I'm just getting started in reloading and I was wondering if there was a good deal on chronographs. I don't need printers and all the bells and whistles. The local gunstore has a rcbs for 125$. Is it good as the rest? I really don't want to spend more than 175-200. Just wondering if one is better than the others.
whats a good chronograph
- Thread starter antitactical
- Start date
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
AN up to date oehler chrono work fine as well.
the below is from the Oehler webiste. They no longer make the model 43 but claim they have limited stocks. Any you guys have experience testing the chamber pressure with one??
"The gold standard of chronographs is back.
Oehler is making a special run of the Model 35P. Deliveries will begin in late summer, 2010. First come first serve.
For your convenience, we pack a Model 35P Chronograph with printer and three Skyscreen III detectors, a four-foot mounting rail, and two folding stands in a hard-side case. It's ready to work.
The complete system price is $575 with $20 shipping for domestic UPS ground.
Price: $ 575.00"
"The gold standard of chronographs is back.
Oehler is making a special run of the Model 35P. Deliveries will begin in late summer, 2010. First come first serve.
For your convenience, we pack a Model 35P Chronograph with printer and three Skyscreen III detectors, a four-foot mounting rail, and two folding stands in a hard-side case. It's ready to work.
The complete system price is $575 with $20 shipping for domestic UPS ground.
Price: $ 575.00"
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
antitactical,
There is no question the Oehler p35s are the best, I use a pactII w/infrared it is $50 or $75 more than you want to spend,I have heard good things about the ced's
If your just hunting and just need a velocity avg. then buy a chrony for under $100. I personally don't like them but will work fine for that app.
Wayne.
There is no question the Oehler p35s are the best, I use a pactII w/infrared it is $50 or $75 more than you want to spend,I have heard good things about the ced's
If your just hunting and just need a velocity avg. then buy a chrony for under $100. I personally don't like them but will work fine for that app.
Wayne.
Thanks everyone for the input. I'm just a informal target shooter/groundhog hunter who is curious about what speeds I'm getting. I just got into reloading and I didn't want to buy some pile of junk that I would regret. I will keep an eye out for an oehler
antitactical said:
I've found the Shooting Chrony Alpha Master to be a very reliable chronograph without the bells and whistles you're looking for. The only feature that might be considered more than basic is the display, that's attached with a telephone wire, that brings the readouts right up to your bench. Midway carries it currently for $114.99: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=306796&cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Shooting%20-%20Range%20Supplies%20%26%20Equipment-_-PriceCompListing-_-306796.
I've had the Competition Electronic's Pro chrono for about 5 years and it has worked great without any problems. Get the remote control feature to control the chrono from the shooting bench. Also the IR kit is a good feature.
Here is the link: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=852429
Here is the link: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=852429
Forum Boss
Administrator
We tested all the major brands except the one in post above ^.
1. Shooting Chrony -- Narrow sweet spot. Controls are confusing -- multiple pushes of same button required. Some units are very fussy as to light conditions. No IR option. Good Battery life.
2. PACT -- IR option doesn't work very well. Too many buttons on keypad. Thermo printer burns batteries quickly. We had to send one unit back. Having printer is nice, but overall, battery life is big issue.
3. Oehler 35P. Big, heavy with proof channel. Base unit very simple to use and very reliable. Sensors have proper lenses so the beam is focused, giving bigger sweet spot. Paper is very hard to feed when you run out. Battery life is pretty good considering it has a printer.
4. CED -- Small, light keypad. Nice big display. Keypad is pretty intuitive. Hinged sensor mounting bar is clever, compact when stored, but you have to be careful to slip the sensor bases on securely. IR option works good, IF you have the plugs seated tightly.
5. PVM-21 -- Once assembled (like a box kite), it is very fast, easy to set up. IR emitters work fantastic -- it will register lead pellets in complete darkness. AC adapter is funky. Unit works better with 12V battery but that has to be carried separately. Very reliable unit if you just use the white receiver box, but then you have to write down the results. Software is cranky to install and Not at all intuitive. Most guys using PVMs have given up on using with a lap-top. Unit desperately needs a better (less buggy and simpler) software interface, and it should be converted to run 5.5 volts so you could power from your laptop.
What would I buy? CED for entry level. Oehler if you have the money. PVM-21 if you shoot in low-light. PVM is excellent, but the computer interface is "not ready for prime time" and far too complex for most users. We had issues just installing the software on laptops -- you have to fiddle around to get the drivers to "take". If PVM would plug directly into USB port (like a printer) with clean software, it would be my choice for field assignments.
