Thread: Which Chronograph?

Hey guys looking into buying my first Chrony but I don't really know much about the different brands/models. Are these ones all much of a muchness or is one better than the other?

Anyone aware of anything else in this price range that is better?

I read somewhere that some models can be affected by sunlight or something?

https://www.caldwellshooting.com/ran...it/721122.html

https://www.cedhk.com/ced-m2-chronograph

ProChrono Digital - Competition Electronics

Also anyone used these bluetooth versions, are they worth the extra $$?

ProChrono DLX - Competition Electronics

https://www.reloaders.co.nz/shop/Acc...+G2+72002.html

Cheers!

I just use a cheap chrony F something?
Does the job, then test at distance and tweak the velocity to match ballistics,have been doing that for last 20 years shooting out to 1200m.

The bad news is all optical chronographs are affected by varying light.
Using infra red back lighting can eliminate the issue but I found even with infra red lighting stray sun lighting can create issues. The infra red screens were also a pain to set up.

It shows up as differing velocities on different days at the range with the same loads and often out of wack velocities on the day when clouds clear or come over . Diffuser shields are supposed to prevent the issue but they don't always. It depends what angle the sun is in the sky. I always got reasonable results though on overcast days.

On some days moly coated bullets were hopeless to pick up. Also had 22rf bullets going at 4000 fps.

I started out with a very simple F1 Chrony (Chrony not on your list) which wasn't a bad unit, then went to a CED first model, then a CED M2. The CED M2 is rated by some as the best of the optical chronographs maybe even as good or better than the Oehler 3 Screen. The M2 when introduced had one of the fastest frequency clocks in it which aids accuracy.

Originally Posted by zimmer

The bad news is all optical chronographs are affected by varying light.
Using infra red back lighting can eliminate the issue but I found even with infra red lighting stray sun lighting can create issues. The infra red screens were also a pain to set up.

It shows up as differing velocities on different days at the range with the same loads and often out of wack velocities on the day when clouds clear or come over . Diffuser shields are supposed to prevent the issue but they don't always. It depends what angle the sun is in the sky. I always got reasonable results though on overcast days.

On some days moly coated bullets were hopeless to pick up. Also had 22rf bullets going at 4000 fps.

I started out with a very simple F1 Chrony (Chrony not on your list) which wasn't a bad unit, then went to a CED first model, then a CED M2. The CED M2 is rated by some as the best of the optical chronographs maybe even as good or better than the Oehler 3 Screen. The M2 when introduced had one of the fastest frequency clocks in it which aids accuracy.

@zimmer interesting. I notice the m2 has some kind of USB port - can you upload the data into an Application?

I was seriously considering the caldwell g2 as it has bluetooth / app compatibility which seems like it would make life easy (no cords and everything is stored on your phone), also the whole chrony is upside down with LED's on the bottom which they claim helps with the lighting related issues...I don't know whether that is just a gimmick or not though. Plus it is pricey.

https://www.reloaders.co.nz/shop/Acc...+G2+72002.html

Yep, the M2 lets you upload to you PC. If you want to do that. IIRC CED has its own PC app. I did upload with my M2 and do with my current chrono. With my old F1 I just wrote the numbers down as I shot them, and that was OK too.

I have no personal experience with the Caldwell upside down model but it should help with the lighting issue.

Maybe @dannyb can comment on the Caldwell he used in thread https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....16/index3.html pots #40 onwards

Originally Posted by zimmer

Yep, the M2 lets you upload to you PC. If you want to do that. IIRC CED has its own PC app. I did upload with my M2 and do with my current chrono. With my old F1 I just wrote the numbers down as I shot them, and that was OK too.

I have no personal experience with the Caldwell upside down model but it should help with the lighting issue.

Maybe @dannyb can comment on the Caldwell he used in thread https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....16/index3.html pots #40 onwards

My comment is I'll never use one again bloody un reliable things I'll stick to my magneto speed

Originally Posted by dannyb

My comment is I'll never use one again bloody un reliable things I'll stick to my magneto speed

+1 to magnetospeed. No more light issues. Just works.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

+1 to magnetospeed. No more light issues. Just works.

Yeh but have to develop load then check velocitys. Bit of a pain sold mine and brought a labrador while overseas.

If you can shoot early in the morning or on an overcast day the optical ones are fine.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

If you can shoot early in the morning or on an overcast day the optical ones are fine.

Is there a relatively good but cheap model?
Im interested in one myself but not looking to spend too much

Originally Posted by Bill999

Is there a relatively good but cheap model?
Im interested in one myself but not looking to spend too much

Mine is a ProChrono from Gunworks. What I have done is make a permanent mount position for it so it always goes back in the same place and always aligned to the bench. Just a length of dressed 8x2 attached under the bench with a little bracket the Chrono sits in at the far end. Works perfectly fine.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Mine is a ProChrono from Gunworks. What I have done is make a permanent mount position for it so it always goes back in the same place and always aligned to the bench. Just a length of dressed 8x2 attached under the bench with a little bracket the Chrono sits in at the far end. Works perfectly fine.

Yours is also sheltered from direct sunlight too which will help

Originally Posted by dannyb

Yours is also sheltered from direct sunlight too which will help

After I built the covid 'lockdown project' shed over the bench I read the chrono instructions and dappled light is out, so then I had to cut a whole lot of branches off the hedge to give a clear sky veiw. If the Chrono is set up as per instructions ( distance and alignment ) it works fine. Certainly subsonic ammo sounds different with higher recorded velocity - meaning if the noise is louder the Chrono shows a velocity increase. With centrefire load development, increases in powder give velocity increases (and decreases) and print different group positions and sizes in keeping with what would be expected.

Greetings308mate,
I bought an Oehler 35 P about 30 years ago and have been pretty happy with it. It is not absolutely reliable on bright sunny days but as I shoot at home I can pick my days. Mine has a printer which I don't use but it still tells me if there is a bogus figure with a bogus display. I have never regretted buying it even though it cost considerably more than a Labradar does now when inflation is taken into account.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings308mate,
I bought an Oehler 35 P about 30 years ago and have been pretty happy with it. It is not absolutely reliable on bright sunny days but as I shoot at home I can pick my days. Mine has a printer which I don't use but it still tells me if there is a bogus figure with a bogus display. I have never regretted buying it even though it cost considerably more than a Labradar does now when inflation is taken into account.
Regards Grandpamac.

The Oehler 35 is a notch above most other optical units.