as per my previous posts i am starting to collect equipment to reload and wanted advice on the best Chronograph to buy i am not to bothered about cost but don't want to pay over the odds for very little gain. i see costs vary so want some pointers on the best value for money with accuracy as always all advise is much appreciated
best chronograph
- Thread starter PHILK
- Start date
JabaliHunter
Well-Known Member
Magnetospeed v3 works a treat
or Labradar
or Labradar
You will get a few opinions. I have used a few apart from the Labradar which I understand is very good but the cost was just prohibitive for me in terms of perceived value rather than actual affordability. I suppose it depends on who often you work up loads or will use it. Chrono's are invaluable in terms of saving components and provide the data needed to ascertain various things related to your load and general shooting thereafter. That said, once you have worked up your load, it does sit in the corner for a while until you use it again.
I use the Magnetospeed V3. For me it offers the best balance of performance and price. I have used the Chrony's/Caldwells other similar contraptions but they are just more of a faff, depend on ideal conditions and for me, have provided far more errors than the Magnetospeed. You will also potentially shoot it at some point.
The only issue with the V3 is that I would not use it to shoot for groups as it will alter barrel behaviour etc with something hanging off the end. I personally use it mostly for Satterlee like load work ups, so just shoot a few cartridges of differing charge weights in to the ground to gauge velocity flat spots/nodes and then pretty much just load up my chosen charge weight at whatever seating depth and test and then fine tune etc.
I have been happy with the V3 and for my purposes based on how I work up loads, I cannot see me needing anything else. It records all your shot strings so you can go home and view them easily on the little black box thingy. It fits in a small box which is easy to transport and you don't need tripods and guff like that to mount it to. It is also very intuitive to use. It is literally switch on and shoot.
I use the Magnetospeed V3. For me it offers the best balance of performance and price. I have used the Chrony's/Caldwells other similar contraptions but they are just more of a faff, depend on ideal conditions and for me, have provided far more errors than the Magnetospeed. You will also potentially shoot it at some point.
The only issue with the V3 is that I would not use it to shoot for groups as it will alter barrel behaviour etc with something hanging off the end. I personally use it mostly for Satterlee like load work ups, so just shoot a few cartridges of differing charge weights in to the ground to gauge velocity flat spots/nodes and then pretty much just load up my chosen charge weight at whatever seating depth and test and then fine tune etc.
I have been happy with the V3 and for my purposes based on how I work up loads, I cannot see me needing anything else. It records all your shot strings so you can go home and view them easily on the little black box thingy. It fits in a small box which is easy to transport and you don't need tripods and guff like that to mount it to. It is also very intuitive to use. It is literally switch on and shoot.
Magnetospeed and the Labradar are identical in terms of results. The UK Labradar has been emasculated by our laws for radio frequency and range but works well, it is a fair faff to set up though and will struggle on a range if several are shooting in close proximity.
The Magnetospeed is a doddle in comparison, easy to set up, easy to use, easy to pack away. It's no less accurate, and works well down to .17 cal bullets.
The only issue is that, as it attaches to the end of a barrel, it will alter harmonics and therefore your group. No drama, if you're mildly practical a free-standing fitment is easy to fashion. If you're practically useless no drama, just don't use it when assessing group sizes.
I simply use mine when developing loads, I know the velocity I want to achieve and simply load sequentially until I reach that velocity. Then I'll load five of those and assess the SD and ES. If it's good enough I remove the magnetospeed and shoot test groups at differing seating depths to tune the group.
I'll probably get told it's all bum about backways but it works for me. What's the point of an accuracy node 500fps too slow? I find I can always tune a load, provided it isn't totally all over the place, simply by tweaking seating depth.
Go for the V3 if you use a moderator.
The Magnetospeed is a doddle in comparison, easy to set up, easy to use, easy to pack away. It's no less accurate, and works well down to .17 cal bullets.
The only issue is that, as it attaches to the end of a barrel, it will alter harmonics and therefore your group. No drama, if you're mildly practical a free-standing fitment is easy to fashion. If you're practically useless no drama, just don't use it when assessing group sizes.
I simply use mine when developing loads, I know the velocity I want to achieve and simply load sequentially until I reach that velocity. Then I'll load five of those and assess the SD and ES. If it's good enough I remove the magnetospeed and shoot test groups at differing seating depths to tune the group.
I'll probably get told it's all bum about backways but it works for me. What's the point of an accuracy node 500fps too slow? I find I can always tune a load, provided it isn't totally all over the place, simply by tweaking seating depth.
Go for the V3 if you use a moderator.
I've had Chrony and Calwell and am currently on a Magnetospeed V3.
I moved away from Chrony and Caldwell because they're both fussy about light conditions and I often got frustrated through lack of readings at crucial moments. You're measuring velocity to aid accuracy, if you're Chrony isn't consistent it sort of defeats the object.
The Magnetospeed is more consistent. I don't think I have ever had a missed read and funnily enough my SD's have tightened up considerably since getting one, which is nothing to do with my reloading technique. It's been great with the smaller calibres up to 7mm.
However, I have a new toy which recoils pretty hard. It's not moderated so the device was strapped to the barrel as tight as I could get it. As the shot string went on the velocity dropped off and I discovered it was slipping down the barrel. Learning this I then marked the barrel and readjusted after every shot but was still getting a higher SD than I was expecting, so I got a mate to slo-mo film it. You can see how much the Magnetospeed is moving vertically on recoil. The angle and therefore the length it it measuring is inconsistent with that vertical movement which explains much of the problem. Unfortunately I haven't worked out how to upload video so I can't show you.