1. Shooting Chrony -- Narrow sweet spot. Controls are confusing -- multiple pushes of same button required. Some units are very fussy as to light conditions. No IR option. Good Battery life.
2. PACT -- IR option doesn't work very well. Too many buttons on keypad. Thermo printer burns batteries quickly. We had to send one unit back. Having printer is nice, but overall, battery life is big issue.
3. Oehler 35P. Big, heavy with proof channel. Base unit very simple to use and very reliable. Sensors have proper lenses so the beam is focused, giving bigger sweet spot. Paper is very hard to feed when you run out. Battery life is pretty good considering it has a printer.
4. CED -- Small, light keypad. Nice big display. Keypad is pretty intuitive. Hinged sensor mounting bar is clever, compact when stored, but you have to be careful to slip the sensor bases on securely. IR option works good, IF you have the plugs seated tightly.
5. PVM-21 -- Once assembled (like a box kite), it is very fast, easy to set up. IR emitters work fantastic -- it will register lead pellets in complete darkness. AC adapter is funky. Unit works better with 12V battery but that has to be carried separately. Very reliable unit if you just use the white receiver box, but then you have to write down the results. Software is cranky to install and Not at all intuitive. Most guys using PVMs have given up on using with a lap-top. Unit desperately needs a better (less buggy and simpler) software interface, and it should be converted to run 5.5 volts so you could power from your laptop.
What would I buy? CED for entry level. Oehler if you have the money. PVM-21 if you shoot in low-light. PVM is excellent, but the computer interface is "not ready for prime time" and far too complex for most users. We had issues just installing the software on laptops -- you have to fiddle around to get the drivers to "take". If PVM would plug directly into USB port (like a printer) with clean software, it would be my choice for field assignments.
Jay Christopherson
Not An Admin
Forum Boss said:
I have a PVM-21 and have been using it for about a year now. Your comments are mostly spot on, but here are a few of my own observations:
- I bought a 1800mah Li-ion CCTV battery to power it for $20 (http://www.dhgate.com/1800mah-lithium-ion-li-ion-rechargeable-battery/p-ff808081283858580128484242130d56.html). Works great, lasts a LONG time. I've had it running up to 4 hours without a problem.
- I installed the software. If you don't have Windows XP, don't bother trying to install it. As mentioned, drivers are an issue for any other version of Windows OS. If you get it to install, the only real useful functionality is the ability to hook up the unit via USB and import all the readings from your session. That part is actually very easy. That way, you don't have to write every reading down.
- The RJ-45 (network cable) interface that connects the screen to the controller is somewhat cranky. The cable does not seat very firmly and after a string of shots (like 10 or so), I might get an "Err 15" or start getting "No Stop" or "No Start" errors. At that point, I have to reseat the cables and things work fine again. It's a bit of a pain, but I have a few ideas in the works for fixing it (MacGuyver fixes, not technical). I have had it go on extended periods of no misses (50 - 60 shots), so when things are setup and working, it does work reliably.
Overall, I think it's a great chronograph, very accurate. I am not sure it is worth the price though as the few issues I noted above make it somewhat of a pain. However, I own it now and there's nothing to be done short of selling it at a loss and getting something else. If I had to do it again, I would go buy the Oehler 35P that is being re-released for $575.
Had a first generation PACT mailed up to me in the boonies of southern Ontario in 1988. Never had any problems with it.
Upgraded two years ago to the PACT Pro XP. Those great folks in Texas mailed it up to me again. A pleasure to use. Just make sure on a sunny day that the shadows from the sky screens are being cast on the photo cell slits.
I do agree that the printer wears out the battery faster. So I look for 6 packs of 9V batteries on sale. Also with time U.V. turns the sky screens to cheese but that would be a problem with any plastic.
Only problem I had with the XP is leaving the battery in the unit one day for the trip back home. One of the buttons got pressed somehow in the road jiggle and the printer was churning out paper all the way home. Couldn`t hear it in the back of the car. Ran off half a roll of paper saying "String 19". Now I remove the battery before leaving the range.
Upgraded two years ago to the PACT Pro XP. Those great folks in Texas mailed it up to me again. A pleasure to use. Just make sure on a sunny day that the shadows from the sky screens are being cast on the photo cell slits.
I do agree that the printer wears out the battery faster. So I look for 6 packs of 9V batteries on sale. Also with time U.V. turns the sky screens to cheese but that would be a problem with any plastic.
Only problem I had with the XP is leaving the battery in the unit one day for the trip back home. One of the buttons got pressed somehow in the road jiggle and the printer was churning out paper all the way home. Couldn`t hear it in the back of the car. Ran off half a roll of paper saying "String 19". Now I remove the battery before leaving the range.
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