Interested in purchasing a chronograph. Their are several makes to choose from all with pros and cons. I would appreciate very much your comments and recommendations. Mostly shoot larger bore rifles if that is a consideration, ie; .416, .458 and ,470 Nitro.

Chronys are cheap and work.

if this is your first one, buy the refurb from shootingchrony.com .. as you WILL shoot it

Oehler 35P

Nuff said!

Check with http://www.midwayusa.com for chronys.Midway just sent me email about one flat price for shipping 100 points in bullets for $9.99 to California http://www.midwayusa.com/midwayusa/StaticPages/pdf/Cata.../Premium_Bullets.pdf

quote:

Originally posted by POP:
Oehler 35P

Nuff said!

Go to http://www.noslershop.com and check reloading for factory blems you can save some cash I've been buying them and so have friends BT's,Part's,Solid base,etc

I take issue with jeffeoso, I have never shot my chronograph but, then again, I always have the idea in mind, "will I hit it this time?". I am very cautious when it comes to setting mine up and I will NOT let anyone else shoot over it. By the way, I have a PACT Professional and it performs well.

Oehler 35 is what I have. Just got it in fact after using a froends Chrony for some time. Didn't care for his at all, too many falses.

Accidents do and will happen - Chrony gets shot up from time to time. However, there are steps that one should follow to minimize accident of this nature.

1. Make sure your tripod is setup with the correct height – the bullet to fly 6-10†above the sensors.
2. Align the chrony so that it is situated in a straight line between your rifle and the target. The best distance is about 15-18’. Smaller caliber rifles can be setup closer.

Take your time and never rush to complete these two steps. I have been using my first and only one for years and love it.

Cheers!

I think the Oehler has the best screens that to me makes it the best chrono. I have used a PACT for years but often missed readings or gave unreliable readings in diff. light. The Oehler always works, any kind of outdoor light, any time of day. Spend a bit more & get a M35.

I've been shooting over the same PACT chrony for 20+ years (1983 software date)

It did give me problems with high clear blue skies and the factory rep told me it was getting too much light to the skyscreens. (They're 20+ years old also, I don't shoot them) So I put some opaque corrugated fiberglass over the skyscreens and it works perfectly.

The newer models have software that adjusts the skyscreens automatically.

I dont know about others but the shootingchrony is VERY finicky about lighting. Mine will not work unless the sun is almost directly overhead. FYI i shot mine with a 17 HMR. Tiny hole in front and huge hole in the back. They do have a very nice return policy and that gave me a chance to upgrade.

Read it and weap Oehler is no longer available for purchase.

OEHLER

See my recent woes with Shooting Chrony Alpha Master...

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/307108774

I didnt know that about Oehler...anyone know why? arent they the best? Sure they are expensive but isnt anything thats worth it?

I've got a pact professional with the new MK VI (I think) Skyscreens, and it works great. I get clean readings in all kinds of light, including shooting my bow through it in the basement.

It has a built in printer and some deep software if you need it, it's more than I need right now, (the software) but it is a nice feature. I like that the readout/printer sits on the shooting bench with you and the chrono is 15 feet or so away, real convenient. I keep mine on an inexpensive tripod always, and I use a cheapo laser boresighter to set it up, I feel like that makes it a slimmer chance that I'll shoot it, like the Oehler, you would only be shooting your skyscreen/sensor array, not your computer if you did hit what you shoot through.

DannyBoy

I suppose some may be different, but if I shot 6-10 inches over my Chrony I'd never get a velocity reading. Actually the Chrony works quite well, I have an old Oehler too, from the 70's and it still works. The Chrony is a lot handier to use and my two read almost identical readings, usually within 20 fps. I do have more that don't pick up a reading with the Chrony, but I normally only use it when working up a load, then put it away. fredj338 is right Oehler does have the best screens, I purchased mine in the 70's and can count on one hand the number of times it failed to give me a velocity reading. With the Chrony, I can almost count that many every time I take it out.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
if this is your first one, buy the refurb from shootingchrony.com .. as you WILL shoot it

I didn't know they had those.I know where I'll be buying mine at now.I had one years ago and used it for years,but never shot it.I only shot rifles across it and always measured to avoid hitting it.

Pact this, oehler that, CED the other, and chrony up the wazooo...

gentlement, they all are .005 or 1/2 of 1% accuracy as their standards.... because they use the same electronics...

this is the ford/chevy/dodge/caddy truck question.

Chrony's work best (like most things) when you follow the directions.. put the skyscreens on, by default... shoot over the sensors, which is easy to miss if the screens aren't up...

