Chonograph

S

sic65stang

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 29, 2010
251
1
38
Virginia Beach, VA
#1
Hello, I have been loading for a couple years now and feel I am missing an important part, the velocity. I am wanting to buy a chronograph, but am kind of lost in what I actually need. I was looking into a Beta master chrony model. I need the ability to bring the readout to the bench, I would like to be able to run separate strings, and I would like the ES and SD.

Any thing I am missing I may need? Anything I dont? Would the beta master chrony be sufficient? Please feel free to make recommendations of other chronographs you like, but please explain why you believe it is superior to the chrony. Thanks in advance!
 
#3
Re: Chonograph

That looks interesting, but there seems to be a consensus there is a POI change and difficulty with use with suppressors. I think I may use this chronograph for pistols too, magnitospeed would not work for that either.
 
#5
Re: Chonograph

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gunsnjeeps</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm using a Pro Chrono Plus. If I were to buy a new one tomorrow it would be the Pro Chrono Digital with the USB interface. I would not hesitate a bit.

http://www.competitionelectronics.com/media/pdf/chrono_brochure.pdf </div></div>

I've tried several different chronographs and IMO the best one short of an Oehler 35 or PVM-21 is the Pro Chrono Digital with the USB interface.
If you have a laptop there is no beating this combination for under $200.
 
#7
Re: Chonograph

Well, I have been happy with my 35P for over 16 years. As far as I know, it doesn't "interface" with any operating system but there are separate ballistic programs out there. Oehler has the best customer service in the business, if not the best chronograph on the market, it comes close enough for my purpose. I don't think you would ever regret the purchase. BB
 
#8
Re: Chonograph

Although it's more money, the MagnetoSpeed is so easy and fast to use!!! Set-up time is seconds, compared to who knows how long you gotta shut down the range to set up and adjust your traditional crony. For me, it was money WELL spent!!!!!
 
#9
Re: Chonograph

Go one way or the other.

Either get the chrono that does all the calcs for you, or get the one that gives one thing, individual shot velocity, and do you own calcs. Make sure you know what you're going to need that chrono to do, and buy accordingly.

I have the Beta.

Mine no longer works, but that's not the issue. I would have been at least as happy with the Alpha. Among other disappointments, I would have paid less for something that no longer works, and that I don't miss anyway.

When it did work, not having all the additional features and arcane programming requirements would have considerably simplified my task. All I ever really wanted, or used, was the raw velocity info.

Don't shoot your chono. I didn't. Don't get caught in a sunshower. I did.

Greg
 
#10
Re: Chonograph

The above COULD BE an ad for Oehler, since that's all I want from a chronograph, what's my velocity. I can figure out drop any number of ways, if I feel like crunching numbers. But, for my load development, velocity is my main interest, the rest of it can wait. Also, sixteen years and it's still working fine.

Full disclosure, I was having a little trouble with the print roll, sometimes overprinting lines. This had no effect on the digital readout just my paper record could be difficult to read, you know, two lines of data superimposed?

I called Oehler and they said the Epsom machine was getting warn out and offered to replace the internals for fifty bucks, which I did, turnaround was less than two weeks. This was earlier this year. The printer is something that others don't have anyway, but I save those tapes, printed with real ink which does not fade away like heat sensitive paper does.

Simple machine, reliable, good investment, happy customer. BB
 
#11
Re: Chonograph

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sic65stang</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Pro Chrono looks awesome, but I use a mac, the program for does not work for mac. I was excited reading about it until I got to system requirements...
</div></div>

I'm not a Mac person but you could either skip the USB interface or buy the Pro Chrono Pal. You just loose the computer interface.
 
#12
Re: Chonograph

Only gripe I have with the Shooting Chrony's is that they are light sensitive.

If you live in an area like I do, there can be bright sun in one minute, cloudy and dark the next. Also, the range where I do most of my load development has huge overhead "baffles" that are there to keep rounds from launching into surrounding neighborhoods. These also make it difficult to get clear lighting for a Shooting Chrony.

I went with a PACT XP Pro and IR sensors. I provide my own lighting source that could care less what the "sky" is.

Has proven to be very consistent for my needs. Want to shoot a 5 round string, great. Want a 50 round string, no problem. Just advance the 'string' when you want to and start another. Either print tapes at the range or download to laptop/desktop for importing to spreadsheet.

Calculations are built in as well as a "bullet library" with BC's (or add your own) so you can create your own "drop calculations" on the spot.

Whatever you do, give some serious thought to a unit that has the "brains" back at the bench. A wayward shot will then only cost you the price of a sensor ($25-$30) instead of a "brain transplant" for considerably more.
 
#13
Re: Chonograph

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gunsnjeeps</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm using a Pro Chrono Plus. If I were to buy a new one tomorrow it would be the Pro Chrono Digital with the USB interface. I would not hesitate a bit.

http://www.competitionelectronics.com/media/pdf/chrono_brochure.pdf </div></div>

I got the Pro Chrono digital a while back. I've only run a few hundred rounds over it, but it hasn't missed a single reading in bright overhead sunlight or overcast conditions.
I can't swear to the accuracy of the readings because I don't have another chrono to compare, but my loads that show the lowest ES and SD are the ones that are shooting better at long range for me.
Maybe just a coincidence?
 
#16
Re: Chonograph

I spent about a month reading up on cronos, on the lower end units the Pro Chrono is the best unit for the money. The Chronoy units are known to lose accuracy after 2-3 years.

I was at the range one day and two guys had the Pro Chrono. Both had their units for several years without any issues. They each let me shoot through theirs amazingly they both read almost the same numbers, I ordered mine when I got home. It all fits in a fairly small box that easily goes into a back pack. I use iPhone with 2 different software, its easy to input the data to the ballistic software and its been accurate each time I have used it.
 
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