Chronograph woes!

[Nimrod]

I have been using a Pact Pro chronograph since 1996 or thereabouts with perfect satisfaction. A month or so ago I started having serious problems with the unit, no reading, false reading, no reset, you name it. I called Pact and was told to send it in with a check for $14.95 for return shipping and they would fix me up. I did, about a week later I got a letter stating that my unit was obsolete and parts were no longer available but I could buy a new unit at 30% off! I called and asked about the "lifetime warranty" basically I got the no parts, buy a new one or hold your breath story. After thinking it over I called and let them extort me for a new unit. A week later I called to see if the replacement had shipped, nope end of the week or first of next week. I got the same response for three weeks in a row, yesterday was the last straw, I told them to cancel my order and fix my old unit or replace it under warranty.

If anyone is on the fence about a Pact chronograph don't let the warranty be a decision maker because it is a large pile of BS! I suspect I'll have to get an attorney involved to get any satisfaction.

Now I need a new chronograph, I have read every thread that the search function turned up and narrowed my choices to the CED or the Oehler. I have read several threads and reviews on the CED but can't find much on the 35P. Can anyone add anything to the info here on the 35P?

I have a finite hunting/shooting budget and the 35P price is pretty hard to swallow but I tend to be really anal about things and if it is 1% more accurate than anything else out there I'll dig up the $$ from someplace.

What say you?

Thanks in advance!

Bob

 

[Trickymissfit]

I have been using a Pact Pro chronograph since 1996 or thereabouts with perfect satisfaction. A month or so ago I started having serious problems with the unit, no reading, false reading, no reset, you name it. I called Pact and was told to send it in with a check for $14.95 for return shipping and they would fix me up. I did, about a week later I got a letter stating that my unit was obsolete and parts were no longer available but I could buy a new unit at 30% off! I called and asked about the "lifetime warranty" basically I got the no parts, buy a new one or hold your breath story. After thinking it over I called and let them extort me for a new unit. A week later I called to see if the replacement had shipped, nope end of the week or first of next week. I got the same response for three weeks in a row, yesterday was the last straw, I told them to cancel my order and fix my old unit or replace it under warranty.

If anyone is on the fence about a Pact chronograph don't let the warranty be a decision maker because it is a large pile of BS! I suspect I'll have to get an attorney involved to get any satisfaction.

Now I need a new chronograph, I have read every thread that the search function turned up and narrowed my choices to the CED or the Oehler. I have read several threads and reviews on the CED but can't find much on the 35P. Can anyone add anything to the info here on the 35P?

I have a finite hunting/shooting budget and the 35P price is pretty hard to swallow but I tend to be really anal about things and if it is 1% more accurate than anything else out there I'll dig up the $$ from someplace.

What say you?

Thanks in advance!

Bob

last I looked the new Pact is $219 shipped. With a 30% off factored in that comes in at about $153. That's a bargin! I use a PC2, and have had it since the mid 1990's. If they'd made me that kind of an offer, I would have me a new one shipped today. (they still have repair parts for it as of a year ago).

The CED is supposed to be pretty good (never used one), and the Ohler is probably as good as it gets, but they're extremely proud of them. The Ohler seems to come in at about one quarter of a percent different in readings. Is that too fast or too slow? Nobody knows for sure. My Pact uses a steel tubed light bar, and I like that much better than the others, but wish I could get a longer one (three or four feet long).
gary

 

[Nimrod]

last I looked the new Pact is $219 shipped. With a 30% off factored in that comes in at about $153. That's a bargin! I use a PC2, and have had it since the mid 1990's. If they'd made me that kind of an offer, I would have me a new one shipped today. (they still have repair parts for it as of a year ago).

They quoted me 197.95 with IR screens, I ordered it 3 weeks ago and as of yesterday they still hadn't shipped it so I cancelled it. My point being in the original post, they can't fix my old one they should send a new, equivalent, replacement, that is what a lifetime warranty is for.

As far as I'm concerned Pact Inc. no longer exists as an option since the warranty is worthless. What they should advertise is a 30% off coupon when your unit quits. It will be shipped whenever they get around to it. By the way, the local BBB gives them an "F" rating.

Bob

 

[Rimfire]

I've got tow Pact Pros if you want them for parts call me a slow learner. Just my .02 but Oehler and CED are the only two if you are serious. The CED is a nice unit and Ive shot it backed up by and Oehler with the same readings.

 

[J E Custom]

The Oehler 35 p Is the best In my opinion. and there warranty is second to none.

But they are about double the price of the others.

They have an accuracy standard that tops everyone and they are the chronograph that
everyone tries to compare with.

This is truly a case of you get what you pay for. Awhile back a friend shot an arrow through one of my screens and when i called Oehler they said they would send me the newest screens (3 of them)
for "NO CHARGE" and three days later i recieved them.

I use mine for a lot more than just velocity so accuracy counts a great deal.

I'm sure the other brands are close enough and at the price difference are worth it. I just like the Oehler.

J E CUSTOM

 

[dig]

PACT customer service leaves a lot to be desired. I have had two poor interactions with PACT both center around repairs and shipping. The industry as a whole is incredibly service oriented think, Dillon, Redding, Swarovski so when we deal with a company such as PACT it's a disappointment. It hurts even more with this company as they advertise as "American" company.

