Chronographs

[schuetzen]

I got an opportunity to use a chronograph this week and the immediate feedback was insightful and the data useful.  I am thinking about getting my own chronograph and want to know what people recommend in chronographs or features for a chronograph.  Does one have to spend a lot of money to get a good chronograph?

[Graybeard]

After trying a cheap Chrony I dumped it and bought an Oehler 35P. They are again producing them and it is what I recommend to anyone looking for one. I have no clue what they cost these days but they were $300 when I got mine I think.

[necchi]

You can get'm for around a $100 and up,
Pros an Cons to all of'm really
I've a Shooting Chrony F1 (the one Bill doesn't like) and I'm happy with it.
 
Having a chrony really takes all the guess work out of loading, you'll be suprised how much it helps when you learn to use it as another tool for loading.

[DANNY-L]

I picked up the f-1 last fall for $70 and it does what I need.

[huntducks]

I have a chrony beta master and it works great when I use it.
 
 I had a oehler that I sold 6-7 years ago when I got the chrony, the oehler  had all the whistles and bells even had a strain gage for pressure it was just to bulky it worked great but could not resist selling it I got 2x what I paid for it.

[quickdtoo]

Chronograph recommendations have been the topic of many discussions in the past, the Oehler 35P is $575 now that it's back in production, I've been extremely happy with my $80 on ebay F1 Master Shooting Chrony, the remote display is a great addition to the F1 version. 

Tim


http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=120225.msg1098401707#msg1098401707

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=219538.msg1099195907#msg1099195907

http://www.oehler-research.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.15.exe/online-store/scstore/p-M35-P.html?L+scstore+jdgw6367ffcaf1ca+1338326868

[Ranch13]

the Chrony F1 works just fine for 99% of what the average joe shooter needs a chronograph to do.
 I had an unfortunate incident with my F1 when a wadstack from under a paper patch load went thru the read out, but up until then it gave me 20 years of good service.
 I have replaced it with a prochrono, but will send the F1 back in for repairs one of these days.

[eye shot]

Build a wood box around it and it will last alot longer from sabot & wad hits. This ProChrono works great.

[Larry Gibson]

+ another for the Oehler 35P.  The new M35P comes with everything needed including a carrying case.
 
The sky screens only are out front and even if you shoot them you can get repair parts (housing, diffusors, etc.) very reasonably from Oehler if you've not shot the little bulb.  Even then one of the skyscreens is still reasonable.  Chronographs with all the electronics down range in one package are hard to repair when you shoot them. There are chronographers who have shot their screens and those who will shoot their screens.......... 
 
Larry Gibson

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive got a pact. Its a bit spendy but not as bad as an ohler but then using the buddy ohler I wish i would have bucked up even more and gotten that. Hes got a second range a bit away from his house he uses often and wanted a chrono to leave there. Somethng cheap that if got stolen wouldnt be a big deal. He tried both of the chronys i had and thougtht the same about them as i did. He ended up buying one of the rcbs bullet shaped chronys. Its not much more then a chrony in price. He says the things amazing. Gives readings about indentical to his ohler and says it works better in diffent light situations then even my pact does. He borrowed that too to try it for a while. Says its probably a better unit then the rcbs but its probably not worth twice what the rcbs is. He said that when his ohler takes a dump again hes not even going to fool around fixing it. Said hed just buy a second rcbs unit.

[LONGTOM]

I have a  ProChrono also and like it a lot more than my old F1.
The F1 was ok but sometimes the bright sun did mess with it.
Haven't had that problem with the Pro so far.
 
 
LONGTOM

[martineta]

Bought a used F1 Chrony on ebay when I started reloading subsonic velocities for my 300 whisper ten years ago.  It sure would be horrible to get a bullet stuck in the barrel.  The Chrony works great for me.  I live in the country.  I can load 5 rounds and shoot on the deck to get average velocity and then adjust my powder.  Makes load development a breeze taking the guess work out of subsonic loads.  I could have spent more but the F1 suits my needs.