Chrono recommendations

[NCHillbilly]

Does anyone have any recommendations or even words of wisdom regarding chronos. I do quite a bit of load development for numerous rifles and pistols, and I like to document as much info as possible. I currently use a shooting chrony, but it is inconsistent at giving me readings. Opportunities to get to the range are sometimes slim, and when you're trying to cram in a bunch of testing it is quite aggravating when your equipment can't make up it's mind if it's going to work.

 

[Judd]

Oehler 35P....not cheap but the best out there. I've never had a condition where mine didn't work.

 

[fx77]

Find the Magneto Speed thread here on the hide..

 

[siscoe308]

I've been holding out for the Mylabradar system to drop

 

[LawnMM]

Magnetospeed v2, seen some grumbling about the v3s

 

[Rob01]

Magnetospeed is an excellent choice unless you plan on needing it for a semi auto pistol. That's the only downside to the Magnetospeed. I have an Oehler that i am only keeping for that but everything else gets the Magnetospeed V2.

 

[Coloradocop]

Magnetospeed v2, seen some grumbling about the v3s

What complaints have your heard about v3? I've only used my v3 on 5 occasions so far, but everything seems to be working very well thus far.

Just wondering what the word on the street is regarding the newer version.

I will admit that I tried running a pellet rifle with the v3, since they said it could do so. It wouldn't pick up on pellets from my pellet rifle, but it's a very old, very slow pellet gun (which was probably the limiting factor).

 

[NCHillbilly]

Thanks for all of the info guys. The only thing worse (for me anyway) than a chrono that doesn't work, Is one that only works part-time, especially if you have to spend shootin time trying to get the chrono to work.

 

[LawnMM]

What complaints have your heard about v3? I've only used my v3 on 5 occasions so far, but everything seems to be working very well thus far.

Just wondering what the word on the street is regarding the newer version.

I will admit that I tried running a pellet rifle with the v3, since they said it could do so. It wouldn't pick up on pellets from my pellet rifle, but it's a very old, very slow pellet gun (which was probably the limiting factor).

Nothing specific but I don't think I've heard of anybody complain about a v2 and there are people posting with issues on the board with the v3. I watched one guy struggle with one out at CRC and best I can tell we narrowed it down to a less than great wire connection between the bayonet and control unit.

 

[rmfield]

They all suck. A chronograph will only get you in the ball park - then you have to go shoot at distance and see where the bullets actually go. Nothing beats field data with known conditions.

 

[427Cobra]

I have been using a CED M2 since I shot my Chrony on purpose, are there better choices, maybe, but my M2 has been rock solid, and the numbers it gives me have been proven correct out to 1780 yards, I like the ease of use, Avg SD ES all have there own button, setup is fast compared to the Chrony, I have made setup quick n easy by using a torpedo level with a string with a knot at 10 feet and on my muzzle, it so my M2 is always level, and the distance is the same everytime. While I like the Magneto in ease of use, I don't care for the potential POI shift, I will probably get a Laradar doo hicky if it pans out for other people.

 

[Coloradocop]

Nothing specific but I don't think I've heard of anybody complain about a v2 and there are people posting with issues on the board with the v3. I watched one guy struggle with one out at CRC and best I can tell we narrowed it down to a less than great wire connection between the bayonet and control unit.

Interesting. I hadn't heard about those issues. So far mine is working great, and hopefully it will keep doing so (I'll report back if it doesn't)! I previously had a Chrony, but I sold the thing after I decided that I'd be better off just guessing how fast my bullets were moving. The Magnetospeed has been nice so far, but I have no way to determine if it's completely accurate. For whatever it's worth, the velocities reported by my v3 matched those shown by a friend's v2, and it coordinated pretty well with the dope charts I used in my last match.

 

[LawnMM]

Interesting. I hadn't heard about those issues. So far mine is working great, and hopefully it will keep doing so (I'll report back if it doesn't)! I previously had a Chrony, but I sold the thing after I decided that I'd be better off just guessing how fast my bullets were moving. The Magnetospeed has been nice so far, but I have no way to determine if it's completely accurate. For whatever it's worth, the velocities reported by my v3 matched those shown by a friend's v2, and it coordinated pretty well with the dope charts I used in my last match.

Downrange performance is king. Everything I've plugged into a ballistics calculator taken from my V2 has matched up dead nuts out to 1150yds or so thus far so I'd say its pretty accurate. Since you asked...

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...quipment/265861-problems-magnetospeed-v3.html

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...t/247933-magnetospeed-v3-accuracy-rating.html

 

[Judd]

The main time I want to use a chrono is during load development. I'm not strapping something on my barrel expecting harmonics not to change...tune a load to that object being on there and then remove object and expect my load development not to change. Just something to think about.

Obviously, I'm not in the magneto camp.

 

[Rob01]

Have you tried it? I was thinking the same thing until I used it and accuracy doesn't diminish at all.

 

[Coloradocop]

The main time I want to use a chrono is during load development. I'm not strapping something on my barrel expecting harmonics not to change...tune a load to that object being on there and then remove object and expect my load development not to change. Just something to think about.

Obviously, I'm not in the magneto camp.

I was worried about this originally, but haven't had any problems with zero shift, let alone differences in load development. For those who have had a zero shift with this device, it seems that it has been pretty consistent. As such, you can still compare loads to each other by seeing how they perform downrange. Grouping ability doesn't seem diminished with the rifle when the Magnetospeed is attached, at least for me. For whatever it's worth, it's a lot less weight on the business end of the barrel than a suppressor.

Could it potentially cause these problems on some rifles? I suppose it could, and I worried about it before I bought the unit. But, so far so good. I will say that it works a lot better than some chronograph that I don't end up using because it's a pain to set up. During sight-in before a match the other day I wanted to double check my velocities… I was able to strap the device to the gun in about a minute while the range was still hot, verify my load, and pack it back away. That was nice

 

[Judd]

Rob - I haven't tried one. I've spent enough time in the benchrest world to know you put anything on your barrel or change anything on your barrel and it affects harmonics. Keep in mind I'm not saying POI will change but your "tune" will. I learned this lesson when playing with tuners. You need to tune loads as you are going to shoot.

Coloradocop - that would be a perfect use for a magneto, validating the speed of an arlready tuned load.

Admittedly, I'm talking playing in a world that is not measured in 1-2 MOA but thousandths of an inch...there is a difference. I know the tactical stuff isn't measured like that but the effects are still there even if minimal.

 

[jkonzal]

I had a V1 for a few years and loved it. Have since gotten a V3 and it is even more awesome!!! I have shot hundreds of loads over it and have had no issues. I also find that the data it gives will be very close at ranges out to 2K yards.