I'm about a year or so into rifle and pistol reloading (.223, .30-06, and .357 Mag) and am looking for a chronograph. I was looking at some of the cheaper ones, but some of the reviews had me wondering. A lot of them have trouble reading in bright light, and seeing as how I live in Arizona, bright light is pretty hard to avoid. The sky is even blue at night here! Anyway, what would you guys recommend?

if you want to spend the money for the best - then it's Oehler. Have had mine for over 10-years and it's still works great.

Good for you..
The Chronograph will open up a whole new world for you in this hobby/science of reloading.

I highly recommend an Oehler product. I bought my first one back in 1979 and can't go to the range without it. I only had one misshap, putting a round through a skyscreen. It was only a $20.00 fix including shipping. The Oehlers are extremely accurate and reliable and well worth what they cost.

I know guys that use the 'Chronys' and they work well also. I just can't see putting a hundred bucks 'downrange'. One Uh-Oh and you're out a chronograph.

One thing about having a chronograph at a popular range.. You'll be asked to clock a lot of rounds. You will wish you had a dollar for every time you will hear.. " That can't be right!!" LOl...

quote:

Originally posted by RDub:
You will wish you had a dollar for every time you will hear.. " That can't be right!!" LOl...

That's definitely true. Apparently there are a lot of guys out there shooting 3600fps loads that only chronograph at 2900fps.

quote:

One thing about having a chronograph at a popular range.. You'll be asked to clock a lot of rounds.

Yup, you will be asked often.

If they ain't willing to put up a deposit before shooting the answer is NO. One time where a "friend" puts a bullet through the chrono and refused to pay for it was enough for me.

I have three Chrony units (two F-1's and a Gamma Master). I have never had any complaints with any of them.

Their "customer service" leaves a lot to be desired however.

OK, someone there must be reading my mind as I was just about to ask some basic questions re: chronys.
First and foremost, how does one avoid destroying the screens on a regular basis.
I am receiving a Oelhel for Christmas(after 35 years of reloading and guessing) and I have been reading that scoped rifles are harder to "set up" with the screens due to the rise of the scope over the bore alignment.
It will really remove any holiday cheer if I whack the screen with the first shot.
Any pearls of wisdom you all can impaart.
Thanks in advance.

quote:

how does one avoid destroying the screens on a regular basis.

I worry more about shooting the unit itself than the screens. Take your time setting things up so that you can see your target through the middle of the aperture. The way I think is that with a scope the bullet starts out about 2 inches lower than the scope, so I try to hold a little high in the window. Theoretically I could put the cross hairs on the screens and not hit them (at ten feet) because the bullet wont cross the path of the scope until about 25 yards. I understand the concern but even if you show up and your gun is hitting two feet to the left that day you won't kill your chrono.

If you can't put a bullet between the two guides 10 feet away, perhaps bullet speed is not your most pressing problem.

I'm not an expert on the subject but have been pleased with my ProChrono purchased from armsandammo.com for around $75. Bright light doesn't bother it. The only time it has struggled to read was on a very dark, stormy, overcast day and even I got it to work by keeping the bullet close enough (3" - 4") to the sensors.

I have had a chrony f-1 for about 8yrs used it a lot worked pretty well-last yr it got to reading a lot of errors sent it in for 12 bucks they fixed it worked perfectly since-plus they're easy to set up.

Dear Mr. Beyer, Perhaps your reply is a bit out of line.
Never having shot over a chronograph before, I thought it was a valid question. Do you always use a personal attack in answering a question. God pity any offspring you may have created, I am sure their pschychiatrist really appreciated your feeble attempts at humor on them while growing up, I can imagine a lifetime of growing up with a cynic as a dad.

Thanks to others who helped answer my question.

If this qualifies as a flame, so be it but I needed to put a small minded individual in his place.

AZ223,

I bought my Oehler off ebay used a couple of years ago. You might look there as they have them every once in a while.

I had an intermittant issue with the receiving unit and I sent it to the factory for repair. No matter how much I insisted Oehler would not let me pay for the repair.

After the repair, I haven't had problem with it.

What I do to stave off shooting my sky screens, is to make sure that I look through the bore of my bolt actions to make sure the it is somewhat centered above the screen. (I mainly shoot bolt actions)

I say stave off as I've been told that there are two types of chronograph owners. Those that have shot their equipment and those that are yet to do so.

Get one, you'll never regret it.

-Steve

Lighten up gab! I thought the comment was funny and was meant to be humourous not critical.

Back on topic. I was in the same boat earlier this year and after research and discussion went with the Oehler. Bought it from Midway. I like the fact they are made in Texas and have a long history. I then bought a tripod from Best Buy and have not had a problem since. I like the easy set up and the user friendly unit. Large numbers with out a lot of buttons and options. I log most of my loads in a binder so the software and other gee whiz options are not crucial for my needs.

Good Luck.

RCG

quote:

Originally posted by ricciardelli:
I have three Chrony units (two F-1's and a Gamma Master). I have never had any complaints with any of them.

