What is the best quality chronograph that's not a labradar (because they are unobtainable and I need something now) and not a magneto speed (I need to be able to group, zero, ladder test etc while I chronograph for economic reasons)?

example of 1.   The CED chronograph works well for me.  That said if I did not have it I’d buy the labradar all day long.

Any cheaper and just get a chrony brand type

Agreed the magneto speed stuck on my barrel is a non starter for me too.  I also chrony and shoot for groups at the same time.    It takes a few minutes to set up but it works.   (getting the down range screens on their tripod set up and not too high to destroy the sensors and not too low to induce error.)  The CED unit is on the bench next to you and the sensors are down range.   Cheaper for aww shits that way but being a former mortarman looking at overhead mask is kind of standard for me.  I have not shot any piece of my equipment yet.

Caldwell Ballistic G2.

My second favorite Chronograph.

Unfortunately by the time I have done all of that I'd have spent as much as a labradar assuming I can be patient and vigilant enough to score one.

OP, do you shoot on a busy range or have your own spot to shoot w/o dealing with line breaks?

1 - If you have your own spot to shoot get a Caldwell basic chrony, update it with skyscreen LEDs and wrap it in a black trash bag or build a more sophisticated tunnel to shoot through. It worked for me until the wind would blow the works over. I used it on a busy range at the time which convinced me to get a LR.

G2 is an option which at first seems to alleviate sun related issues, but a member on the Armory reloading forum is having consistent issues with theirs.  

2 - If your on a busy range make friends with some that has a LR and offer something to them for the use of it while your on the line.  Beer buys a lot more than most people think...  

3 - I didn't go with a Magetospeed because of the contraptions required to counter the issue of POI shift not to mention issues firing a pistol. If your only shooting rifles, folks have commented the POI shift seems consistent. You just have to be aware of it and shoot another group w/o it attached. If your shooting pistols it gets more complicated.  

4 - Wait for a LR to become available or pay a premium.

OP, if you don't mind spending more than the Labrador, this is new on market and supposed to work good....

Attached File


https://www.solidsolutiondesigns.com/product/bulletseeker-ballistic-radar/

The Bulletseeker is $1100 at Midway and there's a LR on the EE at this time for $700 obo.

I'd be curious to see how this works in handguns, if at all. I guess you could mount it on a tripod maybe?

Awsome!!!!
I have been out of the loop for a while (4 years). These were not available to my knowledge at that time. This would be a yyuuggee time saver with my magnetospeed.

I would want to see many, many positive reviews by our arf long range peeps before buying this "too good to be true" product.

Honestly I don't know, I've read a few reviews, word is it works great at least for rifles..but it is expensive...I use the labradar, been very happy with it...

This guy has been testing it for at least a year... I would trust any review he does...

Garmin has come out with the Xero Chronograph. The reviews are very positive. I have one on order now to replace my Chrony and RCBS chronographs.

Garmin Xero C1

Solid Solution Designs is $1100 for 1% accuracy?  No thanks.

Garmin ie very nice. I sonfar really prefer it to ky magneto. Aleo better then the labradar so far. So much smaller and hae picked up all thr shots.

Garmin Xero basically made everything else obsolete. It rocks!

Think I will sell my Lab Radar and get the garmin.

Yeah, I see allot of posts about selling.

I got a Garmin Xero as an early Christmas present.
Absolutely love it.
The app on a phone make is really simply.

I was about to buy a Lab Radar when this little jewel popped up.

Seriously doubt I'll ever use my CE chrono again.

Used my Garmin for the first time today… selling the rest. It’s perfect.

I have a LabRadar.   I do not like it.   It misses lots of shots, even after I bought the magnetic stick-on trigger.    I'm getting a Garmin.
There was another thread about this just a day or 2 ago - some people like their LabRadar, many people are moving to Garmin