per second is over kill.

Building loads for say a .308, 30-06, or 300 win mag you should be concerned with is the load 2700 fps or 2800 fps not is it 2728 or 2788
Because the difference from shot to shot even with the best ammo money can buy when you are in the 3000 FPS range being +/- 50 FPS is perfectly fine.
This is the proof ammo that SAAMI uses and supplies to proof weapons and loads when arms and ammo manufactures request it. it's also the reference ammo used to calibrate pressure systems for pressure data.

[hung380]

Still waiting for this to be released.

http://www.mylabradar.com/

[CSACANNONEER]

I had a Chrony and it was about the simplest thing ever. I miss it for quick use. I now have an Oehler35P. While it is considered about the best out there, it is big and bulky to store/transport and requires a lot more time to set up.

Ironically, I have never chronographed a single round of the ammo I use to compete with at 1000 yards.

[Rbutler]

look at the magneto speeds. If i had to choose one it would be it. its built for shooters and super easy to setup and use. I believe it also exports to excel for ease of data input.

[ShadowX]

Magnetospeed V3. Pricy but you only need to attach the sensor to your barrel. I have the V2 and it works very well.

[JMP]

No, they are not a "must have". I'd get a Kestrel 4500 with Applied Ballistics software over a chronograph. But, they are cheap enough, you might as well. They can be sensitive to lighting conditions and make sure you shoot straight. My friends use my chronograph more than I do.

[kcstott]

No, they are not a "must have". I'd get a Kestrel 4500 with Applied Ballistics software over a chronograph. But, they are cheap enough, you might as well. They can be sensitive to lighting conditions and make sure you shoot straight. My friends use my chronograph more than I do.

I have to agree, they are not that necessary. The one i do own has been around for 20-25 years it's a chrony F1 and worked great until the sky screen took a hit and it flicked of the cover of the sensor. Oh well. time for a new one anyway

Now that said and since i'm in the market for a new one I just found the Caldwell unit and with the IR screens included for a little over $100 you can't beat it.

It also has one feature that makes it worth the money. YOU CAN PLUG IT INTO YOUR SMART PHONE to get the data off it. Caldwell has a free app now that makes life easy. No more special software, special cables, special settings, to get the data off the damn thing or sit there with pencil and paper and jot everything down. Oh no not anymore just connect the phone and it stores it for you and it does all the averaging and statistics for you as well.

Yep thats my new gizmo but it will at most get used about once a year at the very most.
I think my old Chrono got used about two dozen times in 25 years But sat on the shelf for at least ten year that I know of.

[dskit]

Magneto...no sky screens, no tripods, no going back and forth to make sure the barrel is lined up, no changing results based on whether it's cloudy or sunny.

[spamsucker]

I'm still waiting for labradar to come out http://www.mylabradar.com/ but until then I use a base model chrony. Direct sun, not enough sun, low angle sun, all kinds of little PITA things you figure out but it's still super handy.

[BillyGoatCrawler]

So I just picked up the Caldwell chrono kit. I got it off Amazon a month ago for like $124 shipped, but it has since gone up. Comes with tripod and everything including a case to keep it all together.

The biggest feature I like is that it comes with a 15 foot aux cord that can interface with your smart phone. So, I can have the chrono 15 feet out and have a display at the bench with me. You download a chrono app on yourphone and it logs all the shots and calculates all the stuff like extreme spread, etc. And, the program allows you to email the information to yourself to add to your records.

So far I really like it. One gripe is that it's construction is a slight toy feeling plastic. We will see how it holds up.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/628006/caldwell-ballistic-precision-chronograph-premium-kit?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Midway has it for a good price.

[kcstott]

Magneto...no sky screens, no tripods, no going back and forth to make sure the barrel is lined up, no changing results based on whether it's cloudy or sunny.

something dangling off your barrel to completely screw up your groups

nope no thanks


And you guys realize that every Shooting Chrony can have a remote screen with an 18 foot cord then the brains are in the display not the box but again you should never hit your chrono.

that means get your rifle set up first in a rest that is fixed to the bench then set up the chrono remove the bolt from the weapon and step out in front to see whee the bullet is going to go. lock your tripod down and shoot.
if you get up from the bench, if you move your rest, if you change targets, you need to stop and confirm that you are sit shooting over your chrono not through it.

I think i'm still going to make a housing for my next one out of AR500 to act as a deflector just in case

[CNC_Apps_Guy]

No, they are not a "must have". I'd get a Kestrel 4500 with Applied Ballistics software over a chronograph. But, they are cheap enough, you might as well. They can be sensitive to lighting conditions and make sure you shoot straight. My friends use my chronograph more than I do.

The Ballistic AE app I have wants the muzzle velocity so, without a Chrony am I going to get that number? I apologize in advance if that's a mornic question but I'm kind of at a loss to figure that one out. So in my mind, I kind of need to know that number to figure out other things like bullet drop don't I? Again, if it's a moronic question, I apologize and if someone would be so kind as to point me to a place that will help me figure that out, I would be very appreciative.

What got me thinking about this was the guy posting asking about wanting to make a perfect shot right out of the gate. One shot, one kill in a hunting situation if you will and I didn't want to hijack his topic.

Thanks for the good info folks.