For my first chronograph.

[bbailey7821]

I know this is probably gonna open up a can of worms, but here we go...

I would like to get a chronograph, my first. I currently shoot hunting calibre rifles and pistols(44,45,38, 30 carbine). I would like to find out what is a reliable, economical entry point for this. As always, Gentlemen, thanks for your advice!

[41magfan]

Pretty much any chrony will give you all the imformation you want/need. It will come down to what you want to spend. I belive you can get a CHRONY brand for less than 100.00. and don't worry to much if you hit it as they have a good trade in / trade up program.

[wiljen]

Buy a cheap chrony for your first one. You will eventually shoot it so no point in paying for an expensive one.

[mold maker]

Bells and whistles aren't worth much after their shot. There are several under $100. Most remote controls are only a momentary contact SW (Radio Shack) in a bicycle grip. Fancy sky screens are just milk jug plastic on sticks.
Remote display is convenient, but expensive.
Mine is a Pro Chrono (SP) that I've had for 16-18 years and still works great. It cost less than $100 then and is still available at about the same price.

[Shooter6br]

Pact Model I had for 25 yrs. No bells or whistles but all the info you need. Had a Chrony muzzle blast damged the unit. I dont like the meat of my machine in harms way..........

[bbailey7821]

Sounds like I need something with a remote readout... Thanks for the input, guys! If anyone sees a decent deal on one somewhere, let me know.

[archmaker]

You don't need the remote readout, the Chrony is fairly large and easy to read.

I did what they said and set myself up a remote switch to scroll through the data, makes a nice addition, but I just did it, did okay for years without it. Just wrote down my info after each shot.

[Artful]

Let me put it to you this way every chronograph owner I know has had one take a hit.
Either by himself or someone else.

the cheapest one that I know of is here
http://www.shootingchrony.com/products_reconditioned.htm

[nicholst55]

Sounds like I need something with a remote readout... Thanks for the input, guys! If anyone sees a decent deal on one somewhere, let me know.

Alpha Master (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/default.aspx?productnumber=306796) on sale; has remote.

F1 Chrony (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=531741) lowest price; no remote (do a Google search; you may find it a few bucks cheaper).

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive had two chronys and neither were accurate or reliable. I bought a pact and its not perfect but much better then the chronys. buddy has a ohler now thats a good unit but sure isnt cheap.

[Marine Sgt 2111]

I bought a Pact in '87, have replaced the screens once and it works like a charm.

[white eagle]

I have a pact great for my needs

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Bought a Chrone 15 years ago and use it just to find out the real FPS after accuracy. So it might get set up once a year and I run everything through it.
Real accuracy is far more important to me than "potential accuracy". Once I have a "Best there is load" it is interesting to know how fast it is cooking.

[freedom475]

I have used/shot several of them and can say that this is the best cheap Chrono... http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Archery/Bow-Tuning/Tools-Chronographs-Miscellaneous%7C/pc/104791680/c/104693580/sc/104234580/i/103985280/ProChrono-Digital-Chronograph/739957.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN %3D1100017%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd744977&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd744977%3Bcat103985280

I had 2 shooting "Chrony's" and both of them would give me Error[smilie=b: readings... the first one killed was an accident.. I shot the second one on purpose:Fire: Sure got tired of partial records cause the Chrony, missed or missread half the shots tested.

They are a very valuble tool to for checking how powder is behaving.. as far as accuracy testing.. there is no sense, in my book, even seeing how something will group at 100yards if your ExtremeSpread is 26fps or 75fps.. I fire, from starting load-max load (in small increments) with the power bullet comb I want. When I find the load for that boolit/powder combo with lowest ES (I try for less than 10es).. that load is recorded and then another powder is tested with the same boolit... Then I take the 3 or 4 best powder/load combos to the accuracy bench to find the best one for that gun and boolit.