Looking for a Chronograph
- Thread starter patrick021
- Start date
Pretty generic question. What's your use case(s)?
I have an Oehler 35 and a Magnetospeed. Both work well for different firearms. Ie, the MS doesn't work for most handguns or a double barreled rifle. Yep, have one of those. And since I have the MS Sporter version it won't work with my suppressor mounted (the can's diameter is too large.)
But for where it works on most rifle barrels I now prefer the MS. Much easier to set up and I find it to be more accurate. It's also easy to take with you to check velocity before a match.
Just a few things to think about when choosing.
I have an Oehler 35 and a Magnetospeed. Both work well for different firearms. Ie, the MS doesn't work for most handguns or a double barreled rifle. Yep, have one of those. And since I have the MS Sporter version it won't work with my suppressor mounted (the can's diameter is too large.)
But for where it works on most rifle barrels I now prefer the MS. Much easier to set up and I find it to be more accurate. It's also easy to take with you to check velocity before a match.
Just a few things to think about when choosing.
I have a pro chrono that I use for my bows tried it but I don't think it works very well. Most of my shooting is going to be bolt action rifles maybe an ar or pistol every now and then.
LabRadar is about the easiest to set up. If it catches the bullet they work well but not for fast wildcats. The upper limit is 3900 FPS.
Magnetospeed is easy to set up but it hangs off of the barrel.
Shooting Chrony is somewhat easy to use but not real accurate.
Oehler 35 is a big unit that is harder to lug around and setup but is the most accurate because it measures the same bullet twice.
Pricing runs $70-600 on the above units.
Magnetospeed is easy to set up but it hangs off of the barrel.
Shooting Chrony is somewhat easy to use but not real accurate.
Oehler 35 is a big unit that is harder to lug around and setup but is the most accurate because it measures the same bullet twice.
Pricing runs $70-600 on the above units.
It can change POI and can also affect group size sometimes. For me it’s worth the POI change and possible group enlargement to find the best SD’s/ES during load development. After I find the most consistent loads, I load more rounds and shoot for groups and trajectory validation. Just my 2 cents.
I had a shooting chrony for about 15 year; it died a sudden death last year. Bit the bullet and got a lab radar. I love it, it’s so much better than messing with the shooting chrony. I have been able to capture far more than 40% of my shots, but I set it up much closer to the end of the barrel than the one in the picture above. One thing is for certain, it eats batteries and it’s best to run it off an external battery you would use to charge a cell phone. It has a cord for you to do that. Also, no worries with poi change nor group size with a lab radar.
I like my labradar a whole bunch compared to the ms3. I’m getting every shot without scattering them, no problem with my can.
Except for my 300bo ar. My 300bo bolt with the same can as everything else is just fine. Doesn’t skip a beat on anything, pistols included. Except that 300bo ar...
Except for my 300bo ar. My 300bo bolt with the same can as everything else is just fine. Doesn’t skip a beat on anything, pistols included. Except that 300bo ar...
I have an OLD ProChrono that while having it's problems (poor S.D. with 5 shots) and having to set it up while range is cold seems to work for me.
I even bought the blutooth thingy for my phone but don't use it often. A log book entry for my load, a pic of the shot (usually 100yds), chrono memory, and I can evaluate my range trip at home. I've thought about getting the newer model with built in blutooth.
Normally use black marker for bullet triggers and the flat black on the chrono helps keep the bottom of the bullet from being illuminated, maybe helps.
The MS sounds cool except for the reports of having to do sensitivity adjustments and shimming to get good readings.
Is it a problem?
The Lab Radar sounds even better but not sure I need to spend that much. Have seen them at the range I frequent and they work well.
It's the cost that makes me hesitate.
I even bought the blutooth thingy for my phone but don't use it often. A log book entry for my load, a pic of the shot (usually 100yds), chrono memory, and I can evaluate my range trip at home. I've thought about getting the newer model with built in blutooth.
Normally use black marker for bullet triggers and the flat black on the chrono helps keep the bottom of the bullet from being illuminated, maybe helps.
The MS sounds cool except for the reports of having to do sensitivity adjustments and shimming to get good readings.
Is it a problem?
The Lab Radar sounds even better but not sure I need to spend that much. Have seen them at the range I frequent and they work well.
It's the cost that makes me hesitate.
- Mar 15, 2018
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I set up my new ProChrono Digital on the last range trip. I quickly came to the conclusion that it cannot divide time fine enough to resolve speed in less than 5 fps increments. All 20 shots were either 2609, 2604, 2599, 2594, 2588, 2578 or 2574, nothing else. It's statistically improbable to get 7 shots each at 2599 & 2594 with nothing in between. It casts doubt on the calculated SD. So 5 fps in that range is 0.2%, still within it's stated accuracy, but...
I'm curious if users of other chronos have observed a similar phenomenon.
I'm curious if users of other chronos have observed a similar phenomenon.
I have both MS V3 and LR, my go to is the MS, less dropped shots caused by user error. The LR is a pretty solid all around unit though. I use mine for pitols, pcc's, and a double checker at times if I feel the numbers are not correct. Not much difference in recorded velocities from the 2.
Has anyone tried this chrono out? https://www.autotrickler.com/twoboxchrono.html
I have a Pro Chrono but this one looks decent.
I have a Pro Chrono but this one looks decent.
The only time I've had to adjust sensitivity on my MS is when I was using if for a 52gr Berger @2825fps in my 22-250. It was fine with the same bullet at lower velocity from my .223 bolt gun.
Otherwise it hasn't missed a shot.
Otherwise it hasn't missed a shot.
You really do not want anything that has sensors relatively close to each other that uses acoustic signatures. The triggers are slow and very sensitive to angles in set up.
They work very well, shot to shot but not week to week.
It is fine. The MS only grips on 2 inches of the barrel. Most tapers will not have much diameter difference in only 2 inches of travel down the barrel.
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