Gentlemen, I need a chronograph. Im a weekend warrior .trying to stay away from the junk .What do you reccomend ?

I look for a used ohler 35p
You'll never need another ..
Dave

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020438152?pid=988434

And free shipping for now.

I agree with this, if you cant find used this is where you buy new
Oehler 35P
There are newer products like LabRadar and MagnetoSpeed that work but have issues. some are cheaper but if you just want to buy once and be done get an Oehler

Whatever you decide to buy DON'T let anybody talk you into a Shooters Chrony, a true flaming pile of dog schit just waiting for you to put your foot in the middle of it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like my Magnetospeed

Yes, This. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

https://oehler-research.com/model-35p/

Had one since before the printer. Just a 35, no P. Returned it for a free repair about 30 years ago & it still keeps working. Skyscreens are $45 now they used to be $25 if you shot one. It does happen.

I pretty much agree with the above: Oehler 35 or 35P, especially if you shoot at a private range where there's no problem setting it up.

If you mostly or totally shoot at a public range where setting a chronograph in front of the benches is a problem (and maybe even against the rules) I would go with a Magnetospeed. Due to being mounted on the muzzle-end of the barre, they do tend to the change point-of-impact and accuracy, often a LOT on sporter-weight barrels, but they can also be set up off the barrel in various ways.

Thank you for the thoughts guys . Off to the web I go !

LabRadar is another one. Sets up behind the firing line. Is not affected by light/cloud conditions. Not cheap however.

It also isn't as versatile as the Oehler and Magnetospeed, with definite caliber/velocity limitations. If those are ever solved I'll buy another.

Yes, not that good with smaller bullets. Magnetospeed also has its issues. Oehler is the Gold standard in a chronograph.

John,

Could you elaborate on the caliber and velocity limitations. I’m looking hard at the Labradar to replace my old Pact. I do a lot of shooting in the winter and light is an issue. So often we have those gray, overcast days and low angle light that makes getting readings difficult at times. I’ll want to do rifles from 17-45 and revolvers from 32 to 475. Thanks.

Mart

I'm still using my Oehler33 bought new in 1985, if they ever quit making D cells I'm in trouble! It takes 6 .

I've got an Oehler 35P that I bought over twenty years ago. Bought a Labradar a couple of years ago, the Oehler hasn't been out of the house since.

mart,

The LabRadar will read handgun bullets fine; there's a setting for them.

But it won't read rifle velocities above about 3900 fps, and rifles calibers below .22. Or that's what the instructions claim. I found them to be correct--except for the caliber. The LabRadar reads bullet by bouncing off the flat rear end of the bullet. I liked mine a lot--until it wouldn't read Hornady A-Tip 6mm bullets, which I was shooting for a magazine assignment, apparently because they have such a tapered boattail that the rear end was too small. Luckily, I had a skyscreen chronograph along as well, so didn't have to make another range trip to get the info.

I also sometimes chronograph loads faster than 3900 fps, and as the instructions state, it did not work with those.

If everything you plan to chronograph is within those specs, it works very well. But I would also advise you to buy the rechargeable battery pack, as unlike all my other chronographs (including the Oehler 35P) it doesn't use a single 9-volt battery, but several AA batteries, which don't last all that long.

I sold my LabRadar after the 6mm A-Tip experience, but as noted above would buy another if they ever solve the limitations.

Has anyone figured out a good way to use the Magnetospeed for handguns? I’m assuming you can’t strap it to the barrel of a revolver due to the cylinder gap? I’m in the market too and like the idea of the magnetospeed for simplicity sake but don’t want to buy something I can’t use with my revolvers.
Labradar is apparently out due to both the speed and caliber restrictions.

I've owned 4-5 chrono's, currently own a M35 and a Labradar. The Labradar is easier to use and these days gets used a lot more than the M35. Although I have thought about selling the M35 for the time being I decided to keep it.

The Labradar will pick up my .22 cal bullets but I don't shoot any with "severe" boat tails. Aiming the Labradar is a little more critical when shooting the .22 bullets.

