Best chronograph for the money?

KarateHottie93 · Jan 9, 2022

I'm trying to find a good chronograph but they're not the easiest pieces of equipment to get decent information on.

I'm leaning towards one of these two. The first one has a built in shot timer. The second one has incredible software. Both have IR screens.

https://pact.com/product/mkiv-xp-with-infrared-ir-skyscreens/

https://www.cedhk.com/combo-ced-m2-chronograph-carry-case-and-infrared-set

Does anyone here use chronographs? Which one have you had the most accurate results with? I shoot a lot of revolvers and don't have much interest in the bayonet one.

MDoutdoors · Jan 10, 2022

KarateHottie93 said:
I'm trying to find a good chronograph but they're not the easiest pieces of equipment to get decent information on.

I'm leaning towards one of these two. The first one has a built in shot timer. The second one has incredible software. Both have IR screens.

https://pact.com/product/mkiv-xp-with-infrared-ir-skyscreens/

https://www.cedhk.com/combo-ced-m2-chronograph-carry-case-and-infrared-set

Does anyone here use chronographs? Which one have you had the most accurate results with. I shoot a lot of revolvers and don't have much interest in the bayonet one.

Sorry cannot be of any help for this

Because I also have the same question, im gonna be testing out some revolver loads. I'm curious what the best chronograph for the money is without breaking the bank. Just want something to give me a decently accurate reading of how fast (or slow) my loads are.

twarr1 · Jan 10, 2022

Just my suggestion, instead of paying a little more for a higher end photoelectric chronograph, go ahead and spring for a Doppler type like the Labradar. Yes, it’s twice the price, but it’s more than twice the instrument. In addition to being more accurate and repeatable, it can measure velocity down range. And there’s no danger of shooting it.
As a side note, GRT doesn’t accept data from optical chronographs because it’s too inconsistent.

KarateHottie93 · Jan 10, 2022

twarr1 said:
Just my suggestion, instead of paying a little more for a higher end photoelectric chronograph, go ahead and spring for a Doppler type like the Labradar. Yes, it’s twice the price, but it’s more than twice the instrument. In addition to being more accurate and repeatable, it can measure velocity down range. And there’s no danger of shooting it.
As a side note, GRT doesn’t accept data from optical chronographs because it’s too inconsistent.

I've thought about that one. It's just so expensive. For $200 on ebay, there are used Oehler units like the FBI uses. That's a $300 or so savings. Not sure if a chronograph is something I wanna buy used or not though. Plus it just seems really bulky. The case alone is like the size of a rifle case.

dannyd · Jan 10, 2022

I use a ProChrono DLX from Competition Electronics; works well software apps for your phone and can be emailed to use on a computer. Would like to have a Labradar but just to much money for checking my revolver loads. If you get and chronograph check Brownells first everything you buy from is guaranteed for life; may cost a little more but well worth it.

twarr1 · Jan 10, 2022

Oehler is the gold standard. But they’re not really designed to regularly set up and take down at the range.

bassjam · Jan 10, 2022

I just have a Caldwell. Maybe they're not the most accurate, I don't really know, but it's more than enough for my needs to get a general idea what my handloads are coming out at.

mcb · Jan 10, 2022

IMHO the best chronograph on the market right now is the Labradar (https://mylabradar.com/). Good accuracy, easy to use, and unlikely to get accidentally shot during use. That said it is expensive but it does a lot and does somethings other chronographs cannot do easily.

LaneP · Jan 10, 2022

dannyd said:
I use a ProChrono DLX from Competition Electronics; works well software apps for your phone and can be emailed to use on a computer. Would like to have a Labradar but just to much money for checking my revolver loads. If you get and chronograph check Brownells first everything you buy from is guaranteed for life; may cost a little more but well worth it.

That is what I use and it's a great little chronograph for the money. Very light and easy to transport and has never given me any issues in the two years I've owned it. I didn't have much luck with the app working with Android 8 or 9 (what I had at the time) but I don't really need that feature anyway.

twarr1 · Jan 10, 2022

It’ll be interesting to see if the price of acoustic array chronographs like the Pendragon will come down. Currently offered at $1,500, plus you need a notebook computer. It claims to be able to accurately calculate Ballistic and Drag Coefficients.

