Chrono choices?

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sl33py

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A friend has a caldwell (balistic precision model on amazon) and it worked great minus some errors. In addition to the errors, I didn't like the 30' tether cord to my phone.

Are there any others that you all recommend? I saw the CED digital one for about ~$100, then the bluetooth wireless was ~$50 extra, and of course you need the IR LED's for indoor range shooting... So probably ~$200 all said. The caldwell is ~130-150 i believe on amazon and others in a kit including most of that and a tripod for it. (but not wireless).

I can borrow my friends caldwell, and will, but at some point it's nice to have my own! So i figured i'd check with the group here on what they like and suggest?

Edit* to clarify - I'm looking for ease of use, IR for indoor range shooting, and wireless preferred (connected to my phone for logging results). Not sure how common those features are.

Thx!
 
I don't need anything fancy. I've had this for several years. It works very well most of the time. There have been 2 days in the 5 years or so I've owned it when it just wouldn't work at all and I just packed it up. It worked just fine the next time out.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/F1-Chronograph/4382668

If I were buying today I'd buy this. Based on reports I've read it is a better unit at about the same price.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Competition-Electronics-Prochrono-Digital-Chronograph/37466422
 
I've got a Competition Electronics w/ infrared light kit (battery powered setup I put together) & Digital Link.

With the light kit it rarely misses a shot (maybe 1%), and I really like the Blue Tooth connectivity to my tablet / being able to export string reports.

.02
 
They all tell you how fast the bullet is going and beyond that it comes down to features. If I were to buy one today and wanted the features you want? It would be what Duvel posted in post #4.

Ron
 
Thanks JMR40 - that's the CED one i was considering. ProChrono digital (apparently there's also a "pal" model... no idea on the real differences).

NeuseRvrRat - I looked at the CED M2 - does it have wires to the chrono itself? I know lead poisoning is bad for chronos, and the M2 lets you keep the brains safe... Even wired - does it let you log/export the values/strings?

Duvel - good to hear. Can you share the battery setup you are using? A lot of the indoor ranges don't have a power plug, let alone outside... And how long does the battery last for the LED's and unit itself (unit uses rechargeable or just a 9v battery?)

Thanks All! Appreciate any other suggestions, but this is a huge help.
 
I really like my caldwell chrony bought for $75 on amazon. The app is extremely handy. Everything gets straight to my phone
 

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NeuseRvrRat - I looked at the CED M2 - does it have wires to the chrono itself? I know lead poisoning is bad for chronos, and the M2 lets you keep the brains safe... Even wired - does it let you log/export the values/strings?
Click to expand...

Yes, you run wires out to the two sensors. It will store strings. Then you can review them later or even export to your computer via USB. It comes with software. It will calculate spread, standard deviation, average, etc. right on the unit, so I never bother hooking it up to a computer. I just make notes in my logbook.
 
Actually, after checking out that Caldwell unit that can connect to your smartphone, I would probably go with that over the M2 (assuming you have a smartphone). Sensors for the M2 are $35-40 each, so if you shoot both of them, you're right there at the cost of the complete Caldwell chrony.
 
I currently have a CED M2 for handgun and a Magnetospeed for rifle.

I've had several Chronys in the past, two of them expired from lead poisoning.

They all work fine.

Sometimes, getting the optical sensors to "see" the bullet can be frustrating so I bought the infrared light kit for the M2. Virtually all the sensing problems have gone away as long as I shield the sensors from direct sunlight. I keep some file folders, index cards, a roll of masking tape and a pair of scissors with the chronograph for those needs.

The M2 lets you down load the data to a computer.

I really prefer the Magnetospeed but it does not work easily with many handguns as the sensors mount to the end of the barrel. Magnetspeed is improving the handgun capability of its chronograph.
 
Reefinmike said:
I really like my caldwell chrony bought for $75 on amazon. The app is extremely handy. Everything gets straight to my phone
Click to expand...
+1

Ive never used any other chrono so nothing to compare it with. But, when I can hook my phone up to it and have it record all my data, do all the math for me, and I can even attach a picture of my target to see how accurate the load was, I just dont see how anything else is going to compare. Its also one of, if not the, cheapest chrono out there. I have seen it on sale as low as $69 before.
 
dave333 said:
+1

Ive never used any other chrono so nothing to compare it with. But, when I can hook my phone up to it and have it record all my data, do all the math for me, and I can even attach a picture of my target to see how accurate the load was, I just dont see how anything else is going to compare. Its also one of, if not the, cheapest chrono out there. I have seen it on sale as low as $69 before.
Click to expand...
Dave, how many groups can you do or what is the shot string amount? Looked at the instructions and found the app, but did not see if there was a string limit or how many shots it will record.
 
bbqloader said:
Dave, how many groups can you do or what is the shot string amount? Looked at the instructions and found the app, but did not see if there was a string limit or how many shots it will record.
Click to expand...
I dont believe there is any limit on shots per string or total strings, unless your phone somehow runs out of memory(the app and info uses very very little storage). I have 429 different strings on my phone right now with anywhere between 5-15 shots per string, and about the last 250 strings have a picture attatched.

A couple other nice features about the app, you can text or email the chrono data to another device. It occurred to me the other day to setup a free email account dedicated to just chrono info and email all the data to it, then arrange it into some kind of spreadsheet or something.
 
