Chronographs

[OG-danimal]

Hey all,
Any chronograph recommendations? Not trying to drop $1000 on a Labradar, but looking for something that is accurate and does the job. I want something that does not have to attach to my rifle. I had the magneto speed but I don't like it.
Thanks

 

[DUCKMAN11]

Wanna sell that magneto speed?

 

[OG-danimal]

Wanna sell that magneto speed?

I blew it up on my buddies muzzle break

 

[DUCKMAN11]

Seen that happen lol! I have a magneto speed and a Caldwell traditional shoot through cheapo type that works for bows and rifles. Both give "believable" readings

 

[lancetkenyon]

Labradar doesn't run $1k. I got mine for $650 with soft case, bench stand, and external batteries.

 

[Koda_]

Hey all,
Any chronograph recommendations? Not trying to drop $1000 on a Labradar, but looking for something that is accurate and does the job. I want something that does not have to attach to my rifle. I had the magneto speed but I don't like it.
Thanks

you pretty much talked yourself down to a Caldwells. Just go buy one, they are a true "workhorse" that does the job.

 

[Bob Wright]

I'm surprised they are 650 on a Labradar. But they do work unless you move up to a commercial grade doppler like Hornady uses for ballistic testing. Ka-ching!

 

[zr600]

The only ones I really trust are the lab rador and the megneto speed. They both have there pros and cons.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I gave up my Oehler 35P and bought a LabRadar for $599. It does get a bit expensive when you add in all the extras that you may want. Mount of some kind, external battery, inertia trigger, case, etc all add to the price.

 

[jwolff]

If you're like me, you'll get a Caldwell for the bow, and a new magneto speed for the rifle, and switch up to directional muzzle brakes. Probably paranoid, but I shoot with the magneto speed attached and shoot it through the Caldwell for verification.

 

[waspocrew]

I have the Magnetospeed V3 and it works well at a busy range. Next year, once I'm back west and hopefully closer to our ranch, I'm going to go with the Labradar for the ease of shooting groups without worrying about POI shifts.

 

[Hugnot]

I like my Magnetospeed except for the convoluted software - given a chance I could design something simpler & more effective for single button use. Back then I designed & wrote many computer systems to collect & display stat data much more complicated than the simple stats provided by Magnetospeed - these applications were used by many non-computer workers who only wanted certain, easy & acceptable results. Granted, this is a "push button" device having a single button intended to control many functions. The tiny little chip in the Magnetospeed is inadequate to store & process large volumes of data and having a single button to control operations would drive me goofy should I want to do more with data management, with the Magnetospeed. I simply record velocity stats in my shooting log for processing with a spread sheet - Apache Open Office 4. I would like to see a Magnetospeed verson having a thumb drive so I could transfer data to a bigger processor - no more data writing.

I wrap a 1/2-inch-wide strip of duct tape around the end of my rifle barrels to secure the Magnetospeed bayonet to my smooth, tapered & slippery rifle barrels. This prevents the bayonet from creeping forward off the barrel. POI's do change & I think group sizes may be affected by the bayonet strapped onto the barrel end. The gadget works by recording changes in magnetic fields over measured distances.

I shot up my last down range chrony and no more pauses to go down range with equipment mounted on a tripod, not required with the Magnetospeed.
I probably will buy a Labradar - more stuff to play with. Nice to see what's happening down range.

Data from Magnetospeed into spread sheet.



Ten shot group with Magnetospeed chrony bayonet attached to .204 Ruger barrel. Shot about 1/2 lower at 100 without bayonet.

 

[just_jon]

Labradar user here, but I keep an optical unit for my rigs that exceed Labrador's 3900 fps limit. I have had good service from a ProChrono DLX. PITA to set up, but works well for the money.

 

[dok7mm]

Go to the LabRadar. It will be one of your best purchases. Soon you will forget the pain and be glad you got it. If for some reason you're not satisfied, you can get your money back.