Preferred chronograph these days?

[ryantrials]

Wondering what everyone is using that ACTUALLY WORKS reliably? Also if there’s anything new out there and better than a labradar or magnetospeed?

Im getting very frustrated with my labradar and am considering getting a V3 magneto. Id prefer not to have something hanging off the barrel but oh well.

Any input?

(Just got back from the range, not one shot picked up with labradar. Ive tried the external triggers, different tripods, settings, location of the unit in relation to the muzzle, etc…)

Thanks for any help

 

[MSS]

Do you have a brake? Mine is super reliable except with my braked 300 WM. Having said that, this placement away from the brake picks up most of my shots.

https://www.labradar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Muzzle-Brake-Positions.pdf

 

[waltk]

Presently I'm using the Pro Chrono DLX by Competition Electronics. I use it to check my 9mm handloads. Its' small, light,easy to setup, relatively inexpensive, and can hook up to your smart phone with Blue Tooth. Actually talks to you. Checked it against my Oehler 35P (on a 4 foot rod) and it was within 2 or 3 FPS in reading.
Definitely worth considering.

 

[cem]

I use a 35P from Ken Oehler. Setup at my local range is never an issue though I am sure it might be at some ranges. The only problem is using sandbags or otherwise dealing with the wind made harder by varying ground forward of the line. Where going cold to setup the 35P is a problem folks currently mount Magnetospeeds on front rests so as to avoid hanging things on the barrel see e.g. John Barsness noted gun writer on his own setup. With the rise of Lab Radar the resale market for the 35P has tanked which is why I have two when I saw a price I couldn't resist. There is a fancy new Oehler for adding downrange measurement and time of flight to firing line speed and so computing ballistic coefficients but I can't imagine paying the price - I might if I were as active and inquisitive as I was 40-50 years ago. Just as I have no issues setting up the 35P I am sure I would have problems setting up gear well downrange unless I owned a private range stretching out to long distance.

 

[Rob01]

Magnetospeed V3 for sure. So easy to use and no need to go in front of firing line. I have an Oehler 35 collecting dust after getting my Magnetospeed V2 years back.

You don’t have to have it hanging on the barrel with an adapter but even if attached you only get a small shift in poi most times.

 

[ChrisNZ]

..

Im getting very frustrated with my labradar.. not one shot picked up with labradar. Ive tried the external triggers, different tripods, settings, location of the unit in relation to the muzzle, etc…)
..

Hmmm, methinks you might have a faulty unit. Adding a JLK to mine sorted all the pickup issues.

 

[ryantrials]

Thanks all,

Yes ive tried the jkl trigger, but honestly it always always triggers without it for me, it just doesn’t track the bullet anymore. It definitely used to work better, i feel like it died now. Waiting for a warranty process from LR.

 

[hoz53]

Thanks all,

Yes ive tried the jkl trigger, but honestly it always always triggers without it for me, it just doesn’t track the bullet anymore. It definitely used to work better, i feel like it died now. Waiting for a warranty process from LR.

so you have contacted LR about repair? there is the new unit made in europe i think and being tested here by a few. it will be more expensive than LR though. there has been some discussion here if u do a search.

 

[ryantrials]

Yea i started a warranty claim. Yea the andiscan? Im very intrigued

 

[AlNyhus]

Competition Electronics Pro Chrono. The Energizer Bunny of chronographs.

 

[PopCharlie]

Presently I'm using the Pro Chrono DLX by Competition Electronics. I use it to check my 9mm handloads. Its' small, light,easy to setup, relatively inexpensive, and can hook up to your smart phone with Blue Tooth. Actually talks to you. Checked it against my Oehler 35P (on a 4 foot rod) and it was within 2 or 3 FPS in reading.
Definitely worth considering.

I use the Pro Chrono DLX as well. It works but occasionally will get wonky when shadows cross the sensors. But, for >$100.00 I am happy with it. I shoot short range BR, so velocity is of less importance.
PopCharlie

 

[Beiruty]

Competition Electronics Pro Chrono. The Energizer Bunny of chronographs.

It is collecting humidity somewhere in a bag in a closet

 

[jepp2]

I use the Pro Chrono DLX as well. It works but occasionally will get wonky when shadows cross the sensors.

I now mostly use a Labradar, but my Pro Chrono still goes with me to the range (above 3900 fps and for .204 bullets mostly). When I correct the velocity for the 14 foot difference of the V0 for the Labradar, always within a percent.

