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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 121
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 121 |
All of the chronographs I have seen fold back over themselves for storage. I question the degree of accuracy once they are opened up for use. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge how well they compare to truly professional grade chronographs?
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,129
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,129 |
Mine seems to work ok if the sun angle is right, but I have best results when there is some cloud cover and the shades are removed!
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,075
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2005
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Whenever the light screens are close, as in the fold up units, I have seen 150-200fps inaccuracies on the high side. I have never seen one read low.
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,423
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Compared to a professional grade like an oehler83 it's not ever in the same world that said the f1 and such will work just like explained above
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
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Just buy two of them and compare the vel and average from there and you want be that far off from the expensive ones
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,058
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
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Mine is wildly variable, I won't own another. If I couldn't afford a decent chronograph I'd rather borrow one when I could while I saved up. Bad data is worse than no data in most cases.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
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I will say that the Shooting Chrony I use is a hunk of crap, but when it reads, the readings seem to be either damn close or close enough. When putting average reading into ballistic calculator and running bullets with pretty much known BC, the data and the drops match up close enough. So for me it works.
Edited to add the distances run are 100, 300, 400, 600.
Last edited by HuntnShoot; 05/18/15.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,423
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,423 |
Just use the shooter ap on your smart phone and shoot and Input the corections and the ap will give you your velocity and put it in a table for you just make sure all the data you use is correct. Scope height range zero ect. Save money and get real world results.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28,846
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
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I can't get this photo, or any for that matter, to cooperate on photobucket to edit. The list under the date and on the left of the second page was copied from a Chrony 33 (not professional) and the other list is a Chrony Gama. There are some radical differences. ![[Linked Image]](http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff364/RichCoyle/001_zps6kjhk9xu.jpg)
"Only Christ is the fullness of God's revelation."
Everyday Hunter
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,854
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,854 |
All of the chronographs I have seen fold back over themselves for storage. I question the degree of accuracy once they are opened up for use. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge how well they compare to truly professional grade chronographs? Download and read this. In depth study of chronographs by Bryan Litz. Chronograph Test
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,065
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,065 |
Even if you can't afford or don't want to pay for a more expensive chronograph, there's at least one far more reliable and consistent brand for "Chrony money," the ProChrono.
“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 2014
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
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Big +1 on that. I fail to understand why people still recommend and use the folding Chrony's, when better units are available for the same money.
I used one back when that's what was available, but would never buy one again.
Last edited by Yondering; 05/19/15.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,153
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,153 |
Even if you can't afford or don't want to pay for a more expensive chronograph, there's at least one far more reliable and consistent brand for "Chrony money," the ProChrono. I've got a prochrono digital and it's been very reliable. A couple of friends have the same ones they're consistent too. I'm very happy with mine & trust it. The folding ones seem to get roundly cussed, but for the same money the prochrono is very good. I refuse to believe that you have to pay $500 or get one of those that hang off your barrel to get an accurate chronograph.
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Joined: May 2012
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
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I set two up in tandem, an RCBS unit and Chrony F1, and fired several strings of different calibres through them both, comparing the readings.
There were not any wild fluctuations shot to shot, and the readings were consistently close with the F1 generally reading about 15fps faster. Loads were 270 Win, 7mm RM and 308 Win.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,065
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,065 |
It doesn't happen with all Chronys, all the time, but if you use them long enough it will. I've owned three of the things.
The two things I grew most weary of were "missed" shots and big differences between readings on sunny and cloudy days. My last Chrony (and the last one I will ever own) got dumped after taking it out one partly sunny afternoon, and seeing the readings from the SAME LOAD vary over 100 fps depending on whether the sun was out or behind a cloud.
In contrast, I tested my first ProChrono on the same sort of day against an Oehler 35P, over several hours, starting at about 1:00 in the afternoon and lasting until almost 5. I shot rifles from .17 to .416 caliber, and neither chronograph missed a shot, or had the speeds with the same load vary more than a few fps regardless of the sun/cloud conditions.
Made the same sort of test with another ProChrono a year later, just to see if would perform the same way, and it did.
The one thing a Prochrono won't do compared to an Oehler 35P is provide as close a reading of each shot, because the light sensors are much closer together on the ProChrono. Thus the Oehler provides a much better idea of standard deviation (consistency) from shot-to-shot.
“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: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
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I bought a chrony F1 about 15 years ago. It was and still is my first chronograph.
On an overcast day it seems to work pretty well and consistent. Sunny days and especially sunny days with snow on the ground it seems to have readings that are less consistent, and some missed shots.
I always set it up 30 feet in front of the muzzle.
Overall it has served my basic needs for working up loads rifle and handgun loads, and fiddling with rimfire velocity checks.
If I ever upgrade I'll go with one of these strap-on bayonet style Magnetospeed chronos that do not rely on light at all, and don't need a tripod or any 'lining up'.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,529
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2010
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I've had some experience with product testing and the thing that brings out the gremlins is testing at the extremes. It's not surprising to me anymore to find things that work well at 70° F crape out when testing near the minimum and maximum temperature the equipment is specified for. I believe it's possible to make a folding chronograph that's reliable and reasonably accurate, but not for the price of a folding Chrony.
What I don't like about the Competition Electronics ProChrono is the potential damage a stray shot can cause. I know, it never happens, yet I've managed to put holes through screens when experimenting at various distances and guns. At least with the Oehler sky screens you can glue them back together if you don't hit the lens or the photocell and it's not expensive to keep spare screens and parts on hand for the more serious blunders.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,854
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,854 |
It doesn't happen with all Chronys, all the time, but if you use them long enough it will. I've owned three of the things.
