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Posted: 6/23/2016 8:34:58 PM EDT
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I have reloaded for about 7 years or so. Never had a chrono. Any recommensations or ones to stay away from.
I only reload 223 and 308 for now. Both for AR platforms. Nothing longer than a 16 in barrel. |
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I am pleased with my Chrony Beta Master.
For the money IMO, no reloader shouldn't have one. That said, the saying goes that there is only two clubs Chrony owners are members of. The, I shot my Chrony club, and ones who haven't shot thier Chrony yet club. Aim high. |
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Get the magnetospeed. I have the sporter but wish I would have gotten the V3. I find it easier to use then my prochrono and the velocity readings seem to be more accurate.
When I use the velocity from the magnetospeed in my ballistics calculator I got better results at long range then I did with the prochrono. Depending on the setup of your ARs you might need the V3 with the rail adaptor. |
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Quoted: Get the magnetospeed. I have the sporter but wish I would have gotten the V3. I find it easier to use then my prochrono and the velocity readings seem to be more accurate. When I use the velocity from the magnetospeed in my ballistics calculator I got better results at long range then I did with the prochrono. Depending on the setup of your ARs you might need the V3 with the rail adaptor. This. I like my Sporter though, I weighed the options and I couldn't justify buying the V3. I almost exclusively use it on bolt action rifles though. I'll never go back to a traditional chronograph again. My RCBS chronograph was probably used a total of 20 times in 6 or 7 years. I've used the Magnetospeed 5 times in the last month. I'm even chronographing .22LR just for fun.  Next up is to try it on my 6" and 4" K frames and see how well it works there. I think I'll try that out tomorrow night. If you have enough barrel showing past the rail a Sporter will work fine, but if you have long rails on your guns you're going to need the V3. |
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I had a cheap "shooting chrony" and it worked fine for a while. In fact, I got it used off the EE. Until I shot it with a 10mm. There wasn't much left. This is sage advice. Quoted:
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Never put anything in front of the firing line you are not willing to destroy. I had a cheap "shooting chrony" and it worked fine for a while. In fact, I got it used off the EE. Until I shot it with a 10mm. There wasn't much left. This is sage advice. One of the best things about "Shooting Chrony" chronographs is that they will take a destroyed chrony in trade. It's a surprisingly good deal considering the old chrony can be completely destroyed. Another good thing is they sell any part you need to fix it yourself. I've replaced the sensor housings in mine and patched it housing with bondo more than once They do need to step up their technology though. Definitely needs Bluetooth connectivity and an app |
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I rocked a Chrony Beta Master for over a decade. But it's very sensitive to changes in ambient light - like on a partly cloudy day, it'll show 100+fps more under sun than under cloud. To me, this makes it useless except under ideal conditions.
I got a Magnetospeed V3 over a year ago and it doesn't care if it's sunny or dark - it always works the same. |
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I use a Competition Electronics ProChrono with the bluetooth module on a tripod as well. It is extremely easy to use and I've been happy with the whole setup.
With the bluetooth module, you download the chronograph app for your phone, tablet, etc. You then pair said device with the module over bluetooth, create a shooting list, and shoot. All data is collected on your device. You can also remote control the chronograph to delete strings, a single shot, etc. Once you get home, the data can be transferred to your computer and organized in Word, Excel, or Pages and Numbers on Mac. Sure beats writing all of that down and walking back and forth to the chronograph. I have used mine for many shooting sessions without incident. Last time out I hit the damn diffuser sticks TWICE  Luckily both times the bullets just barely grazed them and put a very slight bend in them that I was able to straighten back out.
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Quoted: I have a Caldwell and like most things Caldwell, it sucks. Misses way too many shots to even take with me. I have a MagnetoSpeed but wish I would have waited for the LabRadar. I don't like the POI shift I have a Caldwell as well. I no longer use it as it sucks and gives inaccurate velocity readings. I loaded 10 rounds, shot five, adjusted my position about an inch right and got five new velocities about 200fps faster. I now use the magnetospeed. Accuracy seems to be better than most other options unless your spending the money for an Oehler. |
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I've had about every brand on the market going back to the '90's. The Chrony (Masterbater) was a p.o.s. The only chronograph I just QUIT using. Probably the best was a CED, but every one I've owned has been sensitive to light conditions. The next one I buy will be a CED with IR screens. Completely impervious to light conditions and can even be used in total darkness, if you're in to that sort.of thing. Right now I'm using a ProChrono and it's acceptable.
The only problem I see with the magnetospeeds is they can't be used downrange to establish B.C.'s of bullets. |
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Have had my LabRadar about a year now. May be expensive but worth every penny. No chance of shooting it, No waiting for a cold range to adjust it, no attachments on your weapon, and no funny readings because of weather. Was one of the 1st guys to get one when they came out. Serial # 0004. I did a review on another site if you want to check it out.