One of the best things about the Labradar is I can shoot from prone. Whether shooting at 100 yds or longer distances it's just a matter of leaning over and adjusting the unit to pick up the bullets regardless of the range I'm shooting at. Also, as others have said in past threads it's just a matter of time before one shoots his chrono that's out in front of the muzzle.

The only chronograph I've shot was a Shooting Chrony, which happened because I had it set up 20 feet away because a .416 Rigby's muzzle blast affected the results when set up closer.

After shooting the .416, I started testing an S&W .41 Magnum revolver. This worked fine until I tried some light-bullet (170 grain?) loads, forgetting that point of impact can vary considerably with lighter bullets, usually lower. The first one center-punched the Chrony, and I eventually decided that was more than OK, because I'd owned three of them and they were the most erratic chronographs I've ever owned, out of a total of around 10.

My biggest issue is the low angle flat light in the Alaska winter. My old Pact just doesn’t want to pick up bullets sometimes. Usually when it’s a gray overcast day during the winter. Bright sunny days aren’t an issue but sometimes it doesn’t work out to get to the range when conditions are perfect. I’ve tried adding lights to the sky screens but it didn’t seem to work.

Paired with the app on my phone I place my phone under the stock just in front of the trigger guard. Same place I position it when we're using electronic targets. You don't have to move out of position to manipulate the bottons on the LabRadar.

+1. I had the ProChrono Digital for probably around 20 years and served me well. Just upgraded to the DLX and bluetoothing velocities to my phone is great. Great buy IMO.

Prone shooting is quite easy with and Oehler system. Simply use a piece of PVC with a hole drilled in it and laid on the ground instead of the stands that come with the system. If shooting at extended distances, a simple wood triangle with holes drilled in it can be used to elevate the stop screen.

I use a triangle made of two pieces of wood with a couple of bolts and wingnuts to tighten. No holes to drill and infinite adjustment. I'll see if I can find a photo.

This is my setup for prone shooting.

I started with the Oehler M33 some 40 yrs back. It worked but was a pain to set up. My CED M2 lasted about a hot and messy minute. It would literally quit reading velocities during the late morning as the sun would reach a certain angle. CED replaced every piece of that unit, one piece at a time, over several months. The company president even called me while on a business trip to Hong Kong to verify I knew what I was doing. Love the Oehler M35p....except the set up time; especially on a public range day when the range has to be shut down to step out in front of the benches. LOVE LOVE LOVE my Labradar. Have yet to experience either item Mule Deer describes but then I don't shoot super fast nor super small bullets. I do use the external microphone for 22 LR.....and.....arrows....indoors to boot! Don't count on the Labradar indoors as their is too much radar wave scatter. The picture I'm posting shows the external microphone attached to the top of the rifle; I now simply set it on the bench surface under the barrel. In addition, if your range has closer target backers, such as the 25, 50 or 75 yd backers in the picture and you shoot over them to reach a longer range target backer, such as the 100 or 200 yd in the picture, the radar waves will, again, scatter, not picking up the shot. Oh, and a friend sold me the plastic aiming circle you see attached to the top of the unit. The little groove to use for aiming....bleeech!!!

Alan

I have an Oehler 35P which I have had for over 20 years. It originally was purchased sans printer, but added it later. I also bought the light kit to use it indoors, works very well.

Another satisfied user.

F-class john

and



dave

[

For those having problems shooting skyscreens..


it dont get much simple than this .

35 dollar lazer from sightmark.
dave

I just put tape around the vertical bars about 5" up, align crosshairs, and call it good.

Yep, it's not "rocket surgery."

I shot holes in (3) shooting chronys in minutes
I shot holes in (2) pro chronos in minutes
I stopped shooting handguns over the 3rd pro chrono and it still works 15 years later.
I only shoot it over handguns after I verify I can hit the target.

I got a magnetospeed for $400 in 2015. I used it once. It is still on that 22. I don't like it.

I got a CEM M2 in 2019. I have not opened the box.

