Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Oehler 35 Value

I bought a Custom Chronograph about 1982 (the kind with the paper screens). If the paper screens were still available, I would still be using it--it was that good.

When I finally ran out of screens, I bought a Shooting Chrony in the early 90's--that sucker quickly found it's way to a cardboard box under my reloading bench.....

Next up was a PACT (can't remember which model)--that sucker found it's way into the alfalfa field behind the house (if I could have thrown it further, I would have).

So I bit the bullet on the ogive and sprung for a M35 (no printer, but has the third screen (my trusty 3 ring binder is all the data processing I need).

But if somebody was going to offer me $665 for my M35, I'd consider selling it, buying a CED M2, and with the remainder I'd go looking for another used M700 to add to my collection........

Either that or just go out and buy a couple lifetimes supply of Federal primers


Casey

Are you interested in selling the unit?

The 35 had one problem. I liked the accuracy and reliability, but setting it up each time was so involved that I didn't use it much and eventually sold it. IIRC I paid $215 after they announced the model's discontinuance, and sold it for $330, but that was a couple of years ago.

Pretty much nailed it there. That's why I've used mine like 6 times in 8 years. Public range, lots of yo-yo's, PITA to set up, rains a lot in SE-AK.

I figure I might be able to fetch $400 and then buy a smaller, easier to set up unit.

If you think I jest on the price that 35P went for:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Oehler-35P-Chronograph_W0QQitemZ160313987216QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item160313987216&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

+1 on the 43PBL. Can't see parting with it for any price a sane individual might offer.

Would love to see it go to a good home � the whole outfit as a single package, not module by module.

How much are you asking?

Not asking.

He is looking for bids, kind of like an auction.

Ask Ken Oehler for a copy of the old Model 43 price list. I'll sell mine for that. And I have a bunch of extra strain guages!

He assures me that service will continue to be available, including the latest software revisions.

I'll give my 35-P and my Model 43 � with gobs of extras � gratis to friends who'll come haul 'em off before I'll break a sweat trying to persuade a stranger to take a piece of my hide with either one.

When I got my Model 43, the costs were as follows below. The battery has gone dead, and the chemicals are out of date. OTOH, I have bought several extra strain gauges ($10 each IIRC) from the source that supplied them to Oehler (I don't know how many I have), and I also have the long-range amplifier but don't remember its cost. I've added a number of smaller accessories, whose total value totally escapes me.

basic Model 43 - - - - - - - - - - - - $1,800
acoustic target - - - - - - - - - - - $1,200
pressure module - - - - - - - - - - - - $200

All told, I'd guess that the entire outfit ought to be worth $3,500 or more � depending, as always, on who wants it, how urgently he wants it, and whether he can afford it.

As anyone can tell from across the river on a clear day, it ain't a Chrony!

I�ll admit the model 35 can be a problem to set up on a public shooting range. I have used my model 35P for many years on public ranges. I use two music stands and have the sky screens mounted on a piece of conduit. I keep the whole mess in a plastic rifle case. With practice I can set up in just a few minutes. I use a target with a four inch square aim point and I am able to shoot four groups without replacing a target at 100-yards by aiming for the corners.

The real problem with the Oehler Model 35 chronograph is not set up difficulties but its susceptibility to dirt. I live in West Texas and there is a lot of blowing dirt on our ranges. The blowing dirt will clog the printer on the 35P quickly. This may be easily cleaned at home but it prevents use of the printer during certain times of the year.
Another problem with the Model 35 is the susceptibility of the sky screen housings and sun shades to damage from gas checks, sabots and shot cups. I have never been able to come up with a satisfactory solution to the protection of the sky screens.
The Oehler 35P is quite susceptible to water. Chronographing in light rain or blowing rain will cause problems such as the printer running away and false shots or missed shots.
The little Chrony Beta Master has no fear of snow or rain and functions quite well in a light rain.

The Model 35 is easy to dry out and easy to clean up but it is not an all-weather unit.
The advantages of the model 35 are its superior sky screens and their ability to consistently pick up shots on cloudy days and with low angle light.
Our primary shooting range faces north and the bright, low angle sunlight at dawn will defeat many chronographs, particularly when shooting cast bullets. The Oehler Model 35 rarely misses a shot under these circumstances. The Model 35 will consistently pick up shots on overcast days and when the bench unit is bagged works reasonably well in wet weather and cold weather.

My sky screen holders are pretty well used up at the moment and I ordered a Chrony Beta Master to get by until I can rebuild the holders.
The Chrony Beta Master will down load directly into RCBS Load and the Load program will automatically graph the data by fps per grain of powder and store the data in a file folder. I am looking forward to this feature as it will save some time when working with range data.

Slim, very informative.
And, unfortunately, beyond my present computer skills. But that can be fixed. Maybe.

The Oehler is a pretty fine chronograph for all around use and one of its finest features is simplicity of operation.
I set up the chronograph behind the firing line and when a cease fire is called carry it out mounted on the music stands. My wife or a fellow shooter helps me align the screens with the target and I am ready in minutes. When mounted on music stands the sky screens must be sand bagged or a wind gust will topple the rig.

You should try the Lee Shooter program � about $12.00 from Midsouth. This program has a good external trajectory chart and a fair log for load data. It is a simple little program with a good bullet data base.

Edit] You should also look at Greg�s RCBS Load pages at the link below. Based on feedback from computer challenged shooters like me Greg has vastly improved the RCBS Load program and the updates are available for all older programs. Greg has added almost infinite bullets shapes to the cartridge Designed function along with color for the cartridge case drawings. Load has an excellent external ballistics program. One of the interesting features is a page which gives you the case capacity for most of the canister powders available today. Simply seat a bullet and the capacity for all of the powders changes. This is not load data but helps to find case filling loads and is useful for other calculations. There is another feature which gives bolt thrust and radial barrel thrust in the chamber area which is quite interesting. You can while away many winter hours playing with this program.
The learning curve is a bit steep for the load data retrieval and storage pages but the on-line help function is very good and when all else fails Greg is very good about answering questions � and occasionally taking us by the hand and leading us to the light�

http://www.gmdr.com/