Not sure if this is the best forum for this, but I'll give it a try. I found a new shooting chrony with printer for $100. A bit confused with all the models of this thing: beta, gamma, master, etc. Are they basically the same unit with just different accessories? Some have the remote display, some with printer, etc. Seems like the instruction manual is a bit convoluted.

I know that in this price range there could be some finicky issues with these. Any preference in Prochrono, Shooting Chrony? I didn't want to make the jump up to the 300- 400 dollar units, but want to know what my loads are doing. Any tips for a chrono newbie?

Make sure it's opened completely flat. Mine has the printer and remote display. I don't use the printer much. It will jump to MPS instead of FPS on occasion. No big deal to reset. Not bad, numbers will get a little funny from muzzle blast if you're too close. Most of them will I reckon.

Take your $100 and use it on a good chronograph, any of the Shooters Chrony's are a POS and a complete waste of your money.

I have an Oehler that is fantastic but you might not want to spend that much. I am sure others will chime in on other options.

I went through alot of cheaper model Chronographs... and wasn't happy

You get what you pay for with Chronographs... consider yorself lucky that the Oehler 35 is available for purchase right now

NMiller,

In my experience the ProChrono is far more reliable than the Shooting Chrony. Have used more than one of each, and compared them to an Oehler 35P.

The shooting chrony has always worked for me. When you shoot it
they will take it in trade. Yes you will, or your Brother in Law will do it for you.

A wide range of experience here, thanks for the replies guys.

We had a Shooting Chrony for years and years. It had its idiosyncracies, such as missing quite a few shots if the sun wasn't in exactly the place it preferred, but we thought that it was OK. When the wind blew it over (our fault) and it quit working, we were less than impressed to find that we could trade it in and pay just a little more (with shipping) to exchange it than what a new one would cost from Cabelas. We got a ProChrony Pal and have had much better luck with not missing readings due to sun position.

I have a shooting chrony Beta Master. It works great in any light conditions except fluorescent lights which is understandable. I have never compared it's accuracy to any other chrony or brand, but it seems to be spot on and consistent.

I run it with pellet guns through bigger mag rifles. Heavy loaded hand guns tend to spit a lot of stuff which requires a lttle more distance between the muzzle and the chrony, but other than that it's never had a problem.

I should add that on the shots that the Shooting Chrony did not miss, .22 lr (remember them?) would be extremely close to advertised speed. Also, when we set two Shooting Chrony units up one behind the other, the readings were within single digits of each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzNKUAgpKNY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVrTEI9hgqM

Fotis,

The tests I ran of a Chrony and ProChrono versus an Oehler were more extensive, taking place over three sessions. One of them paired the Oehler with a ProChrono all across one afternoon, from shortly after lunch until the sun wasn't all that far above the horizon. Varying sun is the hardest item for light-screen chronographs to deal with, and I ran a bunch of bullets from .17 caliber to over .30 caliber over both chronographs that afternoon. Neither chronograph "missed" any shots, and while individual shots varied between the two, the averages of strings of shots were pretty close. This is what we'd expect with one chronograph with screens only a foot apart, as opposed to a chronograph with a wider spacing.

The Chronys I tested didn't do so well, missing a number of shots as well as varying in recorded velocities more than the ProChrono.

Another test involves shooting a load that produces very consistent velocities in different light conditions, such as a partly cloudy day when the light varies from bright sun to cloudy. This is where I've found Chronys least reliable. One varied over 100 fps with the same load in sunny and cloudy light. Haven't had ProChronos do this.

Since Chronys are so popular, have also been at a local public range several times when people were having trouble with Chronys. In one instance the Chrony was showing velocities several hundred fps low with a known load, and no its wasn't due to a low battery, because the guy changed it, and then I lent him one of my spare batteries. Experienced that kind of stuff a number of times, which is why I eventually tried other lower-priced brands, and found ProChronos more reliable.

Haven't used a Chrony in about three years now, and perhaps they're far more reliable.

I have the Alpha Master (red one w/remote). Actually its my second as I shot the original

I've used the two on at least 15+ rifles, most of which have been shot to 500-800y. Haven't seen any discrepancies with actual drops, measured velocities, and JBM data... but I'm a plinker and not in LR comp.

I've had times where I couldn't get a reading in bright sun or heavy shade (inside a pop-up blind to keep it out of the rain), but the vast majority of time the device has worked great (in the PNWet) . Once, I ran it back-to-back with a bud's CED and they were within 3% of each other and closer to 1-2% most of the time.

That CED seems like a nice device but I much prefer a remote. And my bud just told me that he's seeing a 50 fps difference in velocity... apparently due to light conditions.

This accuracy/reliability of chronos reminds me of the laser rangefinder ordeal I recently went thru. With the LRF devices, it seems that the calibration of the individual unit is just as important as the make/model (to a certain extent). I had a great Swaro, and a crappy Leica. Now have a replacement Leica that ranges as well as the Swaro, but I know others who have had the exact opposite.

It's all about light and Shooting Chrony can be fussy. Cloudy days or in the shade without filters seems to be the best. Overhead with screens is usually fine, but in early or late sun with filters can get wonky. I set mine up/shoot from the exact same pot every time I use it and does fine.

Thank you John This is really good to know. I have the chrony and the 35P. Waiting on delivery of the labradar now.

I've used a Chrony for a long, long time...two of them, actually. The first died and I traded it in about five years ago, and I've been satisfied with them. I have, however, experienced those times when you won't get a reading due to lighting and I have also found that you cannot rely on one if it's any closer to the muzzle than about fifteen feet.

One thing about these things though...you just can't know how accurate they are unless you do a real trial with them. Based on what JB has said, I think I may make a move to a ProChrono.

This was my experience as well (minus the 35P, haven't owned one). I got really tired of missing shots if the light wasn't right for the Shooting Chrony, and see no reason to ever buy another.

2nd shot out of a .260Rem Kimber montana with 120gr TTSX. Blue tip fell off mid-flight and hit screen. I sent it back for replacement/calibration and used it twice since. I sold it on craigslist last week for $75. Pretty good investment...bought it in 1999 for $50.

Interesting that it was a 6.5120 TTSX. I had several snap off during hunting season this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn_iz8z2AGw

It seems that the Chrony has a problem with variable light conditions. I have a Beta with remote and a printer, which I really like as I sometimes have trouble remembering to write down each velocity. I was thinking that if I used some of those LED strings that have LEDs about an inch apart, say 9 LEDs on each string sitting on top of the diffusers they would provide a more reliable amount of light. Do you know if anyone has tried this before? Do you think it will work?

I have no idea.

My solution was to spend $100 for a ProChrono.

Pro chrony digital is the way to go, I purchased a Beta master and it worked great for about a year, then I started getting errors half the time, bought a Pact, it only worked with 22 rimfires. Took the Pact back to Cabelas, got my full refund and bought a Pro Chrony and never looked back.

We had my Chrony and a bud's ProChrono side-by-side yesterday in drizzle/overcast, under a canopy. Neither would read. The Chrony showed "error", the Pro showed nothing. I've had hit-n-miss luck under a canopy, depending on ambient light.

When removed from the canopy, they still wouldn't work. My bud has a piece of plexiglass that he made as a rain shield. We eventually got some readings but the water droplets caused some weird results. And fog under the shield.

I need a box with opaque top...