My Review |
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http://www.mylabradar.com/ You also don't shoot past it, you set it next to you. No chance of accidentally shooting it. |
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http://www.mylabradar.com/ Buy a radar. Not much more expensive than a high end Chrono and you can get the velocity and range ever millisecond going down range out to about 60-130 yards depending on diameter of bullet. With that data you not only get velocity but you can also calculate ballistic coefficient. You also don't shoot past it, you set it next to you. No chance of accidentally shooting it. Getting B.C would be a great feature, I would like to see the same loads at different altitudes. I've had a Pact pro for about 25yrs, Been hit twice. Once by me an upright, easy fix. And a friend dumped a mag through a highpower a hit an upright, had to tell him thats NOT how this works. It's been ok for giving a print out of info, a bit sensitive to light. Some people put led lights on the screens to get things more constant. They really do change the perspective of Hand-loading your own, as well as seeing real numbers for factory rounds. Features that make them easier to take with you and set up are good points. as above posts |
| I used the CE ProChrono for a while and was pretty satisfied with it. But then I got a Magneto speed V3. Wow, I will never go back to the ProChrono again. Not dissing the ProChrono at all (it worked great). The MagnetoSpeed is just soooo much better and easier to setup. And I don't have to worry about light sensitivity. I'm chronographing all the time now, and loving it. |
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Never put anything in front of the firing line you are not willing to destroy. FPNI I was going to say go cheap on the first one so you dont get too upset when you shoot it. I am using a Pro-Chrono unk model, but a base one. It does not have blue tooth or anything like that. And it has a spare batttery compartment so your day will not totally suck if you happen to leave it on for a week or two by accident 
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I've reloaded for 40 plus years and never used a chronograph!
Based on a lot of research and great reviews, I got a CED M2 for Christmas two years ago.....then I bought the infra-red screens for it a year ago. I found a nice little aluminum case from Harbor Freight Tools that fit the chronograph and screens plus the IR screens all together in one compact easy to carry package. 
Sad thing is....I still haven't had a chance to use it!  .........I can only say it looks nice, and with the case it's easy to haul to the range and keep safe and organized.
Life lately, has just flat got in the way of my hobby. Wish I could review it for you guys.......rest of this summer isn't looking any better, sorry. I need to retire so I can play more. Right now, the only thing I can offer is a fairly decent idea how to sto it and keep the parts from getting lost. 
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Quoted:
I rocked a Chrony Beta Master for over a decade. But it's very sensitive to changes in ambient light - like on a partly cloudy day, it'll show 100+fps more under sun than under cloud. To me, this makes it useless except under ideal conditions. I got a Magnetospeed V3 over a year ago and it doesn't care if it's sunny or dark - it always works the same. Set up is critical with any chronograph like the Chrony Beta Master. For maximum accuracy and consistency it needs to be precisely aligned with the target to ensure the bullet is traveling straight across the sensors (both horizontally and vertically) so that the bullet travels a minimum (and consistent) distance across the sensors. Similarly, the chronograph needs to be mounted on a stable platform such as a solid table or a sufficiently large and stable tripod, and it has to be far enough downrange to not move due to muzzle blast. There's also a reason they come with the sun shades for use on anything other than a totally over cast day. When properly using the sun shades, I've never observed any inconsistency in velocity due to sun, partly cloudy or over cast days in the 6 or 7 years I've been using a Chrony Beta Master. I use mine a lot and store the data in Excel spread sheets with weather condition data, so I'd have noted any weather induced trends related to light. I have not noted that, but I have noted variation in velocity due to temperatures with some powders. The only problem I have ever had with light conditions with a Chrony Beta Master was on one sunny late afternoon with the sun hitting one sensor and shade from the overhead at the range hitting the other. The solution there was just to tape a couple sheets of paper towel that were handy over the top of the shades to shade the second sensor from direct sun light. I also have a piece of Coroplast with four holes in the bottom side to accommodate the uprights for the sensor shades and serve as a continuous overhead cover. I cut it oversize to serve as an umbrella to keep the unit dry in the rain if I'm shooting on a rainy day - but it also works fine as a consistent back ground for sensor operation. ----- A Magnetospeed is fine if you just want to casually see what velocity your rifle and ammo combination is producing. However, I'm not a fan of the using it for serious load development. I do concurrent velocity and accuracy testing, as it's not just velocity that matters to me but also consistency (low SD) as well as in some cases specific target velocities for the load, and for efficiency I want to be able to see that while I'm determining the accuracy of a candidate load. It's not efficient to test a load ladder for accuracy only and then discover in later velocity testing that a load that looks accurate at 100 or 200 yards in fact has a high SD that won't produce good long range accuracy. The problem with any device that attaches to the barrel is that effects the barrel harmonics and accuracy of the load, making accuracy testing with the device attached totally worthless. |
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