Chronograph practicality

[DartonJager]

I own a Caldwell G2 Chronograph for 5-6 years now and it has served me quite well over 90% of the time.
I have thought very seriously of upgrading to a V3 but read to many negative reviews of its affect on accuracy and the Lab Radar is out of my price range.
So other than those three are there really any viable alternatives?

 

[FEENIX]

I own a Caldwell G2 Chronograph for 5-6 years now and it has served me quite well over 90% of the time.
I have thought very seriously of upgrading to a V3 but read to many negative reviews of its affect on accuracy and the Lab Radar is out of my price range.
So other than those three are there really any viable alternatives?

Before upgrading to LR, I considered the V3. By the time you get all the upgrades to shoot without affecting the barrel harmonics, the cost is nearly a wash. I also like the ability to shoot multiple rifles with one set-up on the LR. Like you, it was out of my price range too, but I just saved up the difference and went with the LR. Good luck!

Ed

 

[can1010]

Caldwell is coming out with there own style of Labradar this summer and the price point is expected to be $200 cheaper.
personally I am waiting to see what comes out and will continue to use my magnetospeed to check velocities on occasion during load development or after, I don't need to know every shots velocity

 

[Blacktailer]

Can't answer the OP's question directly but here is my 2 cents.
In the mid 80's my brother and I split the cost of an Oehler. At the time the cost was equivalent to a mid custom rifle. Amortizing the cost of having accurate velocity and load data over the last 35 years, it has been one of the best investments I ever made. Buy once, cry once.

 

[DartonJager]

Oehler 35p went out of production for a while just as I had saved up enough pennies to buy one. I then bought the Caldwell and as irony would have it, I stumbled across a used but in LNIB Oehler 35p for good price but the financial prudent side of me wouldn't allow me to buy it. as I had already bought the Caldwell.
Dumb is the term that readily leaps to mind.
So can anyone say the current 35p will serve my needs as well if not better than any other chronograph in the same price range?

 

[LRNut]

I am a huge LR fan; I set it when I practice LR in CO and very often in the desert in AZ. This morning I shot my Edge at my 910 yard gong; the wind was blowing from the right pretty good. My Sig said correct elevation was 1/2 MOA lower than the previous day when the wind was from the left. I took it down one click. My wind call of 3 MOA was perfect (wish they were all that good yesterday but it was very gusty) but I hit 3/4 MOA high. My MV was on the high end - 2894, so some of my higher elevation could have been due to that, and some due to the fact I didn't trust the SIG (which calculates aerodynamic jump). I am seriously thinking of buying another one so I don't have to haul my LR back and forth to AZ.

The Caldwell device is interesting; I can't believe LR doesn't have patents protecting their device - if they do, it would be interesting to see their listed claims (I hold 8 patents so I am pretty familiar with how they work).

 

[Blacktailer]

Oehler 35p went out of production for a while just as I had saved up enough pennies to buy one. I then bought the Caldwell and as irony would have it, I stumbled across a used but in LNIB Oehler 35p for good price but the financial prudent side of me wouldn't allow me to buy it. as I had already bought the Caldwell.
Dumb is the term that readily leaps to mind.
So can anyone say the current 35p will serve my needs as well if not better than any other chronograph in the same price range?

The Oehler is somewhat of a pia to set up. If buying a new chrono the LR would be my choice.

 

[PPR]

I have a 35p, still going strong after at least 25 yrs. If it broke I would go find another one! If you find a deal buy it!
Paul

 

[lancetkenyon]

I own a Labradar. I use it every weekend except during hunting season. I record (or at least verify) almost every shot. About 4500+/- shots a year. I would not go any other route.

A Magnetospeed, for me, would be a PITA.
Shooting up to 5 rifles a day, switching back and forth would be annoying. And time consuming. I can swap between rifles as fast as I can put one up and grab another with the LR.
Any weight change on the end of a barrel will change POI, and possibly accuracy potential as well. Sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better.

I had a Chrony for years. Having to shoot through it wasn't terrible. But twice, I had other people shoot one of my metal rods. That was an annoyance. Had they shot the unit, would have been a different story. It does seem as if my LR is a bit more consistent though.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I've got a Oehler 35P that was just completely updated by Oehler. It uses the 3 screens on a 2" bar and only requires a single camera tripod. Set-up is fast and easy.

I just bought a LR and will sell the 35P. If you're interested drop me a PM.