School me on chronographs...

[Rsadams]

My old crono is starting to get some irregular readings... It's probably 12-13 years old and it's a pro crono from competition electronics.... It's served me well I guess but it's time I think for a new one... Yesterday it lost 50 fps over five consecutive shots of 10mm which were loaded exactly the same each charge weighed on two scales , started at 1201fps and ended at 1155 fps , seems strange.... I use a crone for pistol , rifle and shotgun.. What are you using..???? Lab radar has come to mind but I am not sure it's worth it.. $624 from Midway....

PS.. the load was 10.8gr of blue dot @1.255 , 185gr xtp in sig brass with a Remington LPP... The 1210 fps seems right but the 1155fps seems way wrong... Data from powder manufacturer who states 11gr.... Not a load I shoot daily but working up a hunting / self defense load...

What crono are you using...??? Just keep in mind I need to use it for pistol also....

 

[Jager]

Lab radar has come to mind but I am not sure it's worth it.. $624 from Midway....

It is...

 

[Fuj]

I like my Lab and been in constant use for about 5 years.

 

[59FLH]

the 1155fps seems way wrong

Make sure your not detecting the ejecta from muzzle blast, try a stripper plate, blast shield or moving the muzzle further from the light screens.

 

[358WCF]

Call me a Luddite, but I've been using an Oehler 35 (a 35P with no printer) for the better part of 4 decades now. If you shoot a skyscreen (it happens) they've gone from $25 back then to $45 more recently. There was a problem early on but it was repaired free of charge. A few months back it started getting odd readings for no reason & losing its mind when touched. A 3 minute phone call & the problem was resolved with green Scotch-Brite & rubbing alcohol. It just keeps on tickin'. Oh... it reads over 4000fps too if you have that need. I believe they're still cheaper than Labradar. I've got setup down to a quick science so if there's other shooters, they dont whine. No smart phone or computer needed. Kinda like paper reloading manuals... always there in a pinch.

The only thing that's less than wonderful is in the winter, when the sun starts getting low after 2pm odd readings happen. Prior planning is a good thing. I see them pop up in classifieds from time to time for a good price & may have to get a spare one day. Nuthin' lasts forever, except old Fords & natch'l stone.

 

[marchboom]

I currently use an Oehler 33 (bought used in 1982) and it still works great. But if I would get another chrono I would probably get a Labradar. Maybe, I don't know. But I would stay away from any chrono that attaches to the barrel. Anything attached to the barrel will affect accuracy and when I do load development I shoot for groups and shoot over a chrono. That being said, if you just want to know what the bullet's speed is then a chrono attached to a barrel would be OK.

 

[dcali]

The Labradar is probably worth it. It's accurate (many cheaper ones are not acceptably accurate), and you don't have to set it up down range or risk shooting it. It's not perfect, but I can't imagine trying to use something else at this point (unless someone else comes out with a radar).

 

[whatsupdoc]

50 FPS variance may or may not be the crono, it may be your handloads.

 

[Rsadams]

50 FPS variance may or may not be the crono, it may be your handloads.

Certainly , but each powder charge was weighed out and checked for accuracy on two different scales and both scales showed charge at exactly the same.... Bullet seating depths were the same along with crimps to remove belling... Press was a Dillon 550c each charge weighed out on a chargemaster then reweighed on a rangemaster 2000 then dumped into the case on the press one at a time , no powder thrower being used... Remington primers made before covid or the crunch we are experiencing now... The only thing I left to chance was weighing each bullet but I did weigh three and they where all with in a tenth and only one was 1 tenth off... Since I am testing the load I tried to cover my bases on anything that might have an extreme spread I am even using the same brass. Of course all prepped the same...

The only thing I didn't do was weigh the brass.... I haven't been reloading for 30-40 years like some but well over a decade at least.... So I feel comfortable that there shouldn't have been a declining FPS on every shot... I can't remember the exact FPS reading but it went something like 1210 , 1197 , 1180 , 1160 , 1155.... I believe the first two or even three readings but the last two I don't.... I loaded 6 more and will retest tomorrow even ran a patch through the barrel to remove loose fouling but will leave it fouled for testing.... All shots were aligned with the crono and aiming point was pretty much the same , not exact because I didn't hang a target but had a spot picked out actually trying to insure the shots were the same height above the chronograph.... All fired about 3 seconds ish apart... BUT I sure may be missing something I am no expert....lol

 

[Fuj]

I currently use an Oehler 33 (bought used in 1982) and it still works great. But if I would get another chrono I would probably get a Labradar. Maybe, I don't know. But I would stay away from any chrono that attaches to the barrel. Anything attached to the barrel will affect accuracy and when I do load development I shoot for groups and shoot over a chrono. That being said, if you just want to know what the bullet's speed is then a chrono attached to a barrel would be OK.

