Guys-

I have to buy one. Not the biggest and best, but a good one. Not a cheap p.o.s. I'm looking for one that is trouble free, east to use, and portable. And DEPENDABLE.

Can you guys give me a reccommendation. Also tell me which ones you've had problems with, and which ones have been good to you.

Oehler 35P treated me bad.
Shooting Chrony treated me bad.

Buy this: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=852429
& add this: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=858466

......and you will be happy you didn't buy the other stuff. I have fired roughly 250 shots across the screens and it has not failed to record a single shot yet.

I have friends at the range that own the CD Millennium and they gripe about them.

I've got one of these:

http://www.competitionelectronics.com/pages/Prochrono_Digital.html

Actually mine is the older version of that, it's about 15 years old and doesn't miss a beat. I've been real happy with mine and would recommend them. I think you can find them for around $100.

Prochrono is hard to beat for the price. I've put one through the ringer the last few years with 1000s of rounds from rifle, pistol, MLer, and shotgun as well as archery tackle and never had a problem.

Had an F1 SC prior to and it was a piece of junk.

loder

Personally, I like my Oehler 35P. You do need to have good light for it to work properly, and friends that won't shoot your sky screens. I also always use the 8 ft spread on the screens. Seems to miss fewer shots. I can't say much about the other brands due to my limited experience with them.

I have had a CED Millenium for a couple of years now with no issues.If you buy one get the carry bag.

http://www.shootingsoftware.com/chronographs.htm

I have been using Shooting Chrony's for years without the issues some people have had. Whatever I bought it would be a model that has the LCD readout on my shooting bench; my first Chrony had the readout on the face of the chronograph itself, in bright sunlight, especially when it fell on the unit I couldn't read it with the unit set up 10' to 15' in front of the muzzle. I had my Beta rebuilt into a Beta Master with the remote controller/readout unit.

I've only had two: a Shooting Chrony and a CED. The Shooting Chrony was tired and old and I wanted something better that I would not have to upgrade in a few years. A friend had a CED and liked it so I tried one. I like it very much, particularly with the Infra-red screens. Nice unit.

I have a PACT Pro and like it very well, but it's all I've ever used.

You will note that most of us like whatever we have, usually with little or no experience with others. Maybe they are all pretty good? But all of them let some less than perfect ones get out, and maybe the maker will fix it if we allow them to??

I've also had the ProChrono Digital for a number of years and have put thousands of rounds through it. Always gave me a reading..on sunny or cloudy days.

I have owned three differnt brands, Chrony Beta, Pact and Pro chrony digital. The Beta master worked for awhile then started to give me lots of errors, the Pact hardly worked at all, took it back and exchanged it for the Pro Chrony. The Pro chrony is the best of the three.

I just recently went through the same thing on deciding which chronograph to buy. I used to be able to rent a chronograph at the range I shot at for $5.00 a day. I didn't have the need to own one myself - but I moved and now longer have access to one.

I think boomtube has it right with what he said about owning a particular model and which is best.

I'm retired so I spend alot of time on the internet researching things before I buy them. I searched and searched to find what would seem to be the best buy in a chronograph. What I decided on was the ProChrono Digital. The reviews here and at Midway and Cabela's were excellent and there seemed to be a lot of folks that had owned or used other models and preferred the ProChrono. The company also has a very good reputation for repairs or warranty work. Even if you shoot it they will repair or replace it for a reasonable charge.

The one deciding factor I finally ran into was on one website where a guy was testing chronographs for shotgun shells. I don't recall exactly why, but apparently it's difficult to get consistent readings on shotgun loads. The ProChrono was the only one that gave consistent readings and he had tested all the popular brands. It seemed like a fair and unbiased test that he had done.

It's been too cold to get out and shoot since I got it so I have exactly - zero hands on experience with it. I just figured I would pass along what I had found out and decided on.

fish head

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm on my way to the store...

Scored a ProChrono Digital. I'll give 'er a whirl this weekend. Thanks to all for the help.

Yukon,
Took my ProChrono out in the rain today and it worked flawlessly. It was steady rain too. I think Mule Deer suggested a piece of clear packing tape over the eyes for a rain & dust coat. I have not tried it but I will.

I also used my laser sight to set up the chrono and it took me 30 seconds total. I was pleased.

Now THAT is a dang good idea!!! I never thought of that. I have a laser for carpentry just sitting around, but it'll be in my range box tonight! Thanks for the good tips 28.

I have the Pact pro and have had nothing but troubles with it. Each time I call their customer service, they give me a new way to set it up...which doesn't work. Finally got authorization to send it back in and got it back with new detectors, however, I have the same old problems. "no start signal detected" is the usual issue. I live in AZ and usually have bright clear skys. My buddy has a Shooting Chrony and has NEVER had an issue with it. We've shot side by side and even in line with each unit and I continue to have issues and he does not. Mine will go in the next yard sale for sure!

Since 1981 I have owned a Custom Chronograph, a PACT, a Shooting Chrony, a Oehler M35, and currently a CED Millenium 2.

The Custom became obsolete when they stopped making the paper screens, the PACT ended up out in the alfalfa field where I threw it, the Shooting Chrony has been gathering dust under my loading bench for the past 18 years, and when it became obvious that Oehler wouldn't be supporting the M35 much longer, I sold my most excellent Oehler for a ridiculous sum of money on ebay, bought the CED and with the rest of the money bought.....a couple used Leupys or tires for my truck (can't exactly recall now.....)


CED Millenium is currently the best chronograph made, and the equal of the former Gold Standard M35. It will cost you $200 (plus whatever accessories you choose to buy).

I have trouble trusting the other chrono's out there--or the frustration factor is more than I am willing to tolerate.


Casey

You guy's are great, and I'm sold PROCHORNO it is, which is good almost bought the master beta on a boxing week sale but did'nt know much about it. Glad I found this.

+1.............

Prochrono Digital. I set it up at 15 ft. I shoot cartidges burning 95 plus grains of powder thru its screens. Has a big window to shoot thru (helps you not shoot your own chrono and kill it, lol). Maximum results and minimal issues. Mine is about 10 yrs old I would guess, maybe more. Picked it up when the digital model first came out. I have No experience with other chrono's but this one has worked so consistently; why would I? Also..IMHO--pretty damn good battery life too!

Ditto, except for the added accessory. I just don't need the accessory......I know, I know...what has "need" got to do with anything.

The people at Pact told me the same thing, even advised me to turn it on it's side.

Mark Doberenski (spelling?) turned me onto the Pro Chrono. I went to the MidwayUSA site and read the seemingly 200 glowing reviews of it and have been one happy shooter since. Getting rid of one more variable in my shooting sessions has been a true blessing. THe ProChrono is NOT a variable, it is a sure thing. But, I don't recommend using it in the rain as I did.

I've never had the CED so I can't comment on it, but I have heard some good things about it. I know it has more bells and whistles but I can't imagine it's any better at just measuring velocity, reliability or as good a buy as the Digital. The extra options are nice but if someone doesn't want or need them, is it (or what makes it) any better than the Digital? I think I've had mine around 10 years or so and I've never not got a reading with it. Been very happy with it and couldn't ask for better.

My PACT Precision has been an excellent unit, reliable, repeatable & trouble free.

If I were buying today, the choice would be another PACT or a CED Millennium.

MM

I currently have an Oehler 35, and if I were to replace it, my choice would be the CED Millenium II.