Judging by the reviews on Midway, just about all of them are pieces of junk... ;D
Sooooooooooooo...give me recommendations on a chronograph that provides good value & quality results.
Oehler 35P if you want to spend the bucks. Othewise, the ProChrono Digital will get the job done for most. I've had both and the ProChrono is what I am using now. I sold the Oehler on E-Bay when people were willing to pay three times what they are worth.
Charlie
laportecharlie
I have a PACT...could not be happier. Get the infared version.
So far, I've had good results from my Beta Chrony. It replaced my 14 year old PACT that went belly up.
Vietnam Vet, Jun 66 - Dec 67
The problem most have is with poor lighting conditions. Most of them need to be used in direct sun light. That was the issue with the Prochrono I had. Days with heavy clouds would lead to 5,000 fps readings with a .22lr. All I wanted one for was to see how consistent my reloading practices were as I had no interest in knowing how fast they were shooting. Once I saw what I needed to see I sold it and put the money towards more useful reloading and shooting supplies.
CED2 is the one I chose and I love it.
I've got a Pact Model 1 XP that I've had for 10 years. If sun was directly overhead it would read about 50% of the time. Most times, just err after err after err. Sent it back 3 times and finally after the 3rd time they replaced the head unit and very seldom get an err but most times it just won't read at all. We have a covered bench that faces due West. Can't use it until after about 1pm and it quits working after 4 pm due to the angle of the sun in Texas this time of year. I built a coffin to put it in and bought the infra-red sky screens and thought that would fix the problem. Won't detect anything over about 1700 fps. Shoot a .45 pistol across it and it works fine but won't detect a .308 bullet at 2900 fps. Used night mode on camera and could not detect any infra-red light coming from sensors, so I called Pact, to see what wavelength leds they used. Guy didn't have a clue but said you should be able to see a red glow from the 1 LED in the sensor. In total darkness there was a red glow so I assume its working as they designed it just won't work outside unless it's totally dark. I assume any external infra-red will overpower the 1 LED and make it worthless. I put the regular sensors back on it and ordered some LED lighting to put over diffusers. Still won't read anything over about 1700 fps. I've used it shop with incandescent lighting with archery equipment and it works most times but incandescents put off too much heat in coffin. 40 watt bulbs would melt diffusers.
I do have plans for it though. When the order of binary explosive mix shows up, about 3 lbs. of it will go inside the coffin.
I have an RCBS that works fine, I haven't compared it to other graphs so I'm assuming its accurate.... It does have a little tag on the inside that says "made in china" though...
I have a ProChrono and it is fairly accurate.
If you want a truly professional chrono you will have to spend big bucks.
I have a Shooting Chrony F1 Master Chronograph. Been using it for a couple years with no real issues. Sometimes won't get a reading if I'm shooting multiple targets and don't line up across the sensor's. You will be suprised how often you use the chrony once you own one. I pull mine out at the range and set it up and usually have a couple of my shooting buddies running loads across it. at 110$ it's just a good piece of equipment to have. You can spend more but why.
I have great results with my ProChrono Digital.used to have a Shooting Chrony and it sucked error error error error error
112,223,choate uv,nikon 6-18<br />lrpv,204,hs stock,sightron S3 6-24x50<br />12 target,McGowen 6mmbr,SSS hbr,Sightron S3 8-32<br />Mark II,22lr,thumbhole,Tasco 6-24x40<br />11 youth,243,Simmons 2.5-10x50<br />116fcss 30-06<br />12fv,204,VX-3 4.5-14x50
I still use my Oehler 33 that i bought new in 1985, I have used some cheap ones and always go back to 33.
Speaking of chronographs, what are you guys using for stands?
Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience
$15 tripod from walmart ;D ;DOriginally Posted by sha-ul
112,223,choate uv,nikon 6-18<br />lrpv,204,hs stock,sightron S3 6-24x50<br />12 target,McGowen 6mmbr,SSS hbr,Sightron S3 8-32<br />Mark II,22lr,thumbhole,Tasco 6-24x40<br />11 youth,243,Simmons 2.5-10x50<br />116fcss 30-06<br />12fv,204,VX-3 4.5-14x50
I have been using a camera tripod also from wally world, but it seemed a bit too wobbly/flimsy for my taste. that is why I was asking.$15 tripod from walmart ;D ;D
Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience
tie a brick to the cross supports of the tripod with enough string so the brick is at 60degs (bottom of brick on the ground other end hanging from string) it REALLY helpsI have been using a camera tripod also from wally world, but it seemed a bit too wobbly/flimsy for my taste. that is why I was asking.$15 tripod from walmart ;D ;D
112,223,choate uv,nikon 6-18<br />lrpv,204,hs stock,sightron S3 6-24x50<br />12 target,McGowen 6mmbr,SSS hbr,Sightron S3 8-32<br />Mark II,22lr,thumbhole,Tasco 6-24x40<br />11 youth,243,Simmons 2.5-10x50<br />116fcss 30-06<br />12fv,204,VX-3 4.5-14x50
I have a Shooting Chrony model F-1. My dad used it for years and gave it to me. It works everytime and the long remote cord makes it easy to see the readout. It works on cloudy day with no shades or sunny days with the shades on. I have never seen any numbers from it that I thought were wrong.