Steve! You are definitly a lucky man I have owned three different Chronies and could make a litiny of all their debilitating and agitating poorly egineered features.Plus if you have a question those guys from Texas always seem to have a helpful answer. This isn't the case from those guys from India. In fact one on one with Chrony is a joke.

Their "customer service" leaves a lot to be desired however.

You are right about the service Dept, but than again how would you know if you never had a complaint?. roger

Best way I have found is when you set the scoped rifle or pistol on the shooting rest, and have the chrono set up, Remove the bolt from the rifle and look through the bore. If someone is with you, have them help you align the chrono with the target so that when you are looking through the bore, you are centered on the target and the center of the screens.

That's the easiest way I have found to make sure I don't shoot screens or the main unit.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve:
...I say stave off as I've been told that there are two types of chronograph owners. Those that have shot their equipment and those that are yet to do so.

Get one, you'll never regret it.
-Steve

Now, that's funny!!

The Oehler I saw at Midway didn't specify; do they come with the remote unit to keep on the bench to get the readings?

Thanks for the replies...

quote:

If you can't put a bullet between the two guides 10 feet away, perhaps bullet speed is not your most pressing problem.

b beyer, very well said. ROTFLMAO

gab, lighten up. You won't last long here with that attitude.

AZ223, Now on to your question: I own an Oehler 35 and 43PBL. Oehler photo detectors are still patent protected for a few more years. They have the largest area to shoot over and the best ability to 'catch' a fast round over short screen spacing. Bright overhead sunshine is somewhat reduced by their wide orange difusers. However, even an Oehler skyscreen will be fooled by "glint." Use a Sharpie, Marksalot or otherwise blacken the bullet. That will negate the glint coming off the bullet in a high, bright sky.

Don't be afraid to use the AR search function. Chrono's have been discussed here for years.

You're welcome.

For less than $200 you can get the best, Oehler. Don't bother w/ the others, the hassles outway the cost.
As far as shooting your screens, the bore sighting method works great, never smacked a screen & I use mine every time I shoot from the bench.

I have been using a Chrony for over six years and have also used a PACT and a Oehler. The Chrony is a compact package, and its data is just as good as the data from the PACT or Oehler. For the money, its hard to beat. Kudude

I'll tell you when you'll smack your chrono,,When you're tired of waiting for good light conditions,and want a reading,,so you crank it down as close to the eye as you think you can,,especialy with freehand pistol,,the .17's can be a real bitch too.I've hit the lead eye on my oehler 35 3 times now,,but have yet to kill it,,put some electrical tape over the notches and the thing reads like it did the first day out of the box,,,I've had it 10 years now,,no replacements or qualms,,even after being hit 3 times,,As far as i'm concerned,,oehler vs. the "cheaper" units,,I'd be on my fourth chrony by now,,,so pretty much the same money,,And as previously said,,the screens are cheap to replace if need be,,Clay

quote:

You are right about the service Dept, but than again how would you know if you never had a complaint?. roger

Because I called to complain about the software they included. It is the old RCBS software written in BASIC, and is totally useless.

My second call was to complain that they advertise that the Gamma Master will connect to your computer, but they don't say a damn word about you having to pay a bunch of money for the connection cable. It should have been included with their "best" chrony, along with decen software.

for your first chrono, for to shootingchrony.com, and buy their $45 special ... it works fine and you WILL shoot it, so why invest any real money?

your second can be a nicer one.

btw, oehler, pact, and shooting chrony all have exactly the same error rating .005 (1/2 of 1 percent)

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by b beyer:
If you can't put a bullet between the two guides 10 feet away, perhaps bullet speed is not your most pressing problem.

sweet...
funny...
and do you own a chronograph?

if you haven't hit yours, then you are the exception that proves the rule.

jeffe

I like John Barsness' comment: "If you haven't shot a chronograph, you haven't shot much."

Jaywalker

Hey Gab, wrong room to start gitting pissy in. I thought it was funny. Even more so after your holier than thou reply.

I've had a Chrony since forever and I've never had any problems with their customer service 'cause I've never had any probs with the Chrony. Mind is so old it has cardboard screens that have a "open sights" and "scope sights" aiming points on them.

I've owned a chronograph of some kind since way back when we used printed screens. The first was an Oehler with printed screens and a dial you turned and decoded the reading, then used a tarrage table to convert time to fps. That one got drilled by a friend of mine that had several shooting trophies on his mantle.....

I've since Owned another Oehler with Skyscreens, a Competition Electronics, and two chronys. None have ever been hit by a bullet, but I have damaged the readout cover with bullet lube.

Use the diffusers and lighting should not be a problem. Make sure you can read and reset from the shooting bench. Most shooting ranges frown on people walking forward of the benches to reset or retrieve readings.

I have been using a friends Beta Chrony for most of this last summer, and it has performed very well. The "eyes" need to be looking up at a white sky for the thing to work properly though. It either has to be used on an overcast day, or on the sunny, blue sky days, you make your own overcast with the plastic diffusers.