My conclusion unfortunately is that the best one out there is the Labradar. It is a bit fiddly to set up but the way it measures velocity is the most consistent available at the moment. If you want the best performance I'm afraid you have to pay for it.
I moved away from Chrony and Caldwell because they're both fussy about light conditions and I often got frustrated through lack of readings at crucial moments. You're measuring velocity to aid accuracy, if you're Chrony isn't consistent it sort of defeats the object.
The Magnetospeed is more consistent. I don't think I have ever had a missed read and funnily enough my SD's have tightened up considerably since getting one, which is nothing to do with my reloading technique. It's been great with the smaller calibres up to 7mm.
However, I have a new toy which recoils pretty hard. It's not moderated so the device was strapped to the barrel as tight as I could get it. As the shot string went on the velocity dropped off and I discovered it was slipping down the barrel. Learning this I then marked the barrel and readjusted after every shot but was still getting a higher SD than I was expecting, so I got a mate to slo-mo film it. You can see how much the Magnetospeed is moving vertically on recoil. The angle and therefore the length it it measuring is inconsistent with that vertical movement which explains much of the problem. Unfortunately I haven't worked out how to upload video so I can't show you.
My conclusion unfortunately is that the best one out there is the Labradar. It is a bit fiddly to set up but the way it measures velocity is the most consistent available at the moment. If you want the best performance I'm afraid you have to pay for it.
Would a freestanding fitment, as Mick suggested above your post, work for you?
I need to try to upload the video and you will see what I mean.
Unfortunately not - ‘Sorry, we could not find that page’...
I have run a Magnetospeed v3 on an unmoderated .338 Lapua Magnum
Didn’t move at all
It by far the simplest to set up, use and retrieve data from
Labradar may have more functions and allow for no touch and multi rifle recording with downrange data but at what cost?
They are pricey
They can also be very fussy
For every few people I know who bought one there are now several that has failed to fire and generated anomalies.
That shouldn’t be the case for a £600+ item
The optical Chronys do work well if set up right & used with good light. (Not fluorescent).
There are LED light kits available for use on the sky screens, but a better answer is to fit the instrument in an opaque plastic box with LEDs fixed to the inside of the lid & the box ends cur out for the bullets to pass through.
This option keeps the Chrony dry when used in the rain too.
Sat on the ground, or on a table or big tripod 12ft in front of the muzzle they work fine. If you cant shoot through a hole 5" wide x 8" high it's time to give up! - There is no excuse for shooting the instrument.
I've tested three Chronys in line so that bullets pass over all three & as long as they were set up right (fully opened & in line) they all measured within 0.05% of each other. - Close enough for me!
Use care & pay attention & Chronys work just fine.
My Dad always told me "It's a poor workman that blames his tools". --- I subscribe to the same concept!
All chronographs have non-ideal features - none are perfect so why pay top £ for one?
Ian
There are LED light kits available for use on the sky screens, but a better answer is to fit the instrument in an opaque plastic box with LEDs fixed to the inside of the lid & the box ends cur out for the bullets to pass through.
This option keeps the Chrony dry when used in the rain too.
Sat on the ground, or on a table or big tripod 12ft in front of the muzzle they work fine. If you cant shoot through a hole 5" wide x 8" high it's time to give up! - There is no excuse for shooting the instrument.
I've tested three Chronys in line so that bullets pass over all three & as long as they were set up right (fully opened & in line) they all measured within 0.05% of each other. - Close enough for me!
Use care & pay attention & Chronys work just fine.
My Dad always told me "It's a poor workman that blames his tools". --- I subscribe to the same concept!
All chronographs have non-ideal features - none are perfect so why pay top £ for one?
Ian
CarlW
Well-Known Member
Several of us nod sheepishly and shuffle quietly away from this thread...
I came to the conclusion that the Magnetospeed V3 is currently the closest to your (and my) specification and requirements. Cost-wise it is between the basic optical and the Labradar, and it does offer some significant practical gains over the cheaper optical unit I have used.
It works reliably and accurately straight out of the (conveniently small) box.
It does not require further work with a LED lighting system or housing. Time and money not required.
The Magnetospeed is new to me, but I have had no error readings so far. 3 errors out of 7 last time I used the optical which prompted the Magnetospeed purchase...and peculiarly high readings from the optical the time before.
The Magnetospeed provides Min Max Average and ST Dev. figures.
It records the shot strings and summary onto a memory card which can then be transferred to a laptop and spreadsheet.
There is no having to peer at the read-out 3 metres away and pick up your pen and paper between each shot. The Magnetospeed recording device/screen is on the bench in front of your elbow or you can just hang it off the sticks.
Much quicker to set up with alignment to target/backstop.
It has the advantage over the Labradar and the sonic units by not registering shots from neighbouring lanes if used at a range...though on the sonic unit it was quite easy to spot and discount those.
I have read on here the advantage of the optical units and the Labradar is that they can give you readings down the line to better establish your BC...only you know if that is important for you.
On my barrel and moderator the POI was shifted almost 2" lower but the group was about the same size.
Alan
My Dad always added a rider to the "poor workman" saying...that it was true largely because the good workman bought/made/used/maintained the best tool for the job.
Alan
The Labradar is a brilliant machine but as Mick M said earlier, the one supplied to UK/Europe is a bit of a girly version with somewhat less power than the US version. I found that making a simple sighting system made it much easier to align the Labradar and "drop outs" are greatly reduced.
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