For anyone that hasn't shot their chrony... good on ya...

jeffe

Maybe jeffe, but like jstevens, I could always count on my PACT to miss half my shots on less than perfect days. The elec. may all be the same but the Oehler screens are just about perfect. I don't think I have had two failures in 2000 shots, early morning, late evening, high noon, cloudy, it just always works. Now figure the cost of gas today, if you live any distance from your shooting site, how many times do you have to go back to make up the $100-$120 diff.?
BTW, I understand that Oehler still has some units in stock & may start reselling again, so give them a call.

My $.02. I bought a CED a couple years ago and have been nothing but pleased with it. Oh, and I've never shot it. Dillon Precision carrys them, and I think they have their own site as well. Google Competetive Edge Dynamics.

Hey You "nevershot it" guys...

you shooting mostly from the bench and mostly sub 35 calibers? (in rifles)


??
j

quote:

Originally posted by peashooter:
Interested in purchasing a chronograph. Their are several makes to choose from all with pros and cons. I would appreciate very much your comments and recommendations. Mostly shoot larger bore rifles if that is a consideration, ie; .416, .458 and ,470 Nitro.

Chronys are not only less expensive and just as accurate as any, but are much easier to set up & get operating quickly. But if you want the BEST, get an Oehler. I have both brands, and use the Chrony due to speed & ease of setup.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Hey You "nevershot it" guys...

you shooting mostly from the bench and mostly sub 35 calibers? (in rifles)


??
j

Well, I am always shooting from a bench when testing ammo, whether for velocity or accuracy, or both. However, I have used the Chrony for calibers up through .73, and haven't shot mine yet in the 15 years I've owned it. But mine seems able to pick up bullets up to at least 6"-8" above the windows, and I do make an effort to miss the thing.....

quote:

But if you want the BEST, get an Oehler. I have both brands, and use the Chrony due to speed & ease of setup.

Why is this "speed and ease of setup" always brought up? Is there a race to be won? Going to a fire?

I own an Oehler 35 and a 43PBL. Yes, setting up the 43 takes a few minutes with having to run the cable downrange to the accoustic target and plugging in the chrono and strain guage to the laptop. But the 35 is a breeze. I can't tell you the hundred's of times that I have loaded test ammo, walked through the garage, opened the back door and set up the 35 shooting into the woodpile. Collect the data string, disassemble the unit and be back at the loading bench in 5 minutes. Setup, shoot (revolver or pistol) and tear down in 5 minutes. What benefit is there to be had by doing it faster?

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:

quote:

But if you want the BEST, get an Oehler. I have both brands, and use the Chrony due to speed & ease of setup.

Why is this "speed and ease of setup" always brought up? Is there a race to be won? Going to a fire?

I own an Oehler 35 and a 43PBL. Yes, setting up the 43 takes a few minutes with having to run the cable downrange to the accoustic target and plugging in the chrono and strain guage to the laptop. But the 35 is a breeze. I can't tell you the hundred's of times that I have loaded test ammo, walked through the garage, opened the back door and set up the 35 shooting into the woodpile. Collect the data string, disassemble the unit and be back at the loading bench in 5 minutes. Setup, shoot (revolver or pistol) and tear down in 5 minutes. What benefit is there to be had by doing it faster?

I can’t tell the differences in setup time, as I have only owned one unit – Shooting Chrony F1 Beta. It takes me 10-15 minutes to setup the unit, tripod….. I take my time to line up the unit so that I can avoid shooting it.

The unit works fine. However, I find the display not user friendly at all. Every time I use it, I have to read the manual all over again. With today’s automation, I am surprised that Chrony can still sell their products with its unfriendly interface.

Danny

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Hey You "nevershot it" guys...

you shooting mostly from the bench and mostly sub 35 calibers? (in rifles)
??
j

In 20+ years, I've always shot over my chrony from off of a bench and rest. But I did put the screens in front of my target at 100 yards to check the BC of some bullets for my 22.250, 243, 308 etc.

That didn't work to well because I was using two chronographs that wouldn't agree close enough to cancel out the error factors in the BC calculations.

In handguns, I have shot everything from 22 rimfire to 44 magnums over it. And in Rifles, I have used it for 17 HMR through 375 H&H, to 54 cal muzzle loaders.

I shot my chrony because i kept raising it higher and higher in an effort to see some tiny bullets. I was sick of the ERR1. I was not being stupit or careless. Just FYI.

I built this for my chrony.


click to enlarge

The front plate is 1" steel at 45 degrees. I shoot on the farm (lots of room) so a ricochet is not a problem. Although I've never hit the guard I feel better having it there.

quote:

Originally posted by highpower223:
I shot my chrony because i kept raising it higher and higher in an effort to see some tiny bullets. I was sick of the ERR1. I was not being stupit or careless. Just FYI.

Try blackening the bullets. I use a magic marker to that part that sticks in front of the case neck. I don't shoot 17 caliber, but this trick works on 22 caliber going 3900 fps.