Did you buy one? Are you satisfied with it?

I'm intending to buy the Millennium chronograph, the PressureTrace, and the Shooting Lab software. Total cost, about $470. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who owns any/all of these.

http://www.shootingsoftware.com/

I presently have the Shooting Chrony Master Gamma with printer and here's what I don't like about it.

1. the manual is >awful<. It was plainly written by the fellow who designed the chrony and obviously knows his way around it backwards, rather than written by someone who want to helps the necomer get to grips with it. Also, one manual covers all models - which differ considerably - rather than writing model-specific manuals.

2. all of the the control buttons have multiple functions and sometimes have to be pressed, and/or held in and/or pressed and released multiple times - and in the right sequence - to achieve a given function. I can't remember all that, especially when I only use it now and then.

3. the stored data is only accessible in sequential mode - if you want to access a given string of shots, say string 26,you have to scroll through strings 1-25 to get there. You can't push a GOTO button followed by the string number and go there directly. At least, not as far as I can tell. Similarly, you have to cycle through number of shots, hi velocity, lo velocity etc to get to standard deviation. You can't just ask for the SD (the Millennium has dedicated buttons).

4. the printer is cheesy - it's a butchered Casio printer with cheap adhesive labels glued on top.

Good things to say about the chrony

1. it works as advertised
2. it runs off batteries
3. it can store up to 500 shots (the Millennium can store only 200).
4. it is compact

The Millennium also runs off batteries. It has a much better (more comprehensive) display. It has dedicated buttons for mean velocities and standard deviations. It comes with everything necessary to download data directly to the PC (and Shooting Lab can accept that data directly from the Millennium), so you have no need for a printer. (Presuming that you own a laptop, or other device capable of taking the data, of course.)

Gripe over. Has anyone got the Millennium, the PressureTrace, and/or the Shooting Lab software. If so, will you share your thoughts with us?

--Jonathan

I have the CED Millenium. It's my first chronograph, so I can't really compare it to others based on experience. After looking at all the other units available, I came to the conclusion that this unit would work best for my needs.

I really like the chronograph. I like being able to download the data to the computer and print it out. It's also nice saving all the files on the computer for future reference. The shooting lane over the sensors seems to be larger than other units I've seen. The display is very large and easy to read. I like the fact that the unit is right next to me while shooting and only the sensors are in the line of fire. The unit has the option to tell you the velocity but I had trouble hearing it with my ear muffs on, so I usually just have the sound option turned off.

I do not own a Millenium, but I have a Pressure Trace and know a bit about the support of RSI.

Visiting their page www.shootingsoftware.com , you immediately get a realistic impression of the support you will receive: it is outstanding. Jim Ristow is very knowledgeable and always willing to help. If my PACTs should give up one day, I'll buy the Millenium.



"it can store up to 500 shots (the Millennium can store only 200)." A chronograph is no long time database. I find 200 shots are ample - except you're a machine gunner.

I have been using an Oehler 33 since the early 80s. I also have an Oehler 35P that I got a few years ago.

However, one of the CED Millennium chronographs did show up at the office this week with the optional Infrared Skyscreens. I have an upcoming project that I plan on using it for.

The product is well built and I found the controls intuitive to use. I knew what 95% of them did before looking at the manual.

Having recently chronographed 9 different loads out of 18 different firearms, I can tell you that the ability to download the data is a feature that I like.

The other neat feature is that the chronograph will read out the velocity to you. While many will consider this a gimmick, when chronographing in a subdued lighting situation like an indoor range, I think it is valuable feedback as to whether you got a good reading or not.

The display is so big that you could place the chronograph down range at the target and read the display through your scope. Knowing velocity at the muzzle and at the 100 yard mark would make it possible to calculate the ballistic coefficient of the projectile.

I will be using it for the first time in two weeks, but so far I am impressed.

MikeD,

I've got the CED Millenium too. My first chrony. The download feature is excellent, then I import the raw data into excel & file .

Quite user friendly & the display screen great.

I have had 1 problem with it but no one can tell me if its a fault of the screens or user error. When the screens get hot from the sun I get ghost readings. Like a guy shoots a rifle 13 lanes away, I have not fired but then I get a reading. Seems like just the muzzle blast can set it off. When I actually fire over the screens myself I don't get a reading or its called an error - ie.really low velocity eg 1400fps or something like that.

Didn't really know what it was but I took it in & put in the shade for 15 mins. Viola working OK again. The agent here suggested that maybe it was at such an angle that you get like a magnifying glass against the sun effect & it was heating up the internals in the screen.

Ashamed to say all this time about 1 yr & I have not been out to use it again. brought it to the range but just don't seem to find the time in a range session.

I also got it cause Oehlers are too expensive here & not held in stock - special orders only. Also the CED was supported here & he had stock & spares. Seems a good unit. Set up takes a while, not as quick as a Chrony but not too difficult.

Overall I'd have to say its a good unit & does more than everything I would want. Oehlers are the benchmark but geez they are dear & you'd think they'd update it by now. (yeah, yeah it works so why update - it'd be nice though!)

Whatever unit you get make sure you follow the set up instructions closely. I did not push in the sensors into the rails fully the first time so it was not 2 feet apart but maybe 2 ft 1/2 inch say. My readings were low by about 200 fps. The distance between sensors is quite critical.

A question raised by Charlie Sisk - How do you reference your chronograph - regardless of brands? I asked my rep the same thing. No one seems to know how. Charlie so far reckons it can't be done. Everyone says test against Oehler. But even Oehler vs Oehler don't always get the same results.

Now all you need is pressure testing equipment & you have yet another thing to confuse the reloader!! What a complicated life we lead.

Regards
JohnT

Jon,

I have PressureTrace, RSI Shooting Lab, but do not have the CED unit. I have a M43 and M35P for chrono work, already had them. PressureTrace and RSL SL are the best on the market out of all I've used. My two Oehler's are consistant with each other, and PressureTrace is consistant with the M43 FWIW. Jim is a great guy, top notch service and support, he stands behind the products 100%.