Recommend a good chronograph

ghughes said:
Wow! That's just elitist BS.
I've reloaded a lot just using the manuals and assumed they were close enough.
What do you think people did before chronographs were available?
I now own a Caldwell and it's OK for me, and I'm not likely to move up unless it breaks.
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Yup. Unfortunately, the gun community, and many others, have a few people with too much money and no brains. To quote Will Smith, they must have "the best, of the best, of the best, Sir! With honours!". Meanwhile, all that money won't help them become better shooters. It's like the golfer with all those swing aids, but they still can't hit the ball for $hit.

If you want a Garmin, and can afford one, I say go for it, but it certainly isn't the only solution. If that Athlon unit is decent, it might make the early Garmin adopters regret spending so much. I think within the next few years you'll see competition within the space help drive down prices. Just ask all those LabRadar guys what they think of them now, lol.
 
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4n2t0 said:
Meanwhile, all that money won't help them become better shooters. It's like the golfer with all those swing aids, but they still can't hit the ball for $hit.
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The difference being, the Garmin (and Athlon) WILL help you be a better shooter. Having velocity data for every single shot you fire in practice is a game changer. Seeing in real time that the unexplained “flyer” was 100fps different than the others is very helpful.

Collecting data effortlessly during different temperatures and air pressures is pretty relevant data.
 
KodiakHntr said:
The difference being, the Garmin (and Athlon) WILL help you be a better shooter. Having velocity data for every single shot you fire in practice is a game changer. Seeing in real time that the unexplained “flyer” was 100fps different than the others is very helpful.

Collecting data effortlessly during different temperatures and air pressures is pretty relevant data.
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For 99%+ it's just data overload. Knowing the vel. variance may cause you to weigh each powder charge (which I've always done for rifle reloading). But I'm not sure how it would improve your shooting skill. Although I think they are good tools for load confidence to eliminate poor component choices they are NOT absolutely required if you stick to published data.
I haven't bought a new reloading manual in a while but the ones I have highlight the most accurate load they tried. This is the one that SHOULD produce the most consistent velocity.
I bought mine mainly because I want to try cast bullets. These loads typically use faster powders and very little case fill, could be 10%or less. I want to see velocity variation to have a little insight in the risk of pressure spikes. This to me is a case where extra data is useful IMHO.
We live in an age of data collection, but have little use for it all.
 
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I purchased my garmin, so I can duplicate loads. I can then take the speed, bullet weight, and then look to see if it's an open source load. For example my CG 63 6.5X55, I was having a bear of a time getting it to shoot accurately reliably. I tried different weight bullets different powders seating lengths, it was a lot of expensive fiddling. Once I found 2 bx of Swedish surplus, which it was designed to use it was solved. 36 grains VV N150 +139 gr Lapua Scenars = longer range (500m +) repeating accuracy. Same with other rifles, it's a VERY useful tool for reloaders that are seeking match grade ammo at lower costs. For people that shoot shorter ranges (<300m), without the need to stack entry holes not so much.
 
KodiakHntr said:
The difference being, the Garmin (and Athlon) WILL help you be a better shooter. Having velocity data for every single shot you fire in practice is a game changer. Seeing in real time that the unexplained “flyer” was 100fps different than the others is very helpful.

Collecting data effortlessly during different temperatures and air pressures is pretty relevant data.
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Sure, maybe, if you're shooting competitively, but most of the people here are just "plinking" with 1K chrono's, LMAO! Hey, if you can afford to do it then all the power to you! I'll never tell another person how they should spend their hard earned-money.

Also, the OP clearly stated in his opening message that...

y2k said:
I don’t need top-of-the-line, but something that’s reliable and not too expensive an accurate.
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So all the Garmin recommendations were just plain stupid and completely ignored what y2k was looking to get out of a chrono.
 
4n2t0 said:
Sure, maybe, if you're shooting competitively, but most of the people here are just "plinking" with 1K chrono's, LMAO! Hey, if you can afford to do it then all the power to you! I'll never tell another person how they should spend their hard earned-money.

