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What is the best (and handiest) chronograph? (Under $1,000)

Regarding the magneto speed, when I use my chrono I'm load testing or ladder testing. Last thing I want on my gun during this stage is weight on my barrel. If I used my chrono just to review known loads then I would have a different opinion.

That is my reason I would never consider one....you asked Same concern I had prior to purchase. Have only used the magneto speed w/ 2 rifles so far. One w/ muzzle brake one w/o. My POI changed slightly but group size hasn't been effected so far. I really like being able to change to different elevations or hold on anything on the range w/o need to adjust screens. Don't have to wait for, or call, cease fires to adj. screens. I can shoot in the dark & still get accurate readings. No concerns about varying cloud cover. If it rains, no need to worry about electronics getting wet (w/ covered firing line) At my range I have to tote gear 100+ yds to firing line. The whole kit fits the pocket of my BDU's. Yes, its a new technology. But so far appears to be a huge step forward. The BBL's I've used have been varmint wgt or heavier, 26".
 
I like my magneto. Checking bullet speed made simple. Change poi , yes. Change group size , no. Poi Chang is not much. Whichever way the bayo may be slightly off dictates which direction the poi change.
 
Not bashing the magneto but why try to convince the OP to buy one when his chrono is not broken and there is a way around his problem???
 
I get what y'all are saying with poi changes but that, in my mind, further proves my point. It is changing barrel harmonics. When I'm using a chrono, I'm looking for harmonics. I'm glad it works for some of you but it ain't for everyone.

Bill - I catch enough crap with my shooting I wouldn't be seen dead shooting a match with one on my barrel :)
 
Because I was answering this part of his question: "I'm thinking there is a better and handier chronograph out there. HELP"...... Just because he now has his working doesn't mean he isn't still interested in handier and, perhaps, better for his use. Your input was great jlow. To bad you elected to be offended. Dale
 
Doesn't necessarily prove your point.

My gun is tuned first by load than at 600 and 1000yd by tuner. Tuning doesn't change, just POI which, I believe is due to slight bump to bullet due to magnetic field interrupted by bullet as it goes over the inductors used to sense bullet travel. That slight bump, like a breeze, changes POI a bit.
Too many folks have found that accuracy does not change with Bayo installed.
And, why change from perfectly working chrono? Because now I don't have to wait for cease fire to laboriously install the chrono on a tripod the precise distance from barrel and make a couple tweaks during use!
One thing I'm not is a masochist!
 
Had my Magnetospeed out again yesterday morning and continue to be amazed. Complete setup time from the time I opened the very small storage/carry box (hard pistol box, big enough for one medium sized pistol) to the time I fired the first shot, was 2 minutes. And, never had to step in front of the firing line.

No change in point of impact at 100 meters, and the 5 shot group sizes were their usual, under 1/4 moa.

Disconnected the bayo, removed it from the barrel and had everything back in the small box in less than 2 minutes, and again, never stepped in front of the firing line. Works for me! :)
 
denwhit said:
bheadboy said:
i have the same problem at Cherokee gun club and SOLVED IT- i built a 3ft x 6ft platform infront of the bench i use, then walk out set up the 35, walk back and shoot, - simple, cheep, others can use it.

Bob
I had these laser pointers that just fit into my Rem 700's breech with a rubber band to keep them turned on and tight in there. I can get it to shine out the barrel so close enough. So, solved that cheaply. Went to HD and bought a real sturdy tripod with a flat top and adjustable leg length. Now working on a fixture for the middle sensor on the 4 foot rail to fit that flat top and I think I'm back in business. Thanks to all.

Just happened to stumble on another really good tripod at Home Depot this weekend. Believe it or not it's a sprinkler mounted on a really sturdy camera type tripod and under $40. The tripod extends to 48" and with a little imagination one can adapt most chronographs to it without any great expense. Similar sturdy camera tripods cost up to 5 times this amount. Just remove the sprinkler head and hose down the center.

That's always been my biggest issue with chronographs. Finding a solid tripod that will hold the chrono steady without costing as much or more than the chrono itself. Even some so called sturdy tripods still allow the chrono to be moved around from the muzzle blast on some loads.
 
