I have looked (limited) and not sure which one to buy.
A friend said I could use his but it might be best to get one of my own.

Any recommendations that won't break the bank but will still work well and not fall apart in use ?

Question-When you all load your rounds and graph them, do you do it all the time or once you get your FPS per round you are shooting stop graphing the load?

Thanks again,
Jim

P.S. My wife says this is getting expensive, I said it will be over soon after I get my casting pot and accessories

Not as expensive as buying store bought

I have a CED Millenium, and while they are not cheap, they are good. The "brains" are not out there where they could take an errant shot, and that can be a big money saver right there. I find mine works in lighting conditions that defeat other chronos, and the functions are more than most reloaders can use. I got mine from Cactus Tactical, at that time they had the best deals.

Buy quality (buy once, cry once), and you won't be sorry!

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I picked up Chrony for my buddy for Christmas. He loves it. You can upgrade the basic model to basically anything they sell with add ons. I asked around on another forum prior to purchase. The feedback I got was they work and are accurate. Many had compared them with other brands for accuracy.

There is nothing to protect the innards from a misplaced shot, so keep that in mind. I sort of figure that if I shoot my chronograph, I deserve to pay for a new one.

My Ohler is in it's 4th decade of use. Yes it was an arm and a leg at the time, not to mention one of the only choices in the 70s, it has been wonderful.

I did the stupid thing and allowed a buddy to borrow it. Of course it came back with a bullet through a SkyScreen.

Spoke to Ken Ohler about ordering a replacement SkyScreen II and he would not let me. He told me the SkyScreen IIIs were a huge improvement and sent me a set a no charge.

I am currently building a fund to purchase an Ohler PBL which is the cat's a**. Though it is listed as not in production.

On a more affordable note, I also have a CED Mellium and find it to be a fairly good product. It is well thought out. Very accurate and I love that it talks the velocity to you after each shot.

I personally would never buy a product that allowed me to place the electronics downrange so I could put a bullet through it. But that is me, many folks are happy with those devices.

Pro Chrono digital for about $99 if you don't want to spend a lot of
money. Don't buy a Chrony.

Last year, I switched over to the CED M2 chronograph and have been quite happy with it. My old PACT started to get a problematic display and so it was retired.

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Stu

Do you have to buy a tri-pod for them as well ?

I do have a tri-pod for a camera that is pretty good/sturdy.

Jim

I use a camera tripod for mine. Nothing overly fancy....I got it for about $40 at a big box store. Works just fine.

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Stu

Thanks Stu - Liked on FB.

Looks like a nice set up-didn't realize the distance between the start/stop, good info.

I am also a Jeep nut: S T R E E T 2 M U D

Thanks,
Jim

I also use a CED at my outdoor range. (I use a MagnetoSpeed when I need velocity data from an indoor range.) Since I haven't used any other of this type, I can't give you a direct comparsion. All I can say is it has performed flawlessly . . . well, there was this time a bird flew over the near sensor and the shadow was recorded as a shot that "started" but didn't "finish" lol.

Anyhow, as you can see in the photos the electronics are separate from the sensor. Replacement skyscreen set (of 2) is only $21.95 and arrives 3 days from order . . . you already know how I know The data downloads nicely and is easily imported into Excel if you want to save it. It does all the calculations and will even speak out the shot velocity if you want.

The chrono is not only useful for working up loads, but also in identifying "flyers", so I use mine a lot.

I have a Shooting Chrony Gamma Master Chronograph with Ballistic Chrony Printer. I sure like it. From the previous posts buy something with the electronics separate from the sensing unit. Don't ask me why!

I dump my data into Excel. When I do load testing I do double duty. Set up my chrony and use a Ransom rest. Kills two birds with one stone.

This thread needs one of these pictures

Like Twoboxer, I often use my magnetospeed. It hasn't missed a shot and it's super-easy to work with. It hasn't fully replaced my Chrony, because it can't work on semi-auto pistols, or short-barrel revolvers. Also, the sensor hanging on the barrel, does affect grouping and point-of-impact. Despite those restrictions, it's a joy to use and very reliable.

I bought a Pro Chrono and have been very pleased. Works every time, no errors, and couldn't be easier to use. Quite cost effective.

Is there a problm with semi-auto weapons on some of these other than the Chrony or am I missing something.

Jim

Correct.


So what's the deal with this ? Wrong set up or your aim

How far do these need to be from the end of one barrel ?

Thanks,
Jim

No problem with the Chrony. It's the Magnetospeed in particular. Its sensor clamps to the barrel which is its great advantage. Two sides to every coin, though. You can't clamp to a moving slide. If the barrel is too short, you don't have room to clamp.

To expand a bit on Krogen's comment, the only "issue" (if you would call it that) with Chrony is with models where ALL of the electronics are at risk, and the readout must be viewed from (eg) 10' away.



The MagnetoSpeed is a completely different type of Chrono that straps tightly to the end of your barrel. In addition to not fitting on semi-auto pistols, the pressure of the strap changes barrel harmonics and causes similar problems with POI (and perhaps grouping) as resting your barrel on a rail post.

MagnetoSpeed senses the change in magnetic field as a bullet passes over the sensor at each end of the bayonet. As a result, the sensors must be *very* close to the path of the bullet. And the device is not affected by muzzle blast so it can be placed closer to the barrel, ie, inches from the end.

Here is the full story.

There are all kinds of reasons, but basically the bullet hits the chrono because that's where the gun was pointing when it left the barrel

Seriously, the number of times this happens shows just how careful you have to be with firearms. Here's my story, the day I put a .223 round through the rear right and front right support arms of the CED's skyscreen:

RRA AR15, 100 yds to target, chrono set up 10' from muzzle. Scope set to 24x . . . I don't ever see the chrono's support arms. Fire a particular round, look at readout on chrono (next to me on the bench) and it says "Error". Look at the Chrono, the skyscreens are dangling.

Best I can figure I had moved POA to a second paper target, moving the bullet's path closer to the support arms. Maybe my tripod mount wobbled/rotated in the wind . . . maybe I pulled the shot . . . maybe the support arms were vaguely visible in the scope and I ignored any blur that was there as haze . . .dunno.

$21.95 and it was repaired plus I have a spare set of support arms and two extra skyscreens.

How far from muzzle? The instructions on my CED say far enough to avoid muzzle blast, and recommend 10'.

Rollbar/Jim,
You are most welcome....and always nice to bump into a fellow Jeeper.

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Stu

Thanks again all/Stu. I will mention this to my son who wants to reload as well so we can split the Chrono. So we will see.

Great advise and you all go far beyond the standard help meter of a lot of forums.

Jim

P.S. If you are ever in Fallon, Nevada or wheeling around here I have two RV full hookups if needed.

I've got a Shooting Chrony that I have had for 20 years. It works great as I have used it for everything from 9mm all the way up to 416 Weatherby Mag. It only cost me like $100. As long as you don't shoot it, you'll be good.

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