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Posted: 4/8/2009 8:32:53 AM EDT
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I went to the range yesterday on a day off. I had a HUGE backlog (a year's worth) of stuff that needed to be tested for accuracy, muzzle velocity and pressure signs. I started the day by finding out that my printer won't print. The chronograph seemed to bbe working but the little battery-powered HP printer just won't print. I suspected bad batteries and/or corroded contacts. I managed to capture the data by writing it all down in my notebook.
So, I did some preliminary work, testing M1 Garand loads, measuring velocity in a 16" and a 26" barrel and everything was going really well. When I'm in the middle of the TAC load development cycle, my most important work for the day, and my chronograph went dead. The display totally crapped out. Everything seemed to be working but I could not see the data. Now, I was in a spot where the printer did not work and I could no longer even manually tabulate the data. I was hosed. I am going to take this "opportunity" to buy a new chronograph. Whether I get this one repaired or not remains to be seen. What's out there now? Who makes the best unit? I read that Oehler is no longer selling small units to individuals. |
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Is there one chronograph on the market that is THE chronograph to get, the way the Oehlers used to be? For now, let's say priceis not a consideration.
There's Chrony, CED, any others? I have always thought of adding a Chrony to my old set up. It would be a back up and act as a "proof channel" like on the Oehler. |
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I've shot my Chrony in line with an Oehler to compare it's accuracy and there was no essential difference.
If you buy one, I recommend either going with the most simple single channel version, or full out with a printer. The controls on the printer control the chronograph, too, and are more intuitive than the stupid three button coding on the remote display of my Beta model; anything is more intuitive. Chrony has manuals on their web site you can review. |
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Quoted: When I'm in the middle of the TAC load development cycle, my most important work for the day, and my chronograph went dead. The display totally crapped out. So, no clue about what went wrong? You don't think that the .223 bullet which you managed to drive into the front of your chrono could have caused any issues??  Just kidding! Remember, there are two types of chrono users, those of us who have shot their chrono and the rest of you who are going to. |
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I bought the CED Millenium because of the IR screen option. I do most of my load development in the evening after work; that wouldn't work without the IR screens. I actually block ambient light to maintain a consistent condition for the sensors. I've used an Oehler and the CED; the CED screens were much less fussy. The new version of CED's screens are supposed to be even better. I shoot molyed .22 caliber bullets at high velocity on ranges that are dark (grass-covered) or light (bare earth) with no problems. The IR screens run on batteries as well as AC, so they can be used anywhere.
If you're interested in the CED, I'd recommend buying it from Jim Ristow at Recreational Software; he's great to deal with and he usually has a deal to throw in a few extra bits at no charge. While you're there, check out the Shooting Lab software - I think it's the best ballistics/reloading package available. |
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Is there a chronograph out there that stores all the data in memory or on some type of media then allows you to dump it into your PC via a USB cable or some other interface, preferably when you get back home? I think the pact professional will let you do that. Pact.com |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Is there a chronograph out there that stores all the data in memory or on some type of media then allows you to dump it into your PC via a USB cable or some other interface, preferably when you get back home? I think the pact professional will let you do that. Pact.com Yes, I've got the Pact and it does link to my PC.
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I was doing some research earlier this evening. The CED and the PACT both say they have this feature. The PACT web site really sucks. It is full of marketing BS and very little real information about what the product can and cannot do. This turned me off like a switch. Maybe you guys can backfill the missing info for them. How do you dump data to the PC? What format is passed across in? What do you get on the PC side of the interface? How many rounds (how much info) can be stored in memory? If your battery dies, do you lose the info?
One thing I like about my current PACT chronograph is the shooting timer functions it offers, in addition to the chronograph functions. I used to use this during rapid fire dry fire practice - "beep!", shoot five rounds, reload, shoot five more rounds, then you hear another "beep!" after the pre-programmed 60 second interval. The timer would pick up the time of each of the ten "shots" (even though fired). I could see my reload time, time to the first shot, overall time (if less than 60 seconds). CED is in the lead right now, just because of the amount and quality of the information available. I am not really interested in ballistics calculators and other additional software features and functions. I do all that once I get home. I do it on my PC. |
| I use a competition electronics Prochrono Digital w/ a remote. The remote has a serial interface that will let you dump the shot data onto your PC, and has an IR interface for a HP printer, if you want it. I just dump the data when I get home. It holds 9 strings, with up to 99 shots per string. It also seems to work pretty well, well, better, in some cases, than the Alpha and Beta models I've seen used, it has a bit bigger "window" that it will pick up shots in, and it does save the shot data, even if the battery dies.... and it's cheap! |
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