Also, the OP clearly stated in his opening message that...



So all the Garmin recommendations were just plain stupid and completely ignored what y2k was looking to get out of a chrono.
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$200 sitting on a shelf and used once or twice a year because it is unreliable and finicky to set up, that a guy won’t be able to give away in a year, versus $600 used every single outing collecting data…
OP asked for recommendations on something that works. The Garmin works. Every. Single. Time.
 
KodiakHntr said:
$200 sitting on a shelf and used once or twice a year because it is unreliable and finicky to set up, that a guy won’t be able to give away in a year, versus $600 used every single outing collecting data…
OP asked for recommendations on something that works. The Garmin works. Every. Single. Time.
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Ignore the rest of his statement and only focus on one aspect, awesome!

Anywho, for many years people used the old chronos successfully, myself included (I still do). The new tech is nice, convenient, reliable, and, unfortunately, ridiculously expensive. If you've got one and like it, great, but that doesn't mean everyone else needs one.

All this is moot anyway. The OP got something that fit his needs. Hopefully his decision doesn't pain you something awful, lol.
 
My two cents,
I got into reloading relatively recently. Couple years now.
Im a bit autistic and/or OCD and its a perfect thing to sink my teeth into.
There is no more useful feedback than velocities (apart from accuracy of course).
I bought a cladwell first.
On the rare occasions that the light was exactly right, it was accurate enough for any anal retentive reloader out there but it was a pain to set up, often missed shots due to environmental conditions, and cud be shot.
I splurged on a garmin, knowing it was ridiculously priced and it galled me to do it.
Buuuuut, it Freakin rox.
I get velocities on every shot I take.
From high velocity 223 to my slingshot, it gives me instantaneous feedback that I can rely on.

And its so easy to carry and deploy.
So many range sessions i get data where i wudnt if i had to set up my caldwell.

Im not a garmin fanboy but they do twnd to make well developed product. I am sire caldwell’s radar will also be good and the other one thats as small as the garmin is probably good too.

Im a fan boy for the features.
Super small, light, quick and foolproof to deploy, from rifle to slingshot, good app integration.

I doubt i wud have gotten to 1km anywhere near as quickly without it.

Anyway, …………
 
4n2t0 said:
Ignore the rest of his statement and only focus on one aspect, awesome!

Anywho, for many years people used the old chronos successfully, myself included (I still do). The new tech is nice, convenient, reliable, and, unfortunately, ridiculously expensive. If you've got one and like it, great, but that doesn't mean everyone else needs one.

All this is moot anyway. The OP got something that fit his needs. Hopefully his decision doesn't pain you something awful, lol.
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Hey, if you can’t justify it, you can’t justify it. No skin off my trigger finger.

OP asked for recommendations on worthwhile gear, no need to get your nose out of joint.
 
Buying a Garmin is like buying an auto trickler. You do it for the accuracy and convenience. Ya I could produce accurate ammo with my old 1010 scale but it sure wasn’t as nice as a v4 auto trickler
 
Garmin Xero.
It's well worth the outlay. Ridiculously easy to use. I had zero problems with mine and I've used it on days as cold as -27C.
Takes seconds to set up, no sky screens to worry about...
I use mine for the same reason you want one; testing handloads.


It's like buying a Leupold scope
instead of a Tasco: It seems expensive until you get one and realize just how good it really is.
 
ghughes said:
Wow! That's just elitist BS.
I've reloaded a lot just using the manuals and assumed they were close enough.
What do you think people did before chronographs were available?
I now own a Caldwell and it's OK for me, and I'm not likely to move up unless it breaks.
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It's not elitist.

The Garmin is not that large of an investment, considering the other costs associated with reloading. (and shooting in general).
 
Dylan4570 said:
It's not elitist.