I use ankle weights on my tripods to help increase their resistance to tipping. I also have been using the laser bore sighter for. Number of years. My CED Milleniums dont seem particular about bullet path through the screens and I sometimes have several targets on the 2'x4' backer
 
Thanks to all the response to my question. After reading the positive posts, I sent the Oehler back for a full refund and bought the Magnetospeed. I absolutely love it! Don't know how accurate it is and I think I know it does "throw" the bullets a little, but the ease of setting up makes up for all of that in my opinion. Once you've got the right spacers for your gun, it takes 30 seconds to mount from then on and you don't have to stop the shooting while you fiddle with screens. No worry about sunny or cloudy days. Etc. etc.
I did have one little problem with it; the little wheel switch on the side broke. It just folded over one day. I called Magnetospeed and he said he'd repair and turn it around in a couple of days. I'm waiting for it now.
 
normmatzen said:
I don't understand the resistance to the Magnetospeed? After I first tried mine, I couldn't get my old optical chrono on to ebay fast enough.

Easy to set up, can be used during practice AND competition and accurate!

Because some people like to chrono, when testing loads for grouping - and you add anything to the muzzle, you can't trust the groups anymore.
 
dickn52 said:
Steinert Super Chrono from Norway.

I've got one, I'm not yet convinced (or unconvinced) that it's tops. I would like to be able to compare against a known, quality reference (buddy has an Oehler, but we haven't been able to meet up just yet to test them together).
 
I typically shoot three full days a week and the range where I shoot only has around three cease-fires a day, making it a real pain to take a conventional chronograph down when I want to leave - always having to wait for the next cease-fire. I am almost always doing load development or measuring loads for case segregation, etc. Sometimes, I just want to know the ball-park of where I am starting on a new load with an untried powder for which no load data is available. (Don't do as I do). When I saw Magnetospeed's website saying the thing was in development and were taking "pre-orders" - I put in my order. I think when I got it, it was invoice #23 or such. Anyway, I have used it for what amounts to a several months of full-time use. I've gone through one strap (because I got it too close to a muzzle brake for too many shots). I have had no other problems with it. I cannot imagine not having it now. Because I have the very first run, they didn't have the new version that accepts fat barrels (like 1" and over) and I therefor can't use it on my heavy and unlimited benchrest guns. Also not ideally suited to M1-A's with the original "pre-ban" flash suppressor and a number of military arms that have such flashsuppressors or perhaps hunting rifles with long front sight assemblies that could be in the way of the mounting strap. If you get one - get the model that takes fat barrels if you have them! I am going to buy another just for this purpose. As for the accuracy degradation of the bayonette, it can SLIGHTLY affect shot placement on thinner profile barrels. Once you find your load in the velocity range you want to be in - take the darn thing off and do a minor retune. Once you have gotten to thwhere you want to be on a load - doing a minor re-tune is nothing! The way people talk of this as a problem - you would tend to think that the bayonette effect will not allow you to see the most accurate loads when laddering. That is not true in my experience with many different arms and barrels. I surely don't consider my results to be "the way it is" - but I do believe I have used this device more than enough to know what it really does.

If I were only an occasional, informal shooter wanting a chrono - I'd simply buy a $99.00 Chrony. If I had my own range or place to shoot witrhout other folks on th firing line, I'd use an Oehler and wish I had a Magnetospeed in bad weather/poor lighting. At a public range, Magnetospeed hands down except for the afore-mentioned hunting/military arms.
 
Well said, Searcher. I have 366 strings thru mine and well over 2000 rounds. Since I do ALL my shooting with the bayo on - and since I only have one inch muzzles with brakes, I can't think of a single negative.
 
Catshooter,

There are too many folks using the Magnetospeed while competing to worry about barrel harmonics changing.

I believe the flimsey, with respect to a solid barrel, bayo unit does not effect the barrel harmonics enough to worry. The idea of a proper tune, whether simply tuned load or with a tuner, is to center the charge in the "Q" bandwidth so that small changes in load still have the same impact point.
The slight change in tune with the bayo, if it even exists, is still too close to the tune to effect POI. I am convinced that the change in POI is due to the inductive kick imparted to the bullet by the field surrounding the two inductors used to sense the passing of the bullet. The bullet changes the magnetic field enough to be measured by the Magnetospeed so is subject to a tiny push. This is akin to a puff of wind shifting POI a MOA or so. But, it obviously is VERY repeatable.
 
denwhit said:
I have the Oehler 35 but wow, what a pain to set up at my range. The ground falls away at a 20 degree slope out in front of our shooting benches. Takes one guy (me) at least 15-20 minutes to get it aligned to the target with all the walking back and forth making micro height and side to side adjustments. Then the wind blows it all over. I'm thinking there must be a better and handier chronograph out there. HELP.

There is! And, here it is: http://www.magnetospeed.com/ For everything except semi-auto pistols.
 

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