The two things I grew most weary of were "missed" shots and big differences between readings on sunny and cloudy days. My last Chrony (and the last one I will ever own) got dumped after taking it out one partly sunny afternoon, and seeing the readings from the SAME LOAD vary over 100 fps depending on whether the sun was out or behind a cloud.
In contrast, I tested my first ProChrono on the same sort of day against an Oehler 35P, over several hours, starting at about 1:00 in the afternoon and lasting until almost 5. I shot rifles from .17 to .416 caliber, and neither chronograph missed a shot, or had the speeds with the same load vary more than a few fps regardless of the sun/cloud conditions.
Made the same sort of test with another ProChrono a year later, just to see if would perform the same way, and it did.
The one thing a Prochrono won't do compared to an Oehler 35P is provide as close a reading of each shot, because the light sensors are much closer together on the ProChrono. Thus the Oehler provides a much better idea of standard deviation (consistency) from shot-to-shot. Thanks for the report John. For chits and giggles I Googled the ProChrono for a price check, wallyworld has em for $99 right now. Not a bad price...
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,854
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,854 |
A few years ago a friend of mine was doing some load testing with a .338RUM shooting over Chrony. First shot, the crony wiggles a little bit. He thought it was the muzzle blast. Second shot, same results. Third shot was a charm. It centerpunched the Chrony dead center.  First two shots just nicked the top of the box. No one except me shoots over my Oehler.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 959
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 959 |
I tend to prefer the magneto speed because it is behind the muzzle.
My crony didn't far well, couldn't even take one bullet....
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28,846
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28,846 |
No one except me shoots over my Oehler. When I got the Oehler 33 back in 1979 I set it up in a channel iron with slots for the electric eyes to be perfectly spaced at ten feet. A friend came over and wanted to test his .38 loads. I told him don't think about the channel iron, just aim at the target. His first shot left a lead colored streak about a foot long right in front of the second eye. If it wasn't for the channel iron, it the eye would have been center punched. What is so hard about aiming at the target? !
"Only Christ is the fullness of God's revelation."
Everyday Hunter
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,102
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
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I wish they made some sort of attachment on the magneto speed that maybe hooked up to a sling swivel.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,874
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
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I set two up in tandem, an RCBS unit and Chrony F1, and fired several strings of different calibres through them both, comparing the readings.
There were not any wild fluctuations shot to shot, and the readings were consistently close with the F1 generally reading about 15fps faster. Loads were 270 Win, 7mm RM and 308 Win. I bought a chrony F1 about 15 years ago. It was and still is my first chronograph.
On an overcast day it seems to work pretty well and consistent. Sunny days and especially sunny days with snow on the ground it seems to have readings that are less consistent, and some missed shots.
I always set it up 30 feet in front of the muzzle.
Overall it has served my basic needs for working up loads rifle and handgun loads, and fiddling with rimfire velocity checks.
If I ever upgrade I'll go with one of these strap-on bayonet style Magnetospeed chronos that do not rely on light at all, and don't need a tripod or any 'lining up'. I've used an Alpha Master Chrony with at least 15-20 rifles and have shot many of those out to 800+ yards with good results. Dead nuts with JBM. Actually killed the original body with a bullet, and the replacement worked just as well as the original. I've also shot the Chrony in series with a Pro Chrono and they were within 2% or less as I recall. They both stopped "reading" under the same low light conditions. I do a lot more load work during the fall, winter, and spring so most of the time its overcast. Direct sunlight on the sensors is an issue, but I just stack boxes and whatever else is handy to provide shade... no problem. I shoot in the coast mountains, but if I were using a chrono at a formal range I'd rather have a remote to reset the chrono, turn it on or off, etc. In rain, my buddy has a plexi-glass cover for the Pro Chrono but the rain drops screw with the readings. I've thought about using a cardboard box with a hole in the top covered with a white kitchen bag. Have never needed to do it though. I have zero complaints with the Chrony but like Shane, if I were to upgrade or start over I'd look at the Magnetospeed.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,285
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,285 |
I have a friend who's been a competitive bench guy for years who gave away his chronos and now uses the V3 Magneto speed. Says his load development time has been cut way down and on target results match his S.D. data now. I'll take his word for it and save myself the expense of learning from his trials.
“You never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.”
Samuel Colt.
�Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,259
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,259 |
Even if you can't afford or don't want to pay for a more expensive chronograph, there's at least one far more reliable and consistent brand for "Chrony money," the ProChrono. That is what I use now.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,729
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,729 |
have a rifle range acquaintance, who enjoys cash being no problem in his life. he always buys the best of everything...
he has both the PACTs and Oehler Chronies...
He always has said, that he is amazed how quick I can set up my Shooting Chrony, get some readings and then break it back down quickly...
When comparing results over his spendy ones, and my Cheap One, their was hardly any, if any, variations in the readings...
He finally bought a Shooting Chrony also... not planning on giving up the Oehler or the PACT.... but admitted, he got it for the times, he has a small number of shots to test out... he liked how quick it was to set up... and liked the variation was minimal compared to the spendy stuff...
I admit on using mine.. when I am shooting a string, and I get a reading way off, I just sort of discard that reading, and go with those that have a parameter to them...
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
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Pro Chrony Digital - I have found using the lighting unit in an Underground range does away with any unexpected, lighting in duced variation.
Best deal to be had.
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