I want a Chronograph--Which one, why, and features, please

[CITADELGRAD87]

OK, I searched the forums and learned a little.

I have a budget of about $200, give or take.

I am getting into reloading in earnest, I have a single stage for precision rifle and just picked up a Dillon 550b for volume.

I think I need a chrono, and am looking at the CED Millennium, but I know very little about what I NEED in a chrono, what is NICE in a chrono, and what I DON'T need in a chrono.

No local shops have any. THey are easy enough to find on line, but I need an education.

Thanks.

[jem375]

for the money mentioned probably the Pact would be a good choice......I like mine, bought it from Midway years ago.........

[Larry Ashcraft]

I got the CED Millenium last year based on comments on this forum. So far it looks like I made the right choice.

Features I like:
1) It does all the figuring for you, including power factor, important if you shoot competition.
2) It has a speaker function, handy if you are shooting by yourself (OK its kind of a "fluff" feature, but I like it anyway).
3) Easy transport (if you get the optional carry bag) and easy set up.
4) Their customer service is stellar. My first one wouldn't work, and they next-day-aired me a new one and trusted me to send the bad one back.
5) 9 volt battery lasts forever (if you don't use the speaker function much).

Features I don't like:
1) Can't think of any.

[Jeeper]

I have a PACT that has a printer which is really nice to have. THe balistic calculator is also really nice.

[rick_reno]

I use an old Oehler - I paid $75 for it (used) a few years ago. I saw an Oehler 35p for sale cheap last week on one of the bullseye lists I read. If you look/ask around - you can find them. At the range I rangemaster at - most people have those little ones from Chrony 1. They work too, but I wonder about the accuracy given the screens look like they're about 2 feet apart. I set the Oehler screens at 8 feet. In the booklet that came with mine it states accuracy error is no more than .3% if the screens are placed 9 or 10 feet, and no more than .5% if the screens are placed 4 or 5 feet. Even if that drops to 1% or 2% if the screens are set really close it's still not bad. Error sources are frequency of clock, time resolution of the counter, error in screen spacing, computation errors and any error contributed to by the screens themselves. It doesn't say what happens when they get as close as the Chrony 1 appears to place them. Maybe those little ones have very good timing clocks/oscillators - I don't know.
What I like about this one is the summary button - where after firing up to 25 shots I can get low velocity, high velocity, extreme spread, average velocity and standard deviation. This function is very useful. This one has everything I need.

[Peter M. Eick]

Do a search back on chrono's and you will find my query on the topic.

I was convinced to get a 35P (thanks to the wife) and it has been great. I run 20 shots strings on it and have never had a problem. Excellent and worth every penny to me.

[10mm]

I just bought a Shooting Chrony, I think it was the Beta model for like $120 from www.natchezss.com I have only used it once so far but it worked great and since at this point I am just checking and recording velocity it works great for me. All of the shooting chrony models are upgradle so you can make it better in the future if you want to, things like a detachable LCD screen and printer -- things like that.

[Southla1]

If you are willing to spend the cash eithe an Oehler or a PACT is an option. If you want to save money for the actual shooting and are willing to use a pencil and forgo some of the extra bells and whistles a Shooting Chrony is the way to gO.

I have the Shooting Chrony bare bones modle and it works fine. It is accurate, reliable, and dependable, but you have to use a pencil and do some of the math yourself. For me I enjoy doing things like that plus the money I saved bought some extra powder and primers.

[Frohickey]

There is the Pact Mark 4 Timer with Chronograph, and sky shields. It goes for $200.

[Norm Lee]

Let me jump on the Chrony bandwagon! I'm on number 3 (don't ask). Finally wised up and bought a refurbished model. Very inexpensive. And I'm sufficiently computer literate that I can get all those nice statistical things whenever I want. Do have to actually write down the numbers, though.

Mine is accurate enough that I dare go to Area matches and Section Championships with ammo whose PF is 166 and a bit (against a floor of 165).

Cheers,

Norm

[dodgestdshift]

Citadelgrad:

Chrony has a chrono for every real need. They are small and easy to transport (fold to the size of a small brick). All you need is a camera tripod. I have the cheapest, it goes for about $70, and it has been everything I have needed for about 10 yrs. The only thing is if you shoot too low you are in the market for a new one. After about 10 years I have never hit it (knock on wood). It also can have difficulties with bright sunlight with cloudless skies, but I suspect all chronos have this problem. I get around this trouble by setting up in the shade. This seems to help.

[mbott]

Just took delivery of a Master Beta Chrony from Midway. Felt it was time to start reloading all the .30-06 LC/HXP brass I've been saving. Grand total with shipping was just over $106.00. I'll start this weekend with gathering numbers on the M2 ball I have to set a baseline: both LC and the Greek I still have on hand. With 2,500+ cases ready to prime, I should be able to keep myself busy for a while.

--
Mike

[euclid]

Another vote for the Shooting Chrony. I too have the Beta Master model. It has a mobile/seperate LCD display, will hold up to six strings of 10 shots and it will calculate Vmin, Vmax, Vavg, Std Dev and Extreme Spread for each string. A great deal at a little over $100.00.

cheers

[cheygriz]

Oehler is the standard by which all chronographs are judged.

Sure they cost more, but top of the line always does. Whenever making a decision on purchasing a product, I try to remember the old Italian proverb: "cheapa u buy, cheapa u get."

I'm sure there are other chronographs that work well, but with the Oehler, you get the machine that ballistic labs, commercial reloaders and government agencies use and trust.

Besides, there's a certain amount of, shall I say, "snob appeal" to an Oehler. For a reloder to say "I use an Oehler" is like a car enthusiast saying: "I drive a Lamborghini."

[Fatelvis]

I think any of the Chrony models would be fine for the majority of us here. They`re inexpensive, and accurate enough for load development, and general curiousity.

[uglymofo]

I'm another on the $100 Chrony Master Beta bandwagon. Seems to be accurate enough for my needs. I used it to develop two loads each for two different rifles for 1000yd shooting. My comeup results were very close to computer predictions, so I guess it's accurate enough. Next time I get a chance to shoot through an Oehler, I'll try and remember to report.

The only problem I've had is a sensitivity to direct sunlight. I cured that "permanently" by laying a piece of black vinyl over the top and clamping it to the support rods with those office paper clamps. It's 32"x23". I drape it over the top of the white plastic shields, 23" front to back, allowing the 32" for side to side coverage to block the sun from affecting it at oblique angles. I support the center by sliding a wooden dowel between the shields and the vinyl so the vinyl won't droop over the center of the shooting 'hole'. I can shoot all day and never adjust for sunlight.

[Futo Inu]

Thanks for the thread guys - very helpful. Master Beta - tee hee.

[sricciardelli]

Chrony Gamma Master...