Mine is called a ProChrono Jr, which sounds suspicious. Something has been rattling around inside it for at least 15 years but it's been great. Like most of my stuff, it's from the days when the space shuttle was a big deal. My stand is regular 3 leg aluminum, probably for camera or spotting scope, marked Rokinon T5, absolutely no complaints. I shoot under trees, maybe diffused sunlight is perfect since I never even tried their little toy diffusers. I've had errors but very seldom, I think when I miss one array, since they are pretty narrow. I bought one of the first chronographs on the market but I shot it - put the target too close, forgot and held on the previous hole. That one had separate sensors, so I got two pipes, drilled and tapped them 6 feet apart, I forget the brand. My trusty PC Jr was made by Competition Electronics Inc, no country of origin so maybe made in USA. I think buying these things involves a lot of luck - you either get a good one or you don't.
I have the ProChrono digital. Seems to work just fine for me. After about 100 rounds I am yet to get an ERR reading.
I've used a Chrony Beta, an Oehler 35, and the ProChrono Digital. Both separately and on two occasions all three at the same time.
The Oehler wasn't mine but it worked great as you would expect from a unit of its price.
I didn't like the user interface of the Chrony at all and I got too many error messages but when it recorded a velocity it was accurate.
The best value and the easiest to use is the ProChrono. Easy setup, very few errors, and accurate. I recently got the USB connectivity kit for it and I really like the data storage and manipulation features you get with it as well as getting all the functions of a remote control. I feel a bit goofy pulling out a laptop at the range but I get over it.
When I tested all three together I was impressed with how closely the reading coincided.
I bought the ProChrono last summer with the remote, and am completely happy with it.
Unlike the PACT PC2 I had, My Beta Chrony will give me readings on a cloudy day. On cloudy days I don't have to use the diffusers.
Vietnam Vet, Jun 66 - Dec 67
CED M2 is great! The computer sits on the bench with you.
I have had the Chrony F1 for years and it definitely can be fussy especially with line ups on my camera tripod...err..err...err..err
But after building my "junk pile" stand....the only errors I receive now are because my bags walk on the table....
The setup procedure is easy...The steps are:
a. Locate the stand at your required distance (mine is approx 10' in front of bench).
b. I stand up a tape measure on the cross angles and then look at them through a lower scope power
to determine the approximate heights of the two cardboard pieces.
c. Insert corrugated cardboard pieces in angle clamps on the base.
d. Set rifle up on bags and aim at the target (in this case target is 150 yards down range).
e. Top edges of cardboard must be just below the line of sight (some where between 1/2"and 1-1/2").
f. Trim cardboard with scissors if you can't get on the target or insert longer piece if the top edge
is below 1-1/2".
g. Do not mount the chronograph at this time..
h. Fire one shot at the target.
i. You should now have a bullet hole in the top of each cardboard. at this point I run a rod through
both bullet holes...I mount the chronograph and adjust the "three axis" adjustment rods until
the chronograph "eyes" are directly underneath and parallel to the rod (in my case an arrow shaft)...
j. At this time remove the cardboard inserts and shoot....This setup has never failed to register on
the first try and has significantly reduced all errs.....
The enclosed pictures should help my explanation...The stand itself is made from scrap steel pieces I had laying around.
As far as accuracy goes I check mine from time to time at both 10 feet and 100 yards....Using a ballistic program such as Bergers and knowing your bullets BCs the muzzle velocity you plug in will give you the muzzle velocity at 100 yards.....If your 100 yard readings compare (within the SD of your MV) with the ballistics program your chronograph most likely is reading correct....I would buy another F-1 because it has always been reasonably accurate and now is very reliable...
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My Beta Master Chrony is very easy to set up and the digital readout remote sits on the bench so the numbers are easy to see. I use an old Velbon professional camera tripod I bought back in 78 when I was heavy into photography, it's still going strong. I rarely get error messages unless the battery is getting low.
Vietnam Vet, Jun 66 - Dec 67
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