I am getting ready to purchase a chronograph ($30 off purchase from Cabela's right now plus some points, so I'd rather buy from them). My options look like the above 3. The Pact is about twice the price of the other 2, with pretty poor reviews on Cabela's web site, although I like my Pact digital scale & it agrees very consistently with my RCBS balance beam.
I shoot & reload for only 3 calibers (plus shotgun & archery), so I probably won't put it through too much use after the initial testing of all weapons & several loads. Any opinions, experiences, or advice about Pro Chrono, Beta Chrony, & Pact would be appreciated.

I have a Master Beta. I've compared it to many others and haven't seen anything beat it at twice the price. If my memory is working I believe the master just moved the readout to your bench. A nice plus for my old eyes and a public range where I can't get up to the equipment except every 30 minutes.

I have the blue Chrony. I think it's the Beta one-- not sure. I like the readout on the cord, but I'd like it a bit longer. It's just long enough to reach 15 feet. Its weight makes the readout want to slide off the bench. Maybe you can build a little base out of plywood with sufficient weight to remove that problem...

Duck Tape.

Pact has been around a long time so they are not really as bad as a few unhappy owners have reviewed on Cabelas.
I have had one for at least a decade (Championship Timer/Chrono) and after about 5 years of hard use the chrono died although the timer continued working.

Pact replaced the unit with the latest model and I have had no trouble at all with it in any sort of reasonable lighting condition.

Don't think any of the other chrono companies have that sort of warranty service.

Spread over more than a decade so far, the cost differential is slight.

I've always thought that most times that electronic devices don't work when first used is because owners don't do the obvious, like read the instruction manual. The Pact, especially the timer/chrono, being a little more complicated just needs a few extra minutes understanding the instructions.

I began with a Shooting Chrony, I think it was the Delta version. Used it for years.



Sometimes it would work without a problem and sometimes I would get a lot of error messages. The jointed skyscreens broke twice and the jointed skyscreen legs joints went bad and wallered out so they were loose.

Sometimes it would be reading OK and suddenly all the velocities would drop by 150 fps. I didn't know any better, just thought all chronographs were generally a POS. The readout was hard to see from the bench and sometimes I had to get up and walk around trying to get a different angle so I could read it.

Finally got fed up when the skyscreens broke for the third time and got a Pro-Chrono



It has not missed one reading in 3 years, the screen is big enough to see from any angle and distance and the opening is bigger so it is easier to set up.

Get the Pro Chrono!

quote:

Originally posted by woods:
I began with a Shooting Chrony, I think it was the Delta version. Used it for years.



Sometimes it would work without a problem and sometimes I would get a lot of error messages. The jointed skyscreens broke twice and the jointed skyscreen legs joints went bad and wallered out so they were loose.

Sometimes it would be reading OK and suddenly all the velocities would drop by 150 fps. I didn't know any better, just thought all chronographs were generally a POS. The readout was hard to see from the bench and sometimes I had to get up and walk around trying to get a different angle so I could read it.

Finally got fed up when the skyscreens broke for the third time and got a Pro-Chrono



It has not missed one reading in 3 years, the screen is big enough to see from any angle and distance and the opening is bigger so it is easier to set up.

Get the Pro Chrono!

I haven't had mine that long but I've found the same results. It just works.

Ken....

I have no complaints with my Chrony Beta Master with printer. It has survived a couple of hits to the screen rods.

The "guts" of all of them are essentially the same -- and are all very, very good.

The difference lies in the detection screens which is why the now unavailable Oehler brings such a premium. Misreadings or failures to read the bullet passage are the source of virtually all chronograph "malfunctions". Some chronographs also have a very limited trigger area (optical window), meaning you have to shoot close to the unit and pretty well directly above the center in order to get consistent readings.

The Chrony is the cheapest of the lot, so if you can learn to adjust to its idiosyncracies of lighting conditions and are skilled in aligning the machine with your bullet path, it is a good choice for "light" duty. If you buy the Chrony, buy the very least expensive model -- the features on the more expensive ones are largely useless bells and whistles. From the anecdotes I have heard, I would guess the Pro Chrono to be a bit better buy than the Pact.

I have a pro chrono and it's been through hell for 8 or 9 years. I first got it when I had paintball fields and had to regulate guns. It's taken a hit to the skyscreen legs, concussion blast from my 50 bmg. Still going strong. They're priced right too. It would be nice to have more bells and whistles like a printer but it's easy enough to write down the readings.

Who came up with the model name Master Beta. Some marketing genius. I don't think I'd buy that one just for the name. I can just hear the conversation at the range: I LEFT MY MASTER BETA AT HOME. or I NEED TO GO GET MY MASTER BETA OUT OF THE TRUCK.

I have a ProChrono. The display is easy to see, even for my 55 yr old eyes. It is easy to set up and use. I use a camera tripod. The area defined by the light diffuser and legs is large. It seems to be forgiving of shots not right at the optimum point. The only time mine has failed is when the very old 9V battery ran out of power. Can't blame the chrono for that.

Thanks to all for the responses & advice. I'm leaning toward the pro chrono right now, but it doesn't sound like I could go too far wrong with any of the 3.

all are the published % error .. get a shooting chrony with remote display, no troubles.