Need Chronograph for Bullseye

[cavman]

Looking for a chronograph that will be the easiest and quickest one for me to get data, and to get a handload up to Bullseye snuff.

Like most new purchases of things I know little about it is a bit overwhelming, as one does not know "really" what one needs too look for.

I have been having a tough time getting my handloads for the RRA Wadcutters and Hardballs on a Dillon 650 for the 50 yard line to be of much good. (Just got back from Perry, and serendipity had me buying factory ammo while there, and lo' and behold my long line scores went dramatically up!) Factory ammo is just soooo much better then my attempts so far.

Someone suggested chonographing as well. (My attempts with the Caldwell rest has proven to be of only limited success. )

Been looking around and decided I had the following wants/needs:

Background Conditions: Almost always outdoors, during daytime, rather protected conditions (berms surrounding range), .45 handloads although someday maybe .223. Will be shooting probably on my own so remote read-out might not be critical.

Requirements:

1. Reliable. It has to work all the time, every time. (I am not one who enjoys "fiddling" with things that are "supposed" to work.),

2. USB data or similar? I don't mind writing anything down, but shooting away and then transferring to laptop is a step saver.

3. Ease of keeping strings separate but manageable (I intend to be shooting many loads of about 10 shots per load, times two guns. I figure while there to also run the back up guns and see how they do as well)

4. Cost. I won't quibble with anything up to ~$250. If suggestion cost more that is fine, but please include benefit.

5. Portable. The Shooting Chrony are nice and small which is a bonus (who likes lugging stuff around?) But I only have to walk 100' so not really a big deal, but they seem be be limited with amount of data, transfer of data...?


The ones that I have found:
CED M2
PACT
Shooting Chrony Beta/Gamma

Any stand out with you guys?

Thanks in advanced,
cavman

 

[Steve C]

For me I've found a simple chronograph works best. I can read the results at 10' from the bench and a pencil and paper takes down the information. Even though the chronograph will spit out information for 10 shot strings, like Standard deviation, high low and average I'd rather analyze the data at home as I'm not putting loads together at the range. Entering the data in a spread sheet is quick enough by hand and if a direct data port input that costs another $100 saved 10 minutes I'd be surprised.

 

[Canuck-IL]

There are so many long establised BE loads that I don't see the need for a chrony. Yes, I have one, but it's been used for IPSC / USPSA lodings to be sure I make power factor in varying temperatures. BE is just not rocket science. Name a (reasonable) powder and a bullet (plated need not apply), and the load is already well known.
/Bryan

 

[stork]

45 Loads

Cavman,

What load are you using?

Powder & amount?

Bullet?
Cast or Jacketed?
If cast: what is the diameter of your bullet?
What is the hardness of your bullet?

How much bullet is exposed at the end of your brass?
(a very good rule of thumb is to leave 1 or 2 thumbnail thickness' of lead exposed)

What diameter do you crimp your rounds to?

As Canuck stated, there are so many well established bullseye loads that you don't need to reinvent the wheel.

FWIW

Stork

 

[Otto]

I'd go for the CED M2. It comes with a USB cable and data software which more or less eliminates the need for a printer. It has a voice chip so you can actually hear the velocities being called out. It also has a 1000 shot capacity.
If you accidentally shoot a sensor it's replaceable for $37. Whereas, if you miss your shot with a Shooting Chrony (similar to the one pictured above) you're SOL...I learned this from personal experience.
I owned two Shooting Chrony's over the past 14 years and I can not recommend them.

 

[mbpautz762]

I had a shooting chonry alpha. it was great, until I shot it right off the table with a max load 10mm

I don't have the money for another one (probably never will again), but I always told myself I'd replace it with a CED M2 for the reasons Otto listed

 

[depoloni]

I bought a Shooting Chrony Beta that didn't work for me - ever - right out of the box. Likely a dud, sent it back for a refund and recieved one. Purchased a ProChrono Digital and never looked back. Not fancy, but I've shot the sticks out of it 7-8 times now, and other than replacing them with borrowed ones (from local election yard signs, same diameter!) when I couldn't bend them back it's taken everything completely in stride.

It's not a fancy chronograph and I don't bother with the remote since my vision at 10 feet is fine. It's consistent and worth double the 90 bucks I spent after all the initial trouble with the SC Beta.

 

[DEDON45]

I use a ProChrono Digital... it rarely malfunctions (as in not picking up a shot--something I've heard other chronograph users complain about) and has a nice wide shooting area, bigger than some other brands I've looked at ... It wasn't that expensive, either, got it from Graf's for under $100.00. As to getting the data out, you can buy the optional remote control box, which has a serial interface and a IR printer interface on it. One of the other neat features with this chronograph is that it does not lose stored statistics when the battery dies (which, as Murphy's law would dictate, would happen in the middle of a range session). What I do is shoot my test strings at the range, then download the data via the serial interface onto an Excel spreadsheet once I get back home.

I believe the mfg. will also replace the unit for around 45.00 if you happen to sink a bullet into it... so far I've only nicked a guide wire (and my buddy hit one of the wires too) ... but I've accepted that one day it will die a glorious death on the range... no problem, the cost of the hobby.

 

[cavman]

What load are you using?

-It is precision delta 200 lswc bullets
-Bullseye powder (in the range of 3.5g to 4.5g)
-Federal Cases
-CCI large pistol primers
-Crimped to .469"-.470"
-Just a tad of bullet shoulder exposed above case. (I dropped it into the removed barrel, and set bullet depth so the round fell in barrel just below flush.)

I have no rest to use, and I can't (for the life of me) shoot worth a hill of beans at 50yards even with a dot off a rolled up rug.

cavman

 

[Rokman]

I bought a Pact2 with the printer and all the info stored in it and it was a piece of junk. It read the first velocity and quit. It wouldn't print or even turn off without removing the battery. I returned it the next day for a refund. I purchased it after reading a review. The CED M2 got a good review also. If I buy another, I may go with it.

 

[stork]

Cavman,

From your list, it sounds like you've got good components.

I would concentrate on 3.8-4.0 gr of Bullseye with your 200 gr LSWC bullets. Delta used to make pretty good bullets, but I haven't used any for a few years since starting to cast my own.

Have you slugged your barrel and checked the grove diamenter against the size of the bullets you're using? The bullets should be at least .0005-.001 over bore diameter.

You may try the Zero 185 HPSWC swaged bullet. Your barrel may show a preference for the softer swaged bullet. I would try 3.9-4.3 gr of Bullseye with that bullet. It seems to shoot better at the higher velocities at the long line.

Your seating depth sounds right, I wouldn't change that. Your primers are ok, and your crimp amount is within good parameters. You may try crimping some "extra tight". My first Kart bbl loved a tight crimp .463-.465. My current one likes .469-.470. See if the crimp makes a difference in your gun.

Is your dot a slide mount or frame mount? If its a frame mount, I would try to borrow a 2-4x scope and try some 50 yard testing with a crosshair scope. That would give you a more precise aiming point on the target. If its a slide mount you just want to make sure the scope isn't real heavy.

If I read your post right, you're shooting a Rock River Arms wadcutter pistol?

FWIW

Stork