jbnut
Member
Posts: 169 
Location: Warren, Pennsylvania
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Post by jbnut on Mar 16, 2015 18:20:04 GMT -5
I've been thinking about getting a Chronograph lately but I really don't know much about them. Does anyone have any recommendation for any certain brand or model? Looking on Midway's site I see Caldwell, Competition Electronics, Shooting Chrony,CED, Pact, RCBS and MagnetoSpeed. I'm Sure you also know of others so let's hear it.
Price range- I don't want junk but cannot afford the best either.
Thanks in advance. 
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Post by hacker54 on Mar 16, 2015 18:33:34 GMT -5
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jbnut
Member
Posts: 169
Location: Warren, Pennsylvania
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Post by jbnut on Mar 16, 2015 19:05:25 GMT -5
Thanks Gary,
I do remember seeing where one of our members posted this awhile back. It does sound very interesting and the price should be doable. Now if Midway would just get their act together and get my Bobsled for my CZ527.22 Hornet I could start testing the 40gr V-Max bullets. I've had the Bobsled on back order since November. These bullets are too long for the mag but I've been told that the Bobsled makes single loading a lot easier.
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Mar 16, 2015 19:10:50 GMT -5
I got a Competition Edge Dynamics (CED) M2 for Christmas. Many say its a nearly a match reading-wise for the famous Oehler 35, the vaunted 3 sensor leader of the pack. I wish I could say it's wonderful.....but I honestly haven't had time to do more than get it out of the box and test that it turns on and registers a flying pencil! It cost me just under $200 with shipping at Grafs. I'm also a neophyte on the subject......just trying right now to get ahead at work enough to be able to go out and try it out and not shoot it. I don't have the infrared kit......I will either make one or buy one.... I like not having the electronics 10' out to get shot at. That was one of my requirement as the sensors are cheaper to shoot than the electronics.  Anyone else have a CED M2? |
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jbnut
Member
Posts: 169
Location: Warren, Pennsylvania
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Post by jbnut on Mar 16, 2015 19:39:57 GMT -5
I got a Competition Edge Dynamics (CED) M2 for Christmas. Many say its a nearly a match reading-wise for the famous Oehler 35, the vaunted 3 sensor leader of the pact. I wish I could say it's wonderful.....but I honestly haven't had time to do more than get it out of the box and test that it turns on and registers a flying pencil! It cost me just under $200 with shipping at Grafs. I'm also a neophyte on the subject......just trying right now to get ahead at work enough to be able to go out and try it out and not shoot it. I don't have the infrared kit......I will either make one or buy one.... I like not having the electronics 10' out to get shot at. That was one of my requirement as the sensors are cheaper to shoot than the electronics. Anyone else have a CED M2?   So GWS, how fast do you have that pencil flying? Seriously though, I do know what you mean about shooting the electronics. If it can be done I'm sure it will happen to me. let us know when you get a chance to try it out. |
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Mar 16, 2015 20:02:02 GMT -5
Hi JB-I've had a Chrony (I think F-1 ? It's green and has the screen that is remote from the target, er electronics.) It probably has its faults, but then so do I. A friend has one and placed it between the screens of one of the Cadillac models, and it came out within a few fps one way or another. It calls it better than I can with the naked eye. Some people claim it's fussy about light and dark conditions. They may be right, but I haven't had any real problems. Now, a couple of months back, Ken was talking about that radar unit that's available. Maybe someday !
As far as shooting the thing goes, it is a little bit of a hassle to line it up on a crowded day at the range. I try to avoid those days. I did nick one of the little sensors with a .222 one time. (Loose scope mount. Really. It had just come back from the smith. Really.) When I got home, Igently blew out the debris from the sensor, and bent back the folded part. I left the little crease in the top as is. Sort of gives it a lived in look-sort of like the notch missing from my cat's ear... I think it's sort of like the two classes of pilots-those who have landed with the gear up, and those that will. Even me, El Klutzmo, has managed to get good service out of one for ~10 years now.
I would also look at the Lyman, particularly if you're a hunter ed/4H/Scout instructor. With the discount, it is attractively priced. Haven't seen any reviews, but I'd certainly take a look.
Had to laugh at G's comment. I had a bit of a coniption at work today, and threw a pen. I wonder how its velocity compared to the pencil ?
