Best chronograph available

C

Charles

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Hi everyone

It's time to buy a new chronograph !!
I was wondering what is your tought on the best chronograph available right now. Price is not a factor because i just want to buy one time ...

I have see couples guys using the CED 2. The positive point on this one seem to be the IR option, usb cable for transfer the recorded shots on your pc, and all the 2000 technologies with big memory, built-in calculator etc. If i remember right this is what Bryan Litz have utilized to run is BC tests.

I have also see really bad reviews on this one: saying that they are very fragile, parts break easily, to sensitive, don't read with the IR option etc. With what i have read this is a 50 % ratio happy owners, not good for a supose top of the line chrono ...

The other option seem to be the legendary oehler 35p. Two reading for ensure quality results. Supose to never fail and be very consistant.

The drawback is that they dont have all the new features like the Infra red, connectivity with pc, big memory etc.

So, if you have others choices or opinions on the subject, please let us know !!
 
I use the CED and while the screen system could have been a little better thought out, the performance is on par with more expensive units.
 
The Oehler 35P is once again available, and I am not aware of a more respected, better quality chronograph. The export price is $700US, so with shipping and GST, you can expect to pay around $850.
 
stubblejumper said:
The Oehler 35P is once again available, and I am not aware of a more respected, better quality chronograph. The export price is $700US, so with shipping and GST, you can expect to pay around $850.
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Yes this is a pricey unit but if that work all the time with minimal error i can handle it ... The only thing that boder me with the Oehler is the fact they have not switch to numeric. This is nice when you want to enter the data on your pc.
 
I like my 35P. I haven't looked for anything else. Mine was $345 exported price many years ago... I had it for sale a few years ago for $450 and no interest so I decided to keep it. Now it isn't for sale.

It is pretty fool proof.
 
If you want the best, get a PVM-21. I've got the CED M2, and while it is an improvement over a Shooting Chrony, it doesn't hold a candle to the PVM-21. The PVM-21 is far more study and the "sweet spot" is huge. It also give more consistent results under a wider variety of lighting conditions.
 
I have the CED 2 with the IR option and I'm quite satisfied with it. The IR option makes all the difference. Only on 1 occasion did I fail to get a reading. It was in the winter with snow on the ground and the sun was at a low angle. I couldn't get a reading from my 223 rem using 60 gr bullets. However, even that day I got readings from my 308 with 155 gr bullets.

The following evaluation was conducted by the administrators on another board:

"We tested all the major brands except one.

1. Shooting Chrony -- Narrow sweet spot. Controls are confusing -- multiple pushes of same button required. Some units are very fussy as to light conditions. No IR option. Good Battery life.

2. PACT -- IR option doesn't work very well. Too many buttons on keypad. Thermo printer burns batteries quickly. We had to send one unit back. Having printer is nice, but overall, battery life is big issue.

3. Oehler 35P. Big, heavy with proof channel. Base unit very simple to use and very reliable. Sensors have proper lenses so the beam is focused, giving bigger sweet spot. Paper is very hard to feed when you run out. Battery life is pretty good considering it has a printer.

4. CED -- Small, light keypad. Nice big display. Keypad is pretty intuitive. Hinged sensor mounting bar is clever, compact when stored, but you have to be careful to slip the sensor bases on securely. IR option works good, IF you have the plugs seated tightly.

5. PVM-21 -- Once assembled (like a box kite), it is very fast, easy to set up. IR emitters work fantastic -- it will register lead pellets in complete darkness. AC adapter is funky. Unit works better with 12V battery but that has to be carried separately. Very reliable unit if you just use the white receiver box, but then you have to write down the results. Software is cranky to install and Not at all intuitive. Most guys using PVMs have given up on using with a lap-top. Unit desperately needs a better (less buggy and simpler) software interface, and it should be converted to run 5.5 volts so you could power from your laptop.

What would I buy? CED for entry level. Oehler if you have the money. PVM-21 if you shoot in low-light. PVM is excellent, but the computer interface is "not ready for prime time" and far too complex for most users. We had issues just installing the software on laptops -- you have to fiddle around to get the drivers to "take". If PVM would plug directly into USB port (like a printer) with clean software, it would be my choice for field assignments."
 
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^^ Moostracker: Thanks very much. You saved me a krapload of research. I truly appreciate that. My Shooting Chrony is great to getcha in the game, but yes, the shooting window is very narrow and goofy (read: unpredictable). Sometimes I thought it was me who was unreliable operating that $ 100 unit. I wondered if it was the unit that was suspect, controls?, skyscreens?, light sensors?

Anyways, it was a bit frustrating. Maybe I shoulda sworn at it more and more! :evil:

Cheers and thanks for that comprehensive list!

Now, if only there was an iphone App for a chronograph... maybe the app makers will get it all correct after reading this information. :nest:


Barney
 
Good review, I have heard you have to be an IT guy to get the PVM working, so thats why I went with the CED aswell.
 
Most of the issues with any chrongraph exist because of ambient light. Eliminate the light, and most issues will go away. The sweet spot can be narrowed down as well. I am expecting a new CED2 unit any day, with IR kit. A box will be built around the unit, keeping it in the dark. Holes will be placed in both ends of the box, in correlation with the sweet spot. This should reduce most of the errors, except software and actual recording time. This can be done with any chronograph and a light source. Like all things shooting, the goal is to eliminate as many variables as possible, and try to keep as many constants the same, or as close to the same, as possible.
Hope this helps.

R.
 
Rman said:
Most of the issues with any chrongraph exist because of ambient light. Eliminate the light, and most issues will go away. The sweet spot can be narrowed down as well. I am expecting a new CED2 unit any day, with IR kit. A box will be built around the unit, keeping it in the dark. Holes will be placed in both ends of the box, in correlation with the sweet spot. This should reduce most of the errors, except software and actual recording time. This can be done with any chronograph and a light source. Like all things shooting, the goal is to eliminate as many variables as possible, and try to keep as many constants the same, or as close to the same, as possible.
Hope this helps.

R.
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Be sure to update, I have was thinking of getting the IR kit aswell, just wasn't sure what to put them in. Power is my biggest problem..
 
The CED2 IR kit comes with a rechargable battery. You should not have any issues. This can be done with any chronograph, even a shooting chrony. LED lights are preffered, as they have the most consistant light. LED flashlights mounted on top of the screens have been proven to work as well. The box will be a custom job, out of .25 plywood, unless I can fit the whole thing in a rubbermaid tote.
All of us put a considerable amout of time, effort, and money into load development, only to run that bullet over substandard measuring equipment. I was very frustrated this year with the results from my Chrony, and decided to dig in and do some research. The concensus was ambient light, sweet spot, and processor time, in that order, are the big issues. Ambient light is why you get different results in the summer, than in the fall, leaving many to believe there is a temperature issue with their powder. Most times, this is not the case. It is the angle of the sun on the chronoghraph causing the inconsistant readings.

R.
 
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