AzShooter1 · Jan 10, 2022

Competition Electronics makes a great chronograph, as does Caldwell and Chrony. I've had all three and like them all.

CE has the best warrentee. If you lend it out ( you'd never do it yourself) and shoot it by accident they will charge you only about $ 30 to repair the unit.

The Chrony has a remote so you have only the screens down range. It helps to have the remote on the bench with you so you can read the screen and get your data. You can also hook a printer up to it. I gave my son my Chrony when he started getting interested. He did not give it back.

I mostly used mine to develop loads for Practical Pistol and ICORE ( revolver) competition where your loads had to make a certain power factor. Getting a light load that would hit the X ring all the time was a challenge in itself but easily achieved by comparing your own data. Just a few tenths of a grain or millimeters in OAL make a vast difference.

Like always, if possible ask if someone will let you shoot their chronograph or better yet let them shoot your gun and do the shooting themself. You are more interested in how it performs.

dannyd · Jan 11, 2022

I am a honest guy; I have shot three Chrony's that's why I to Competition Electronics.

KarateHottie93 · Jan 11, 2022

AzShooter1 said:
Competition Electronics makes a great chronograph, as does Caldwell and Chrony. I've had all three and like them all.

CE has the best warrentee. If you lend it out ( you'd never do it yourself) and shoot it by accident they will charge you only about $ 30 to repair the unit.

The Chrony has a remote so you have only the screens down range. It helps to have the remote on the bench with you so you can read the screen and get your data. You can also hook a printer up to it. I gave my son my Chrony when he started getting interested. He did not give it back.

I mostly used mine to develop loads for Practical Pistol and ICORE ( revolver) competition where your loads had to make a certain power factor. Getting a light load that would hit the X ring all the time was a challenge in itself but easily achieved by comparing your own data. Just a few tenths of a grain or millimeters in OAL make a vast difference.

Like always, if possible ask if someone will let you shoot their chronograph or better yet let them shoot your gun and do the shooting themself. You are more interested in how it performs.

Chrony went out of business unfortunately.

KarateHottie93 · Jan 11, 2022

I emailed Pact last night also to see if the MKIV XP I linked was discontinued, as it's out of stock everywhere (including their own website), and specifically listed as "Discontinued" on some other sites.

They had surprisingly emailed me back by this morning and informed me that it had not been discontinued. Production is just incredibly slow due to chip shortages. I'm wondering if that may have had something to due with Shooting Chrony going out of business last year.

Legionnaire · Jan 28, 2022

Before I bought my Labradar, I had a MagnetoSpeed V3 for my rifles and a Caldwell for handguns. The Caldwell is currently on sale at Amazon.

LoonWulf · Jan 28, 2022

Ive got a Magnetospeed V3, and an older Pro Chorno Digital. They read within 40fps of eachother (and thats the largest spread ive recorded), and ive been quite happy with both. I havent played with a labradar yet.

dannyd · Feb 3, 2022

I have three that look like this; at least I was on target.

HowieG · Feb 5, 2022

LoonWulf said:
Ive got a Magnetospeed V3, and an older Pro Chorno Digital. They read within 40fps of eachother (and thats the largest spread ive recorded), and ive been quite happy with both. I havent played with a labradar yet.

Pretty much ditto. My Magnetospeed is a Sporter and my ProChrono is a DLX. The ProChrono gets used more.

HowieG · Feb 5, 2022

I personally wouldn't be dumping serious money on a Labradar if I mainly shot handguns.

Show Me · Feb 6, 2022

Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

Show Me · Feb 6, 2022

Why is it if you find work boots or shooting accessories you like they quit making them

HowieG · Feb 7, 2022

Show Me said:
Why is it if you find work boots or shooting accessories you like they quit making them

I have noticed that as well. I have gone so far as to have bought two of an item just to have a backup. Can't do that all the time though.

dh1633pm · Feb 7, 2022

Like everyone else who wants a Labradar, where the heck do you find one these days? The best has to be one you can find.

Show Me · Feb 7, 2022

If you use one (them) long enough and keep notes and compare to all your manuals and pay attention to the barrel length they use for their numbers it is not a big thing any more. Set in my ways now. Not buying any more guns to test loads for. Just loading to shoot or shooting to load?

Best chronograph for the money?

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