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Joined: Jul 2010
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Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,813 |
Never used one,but feel it's time to add one to my gear closet. I have no exacts on what the spread is of my reload velocities.
Please enlighten, me as to what to look for and what models have the "best bang for the buck".
Hunt...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,915 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,915 Likes: 9 |
We are very satisfied with our ProChrono PAL - like it much better than our Shooting Chrony, which seemed much fussier as to light conditions.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,104
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,104 |
FWIW, I have been using a PACT for twenty years or so, but if I was buying today I think that I would try a Magnetospeed Sporter.
Last edited by mudhen; 04/23/16.
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
Prochrono. Made in USA. <$100 delivered. Check amazon. Several threads from the last month or so espouse similarly.
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,744
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,744 |
I have an older Oehler Mod.35P that has been refurbished by Oehler, its been great.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,170 Likes: 17
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,170 Likes: 17 |
I have an Oehler 35P, a ProChrono Pal (actually two), and a Magnetospeed Sporter. All three work fine, but the Oehler is the one I depend on when I absolutely require precise results.
The other two are good choices for somebody who doesn't want to spend as much money, and I'd recommend them over the other relatively inexpensive chronographs I've used over the years. The Magnetospeed does affect point of impact and accuracy when mounted on the rifle's muzzle, but a bench-top mount can also be rigged.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,093
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2005
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I ordered the labradar yesterday, unfortunately backordered until June. I'll slum the PACT until then.
“Factio democratica delenda est"
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
For $595 I'd be looking long and hard at the LabRadar. The LabRadar consists of far fewer pieces, amounting to increased portability and ease of setup. I have yet to see the accuracy of Ohler's Chronographs compared to LabRadar. The one complaint I've read about the Doppler unit is battery life.
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,170 Likes: 17
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,170 Likes: 17 |
I've also heard the Labradar doesn't do well with small-diameter bullets, so am waiting to hear about upgrades until buying one.
Oehler chronographs have been not just the amateur but the professional standard for many years now. Don't think I've ever visited a pro lab (and have been in more than a few) that didn't have an Oehler. Their accuracy is well-proven.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,594 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,594 Likes: 1 |
I have a Labradar and a Oehler 35P that I have had for a long time
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 416
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 416 |
It seems to me that the verification standard of most chronographs is:
"Have you ever compared it to an Oehler?"
I don't recall ever hearing "I know my Oehler is accurate because I compared it to....".
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,106 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,106 Likes: 3 |
I have a Labradar and a Oehler 35P that I have had for a long time Hopefully there's more to the story.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
I have a Labradar and a Oehler 35P that I have had for a long time What's the scoop?
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,594 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,594 Likes: 1 |
Just played with a little bit so far I really like it
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 19,179
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 19,179 |
CBB
I have only had the O 33 which is not available any longer except possibly PreOwned (grin)
I'd only recommend that you buy the best you can afford. You won't regret it.
Jerry
jwall- *** 3100 guy***
A Flat Trajectory is Never a Handicap
Speed is Trajectory's Friend !!
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2006
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I put this in the Labradar thread as well but my 1st range session with the radar was 4/17. I chrono'd 13 rifles and everything was more or less where I expected it to be based on ~10yrs of using the little green Chrony and picking the right lighting. My 257Wby was the lone question mark, it was running ~150fps faster than I expected, I'll have to make a couple more range sessions with it before deciding just what's what. Everything .243, .257, .277, .284, .308, and .375 was flawless, picked up every shot. I had 2 failures to pick up .224 75n A-max's out of 25 shots, 1 via 22-250, the other via 223AI. A buddy showed up and we picked up 9:10 .20cal v-max's as well. It's simple to set up and there's no diddling about getting the bore lined up over anything, just point the big orange box at the target and turn it on. It'll calculate ES/SD and avg velocity of every shot string for you and displays the info on the screen as well as allows you to store up to 99 strings of 99 shots in internal memory. I guess there's some export to Excel stuff that can be done via SD card but I honestly don't keep that level of detail. 6 AA batteries were @ 50% after the 3hr range session after which I ordered their rechargeable battery for $25 as a guy could go through $25 worth of AA's pretty quickly. I had 5 targets set up @ 200yds and didn't move the orange box at all once aimed at the middle target. Just swap different rifles into the rest/sandbag arrangement.
Last edited by horse1; 04/23/16.
I can walk on water.......................but I do stagger a bit on alcohol.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 890
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 890 |
I put this in the Labradar thread as well but my 1st range session with the radar was 4/17. I chrono'd 13 rifles and everything was more or less where I expected it to be based on ~10yrs of using the little green Chrony and picking the right lighting. My 257Wby was the lone question mark, it was running ~150fps faster than I expected, I'll have to make a couple more range sessions with it before deciding just what's what.
Everything .243, .257, .277, .284, .308, and .375 was flawless, picked up every shot.
I had 2 failures to pick up .224 75n A-max's out of 25 shots, 1 via 22-250, the other via 223AI. A buddy showed up and we picked up 9:10 .20cal v-max's as well.
It's simple to set up and there's no diddling about getting the bore lined up over anything, just point the big orange box at the target and turn it on. It'll calculate ES/SD and avg velocity of every shot string for you and displays the info on the screen as well as allows you to store up to 99 strings of 99 shots in internal memory. I guess there's some export to Excel stuff that can be done via SD card but I honestly don't keep that level of detail.
6 AA batteries were @ 50% after the 3hr range session after which I ordered their rechargeable battery for $25 as a guy could go through $25 worth of AA's pretty quickly. Mirrors my experience from yesterday after playing around with the LabRadar from .243 up to .308. The battery concern is easily remedied by grabbing a $20-$30 rechargeable pack having 16000 mAh or so (5V/1A). After having it on for 6 hrs or so it didn't make a dent in the battery status (20 sec screensaver / 40 sec trigger / trip at "trigger" / sensitivity: 1 / standard power)
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2003
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While I have owned chronographs I don't use one now. What matters more to me now is where the bullet hits.
The 'velocity' is just a number and any reasonable speed works.
It was fun at the time.
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,529 |
The absolute velocity is not as important as the round to round variation, and for that you need a chronograph. We all care about where the bullet hits, but there are many causes of large groups, and chronographing lets you confirm or eliminate velocity variation as a cause.
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