Awesome! Kind of along the lines of what i thought and researched. Looks like the Caldwell and the CED ProChrony are the main options.

I'm curious if the Caldwell has a wireless/BT connection option. I didn't like the multiple errors on my friends', but did like the interface. I saw the photo of the target option, but didn't use it this last time. I installed both apps - the caldwell to use w/ his chrono, and the CED app to compare. I don't see the option to add a pic in the CED app.

Glad i posted it here with more traffic than the shooting gear sub-forum. Seems pretty specific to hand-loading and load workups.

Great discussion and appreciate the help figuring this out!
 
I have used Chrony's for about 20 years now with good success. However, some days are harder than others to get it adjusted "just right" to get readings. This can be frustrating if you have brought a limited number of handloads to test and cannot get the results. But all in all, for the low price, the Chrony works pretty good.

This past Christmas, my kids gave me a Magnetospeed system which I have used twice now. Much easier to set up and use once you get used to it. I have missed a couple readings but I think when it get more accustomed to its "quirks" that will go away.
 
I use a Prochrono Digital. Works well. Remote display capability is useful. I have the computer connection kit for mine but they now have a Bluetooth kit that will let you remotely see the results on a cell phone. Don't have that yet but I think I'll be getting it soon.
 
NeuseRvrRat - that's so simple and straightforward I feel like a numbskull for not thinking of it! I hate it when i can't get the chrono to register a shot, and i only have 5-10 shots to chrono... I will be bringing some 22LR specifically to setup and troubleshoot if it errors.

For those of you with any of the wired or wireless chronos - how common are errors? I know we had probably 4-5 out of my 3 load workups (4.2, 4.4, 4.6 - about 15-20 each) - kind of frustrating. I will definitely troubleshoot w/ the 22 this next time.

Thanks All!!
 
sl33py said:
For those of you with any of the wired or wireless chronos - how common are errors? I know we had probably 4-5 out of my 3 load workups (4.2, 4.4, 4.6 - about 15-20 each) - kind of frustrating. I will definitely troubleshoot w/ the 22 this next time.

Thanks All!!
Click to expand...

With my caldwell, I get an error about every 30th shot. Not really a big deal for me considering my load workups generally use 10 rounds per powder charge. Im Ok if I only get 9 data points for one particular load- especially in a ladder test.
 
sl33py said:
For those of you with any of the wired or wireless chronos - how common are errors?
Click to expand...

Fairly common. But, I shot year round, in the PNW, in a shaded area.

Sun low on the horizon + shaded area = missed readings.

Infrared light kit fixed that.
 
More often than not for me when I get an error message I have jerked the trigger just enough to angle the shot where I pick up the front sensor and miss the back one. Happens when I get in a hurry, if I focus hard generally don't have a problem.

I did discover one weakness, when running shiny plated bullets in full sun where the sun is lower in the sky, I sometimes get crazy, off the wall readings. I believe the reflection off the plating does it as shooting dull coated lead rounds has never done it.
 
Thanks again ReefinMike, Duvel, and Dave333!

I wasn't too sure about the more frequent errors we got. It was using IR on his btw (indoor while shooting plates in the other bay).

The only issue was i was trying to capture the differences in fps on two 9mm guns - sig and beretta (4 and 5" respectively). So when one or two shots wouldn't register - then i was bare bones on one of the two with maybe only 3 shots to avg.

For those of you who do chrono, and not really related, but i'm hijacking my own thread - how does the fps differ due to temp with (*edit* Titegroup not titewad) if you've actually measured it? I can check my xls sheet, but think the temp was about 56*.

Thanks!
 
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All powders are effected by temperature, some albeit more than others but I don't know of any powder that is immune. I have seen powders listed in order of most to least sensitive but have no idea as to their accuracy or origination, so I don't put too much faith in them.

This is a good read on the subject.

This is another good read on the subject.

Consider also that when doing your own testing you want a good thermometer to measure the ammunition temperature. You also need to know if your chronograph is effected by temperature and by how much. You can pretty much figure a chronograph used on a 20 degree F. day and the same chronograph used on a 90 degree day baking in the sun will not produce the same numbers for a given velocity.

I have seen match shooters show up with their ammunition is small lunch coolers with ice packs. The idea is they want their ammunition cool and more important at a uniform temperature.

While at short distances the differences will show up (handgun) the differences become much larger at long distances with high power rifle.

The below list only shows the first 15 out of 153 powders listed. Hote where powders like Titewad and Titegroup fall. Again, no clue as to the accuracy of the list or how it was derived.

1. Norma R-1
2. Vihta Vuori N310
3. Hodgdon Titewad
4. Accurate Nitro 100
5. Alliant Bullseye
6. Accurate Solo 1000
7. Scot Red Diamond
8. Alliant Red Dot
9. Alliant Promo
10. Hodgdon Titegroup
11. Accurate No. 2
12. Alliant American Select
13. Winchester AA Plus
14. Hodgdon Clays
15. Vihta Vuori N320
Click to expand...

So whe doing your own test and collecting data to consider all the variables including any temperature sensitivity of the chronograph.

<EDIT> I forgot to mention other variables like Humidity also are part of the velocity equation so ambient ait temperature and humidity. </EDIT>


Just My Take....
Ron
 
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