The pro chrono works too well to mess with the others.
It does have a problem a 2,500 feet elevation.
O2 and N2 scatter blue sunlight and make a background for the bullet to have a shadow.
There is not much O2 or N2 above me to make a shadow.
So I turn the pro chrono sideways and get a bullet shadow on a box.



No diffusors, no rods, at 2,500 feet.

Oct 4, 2014
1) I shot (5) rounds of 7mmRM 140 gr NBT 3.34" moly 70 gr H4350
through the Browning 1885. I had never shot the rifle. I just put
shims under front scope base and mounted Sightron SIII 3x10 scope
1) missed the target at 87 yards
2) bore sighted, and then 3.5 in high and 1 in to the left
3) Three shot group = 1/2"

3358 fps
3384 fps
3333 fps
3308 fps
3325 fps

Clark,

I think you’re misunderstanding the optical mechanism a little bit. While it’s true that the atmosphere scatters blue wavelengths more than other wavelengths in white light, which is why the sky “looks” blue, there is plenty of white light that reaches the Earth from the sun in a “line-of-sight” path.

My Pro Chrono works just fine at 5000 feet ASL, with or without diffusors.

That's a great idea...
Dave

John, I have read this before, and it does make sense. I do not mind POI shift, but I do like to shoot over a chronograph while working up loads. In your experience would you say the Magnetospeed will negatively affect group size? It seems to me if one is careful to not shift the unit on the barrel group size will be unaffected. Or does it mess so badly with the barrel harminics that it actually may? Would be interesting to knw if anybody has done a test with a "proven performer" in a particular rifle, then hung a Magnetospeed on the end and see if group size changes.

I may be confused, there is always the danger of hidden variables. And I know you are scary smart. But here in Seattle at 300 feet, the sky is a bright blue and the chrono triggers. In MT at 2500 feet, a clear sky [looking straight up] looks black and the chrono will not trigger. But with a little cloud cover at the same spot at 2500 feet, it will trigger.

I can think of a hidden variable. Your chrono could have a trigger set to a more sensitive threshold than mine.

I wish I was smart enough to have come up with it. Dr. Oehler is the one that I got it from.

I have seen a Magnetospeed mounted on the barrel affect group size many times, sometimes drastically. It affects lighter-weight barrels more, but have seen it happen in barrels as large as .7 inch at the muzzle.

I have and yes it does. I find my accuracy first then velocity.

They have gotten me out of a jamb or two over the phone as well.
My model 33 that I bought in 1986 is still keeping on.
I use it more now than ever.
Fresh set of batteries. And I'm GTG for another year.

Dave

I don't doubt your experiences, and it is true that at lower elevations there is more atmospheric scattering causing a greater amount of anisotropic blue light, but there is also a lower intensity of direct, isotropic white sunlight reaching the ground exactly because there is less atmosphere scattering the incoming light.

You're right that the sensitivity of the sensors in my ProChrono unit may differ from the sensitivity of the sensors in your unit. It would be interesting to know what type of light sensors the ProChrono uses, as the sensitivity of different optical sensors to various wavelengths of light varies. It may well be that the sensors that the ProChrono uses are most sensitive to blue wavelengths, in which case they would work well at high elevation where the incident angle of white sunlight causes sufficient shadow when the bullet passes by, but poorly where angle of the sun is such that the shadow is mainly caused by scattered atmospheric blue light. It makes sense that your unit triggers at higher elevation under cloud cover, as the clouds act as a diffuser increasing the anisotropy of the white light.

I keep thinking I want a Labradar...but maybe I'll just hold on to my 35P for a while. I'll probably only live another 18 or 20 years at best anyway, and I hate to be rushed making up my mind.

I'm kinda where your at.
Makes you wonder why Labrador just doesn't equip there unit with a real battery and a trigger device that works from the factory.

Dave

I'm kinda where your at.
Makes you wonder why Labrador just doesn't equip there unit with a real battery and a trigger device that works from the factory.

Dave