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Mar 16, 2015 20:08:15 GMT -5
I have both the CED M2 and the Shooting Chrony F1 master(remote read out) and I started out with the F 1 Chrony. I like the F 1 Master and the CED more than the F1 as the sky screens provide a larger area so you can more easily shoot targets for grouping. Between the CED and the F 1 Master it's a toss up, I like both and have yet to shoot the electronics of the F 1. The Shooting Chrony is easy to set up and a little smaller package to carry around. The CED is also easy to set up I have yet to do an comparison of velocity between them both give values that seem correct. There is a price difference, if that is an issue then go with the Chrony Master F1. I also looked at the Pact and was told by friends it had problems, I can't verify this. Hope this helps!
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Mar 16, 2015 20:14:59 GMT -5
I have both the CED M2 and the Shooting Chrony F1 master(remote read out) and I started out with the F 1 Chrony. I like the F 1 Master and the CED more than the F1 as the sky screens provide a larger area so you can more easily shoot targets for grouping. Between the CED and the F 1 Master it's a toss up, I like both and have yet to shoot the electronics of the F 1. The Shooting Chrony is easy to set up and a little smaller package to carry around. The CED is also easy to set up I have yet to do an comparison of velocity between them both give values that seem correct. There is a price difference, if that is an issue then go with the Chrony Master F1. I also looked at the Pact and was told by friends it had problems, I can't verify this. Hope this helps! Just saw Pooh's comments, that magnetic one is somewhat expensive not bad though. My concern with it is does it change the point of impact becauce of the weight at the end of the barrel. |
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Mar 16, 2015 20:17:09 GMT -5
Yeah, CED has this "function" test you can do on the kitchen table. More accurately a waving pencil. You just grab a pencil by its sharp end and wave it across the sensors as fast as you can.....yup it registers! How fast....don't remember that, not being a velocity I much care about.  The weather is great right now.....you'd think that would get me to the range. I'm really swamped right now with work. Good, but bad if you follow.... with a new toy like this, I need a little quiet time....say 4 hours, by yourself, unless you've got a chronograph wizard as a friend....I don't even know of a chronograph among my friends.....hmmm....that could be bad. I've heard lending out your chronograph is nearly always fatal.....to the chronograph. It's a heck of a note when it takes until May to get to play with your Christmas toys! I will report once I learn what I'm doing. Never owned or used one before. I'm about finished with my FN Mauser .22-243 though....that might be fun to chronograph!  |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Mar 16, 2015 22:23:33 GMT -5
Greg: One hint is color code the leads and the sensors it will make the hook up much easier also they are light sensitive(obviously) so make sure both are in the same light value, both in the sun or both in the shade, this goes for any chronograph.
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SnapShot
Member
Jeep & Mocha "Remembering Patches, always"
Posts: 699
Location: Finally free from the Republic of Kalifornia!
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Post by SnapShot on Mar 17, 2015 12:33:46 GMT -5
Hey there JB ~
Good timing. I'm in the same place as you. It's time I got a Cron' but just started looking. I'll tag along with this thread and learn from the group along with you.
~ Larry
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Mar 17, 2015 16:34:03 GMT -5
The pencil has to cross both sensors placed at the prescribed separation for the chronograph to register a velocity let alone a correct one at the minimum recordable velocity . This is a feat that mere mortals are unlikely to achieve.
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Mar 19, 2015 14:08:03 GMT -5
And yet the test worked and wasn't hard at all to do. Only the sensors are set up, no skyscreen or supports above them. I'll post the test directions if you want. Yes I am mere.....and mortal. |
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Post by krwada on Mar 20, 2015 16:16:35 GMT -5
I have a Gamma Chrony. This thing works very well. I modified it to use an infrared LED screen and it is now very robust and reliable. The problem however is to not forget to charge the battery for the screens before taking it out to the range. I used a modified Nerf Maverick Blaster to test this thing. Basically, I setup the chrony in my study, turned the lights out and turned on the IR illuminator and shot a few Nerf rounds through it. It seemed to work pretty well. One of the things that I found out about this technology is that it will definitely give you erroneous readings if an insect or fly flies around this thing! Oh, and yes ... I have grazed the sensor on my unit. Fortunately, I have not punched a hole through it ... yet! The Gamma Chrony with printer is fine ... however, the thermal printer that comes with it is pretty worthless. To get the data, I just hookup an RS232 cable from my PC to the thing and read the thing from the banana jack terminal on the thing. |
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Post by yooper on Mar 21, 2015 12:20:07 GMT -5
I have a PACT chrono, only kind I have ever had, was a gift so I did no research or comparative analysis. It has worked very well with anything I have shot over it, rifle or handgun. I do like the fact that the readout computer is not part of the screen assembly and extension wires allow it to be on the shooting bench.
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So GWS, how fast do you have that pencil flying? Seriously though, I do know what you mean about shooting the electronics. If it can be done I'm sure it will happen to me. let us know when you get a chance to try it out.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
