Have been researching chronys and have ?'s.

[Miller Outdoors]

I've been trying to decide on my first chrony and my head is swimming with information. Every review I read recommends something different.

These are what I've narrowed down my choices to in my price range:

-Shooting Chrony F-1 $84.95 w/free shipping
-Alpah Master $99.95 w/free shipping
-Alpha Master w/ remote $119.49 w/free shipping
-Master Beta $109.95 w/free shipping

I can't be the first guy to laugh out loud at the name of that last one.

Anyhow, other than the obvious remote, which would be nice I guess, are there any substantive differences between them?

I just want something that works and is dependable and not too flimsy.

Thanks!

 

[Pdvdh]

I just want something that works and is dependable and not too flimsy.

Thanks!

I've not owned any of the models you included in your post, but from what I've read about those models, none of them may sufficiently meet your criteria of works & dependable. Depending on what you mean by work.

I purchased a used Oehler 33 about 3 years ago for $75 and it does work dependably, but not certain you'll be able to find a used Oehler at that kind of a price any longer. But my buddy picked one up at a garage sale recently for about $110. They do still show up every now and then.

About two years ago I picked up a used PACT Pro and now run it in tandem with my Oehler 33. The PACT works well also under good lighting conditions, but not as reliably as the Oehler 33 under marginal lighting conditions. The Oehler 33 keeps chugging along well after the PACT pukes out. The Oehler also provides less variable velocity data in direct comparison to the PACT in fading light.

I know - not relevant to the models you're shopping for. Hopefully, others that own one of the units you've been researching will sound in.

 

[royinidaho]

I pretty much agree with phorwath said and add a bit of my own opinion.

I have used Chrony models for several years. I have the remains of two of them on a shelf. The third is still in use. The problem is I loan them out and people put too much of too slow burning powder and the unburned stuff penetrates the LCDs. A simple piece of plexiglass would solve this problem or don't loan it out.

Clouds are a problem. If all clouds no problem. If intermittent clouds then velocity variations occur. Thus it is difficult to determine which velocity to hang your hat on, cloudy or bright.

I created a large shade such that the chrono is shade at all times. And shoot only between 10 AM and 4 PM mostly to keep peace in the neighborhood.

Velocity works itself out during drop chart development (If the bullet's bc is known).

consistent.

I use the chrono for ES and SD. Inasmuch as velocity is proportional to pressure the chrono helps with that also.

While the chono is a valuable tool it isn't the end all of devices.

Thus, I'd recommend the least expensive unit that will give velocity, average vel., SD and ES.

 

[TargetTerror]

If you don't mind manually recording your velocities for each shot, you can just enter them into Excel when you get home and run all sorts of statistics on them. Then you can just pick up the cheapest chrony.

Remember too that should you have a "mishap" on a shot, the bullet will definitely win and the chronograph will lose. This is less of a concern with rifles, but lets just say one of the corners on my chrony is bent from an errant handgun round...

 

[Natty Bumpo]

I have the Master Beta chrony. Since I set the chrony up 12-14' from the muzzle, I really like the display unit being a separate unit you can set on the bench in front of you and not have to get up to read the velocity on the chrony. But I write my velocities down and type them into Excel when I get home. It's a more permanent record than storing them in the chrony (which can only store 10 strings of 10 shots each, I think).

I like to shoot early in the a.m. The chrony is useless until 20 minutes after sunrise or later. It won't read in dim light. It comes with screens to place over the sensors for use on sunny days. With cloud cover, the screens aren't needed.

I wish the base threads for attaching the unit to my tripod were deeper. It's stable enough, but far from rock solid after I've threaded it on the tripod as tight as I can get it.

My Beta Master is the only chrony I've used. So I don't know if other brands have these issues or not.