I was happy enough with my friends Beta that I bought an Alpha Master for myself. I have found that it is better in some ways and not as good in others. I like setting up the screens downrange and having access to the display and the reset buttons without leaving the bench. But, having 15 feet of phone cord to unwind and wind is a pain. There is no easy way to get that cord and display stuffed back into the Chrony and fold it in half like the non-Master versions. I did it once, but it took so long that now I just fold the thing in half, wrap the cord around it, and throw it in my range bag with the display dangling. Can't be real good for it, but if you guys have a better way, I'd like to hear.

quote:

Originally posted by JH:
having 15 feet of phone cord to unwind and wind is a pain. There is no easy way to get that cord and display stuffed back into the Chrony and fold it in half like the non-Master versions.

On mine 15 feet was not long enough to keep it from responding to smoke and or gas. The voice from India told me I needed a longer cord and that I should go out and buy one. What I did go out and buy was an Oehler.And that was only one of many problems.

As an Engineer if I had ever designed and put up for sale anything as crude as the chronies I could only hope to find a market similar to what chrony has hood winked. roger

Bartche, with as many posts as you have here, you have to have used the printed screens that I refered to above. NOW THAT IS my definition of crude!

And yet, most of the recorded velocities before the mid 70's were done this way. or using a ballistic pendulum.

BBeyer
LMAO, I think I have other problems, I shot my Chrony upright rod one time several years ago, just waiting to do it again, and it'll happen someday.

gab
Welcome aboard, you can find a lot of good info from the guys here and a lot of good natured ribbing. Don't take it personal unless they call you by name and then ignore them as some of us aren't grown up yet, myself included according to my wife. I don't think it was a personal insult at all but a humorus comment cause if you start using a Chronograph you will shoot it sooner or later and maybe more than once.

Steve E.........

quote:

I like John Barsness' comment: "If you haven't shot a chronograph, you haven't shot much."

I guess I'm just too anal about setting up my chronos. I only use them from bench rest at the range and I've never come close to hitting one yet (Knock on Wood), and I put a fair share of rounds through them in load developement. I don't intend on hitting one any time soon either.

I can definitely see where one would smack one if not using a bench but, when using a bench rest, if you hit your chrono, you definitely have more things to worry about than bullet speed.

Reloader

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
if you want to spend the money for the best - then it's Oehler. Have had mine for over 10-years and it's still works great.

This is true. However, I now have a Beta-model Chrony as well as an Oehler, and the Chrony is very good. If you use the diffusers that come with the unit, it works in bright sunlight as well as on overcast days. Plus, the Chrony is a lot easier.faster to set up and get going! All you need is one camera tripod.

quote:

Originally posted by 454PB:
Bartche, with as many posts as you have here, you have to have used the printed screens that I refered to above. NOW THAT IS my definition of crude!

And yet, most of the recorded velocities before the mid 70's were done this way. or using a ballistic pendulum.

The basic technology on the chrony is good it's in the poor way they packaged it.From my view point they cut costs every way they could even if it ment sacraficing quality.The product seems to have had insufficient developement and there is evidence that there is a whole lot of inertia to overcome when ity comes to incorrporating suggestions that would greatly improve the product at a modest cost. I have a hard time wiyh supproting products whose marketeers say " here it is . I have the lowest price. Take it or leave it" and after you buy it and try to get some corrective action you get a very polite "Tough Shit Buddy on you"

And in school we did use a balistics pendulem. I only witnessed shooting through screens.

enjoyable discussion allowing me to vent and all. roger

My hunting partner bought one of the cheaper mandrel inserts into your barrel style laser bore sighters specifically to set up his chrono to prevent shooting it. He keeps a piece of posterboard in his bag with a clip and clips it onto the 'window' of the chronograph and sets his rifle in the bags with the bore laser in it and centers the spot on the chorono 'window' after getting his rifle on the bull at the distance he intends to shoot. He hasn't ever shot his chrono, and thnks he won't with his setup method with the laser now. I ordered a laser like his the first time I saw him do this.

I have the PACT pro chrono, it is great, I have never had any issues with it reading in high or low light, and it includes a DEEP computer and software, which I don't use really, but it 's there if you want, and it was less money than the Oehlers when I bought it--a few years ago. Oh yeah, it also has a printer which is nice, i print the string of velocities and then write a little note on there, and stick it in the ammo box with something like--SAKO 75 w/these loads--and then I know what a specific rifle did with the loads in question.

Good Luck--Don

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
for your first chrono, for to shootingchrony.com, and buy their $45 special ... it works fine and you WILL shoot it, so why invest any real money?

your second can be a nicer one.

btw, oehler, pact, and shooting chrony all have exactly the same error rating .005 (1/2 of 1 percent)

jeffe

Spot on, and I need to put an oehler on the list for an upgrade to my shot shooting chrony, I did it in with a gas check. The upside of shooting chronies is they are cheap, esepcially the factory refurbs, and they are easy to set up.

Chronys do not work well in wierd lighting conditions, something Alaska has in the winter with the sun at quite an angle even at mid-day, and the snow reflecting the light. Not much fun to be all set up to record some loads, and get no or occasional readings.