The Accurate Reloading Forums
Chronographs ???
Chronographs ???
OK, I realize we've done this thread before.
Please review, criticize, slam, praise, recommend a chronograph for me.
Just for the record, let's assume I know next to nothing (that's accurate) and I want to accumulate load velocity data.
Can I run one of these for a handgun? Or do I risk blowing the screens apart with a misplaced shot?
Ballistic tables, etc. I can get online.
Thanks
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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
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16 April 2002, 06:57
SaeedGenghis,
Get yourself an Oehler Model 43 right from the start. I promise you, you won't regret it.
None compare to Oehler, despite their claims.
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saeed@ emirates.net.ae
www.accuratereloading.com
quote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
Genghis,Get yourself an Oehler Model 43 right from the start. I promise you, you won't regret it.
None compare to Oehler, despite their claims.
Whoa! Word from "The Man" !!! 
That's all I need to hear. Thanks Saeed.
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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
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16 April 2002, 08:00
Bill MI started out with a "Chrony", now I have an Oehler. What Saeed said!
Bill
16 April 2002, 08:15
Big BoreI bought a PACT professional either the first or second year they came out. The only trouble I have had out it was when I was shooting saboted 20 ga. slugs through it at 15 feet and a sabot broke the sensor housing. Twenty-five dollars had me two new housing in less than a week. I have only gotten one false reading and that was from having the screens too close to the muzzle. I was shooing under a roofed shelter and trying to keep the screens out of the rain. The screens were only one foot from the muzzle and when you see a .22 LR pistol clock over 4000 fps, you don't need a proof screen to tell you something is not quite right. That is the only false reading I have ever gotten. I will not knock any other brand of chrono, but for myself I could not be more pleased with the PACT. If it were to die tomorrow I would have another on order before the sun sets.
16 April 2002, 08:27
DutchI'm not the expert, but since you asked. I just bought a chrony. Set it up for the first time, and fired everything from a LR to a 35 Whelen over it, and it never, once, missed a beat. This was at 5000 feet in the bright sun, without sky screens. I'm sure the Oehler is the Caddy we all dream of, but the Chrony seems to me to be good basic transportation. JMO, Dutch.
16 April 2002, 10:19
<bigcountry>Do any of you guys shoot indoors or under a shed with your Chrony? I just got one and at the range I go to is under shed. So I went out and bought two battery incadecent lights to mount on the diffusers. Do you think that will work fine? Should the reading be off from measureing outside in say a cloudy day with no diffusers? I was also curious about that but guess I will find out the hard way. Lets say you shoot with clouds overhead and then it clears up and you put the diffusers on. With an F1 Chrony, technically if the loads are the same, should I get the same reading or should I expect it to be off. And then if I move the setup under a shed with the diffusers and batter lights, would you expect the same velocity?
Thanks for the advise.
We shoot indoors and use lights over the screens. There is no difference in readings as long as your set up is the same, length from muzzle to screens, and length between screens.
16 April 2002, 14:23
<Don Martin29>I had a Accuchron from the early 60's then one of the bulbs burned out and it used metalized screens anyway so I got a Pact. I have the basic model and it's always worked just fine.
I have had five foot screen spacings for a long time. I made a holder that folds in the middle on a shoulder screw. With the screens far apart the accuracy has to be better.
I hit one of the screen holders but tape has kept it working well.
Back in the 50's I made a ballistic pendulum. It was accurate but a hastle to use. It was also free.
I would buy the Pact again without reservation. Perhaps the deluxe one is better with a print out. But the one I have saves the data and does a lot of calculations. I just write them down before the next string.
I use it out of doors and hold it on a tripod.
Hold on a second here . . .
PACT and Chrony won't list prices online. Oehler lists prices.
Hard to compare units without comparing prices. Until I know what they cost, it's all hypothetical.
What's the PACT and Chrony going for these days?
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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
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17 April 2002, 02:15
DutchI bought the Chrony Beta for $115 locally. You can get the F1 cheapy for as little as $75 (less for the rebuilt one). HTH, Dutch.
17 April 2002, 02:23
rick3foxesGenghis, all the prices for Chrony's are on their website:
http://chrony.ca/sc_mc.mv
Look here for good prices:
http://www.ontargetsportsonline.com/Shooting_Accs/ShootingChrony/ShootingChrony.asp
Rick.
17 April 2002, 02:55
<OTTO>I got a Pro Chrono for right around $100.
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From my cold, dead hands!
Thanks Chuck!
17 April 2002, 08:18
JBoutfishnWhat about accuracy? I cannot reach any of the published velocities with my F1 Chrony. I am 50 to 80 FPS slow with a 300 Win Mag, 416 Rem Mag, and 470 NE?
Any thoughts?
Jim
17 April 2002, 08:29
<bigcountry>You can always shoot when its about 100 degrees outside that will give you extra 30fps or so. Just kidding. I am trying to find someones around here to compare it too also.
17 April 2002, 08:44
DutchJB, same length barrel? Dutch.
17 April 2002, 09:10
JBoutfishn24 inch on the 416 and 470, 26 on the 300. The barrel length on the 470 is a double, most of which have a 24 inch barrel. All three seem to be off the same amount...
Jim
17 April 2002, 09:32
sonofagunShoot with 30 - 50 mph tailwinds
!
17 April 2002, 10:04
<Kentucky Fisherman>Genghis:
If you have the bucks, there's no question the Oehler is a fine unit. If cash is tight, or you'd rather spend the difference on other gear, I'd recommend the Chrony Beta Master. Mine has the remote readout, which lets you read velocities, clear them, etc. right at the bench, which is a real help. It also figures Extreme Spread and Standard Deviation for each string automatically, and you can set string length for whatever you want - 3, 5, 10, etc.
JB: From my experience and what I've seen others post, rifle velocities are frequently lower than what's posted in a loading manual, and for a host of reaons. Someone else has already mentioned difference in barrel lengths, which is a HUGE factor, but then there's also the fact that sometimes the testers used what is called a test or pressure barrel, which means it not only has a long barrel (usually), but the chamber is also on the tight side, which boosts pressure and velocity.
As someone else indicated, ambient temperature is yet another factor, so if the load manual tests were conducted at 70 degrees and you're firing your reloads at 40, there'll be a difference. To be honest with you, I use loading manual velocities simply as one way of comparing powders for a particular caliber, nothing more.
Oehler 35P with built in printer is what I decided on. Seems to have the best features and by far the best warranty. By the time you get to similar features in another unit, the price difference is negligible. Besides which, cost is negligible compared to what I spend on ammo in the first place.
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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
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20 April 2002, 15:04
<centerpunch>20 April 2002, 15:10
JStordahlAnother vote for the Oehler 35P....just love having that printer. Get the four foot rail and stands and the carrying case to store it all in.
20 April 2002, 15:55
GarByOehler 35 w/ printer......the best hands down. When you look at the cost differential vs the reliabilty and accuracy, this is no way to wrong with this piece of equip. Of course, you still have to MISS the skyscreens for them to work correctly....my buddy showed me that. Got a replacement real quick, though. Gary.