But to get reliable results on a shoot through chrony, I needed to make a shade for the early morning time when the "glint" from the bullet cancelled the shadow. I just moved my shade from my Shooting Chrony to my Pro Chrono when I made the switch. Cloudy, no diffuser, cobalt blue skies, use the sun diffuser.

 

[V509]

Perfectly happy with my Oehler
Easy and quick to set up
Rarely has an error

 

[BobbyJ]

Wondering what everyone is using that ACTUALLY WORKS reliably? Also if there’s anything new out there and better than a labradar or magnetospeed?

Im getting very frustrated with my labradar and am considering getting a V3 magneto. Id prefer not to have something hanging off the barrel but oh well.

Any input?

(Just got back from the range, not one shot picked up with labradar. Ive tried the external triggers, different tripods, settings, location of the unit in relation to the muzzle, etc…)

Thanks for any help

I've been using a Pro Chrono DLX for years with the indoor LED kit. Works fine outdoors or indoors (Pellet guns) Super easy to use. If you have a phone the software is Free just turn on blue tooth and turn on the chrono they auto find each other.

When you shoot it goes into the phone and even outputs the velocity in a voice format from the phone speakers. After than you can send yourself a PDF of the shots for the day to use on your home PC if you like. Also allows you to take a photo of the rounds for the shot strings, add notes etc.



If you get this style chrono get the plastic debris shield. I've blown off the front of them from the blast of my 450 bush master etc. Does not seem to affect the readings.

 

[Bat Rastard]

Although they are out of production, I love my 2 Box Chrono. I thought they would have caught on and taken off. Sadly, they did not.

 

[wkdickinson]

I’ve used my MS V3 for about 3 years and have no complaints at all - it has never failed to register a shot. I personally don’t believe much in “ladder” testing, I let the target speak for itself. So I mostly use it for getting MV data for ballistic calculations and statistical purposes. I also don’t find it has much effect on POI with heavy target barrels.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I’ve used my MS V3 for about 3 years and have no complaints at all - it has never failed to register a shot. I personally don’t believe much in “ladder” testing, I let the target speak for itself. So I mostly use it for getting MV data for ballistic calculations and statistical purposes. I also don’t find it has much effect on POI with heavy target barrels.

ditto

Likewise, I've never believed ladder testing as a reliable way of finding a charge weight that works best, particularly when charge weights are not measured very accurately . . . among many other factors at play. Having just received Bryan Litz new book (Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting, volume III), in chapter 6 that's dedicated to this, he shows he has done extensive testing on this, way more than anyone I've heard of, and the results led him to conclude "the method of ladder testing does not reliably identify a favorable window of charge weight". The evidence he presents is very compelling.

I only use my chrono data to help establish a powder burn rate for a particular lot of powder for use in QuickLoads app to assist in load development and to use the data in my ballistic apps for shooting solutions. The chrono data also simply tells me how well I'm loading my cartridges, or not.

I've used my MagnetoSpeed V3 for several years now and its accuracy has been right there when compared to various Labradars from other shooters and way more consistent in picking up every shot. If a Labradar was as dependable as the MagnetoSpeed, I'd certainly switch over.

 

[BobbyJ]

Although they are out of production, I love my 2 Box Chrono. I thought they would have caught on and taken off. Sadly, they did not.

Yea the 2 box chrono is a cool concept and very accurate. "We stopped producing these to focus on AutoTrickler and ShotMarker"

I think they were too niche and not versatile enough. No shots under 1250 fps which rules out many pistols and pellet guns.

And at the public range they pick up everyone's shots. And you needed two tripods and slower set up which at a public range can be rough on the other shooters.

I don't think they ever had blue tooth of a phone app either.

If they streamlined it a bit more I think they could have taken off. I would think you would not have to move it much once set up. With my Pro Chrono adjusting from 50, 100, 200 yards I have to walk out to the chrono and get aligned with the new target and only have a tiny V shaped window to have the bullet and target all aligned. Its how the sticks have been shot off the chrono in the past.

I dont think there is a perfect chrono out there. All of them have some drawbacks.

 

[Bummer7]

I'm still using a 24 year old PACT Chronograph. I admit it is a pain-in-the-neck to setup and takedown at the public range requiring extra time to align the screen, target, and rifle. But I can't complain about the equipment as it works well.
Old fashioned and antiquated? Yep. but it works and works well.