Hi there what would the best chronograph machine to bay and why
What would be the best chronograph to bay
- Thread starter shaunharkin
- Start date
The Oehler 35p is probably the best, then the PVM-21 from NECO
Larryh128
Silver $$ Contributor
A lot of it depends upon what you really want to do with it. The 35P can be used with strain guages to read chamber pressures which would really be great if you are doing a wildcat but if you only are interested in velocity, a Shooting Chrony is accurate & easy as stated before. Had one for 10+ years & very easy & accurate. Big thing that I've found is to set it far enough away to get out of the muzzle blast. I never set up closer than 21 ft.
Ohler would be the best by far and also the most costly. I think its about $600.
I have had a Chrony since 1975 that my folks bought me for Christmas.
Still works great. I too have to set the unit about 20 feet away from the muzzle.
I have had a Chrony since 1975 that my folks bought me for Christmas.
Still works great. I too have to set the unit about 20 feet away from the muzzle.
I've owned 4 different chronographs. By far, the best unit I bought is my Oehler 35P. I owned a Chrony and the Oehler at the same time. Just for funof it I put the Chrony right behind the Oehler so that the bullet passed over the 3 Oehler screens and then over the Chrony. I expected to get very similar readings but boy was I surprised at the results. The Chrony consistently gave reading that were (on average) 100 ft/sec faster than the Oehler did. Which was accurate?????
I was curious enough to ship the Oehler back to the company, screens and all. It was tested at the factory and field tested by shooting bullets of a known velocity over the screens. According to Oehler, the unit was working great and reading bullet velocities well within specs. I sold the Chrony even though it seemed to work great.
Just a little food for thought.
I was curious enough to ship the Oehler back to the company, screens and all. It was tested at the factory and field tested by shooting bullets of a known velocity over the screens. According to Oehler, the unit was working great and reading bullet velocities well within specs. I sold the Chrony even though it seemed to work great.
Just a little food for thought.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Shaun,
I have no idea why everyone is telling you the inexpensive chrono's are the best which in fact there not! I have not used the PV-21 but there has been some great reviews right here on 6br on them. For years however the Oehler P-35 has been the standard. You ask for the best, IMO the best is the Oehler 43 followed by the Oehler P-35 and according to our Forum boss I believe it was he said the PV-21 was the most precise and consistent chrono he had used, I am para phrasing what he said but do a search on chronographs here on our search engine and you will find that thread and several others on the subject. As with almost all things in life you get what you pay for, a $70 Chrono that comes in a card board box or a $600+ Chrono that comes in a suitcase built to hold it. I don't fault anyone for owing a Beta Chrony I have and still do own several of them and if your trying to see your approx speed for a hunting drop chart there fine, but there not the best by any means.
Wayne.
I have no idea why everyone is telling you the inexpensive chrono's are the best which in fact there not! I have not used the PV-21 but there has been some great reviews right here on 6br on them. For years however the Oehler P-35 has been the standard. You ask for the best, IMO the best is the Oehler 43 followed by the Oehler P-35 and according to our Forum boss I believe it was he said the PV-21 was the most precise and consistent chrono he had used, I am para phrasing what he said but do a search on chronographs here on our search engine and you will find that thread and several others on the subject. As with almost all things in life you get what you pay for, a $70 Chrono that comes in a card board box or a $600+ Chrono that comes in a suitcase built to hold it. I don't fault anyone for owing a Beta Chrony I have and still do own several of them and if your trying to see your approx speed for a hunting drop chart there fine, but there not the best by any means.
Wayne.
I've owned an Oehler M33 that I bought used since 1986, and with the latest skyscreens & diffusers, it's still a good unit. I finally got tired of having to check all six D cell batteries everytime I got ready to use it and bought a CED Millenium chrono. Far easier to read its big LCD display, and more functionality, including being able to download stored shot strings to Excel. When CED advertised their M2 chrono as having faster clock speed, I bought one to try, and found that it registers velocities that are consistently 30-40fps slower than what I get with either the old M33 or the original M1.
So which chrono is 'right'? Best way I know to compare velocity readings is to get some std. vel. 22LR RF ammo and fire it out of a rifle over the screens. Velocity should register between 1080-1100fps.
No matter which of these three chronos I set up, they're all sensitive to sunlight coming in at a low angle from behind the shooter, as is usually the case in late winter afternoons when shooting north. I've never sprung for CED's IF screens, and that limits me to getting any chronographing done during the winter before 4pm. After that, it's a crap shoot as to whether the screens will pick up a bullet's passage.
So which chrono is 'right'? Best way I know to compare velocity readings is to get some std. vel. 22LR RF ammo and fire it out of a rifle over the screens. Velocity should register between 1080-1100fps.
