Chronograph?

[Fullthrottle]

Ok after reloading for six years now, I need a chronograph to do anything better than I have at this point!

Any ones you folks recommend? I am not looking for much more than velocity and have been looking at the Shooting Chrony as an affordable option.


Any thoughts?

[nemesiss45]

I have a chrony beta master and it works just fine. there was a thread just like this within the past few weeks if you scroll down a bit you will find a lot of opinions on the subject.

[Doc Hoy]

Had two high end Shooting Chrony units and had trouble with both. Too finicky

Even sent one of them back for the 38.00 rehab. Came back no better than it was when I sent it to them

I know that is sacrilege. It seems that I am the only guy out there who had any problem at all with Shooting Chrony. I have had guys tell me I was too close to the muzzle. I have had guys tell me I was using the sun shields wrong. I have had guys tell me I was wearing the wrong tee shirt. Been there. Done that. Can't get them to work for me.

The CED worked the first time and has been working ever since. I get very few errors readings. Have to keep a new battery for it. Don't try to use the worthless software. Paper and Pencil is better.

[Nukeranger]

Try Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital Chronograph below:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/852...ProductFinding

mine works great

[Unclenick]

Here's a link to the recent thread. In that, I also recommend the CED M2. I also have an Oehler 35P and find the Millennium (mine is the older model) matches its readings well. Bryan Litz mentions having a similar experience with these two machines in his book. RSI says a German military study of chronographs for armorers that found the CED matched their Doppler radar readings most closely of all models tested.

That said, the reviews at Midway are mixed, looking like QC issues. It appears that if you get one that's working well, it's great, but that you can also get a lemon. The advice in one review was be ready to test is as soon as it arrives so you stay inside Midway's return policy window. I think I would read those reviews, then buy a unit from RSI, just in case Midway recycles its returns. It'll also give you a chance to talk to Jim Ristow and ask if he's had problems with returns. I know he did stop carrying the CED pocket scale because of that, though the one I got is terrific. He said that's the issue. You got a good one or you didn't. Since he still carries their chronograph, I'm assuming it hasn't given him that kind of grief, but you can check.

I did notice one negative Midway review in which the buyer complained about an error in the fixed 18" sensor spacing. The CED spacing is 24", so this fellow clearly was having issues with someone else's chronograph unit and put his review in the wrong place.

[chris in va]

I've had good luck with my ProChrono. It likes a cloudy day the best, and pretty much quits as the sun gets lower in the sky. It's quite accurate though.

[Fullthrottle]

Thanks for all the opinions/advice!

I will look closer at the CED M2. I am really going blind into the chronograph, I truly do not know where to go for this info, that is why I am asking here on one of the best reloading forums!


One more question if I may, is the sun shade on most if not all chronographs needed for blue skies? In other words isn't the purpose of them to give a contrast to the darker bullet?

[Nick_C_S]

I got the Shooting Chrony Beta Master from Midway last year.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/244...ProductFinding

I set it up. I turn it on. I get my readings. I tear it down. I take it home.

Nothing exciting to report - which is exactly what I look for in a chronograph. It reliably gives me the information I need without any hiccups. Used it yesterday, in fact.

If I accidentally shoot it someday; I'll be on Midway ordering an identical unit within an hour.

[Doc Hoy]

The only thing that is downrange are the sensors.

If you shoot one they are less expensive to replace than the total package in those which are designed to have all of the electronics integrated with the traps.

I nicked my M2 start trap but it still works.

[MILLERTIME]

I like my Beta Master Chrony. I read good things about the Caldwell chrony on another forum. It interfaces to your smartphone.

[Unclenick]

Originally Posted by Fullthrottle

One more question if I may, is the sun shade on most if not all chronographs needed for blue skies? In other words isn't the purpose of them to give a contrast to the darker bullet? ]

They devices on the chronograph are not meant to act as shades, except incidentally. Rather, they are diffusers. The idea is they catch sunlight from different angles and become bright, so you don't need the sun lined up straight overhead for the machine to operate. The sensitivity of the sensors is adjusted to allow for the attenuated brightness the use of the diffusers results in.

[Nick_C_S]

The idea is they catch sunlight from different angles and become bright, so you don't need the sun lined up straight overhead for the machine to operate.

I've always wondered specifically what is their purpose. Now I get it.

Thanks Unclenick.

[RC20]

As noted in the post mentioned, I have a Chrony and it works fine and cross checks correctly with 22.

Its no perfect, sometimes no reading and I had a guy shooting a magnum nest to me last week that the blast from his gun showed up as a 1700 fps reading.

No big deal to sort out, mine does not print and as noted its easier to keep track of with (lead pencil!) and paper.

