Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Chronographs

I looking to purchase a chronograph soon. My primary objective of this unit is to be able to accurately determine the velocity of fired rounds, nothing more. I would like to be able to read the measurements from my firing position and not have to get up and go to a remote site. Also, I would like to have durable and dependable screens that are easy to assemble/disassemble. However, accuracy is the critical issue. Recommendations please!

I have the basic F1 I think chrony, works for me, just under $100 canadian and $50 for a good tripod.

The F1 Chrony has a digital readout that is easily visible from your shooting position, assuming it is set up approx. 15' from the muzzle of the firearm. No bells or whistles, just reliable.

ditto the above

I have the basic Chrony, and have done an experiment to test its repeatability. With correct lighting conditions, the repeatability is excellent... almost down to 1 fps.

Some of the other brands are a little more forgiving on lighting conditions. If I were buying again, I might seriously consider the CED Millenium, with the LED accessory. I have no experience with them, but the ability to shoot indoors or under heavy cloud cover is quite useful.

The accuracy of a chronograph boils down to the accuracy of the spacing of the photocells, and the accuracy of the internal clock (crystal controlled, 10 ppm/degree C). With modern electronics, accuracy really isn't so much of an issue.

Well...I did it the expensive way, bought one of the chrony's and fought the weird light requirements. One day got so tired of seeing error that I shot a hole through the message. Bought the basic oehler and have never looked back...

Take a look at the Pact Model 1. Better than a Chrony, IMHO, because the only thing you can accidentally (or otherwise, as 65X54 did) shoot is the skyscreens. You may only want velocity now, but extreme spread, SD, etc all add to your knowledge of your loads. You can set the Model 1 on the bench next to you, the wires are at least 16 ft long, and the skyscreens require a 24" spacing, which, I believe, is farther apart than the Chrony. Farther apart is better, as in better accuracy. Price is right, too. Looking in the Midway catalog, the Chrony F1 is $79.99, the Pact Model 1 is $129.99, and the Oehler 35 is $194.99

rstokes- search for chronograph in the archives here and read which ones have mixed reviews and which "one" gets rave reviews...hint, hint, it'll be Oehler. I started many moons ago with a Chrony and it worked OK, as long as the light conditions were right. This spring I splurged and bought a Pact Model 1 XP. It was returned to Pact after the first time I used it because it read 10 out of 39 shots. I went for the gusto and bought the Oehler 35 and as 65x54 said, have never looked back. It's read every shot including under like lighting conditions as the Pact failed. I can't say it's any more accurate than a Chrony or Pact but my frustration level with using chronographs is now nil. Which is worth the extra cost to me. YMMV.

If I get the Oehler 35 what all is recommended to purchase with it? I don't think I want a printer at this time, but do I need the 4 ft. rail & stands or a spare skyscreen or anything else to get started? Where is the best place to purchase?

All you need to get started is the "entry-level" one joearcher referred to at Midway. That's the one I bought. It's ready to go and you can always add the printer and a third skyscreen if you want the proofchannel later. It comes with two skyscreens, a two foot piece of conduit to mount the skyscreens on, and of course the head unit. You can get one directly from Oehler for the same price as Midway too. Here's a link to their website: Oehler

I have a Chrony Gamma Master(top of the line) and a Ohler 35P--The Ohler wins hands down.

I have an older Oehler, and also a CED unit with the IR screens. Both of these makes will do what you want done. I don't have any experience with the Chrony.

jim

HunterJim - I also have the CED with IR screens. Have you had any problems getting a reading from the IR screens? I can't get them to read. Regular screens are no problem till the sun sets.

Thanks .. BP...

I bought a Oehler 35P about a year after they came out. Aside from replacing a few scyscreen casings, which was no fault of the unit, I've had zero problems with the unit. You can laugh about shooting the screens, but if you use a chrono long enough it's likely you'll do it once. I would encourage you to get the 4ft rail and 3rd skyscreen as it enhances what the unit will do for you, but you can always add them on later. The 4ft rail has been nicer to set up for me, with a tripod at each end, than the 2ft was.

A lot of guys swear by their Chrony's, but I've witnessed frustrated shooters trying to use them. I see them at the range, often times with someone with the instructions out scratching there head....or just plain cursing them. When the shadows from the range cover go out in front of the firing line towards evening at the range where I shoot the frustration quotient seems to increase greatly.

To be fair, my Oehler needs to have the three sckyscreens either in or out of the sunlight, not a mix, to be 100% reliable.

BP,

I did have a problem with them when I blew up the first power supply with an improper connection. I don't remember now what I did to cause that, just that I did it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Are you using the battery pack for the IR screens or the "plug in" power supply?

I got the IR screens to use on a covered range I shoot at.

jim

HJ - I usr the 110v plug. All the green lights on the screens are on. It will even measure a rubberband shot through it. But when I shoot through it with a rifle.... nothing. I have the phone # here of the guy that provides support for CED in the USA. Guess I need to call....again.

I used mine near sundown. When the sun has gone behind the trees.

Thanks.. BP...

All else being equal, is the printer that comes with the Oehler 35P worth the extra $120 over the standard Oehler 35? That strikes me as a lot to pay for the convenience of not having to write things down at the range, but maybe there is value involved that I'm failing to see.

I spoke with Oehler and was told that if you use the 3 skyscreens and want to get both the readings available, you must get the printer to be able to view both readouts recorded. Otherwise, you can only view one readout and when one of the readings is out of Oehler's range of tolerance the instrument will flash.

BP,

I use a .22LR to check operation.

I would certainly call tech support (is that still Jim R. in AZ?)

jim

When I bought my Chrony all I wanted was the readout -- I had the formulas to calculate whatever else I wanted to understand in a spreadsheet. The Chrony is a good item and like others (Mule Deer at the forefront), I found that covering the slots with gauze or tape solved what few problems I had with varying light conditions if the hoods weren't sufficient -- shoot a BB or a 22 LR for the initial shot. I've been very happy with my purchase. An Oehler is likely the next step for me once I need much more than I have, but the Chrony won't be relegated to a junk pile.