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Offline Mayor of Hobbs Knob

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Who uses chronographs?
« on: April 07, 2006, 01:19:50 PM »
I have been loading for my Contenders and a few other heavy handguns for a couple years now.  I counted dies the other day and confess that I can now load for twenty-three distinct calibers.  I try to standardize my components as much as possible to minimize the amount of "stuff" I have to restock.  Have been thinking that a chrony would be a super addition  to a hobby that I'm beginning to enjoy almost as much as shooting.  How many of you guys really use them and who thinks I need more than the basic model?  Thanks for the input.

Mayor
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Offline ricciardelli

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2006, 02:34:22 PM »
I use a chrony...

Actually I use three Chronys...two old F1 models and a Gamma master.
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Offline Jerry Lester

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2006, 02:47:31 PM »
I use a Pro-Chrono Plus. After buying, and using one, I'd never be without one now.
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Offline Hairtrigger

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2006, 02:56:09 PM »
Sold my chrony and bought an Oehler.
Love the Oehler
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Offline Catfish

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2006, 03:04:45 PM »
I use an Oehler, I just don`t have any faith in the Crony`s.  I never use it while working up loads though. I really don`t care how fast the bullet is going in a load if I`m never going to load that load again. When I find my final load I crono it so that I`ll be able to figure drop and wind drift more accurately.
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Offline Gregory

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2006, 03:18:44 PM »
I've got a Pro Chrono, actually my second one.  Very handy.
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Offline PaulS

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2006, 04:32:00 PM »
I use an old Oehler and a Pact.
The pact is a bit easier to set up and use but they give the same results.
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Offline Coyote Hunter

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2006, 06:44:44 PM »
I've been using a Shooting Chrony F-1 Master for a number of years.  Does everything I need it to do, which is:

1. Give me accurate readings.
2. Give me an on/off (reset) switch and readout that sits ion the bench, not in front of the firing line (handy when other shooters are around).


I manually record the velocity and position of each shot.  Once home I enter the volocities into a spreadsheet that calculates average velocity, Standard Deviation and Extreme Spread.  I also enter the group sixe, temperature and wind conditions into the spreadsheet.  Since I have the spreadsheet, I don't need the fancy ($$$) chrono's.  If I shoot the downrange components of the F-1, they can be replaced for $35 (new chassis complete with sensors, new rods and light screens).
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Offline Madmark

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2006, 07:00:30 PM »
I use the Pact MkIV, and love it. It can be used with an ifared printer, and has more features than I'll ever use. It has timer features that I use for IPSC, which was the main reason I bought it, but now that I have it I'd have paid the same price for it even if it didn't double as a shot timer.

Two of my friends have Oehlers, and they are NICE! Expensive but worth it.

Whichever one you buy, I would suggest staying away from the ones that have the skyscreens attatched to the chronograph itself. One stray bullet could ruin the whole thing...... Not that I've ever shot my skyscreens or nothin like that :roll:
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Offline quickdtoo

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2006, 07:07:14 PM »
How to keep your chrono healthy!!

Easy Chrono Setup
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Offline Questor

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2006, 07:48:51 PM »
Mayor:

How have you gotten along without one all this time? I think you'll find some good use for it with all those different calibers.  It's a natural for the T/C afficianado, and a decent one doesn't cost that much.
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Offline lilabner

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #11 on: April 08, 2006, 06:28:09 AM »
I think they are a good investment. I don't own one but have occasionally been able to use one provided by another shooter. I am most interested in bullet drop for hunting situations. I find that shooting at 200, 300, 400 yards is a good idea as published drop tables aren't always reliable. If you are a hunter, shoot at all the distances you might shoot at in the field if you can find a facility with ranges. You'll find out if your hold is good enough to take long shots and you'll get more reliable trajectory readings.
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Offline Dand

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older oehler
« Reply #12 on: April 10, 2006, 08:23:13 PM »
I have an older Oehler, 33?? and really like it though its a bit of work to set up, especially if others are shooting.  But I really like it for working up to near max loads. The data summary really helps me know how consistent my load is, whether 1 more grain is worthwhile and so on. Its also nice to compare among powders, sometimes you get surprised at whats going on.

Its been a worthwhile investment.  I shot the sky screens once but have spares so was back in business in 15 minutes.  I usually take along a 22 rifle to verify setup before I shoot anything else.  I think the one with the printer would be really nice but I don't shoot enough now to go for the cost. In  my younger, single,  shooting days, I'd have grabbed one in a minute.

Given the number of loads you can make, I'd think you'd really like to have one.
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Offline Don Fischer

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #13 on: April 11, 2006, 06:04:42 AM »
Pact Mk IV. The only one I ever had and it's works well.
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Offline Mayor of Hobbs Knob

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #14 on: April 11, 2006, 08:27:03 AM »
Thanks for all the input.  As usual, you guys are a source of excellent experienced advice.  My new chronograph should arrive at my local gun shop tomorrow and I'm really interested is seeing what some of my loads are really doing.  I'm also pleased to know that I no longer have to rely completely of the figures of load manuals.  I have seven and they don't seem to agree on much of anything.  Sometimes the differences are appalling.  Chrony confirmation should help.

Thanks again.

Mayor
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Offline drdougrx

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #15 on: April 13, 2006, 02:51:36 PM »
Oehler for me as well.  Nothing like it!
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Offline BruceP

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #16 on: April 14, 2006, 03:43:18 PM »
An old Oehler 33 with new skyscreenIII after some dummy (me) shot one of the skyscreenII.
BruceP
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Offline Mayor of Hobbs Knob

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Who uses chronographs?
« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2006, 01:26:36 PM »
As usual, you guys came through with good advise.  Have used my new Chrony three times at the range and can't believe what good information it gives me.  Lots of things I knew are wrong.  Lots of things I read are wrong.  The chrony is completely objective.  Just gives me the truth and let me make the decisions.  Is really going to add a lot to my shooting and reloading!
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