I would call it a good low coast option, get the remote reading head (phone cord connection).

[Nick_C_S]

mine does not print and as noted its easier to keep track of with lead pencil and paper.

Me too.

I've got my clipboard with my excel spreadsheet. I hand record every reading. I'm just old-school that way. I have a file folder with every chronograph trip to the range. I don't want a printer.

When I get home, I transfer the results (average, extreme spread, standard deviation) to another spreadsheet where the computations are available for use.

I'm sure there's a "better" way that excel wizards can do. But this works well for me.

[arizona98tj]

Another recommendation for the CED M2. Here is my CED M2 review.

[PawPaw]

I love mine and use it frequently. I use a Chrony and have had very few issues with it. But, I caution all folks who want to buy a chronograph that there are only two types of chronograph owners. Those who have shot their chronograph and those who will shoot their chronograph.



I'm just sayin'.

[Nick_C_S]

There are only two types of chronograph owners. Those who have shot their chronograph and those who will shoot their chronograph.

I was told that exact same thing by a range guest when I was chronographing last Monday.

So far, I'm in the "will shoot" group.

[Doc Hoy]

A Shooting Chrony which I shot accidentally, then another Shooting Chrony, then the CED which I also shot accidentally. Shot my second Shooting Chrony on purpose.

Only nicked the M2 so it still works.

[totaldla]

I've had a bunch of Chronys over the years - the Alpha Master is my favorite. But the Chrony design is getting a bit old and in serious need of a refresh. I would like to see a bluetoother interface to my smart phone, and I would like to see the skyscreen support rods moved off of the sensors.


A clever fellow can put a boo-boo plate on the front (I wasn't so clever). Also using them upside down and/or sideways helps their survivability.

[Clark]

I shot holes in (2) $80 shooting Chronys.
Then I switched brands and shot a hole in a $100 Pro Chrono.

I realized my poor handgun marksmanship was only getting off ~ 10 short per chronograph.

So I just chronographed rifles, and my 4th chronograph, another $100 Pro Chrono has lasted ~~ 10 years.

Recently I started shooting handguns over my chrono. I shoot a group to find the angle of my bullet spray, and then shoot over the chrono with the appropriate safety margin.

I find that the Pro Chrono triggers more reliably the the Shooting Chrony, but I only have 4 anecdotes, and the trigger threshold could be changed with a resistor value. I have not modified one yet, but I could put a potentiometer on a chrono and have adjustable trigger threshold. Turn the knob to get between false trips and no trips.

[Pond, James Pond]

I have the same model as the one recommended by Nukeranger.

I like it.

My only grips is a few Err (error) readings now and again, but that could have been due to my shooting too close to the chrono.

The only mishaps have been the fact that I have shot one of the disperser rods with a .44 Mag.
Twice.
The same one.

It straightened out OK from an impressive 78 degree kink.

That also flipped the chrono right off its stand, tripod and all, and it still worked fine...

[hdbiker]

I bought a Shooting Chrony Beta model about 12 yeas ago.I used it quite a lot working up loads and it always gave me trouble on bright days when the sun was high.Very aggravating.Last summer while working with a .243 I nicked one of the screen rods trying to get it to respond and it died.I'm glad,I should have shot it years ago !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hdbiker

[Armed_Chicagoan]

I just ordered a Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph. It connects to a smartphone (iOS or Android) via a cable to the phone jack. The app is free.

Anyone here tried this model yet, or am I the guinea pig? Play Store says the app has only been downloaded 500-1000 times, so it's a fairly new product.

Hopefully I won't shoot it the first time I try to use it.

[jimbob86]

I love mine and use it frequently. I use a Chrony and have had very few issues with it. But, I caution all folks who want to buy a chronograph that there are only two types of chronograph owners. Those who have shot their chronograph and those who will shoot their chronograph.

There is a third type- those who own one and never use it much ....

I'm of the first type btw......

[44 AMP]

I got one of the Chrony's when they were still a fairly new thing, and the price had come down to $100.

learned a few things about them, and especially about my guns & loads.

One of the things I learned was, allowing for individual differences in guns, velocities tracked right on with what my loading manuals listed. Also learned that different guns, with the same barrel length, shooting the same ammo can have 100fps variation in actual velocity. 100fps is uncommon, but it does happen. A smaller (often much smaller) difference is common, and usual, but even 100fps isn't unheard of. A larger difference is very rare.

After a friend put a bullet through the plastic part with the "window" in it (at the bottom of the shoot through window, just above the actual device), I mounted it on the end of a 2x8, and made a rest for the gun on the other end. Made things rather cumbersome to move (not an issue at the time), and did seem to help, as we never shot the actual device using this set up.

I still have the Chrony, somewhere, but haven't used it in years....