I used my 33 until about 5 years ago. I sure don't miss sky screens.
The Lab will spoil you in that respect.

 

[MSS]

I went Labradar a few years ago. It’s pretty awesome. I do have some placement issues with it using a braked .300 win mag. Blast is sideways so I followed the instructions and placed the Labradar about mid barrel behind and out of the way of the blast. It doesn’t always trigger though so I bought the JKL ent trigger to test. It‘s likely just finding the right spot for it with that brake/rifle combo.

 

[STOMP442]

I have been very pleased with the Magneto sporter. Fits in your range bag and no need for any serious setup or going down range. Simply strap it on and shoot. Velocities have been spot on and its been one of those pieces of equipment that I will always have. If anything ever happens to the one I have a new one will be on the way post haste. I don't bother getting it out of the bag until the target tells me I need to.

 

[Rsadams]

I have been very pleased with the Magneto sporter. Fits in your range bag and no need for any serious setup or going down range. Simply strap it on and shoot. Velocities have been spot on and its been one of those pieces of equipment that I will always have. If anything ever happens to the one I have a new one will be on the way post haste. I don't bother getting it out of the bag until the target tells me I need to.

I do alot of pistol testing I don't think the magspeed will work with pistol but I wish it would , the price is right and people really like them... The price of the lab radar plus all the stuff you need is up there...

 

[6.5 forever]

Labrador. I've tried the others. Wish I had just started with Labrador.

 

[butchlambert]

I still use my 35P.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I have been very pleased with the Magneto sporter. Fits in your range bag and no need for any serious setup or going down range. Simply strap it on and shoot. Velocities have been spot on and its been one of those pieces of equipment that I will always have. If anything ever happens to the one I have a new one will be on the way post haste. I don't bother getting it out of the bag until the target tells me I need to.

That’s what I use, testing it with a Labradar they both were super close.

Now with the newer radar based units there some great options as well.

 

[SSL]

My old crono is starting to get some irregular readings... It's probably 12-13 years old and it's a pro crono from competition electronics.... It's served me well I guess but it's time I think for a new one... Yesterday it lost 50 fps over five consecutive shots of 10mm which were loaded exactly the same each charge weighed on two scales , started at 1201fps and ended at 1155 fps , seems strange.... I use a crone for pistol , rifle and shotgun.. What are you using..???? Lab radar has come to mind but I am not sure it's worth it.. $624 from Midway....

PS.. the load was 10.8gr of blue dot @1.255 , 185gr xtp in sig brass with a Remington LPP... The 1210 fps seems right but the 1155fps seems way wrong... Data from powder manufacturer who states 11gr.... Not a load I shoot daily but working up a hunting / self defense load...

What crono are you using...??? Just keep in mind I need to use it for pistol also....

Ok, this might not work for you but it cleared up a nearly identical problem for me back when I ran a Chrony (use MagnetoSpeed for most things now, but still use my Chrony for handguns).
Being careful to not get fingerprints on the tape, place a small piece of clear packing tape over each sensor window. Leave the pieces in place and see if that calms your readings down. I had the same problem and was given the reason to be sun reflections from differing angles causing errant readings. The tape seems to soften the intensity. Be sure to thoroughly clean the sensors first (alcohol on a q-tip works great). And yes...this was even with using sun screens.
I would also pull the battery overnight and then replace it with a fresh one...just in case!

 

[Mark W]

I do my initial load work ups over a cheap Caldwell chronograph, usually doing 3 shots at .2 or .3 grain increments. Once I’m finished I can look at my notes and plug the data into Strelok pro. I can’t remember the last time that my dial ups were off more than a couple of clicks at 600 yards.

 

[Stugots]

Get the Lab Radar...

 

[Cecil S.]

Labradar if you can swing it. I purchased one used havent found time to use it yet but the technology aids my program with the ability to log and record shots.