Chronograph recomendations

[oink]

As my old Chrony was murdered I would like recommendations for a replacement. I don't want to break the bank but price isn't necessarily the primary consideration. A few more features that what my Chrony F-1 had would be nice.

My old Chrony had gotten to the point that it would only read reliably if the round passed very close to the top of the unit. After talking to the Shooting Chrony tech that is a characteristic of an old unit with tired sensors. It's a self solving ailment. I can get from $30 up to $45 off a new one by sending in the carcass, depending on new model, but that will cost $10 bucks or more to ship the carcass, plus the hassle.

Paul105 suggested a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital [ame]https://www.amazon.com/Competition-Electronics-538002-SSI-ProChrono-Chronograph/dp/B0028MTBJ4[/ame].

This one on Amazon seems fairly feature rich and is downright cheap: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph [ame]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HTN5DTE/ref=dp_cerb_1[/ame]

Other suggestions from happy chronograph owners?

 

[armorer951]

I also have the "ProChrono Digital" from Competition Electronics. No complaints so far. I've been using it since 2013.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Just got my 2nd ProChrono Digital since I DA'd it last week with my 2in. Still NOT happy, so now have a LabRadar on the way.

If you are worried about affording this hobby, you may need to find another hobby...
OR,... just keep assassinating/replacing your "normal" chrono's

 

[JBnTx]

Get a Labradar.
They're more expensive but worth every penny.

If mine broke today, I'd buy a new one today.
They are that good.

 

[oink]

As little as I use them lately I can't justify a Labradar. I had my Chrony for ~25 years before I put it out of it's misery. Knock on wood!

 

[oink]

That means that you shot your old Chrony?

Through and through! I don't think it suffered any.

 

[Regaj]

As little as I use them lately I can't justify a Labradar. I had my Chrony for ~25 years before I put it out of it's misery. Knock on wood!

Completely understand. Be mindful, though, that the very quick setup and ease-of-use of the Labradar may very well prompt you to use it a great deal more than a conventional chrono.

From a handloading perspective, it truly has changed the game.

 

[fordson]

I just used my new CEC ProChron Digital for the first time today. I was impressed. I had retired my Gamma Chrony because it was getting more and more finicky to the point of uselessness. The ProChron Digital worked out of the box and is much simpler to use then the old Chrony. I also got the digital blue tooth device that connects to my iPad. Now that is neat!
Saves all my test results to my iPad using thier free download program. Came home and just printed out the test logs and added that to my loading documents.

The Labradar is no doubt the new state of the art. I just can’t justify the cost (north of $500).

 

[glowe]

I have owned my PACT Professional XP for 20 years and it has never failed me. What I would recommend you look for in a chronograph is a bench readout. It is worth the extra money to be able to take readings as you shoot and not have to walk out to the unit to record your shots. I do not use the available download options, but simply hit the print button and have all that I need.

I keep my unit well out in front of the muzzle to ensure that the shock waves or gun smoke does not affect the readings and with a bench top unit. It is especially important when tracking black powder loads. All you can shoot is the wings on the unit and they are cheap to replace. I say that because I have unfortunately done just that more than once in 20 years.

 

[BTH]

I look at the lab radar biggest issue I had was it's max velocity is 3900 fps and if you shot some of the faster varmint rounds it won't work. So I went with the CED Millennium 2 works great so far.

 

[muddocktor]

I happen to own both of the ones you linked, oink. Of the 2, I prefer the ProChrono Digital over the Caldwell. I did buy the Bluetooth adapter for mine so that I can remotely show the data on my smartphone. In my opinion, the adapter is well worth the extra $52.80 to have the versatility of being able to reset strings without having to go downrange to reset the string; you just do it all on your smartphone. The Caldwell can also be run remotely, but it is tied to a 15 ft cable that connects to your headphone jack on your smartphone, which means if you have a newer iPhone without a phone jack you are SOL.

If I were to buy another one, I would invest in the LabRadar unit too. I saw one in action and it's great. And since you don't have to go downrange to use it, I bet you would find yourself using it much more than a conventional chrono.

 

[Gregor]

Oehler 35P

Have an Oehler 35P for over 20 years, still the Gold Standard for chronographs. Excellent customer support.

Home - Oehler-Research

 

[JBnTx]

As little as I use them lately I can't justify a Labradar.

A Labradar justifies itself with just one use.

I can set mine up well within one minute and be ready to shoot.
All from behind the shooting bench.

It's as accurate as any other chronograph.
Probably better built and more durable.

The only drawback is the price tag.
500.00 dollars is a lot of money.

ALL reloaders need a chronograph.
Without one, you have no idea what your reloads are doing.

 

[HorizontalMike]

LabRadar +10

The reason I have a new LabRadar on the way, even though I just replaced my ProChrono Digital with another one, is that MOST of my working up of loads is for my two DA-only revolvers. Hard to be very accurate at distance with DA-only.

In other words, setting a chrono TOO far out in front of the DA shooter results in shortening the chrono's life dramatically...

Hence, go with LabRadar... +10

 

[Hasbeen1945]

I have owned my PACT Professional XP for 20 years and it has never failed me. What I would recommend you look for in a chronograph is a bench readout. It is worth the extra money to be able to take readings as you shoot and not have to walk out to the unit to record your shots. I do not use the available download options, but simply hit the print button and have all that I need.

I keep my unit well out in front of the muzzle to ensure that the shock waves or gun smoke does not affect the readings and with a bench top unit. It is especially important when tracking black powder loads. All you can shoot is the wings on the unit and they are cheap to replace. I say that because I have unfortunately done just that more than once in 20 years.

I think my Pact is a little older than yours. I haven’t wounded mine yet. But I like the convenience of the brains of the unit setting on the bench with you. Handy to see readings.
Plus any problems with Pact products are handled quickly by them.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I'v owned my Oehler 35P for over 20 years. Never Failed.

 

[oink]

So, no one recommends replacing it with another new Shooting Chrony???

 

[rockquarry]

I've had six chronographs over the last thirty-five or more years. I've always done a lot of handload development. If you're not going to use a chronograph very often, a cheap one like a Chrony is fine. If you're doing heavy-duty work, nothing compares with an Oehler 35P (I've found a PACT to be a close second). I've been using a Labradar for about six months with no real complaints other than a poorly written manual, but these units are far too new to the market to evaluate how well they will hold up after years of use. They are a bit easier to set up than an Oehler and they may prove to be an equal in terms of being reliable and durable, but we'll have to wait to know for sure.

The better machines are expensive, but you won't outgrow one and wish you had bought the best quality unit.

 

[boatbum101]

As stated above the Oehler 35P will give many years of extensive service with few if any problems . Depends on what you want & how much you use one . I personally would buy one before I'd shell out $ 500 on a LabRadar . If you seriously shoot competition , do lots of load developement , are a serious open country hunter don't go cheap . Chronos , scopes & barrels you generally get what you pay for .

 

[Arub01]

I have been using a ProChrono for years with no issues. Low acquisition price, works well. I believe they offer a bench read out accessory for it, not sure as I am usually alone at the range and walking 10 to 15 feet to check the readout and reset is not a problem for me.