I am playing around with the idea of picking up a chrono to see what velocities I am getting from my loads. I'm not interested in a lot of bells and whistles like printers or shot string averages but rather ease and reliability of operation is the important thing.
Anyone have any recommendations or definate models to avoid?

Thanks

The Pact I have been using since about 1987 is just fine. It requires no maintenance.

www.pact.com

Ruger:

Take a good look at the Chrony. I have had one for almost 10 years, its great, and inexpensive (about $75 from Midway).

I currently own a pact and a chrony both are great machines but the pact is more reliable when light conditions are not perfect.

I can only reccomend an Oehler. Buying anything else is like putting a cheap scope on a prized rifle. Hope this helps and if you get one the printer is worth its weight in gold. Rich

Pact 1 has worked well for me and the price is right too. Be sure you get the mounting bar for the skyscreens.

The cheapest Chrony you can buy.

Chuck

Oehler model 35P, but leave off the P. $225 direct from Austin, Texas. You can write down all the info on a piece of paper after each shot string. The printer can be added later, however.

Bells and whistles? The chronograph is the basis of all efforts toward scientifically achieving accurate handloads. If you want to learn about the load development then statistical analysis of the shot string is needed. The chip inside that provides the math for velocity of each shot, the spread between highest and lowest velocity, the standard deviation, the average velocity and the number of shots fired costs very little compared to the sky screens and the clock [or clocks, in the case of Oehler] that measure time in 4 million parts of a second. Oehler is considered the 'Cadillac' of personal chronographs. But if you only require one akin to a 'Pinto' that's OK too. You pays your money and makes your choice. Just my 2 cents.

Any money you pay over the cost of a Chrony is bucks pissed away on whistles, bells and a mis-guided idea that "if it cost more, it must be better". You said you wanted to know how fast your bullets are going. A Chrony will tell you that. Mine has been telling me that every since they first came out. Pretty good track record for a cheapo.

Thanks for the suggestions all, I think I am going to get the mid-range Pact 1. It's not bottom-of-the-barrel but neither it does it cost what the Oehler does.

Onefunzr2:
Yep, for my purposes anything other than telling me how fast my last shot was going and doing it easily and consistantly is bells and whistles for me. I'm not after scientifically accurate benchrest loads with no more than +- 5fps between shots. I don't clean primer pockets (unless they're really bad), check for runout, mill my necks to the same thickness all the way around or keep my brass categorized by batch #, weight, brand or even times loaded. The brass I order new, get from factory loads, and find in the gravel at the range are all in the same sack.

thanks again all,

Cost to much, maybe. But the Oehler's have a couple of features other than sensitivity and accuracy that haven't been mentioned yet. One is it's 'shooting window' is larger. Another is that except for the shooting window, the chrony is at the bench with or behind you. That makes it a lot less likely that you or someone else will shoot the high dollar parts. There are plenty of postings about how many chrony's have been shot or when one shoots their chrony for the first time. Best-o-Luck

Ruger#1,

I had a look around the Pact website. They claim that the model 1 competes directly with the Oehler 35. So it looks like you're buying 'bells and whistles' anyway. Now that you got 'em, you might as well use 'em to load more accurate ammo. I'm sure the Pact instructions will teach you how. Good luck and good shooting.

hehe, I changed my mind that evening after looking around the chrony site again. I ordered their factory reconditioned bottom-of-the-barrel used one for 49.95. Heck, it comes with a 1 year warranty, I'll return it if it doesn't work.