Chrono speed testing and what chrono to buy

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katanaa

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Hey all. How important is speed testing of your ammo and what chrono to buy. I've looked at the Canadian made chrony beta and the Caldwell one. I like the form factor of the chrony beta but being a bit of a tech guy I really like the Caldwell mobile app interface. The two are basically the same money so which one should I look at more seriously. And I case anyone works for Chrony, will chrony keep pass with the 21st century and make a mobile app as they already have the serial interface.

Also how important is speed testing you hand loads and factory rounds.

Thanks.
 
Those are a bit beyond my budget. But the magneto speed looks cool. And the lab radar would really appeal to my inner tech nerd but way more money than I'd want to spend.
 
After today I have a Bona fide hate on for my Caldwell. It'll be for sale soon, as soon as my CGN advisors tell me Labradar or Magneto.....
 
I have both a caldwell and a magneto speed. Both have provided good service and give comparable numbers. So they are both accurate or inaccurate the same amount. Can't speak to the chrony beta but for the money I think the caldwell is a good value.
 
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Out of the affordable optical chronographs, the prochrono seems to get the best results when compared with high $ chronographs. I used a shooting chrony beta for a lot of years and now a prochrono for the past 2 years. The prochrono is a lot more consistent in different light conditions and never seems to miss a reading.
 
The other question is what are using the chronograph for ? If strictly pistol the caldwell if strictly rifle the magnetospeed. If both the caldwell, chrony, or whatever the budget will allow.
And to answer your question about the importance of testing. IMHO this is a must do step from both a safety as well as knowledge. ES and SD numbers, although not always directly correlated to accuracy are helpful in finding an optimal load.
 
Mainly I intend on using for riffle for now and maybe handgun later. And possibly even air rifle. I can justify 150$ cnd. But 399uSD or more is a bit hard to swallow.
 
I now use mostly a magnetospeed and really like it, but the first one i bought was a ProChrono made by Competition Electronics. I still have it and use it some times for certain situations. It has proven to be very reliable and accurate as far as I can tell. It also has a fair bit of accessories you can buy to connect it to your computer to satisfy some of your techy side.

I have also used a CED M2 Chronograph from competitive edge dynamics quite a bit. It is a bit more pricy than the Pro chrono but very good results and can plug into your computer for downloads. It is highly recommended by the company that makes RSI shooting labs software and Pressure Trace for testing chamber pressures with strain gauges.
 
I've just bought the Cadwell one with the mobile connexion and app. Used twice since the purchase.

First shots went well, but the app crashes when I try "new group" with the chronograph plugged in.
After exactly 7 shots, the chronograph is getting "ERR2", and no longer work.
Also, one of the cons, the chrono bas isn't very stable. I am using it on the ground outside, so if there is grass or un evend ground, It will fall off on the sides. I have to use a cardborad to level the ground. It hates the sun, so you have to make a shadow to make it work, like putting a big piece of cardboard on the top of it. If too much shadow, it wont work either... So a lot of work to have a good setup, which will go away when there's Wind... Acutally a lot of pain in the a**.
Also, I don't know if it is normal, but some rounds are giving me bizzare readings (100fps higher or lower that others), but usually the average variations are 30 fps or less, which I think are good reads.

I Like the app idea if it works properly. I don't know If I would buy it again, I think I would give a try with the Chrony models.

Regards,
Dark
 
Father Hood said:
I now use mostly a magnetospeed and really like it, but the first one i bought was a ProChrono made by Competition Electronics. I still have it and use it some times for certain situations. It has proven to be very reliable and accurate as far as I can tell. It also has a fair bit of accessories you can buy to connect it to your computer to satisfy some of your techy side.

I have also used a CED M2 Chronograph from competitive edge dynamics quite a bit. It is a bit more pricy than the Pro chrono but very good results and can plug into your computer for downloads. It is highly recommended by the company that makes RSI shooting labs software and Pressure Trace for testing chamber pressures with strain gauges.
Click to expand...


After a long search I went with the CED M2 as well I use it for pistol, and rifle and am very pleased with it, plus affordable
 
A note on the Lab Radar it won't measure velocities of greater than 3900fps so I can measure some 22-250 loads or 204 ruger. Also can you even buy them. Their site says pre order only and 600USD. Ouch.
 
Does the POI issue go away if you attach the magneto to a pic rail, like one can on the V3??

If so, a small piece of pic rail, or a sling stud to pic adapter, and you're golden!!!

EDIT: only if you have a really short barrel or really long stock. NVM, I'm a wanker....however, a nice accessory from MS would be an extended piece of aluminum, thick enough to not flex, that would allow the MS bayonet to attach to the stock, and be in the right spot at the muzzle.....hmmm??? Any of you machinist types up to it??
 
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