No matter which of these three chronos I set up, they're all sensitive to sunlight coming in at a low angle from behind the shooter, as is usually the case in late winter afternoons when shooting north. I've never sprung for CED's IF screens, and that limits me to getting any chronographing done during the winter before 4pm. After that, it's a crap shoot as to whether the screens will pick up a bullet's passage.
TheBlueEyedBear
'The Nut Behind The Trigger'
I have owned several if these products and now for a few years have been using the PVM-21, In my opinion there is nothing close to the PVM-21. Prior to this I owned the Oehler 35P. That was a good unit but I hated lugging around and setting up the 8 foot rail I used. Then I bought the PVM-21 with it's little yellow box. I'm pretty sure I now own my last chronograph. This things works in all conditions with unflawed results.
I recently bought a Sartorius 530 scale for my powder weighing. It was expensive but hopefully will lead to better loads. I trim and point bullets for better performance (I hope). I feel that one of the best way to know the results of that work is through my PVM-21. Every shot I shoot at the range goes through that little yellow box to assist in load developement.
And, one of the great things about it is,,, You get QUICKLOAD with it. I would be lost without Quickload. This piece of software is the beginning step in my bullet and powder selection in the scheme of load developement.
This is a great product folks. A little more expensive but worth every penny. As that old saying goes, "buy the best and cry once".
Good luck with your decision.
I recently bought a Sartorius 530 scale for my powder weighing. It was expensive but hopefully will lead to better loads. I trim and point bullets for better performance (I hope). I feel that one of the best way to know the results of that work is through my PVM-21. Every shot I shoot at the range goes through that little yellow box to assist in load developement.
And, one of the great things about it is,,, You get QUICKLOAD with it. I would be lost without Quickload. This piece of software is the beginning step in my bullet and powder selection in the scheme of load developement.
This is a great product folks. A little more expensive but worth every penny. As that old saying goes, "buy the best and cry once".
Good luck with your decision.
TheBlueEyedBear
'The Nut Behind The Trigger'
Wayne,
The software is a bit antiquated. I keep thinking that surely they will be upgrading soon to join the 21st century. So, I don't take my PC to the range as I used to, too many lost connections. The PVM-21 main unit stores the numbers for further use.
And yes, I have used this in all weather living here in Montana. The chronograph is a true performer. You don't get readings jumping all over the place when the sun goes behind the cloud.
Like I said earlier, I really believe this is my last chronograph. GREAT product! It's really worth the money Wayne.
The software is a bit antiquated. I keep thinking that surely they will be upgrading soon to join the 21st century. So, I don't take my PC to the range as I used to, too many lost connections. The PVM-21 main unit stores the numbers for further use.
And yes, I have used this in all weather living here in Montana. The chronograph is a true performer. You don't get readings jumping all over the place when the sun goes behind the cloud.
Like I said earlier, I really believe this is my last chronograph. GREAT product! It's really worth the money Wayne.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Barry,
Thank you for the info, that just backs up what the Forum Boss and jaychris told me about the pvm-21,
Donovan,
Your probably right but don't make the mistake of buying a Pact II there nothing but trouble, the worst chrono I have ever bought or used, I think that if I was to try another cheap chrono I would try the CED.
Wayne.
Thank you for the info, that just backs up what the Forum Boss and jaychris told me about the pvm-21,
Donovan,
Your probably right but don't make the mistake of buying a Pact II there nothing but trouble, the worst chrono I have ever bought or used, I think that if I was to try another cheap chrono I would try the CED.
Wayne.
Larryh128
Silver $$ Contributor
I don't think that anyone is suggesting that a Chrony is the best, only if you simply want to know the speed of your loads that it will do the job with a lot less cash expended. As far as accuracy, all I can tell you is that if the reloading manual says that I should get this velocity, that's what mine is showing. My Nosler manual told me that I should get 3400 fps out of a given load, the chrony said 3399. Close enough for me. Gave me almost the exact reading on 3 different occasions. A LOT of chrongraph accuracy is taking the time to be shooting over the "eyes" straight & level, takes more than 2 minutes to get it right.
Killshot
X's matter....but 10s win (but damn, Xs feel good)
Unless you can spring for the Oehler 35..........the CED M2 chronograph is a very nice piece.
Have never had a problem with mine nor have three other club members who own one.
The controller has a ton of functions (such as mid-string call-ups of SD and ES) as well as a simple PC interface to download your strings, it even has the ability to audibly tell you the speed of the shot.
Have never had a problem with mine nor have three other club members who own one.
The controller has a ton of functions (such as mid-string call-ups of SD and ES) as well as a simple PC interface to download your strings, it even has the ability to audibly tell you the speed of the shot.
what about the PRO CHRONOGRAPH that have .What do ypu think about that one please
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