The Garmin is not that large of an investment, considering the other costs associated with reloading. (and shooting in general).
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To purchase one new it's the price of a decent gun or a good scope. So I'd say it is a rather large investment IMHO.
However that's not the elitist part;
To suggest that a new shooter is not welcome within the ranks of fellow shooters because they are unable or just unwilling to make that outlay is very unwelcoming to say the least. I just don't think someone should be discouraged from participating because the don't have a piece of kit that is not essential in the first place. Although useful, not required. It's like telling me that my balance scale is judged unworthy because they now sell digital ones now.
 
The reason I went with the garmin is the ease of use period! Save me time, save other people on the line time, i can set it for a target and then move to an other target and don’t have to go through the entire process of setting up like the Caldwell was needing, again shutting the line etc etc!
Did the Caldwell did the work, most of the time, but too much sun or a rainy day or a snowy day and it wouldn’t work no more, bellow minus 10c didn’t work no more!
So do I think the garmin is worth having totally, is it over priced probably just like every piece of electronics on the market lol.
 
Well, you now have host of options.

Athlon
Gramin,
Caldwell
Labradar.

These are your "best options", as there are a few smaller lesser know ones, but these are your best bet.

Athlon, $599, Garmin, $799, Cladwell, a few hundred, Labradar you can get $400(the old units), they also have a new one out, but not upto speed on the $$ of it or if it is out yet.

Athlon is supposed to be like the garmin, and from what I have read on it a good choice. Garmin is the best right now. The older larger Labradar were finicky some times and a bit of a pain. I looked at these for 2 years and just couldn't pull the trigger on them. The new labradar are supposed to be good units as well, right up there with the Garmin units. The Caldwell, well you can read the pain on using and setting them up all over the web.

Saying you need one to shoot out to distance is like saying you need an automatic powder dispenser to load for long distance shooting, and is just ludicrous. Can it help you get to distance quicker, again a stretch of ones imagination. I was shooting out to 1000m with 2 different rifles before having a chrony, and doing hand loads using a beam scale. Still use a beam scale, as I feel the auto scale is just not money well spent for me yet. You will need a good program though to run your calculations with, and possibly a bit more ammo to get out there without a chrony. If you shoot lots, and shoot out to distance beyond 500m yes the chrony will help get you there a bit faster than without one. I had set up all my hunting rifles without one, and was comfortable to shoot out to 500m with out much thought with any of them.

The chrony was the same, for a while, then I realized I will need one sooner or later and was already searching for the best option out there when the Garmin went live. Was just the best option for the best price out there when I bought.

I do use the Garmin when making up a new load for a rifle, especially because I want to be able to push the projectile at a necessary speed so I can get the distance I want from it to still be lethal on game. Take for instance the 450BM I aquired before season last year. I was able to push a 290 gr copper tip at 2265 fps, and with that knowledge and further calculations I know I'm comfortable to push the limit out to 350m for a decent killing power out at that distance. I also use the speed to figure out my adjustments on the scope to shoot at distances like these with it.

If has a 39" drop at 300m with a 100m zero. If I don't know this I clearly miss game, and that is never an option. Can you figure this out without one, yep, but it is a bit faster with one, which is less components used to get there. Plus the speed lets me know I have enough knock down power at 300m to be comfortable on game with it out at that distance.

I also use it for my distance shooting. I know that my 6.5 CM was running at near max pushing a 139 gr projectile at 2950 fps out a 26" barrel. Did I need a chrony to tell me that I was groping with max pressure, nope, but it was sure nice to know the actual speed I was at while doing it. I was also able to use the data from the chrony to change my reloading routine to get my numbers dialed in for distance. Numbers like "extreme spread", and "sectional density" so I can be reliable out at distances past 1000m.

Now that I have one, I use it for everything, and used it to verify all my previous loads for the hunting rifles I set up before I had one, so in the end it has paid for itself, for my uses.

Does everyone make use of the features of the chrony, nope, and I know that even I don't use it all to its full potential, but I'm getting there slowly.
 
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