 

[Broz]

My 5th chronograph I ever bought is a Oehler 35P. The 4 prior included one pact. I like the Oehler a lot. I now trust what my chronograph says as the Oehler has a proof screen and checks each bullet twice. I think this one will be all I ever need. I should have bought it first instead of listening to reviews from people that were trying to help me save money. I would be hundreds of dollars ahead and have saved lots of time and components.

Jeff

 

[kcebcj]

I use a Ced M2 for 3 years now. How accurate is it who knows but with a new load I can average a 5 shot groups velocity enter that info into Exbal and be really close at my 335, 450 and 800 yard targets with a 100 yard zero. Works for me!

From everything I have read here and elsewhere the Oehler is top dog but I will never spend the money to personally find out. Shooting and hunting is a hobby not a occupation.

 

[Trickymissfit]

They quoted me 197.95 with IR screens, I ordered it 3 weeks ago and as of yesterday they still hadn't shipped it so I cancelled it. My point being in the original post, they can't fix my old one they should send a new, equivalent, replacement, that is what a lifetime warranty is for.

As far as I'm concerned Pact Inc. no longer exists as an option since the warranty is worthless. What they should advertise is a 30% off coupon when your unit quits. It will be shipped whenever they get around to it. By the way, the local BBB gives them an "F" rating.

Bob

I spoke with Pact yesterday afternoon after I made my last post. The price quote was off $10 as it's now $163 plus shipping and with the 30% off cupon. He did tell me that they were running low on some spare parts for the PC2. Shipping was a bit much at $14.95. I pay little attention to BBB or Angies list these days as that's normally a crap shoot on a good day. Pact has no business counter to step up to, and all orders are taken by phone and shipped via mail. And lastly the chronograph I asked about and the upgrade for my powder measurer was quoted at 14 business days max with the delay being with the upgraded parts on the measurer. Mine goes in the mail on the 22nd of the month
gary

 

[Trickymissfit]

The Oehler 35 p Is the best In my opinion. and there warranty is second to none.

But they are about double the price of the others.

They have an accuracy standard that tops everyone and they are the chronograph that
everyone tries to compare with.

This is truly a case of you get what you pay for. Awhile back a friend shot an arrow through one of my screens and when i called Oehler they said they would send me the newest screens (3 of them)
for "NO CHARGE" and three days later i recieved them.

I use mine for a lot more than just velocity so accuracy counts a great deal.

I'm sure the other brands are close enough and at the price difference are worth it. I just like the Oehler.

J E CUSTOM

I shot my PC2 and the Ohler 33 at the sametime many, many times over. The difference is roughly .0025%, and you don't know which one is right. If one tosses out a shot the other will as well. The accuracey thing is an old wive's tale. The Ohler has the worst mounting system sold, but you can spend another two or three hundred dollars and buy the Square Peg mount (or build your own similar mounting system).

I look at it this way, if you got deep pockets and just have to spend that dime then buy the Ohler. But if you want one that functions just as well, then lookaround. That's what I did.
gary

 

[Joe King]

Call em back and inform them that if THEY do not straiten it out in a hurry with credit to the hassle applied that you will be informing everybody on your friends list on FB. I've done this on several occasions, they don't want that kind of publicity.

 

[Trickymissfit]

I use a Ced M2 for 3 years now. How accurate is it who knows but with a new load I can average a 5 shot groups velocity enter that info into Exbal and be really close at my 335, 450 and 800 yard targets with a 100 yard zero. Works for me!

From everything I have read here and elsewhere the Oehler is top dog but I will never spend the money to personally find out. Shooting and hunting is a hobby not a occupation.

that's exactly what I'm trying to say. Just because one reads different than the other dosn't mean that it's reading is off. If you have an extra $500 then buy the Ohler, but if your frugal then buy what suits your needs. I can set mine up in ten minutes max and be shooting while it takes the guy with the Ohler four times that to get going (at ranges they don't like this very well unless your the only guy shooting).
gary

 

[Nimrod]

I spoke with Pact yesterday afternoon after I made my last post. The price quote was off $10 as it's now $163 plus shipping and with the 30% off cupon. He did tell me that they were running low on some spare parts for the PC2. Shipping was a bit much at $14.95. I pay little attention to BBB or Angies list these days as that's normally a crap shoot on a good day. Pact has no business counter to step up to, and all orders are taken by phone and shipped via mail. And lastly the chronograph I asked about and the upgrade for my powder measurer was quoted at 14 business days max with the delay being with the upgraded parts on the measurer. Mine goes in the mail on the 22nd of the month
gary

Good luck! They told me 5-6 business days, three weeks in a row. That is exactly why I cancelled my order, I had zero issues with the chronograph until it broke. The problem I have is with the **** poor customer service. I refuse to deal with a company that treats me this way. The phone guy is a blatant liar, and the lifetime warranty is a 30% off coupon. All that is left now is to see how long it takes them to repair and return my ProChrono.

I sincerely hope your experience is better than mine.

Bob

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I love my 35p, and don't care for my ced-- go figure. I'd buy the oehler over theced at 2x price.
Does anyone know if I can still get a sky-screen for a ten year old oehler 35??? My Dad knicked one the other day.