Magnetospeed v3 to buy or not to buy?

[Liveonce]

My ced millennium chronograph screen has died on me, now do I buy another light screen type which can be pain as dependant on the weather and did not always see .17bullets, or go for a magnetospeed v3.
I will mainly use it with my .17hornet and .223rem but sometimes use if with my shotgun, so the radar type are not an option and do not want to spend that much anyway. Just interested in velocity if the poi moves due to the v3 being on the end of the barrel not a big issue for me.
Welcome feedback from actual users of the v3 especially If used with .17 would you buy it again.
Thanks.

 

[Oh6]

You could try renting one and see how you get on:

For Sale: - Magnetospeed V3 Rental

Starting Jan 2018 Magnetospeed V3 Chronograph Rental. The V3 is MagnetoSpeed’s top of the line barrel mounted ballistic chronograph. Comes with everything you need to easily obtain accurate muzzle velocity readings on almost any weapon, including using a moderator. Light enough that POI is...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[jcampbellsmith]

or go for a magnetospeed v3....

I bought a magnetospeed v3 from Edinburgh Rifles – Edinburgh Rifles and Sporting Goods Excellent tools. Regards JCS

 

[paul o']

Had a V3 if your into reloading and wish to see how bad or good your reloading is there spot on ,if you just wish to play with a few loads hire one off Edd you wont go wrong dealing with him, if your in with a few like minded pals group buy one , my club has one well a few have them , so i sold mine as it looked like a WW1 bayonet charge some range days ! I now just borrow one on the day

 

[Jamsie]

I have a V3 and it just works! Easy to set up and use and very consistent results. I use it fairly frequently and offer it to other club members for load development. It's a bit of an expense but if you really need a chrono, it's as good as any and better than most.

Jamsie

 

[Liveonce]

Just an update, purchased a V3 and have now tried it with both my 17hornet and 12ga shotgun.

Worked perfect straight out of the box with the hornet never missed a shot very pleased indeed.
Been testing Vectan SP3 powder and 10.5grains behind a 17grain vmax kranks bullet is giving an average of 3690 fps but still got work to do to find lowest SD and best accuracy been up to 11.00grains then getting 3805 fps average.

Tried it with the 12gauge shotgun 7.5 lead shot in both plastic and fibre wad cartridges and with both 1/4” and 1/8” gap to barrel.
Not good only got two plastic wads cartridges to give what looks like a meaningful velocity 1303, 1329 fps out of 15 shots fired the rest were either bad shots or obviously wrong, one was 5535 fps others very low like 562 fps.
Tried it in shotgun mode with sensitivities 3 to 9.
For fibre wad cartridges again tried 15 shots could not get one to give any velocity all bad shots, tried different sensitivity levels all with 1/8” gap as that gave the two meaningful reading for plastic wads.

Anyway purchased it really for my rifles, shotguns would have been a bonus, and lots of bad shots with my old ced chrono especially with the tiny 17 bullets, shotgun also not good, then add you need the correct weather.

 

[ChesterP]

I use a digital pro-chrony and compared it side by side with a V3 when last on a 600m range to check how close (or not) the Digital Prochrony was to the V3. We're led most of the time into thinking that there's a gulf between them. In this case, for velocities read by the V3 as 2715fps 5 shot group average, the DPC was reading 2704 average. Tested with various loads, both were consistent in rise of load V's fps, so whilst mine I understand is only rated as to 1% (which really is too crude) accurate, as models vary, I must have a "good 'un" because there was so little difference that there was no benefit in paying the extra for the V3. Had I to buy from new today, I'd probably go with the cheapest of the V3 types available.

 

[Tulloch]

I love mine

 

[jimmy milnes]

I'm I correct to think one you can use with a moderator and the other type you can't?

 

[Liveonce]

I'm I correct to think one you can use with a moderator and the other type you can't?

Was using mine V3 on the 17hornet with Wildcat moderator really did work well, never missed a shot.
Gets painful when you make a batch of different powder charge loads up to test, only to have a lot missed by the chrono.
They are not cheap but buy once cry once.

 

[ChesterP]

There's another thing people can do with a little thought. Buy a cheaper optical one if it's not something you'll use too often (or hire the V3). Establish a base averaged MV for a load. Then perform a a bullet drop test at 200 and 300 yds (5 shots and taking the middle of the group). Use the actual bullet drops to tune your MV in Strelok retaining the weighted BC for the bullet. There's your "accurised" Muzzle Velocity without needing to spend a fortune on a Chrony.

Finally, to test BC, you then dial for 400 yds based on the new MV and shoot a group, take the centre and compare with that predicted. Fine tune if needed.

Even using a V3 or Labradar it's wise to test actual drops. Main point is that you can use just about any chrony even if 1% off, use a bullet that Litz has actually tested for BC (it will be weighted BC) and that is the tool for establishing true velocity using bullet drop.

 

[Tulloch]

I'm I correct to think one you can use with a moderator and the other type you can't?

I use mine with all my mods and it is sensitive enough to pick up subsonic speeds as well as the bigger cals .

I wouldnt live without it now

 

[Alantoo]

I'm I correct to think one you can use with a moderator and the other type you can't?

Yes. The V3 you can use with or without moderators with various bits of packing, the Sporter version without only...though some people have cut the Sporter version about to get it closer to the bore line for use with a moderator.

I have an idea that the software/monitior is different as well.

Alan

 

[zambezi]

I'm I correct to think one you can use with a moderator and the other type you can't?

Correct. Pre V3, the magnetospeed bayonet mount was designed for direct barrel mounting. The V3 spacer system accommodates all of my moderators from .223 to .375.

I ran with a Chrony F1 for years. It works ok, but tricky light can cause "err" readings. The V3 never misses a shot. Love mine.

 

[long_range_rob]

I had a CED, now have a Magnetospeed. Buy it, you won’t regret it, they’re as different as night and day.

 

[Ozalid]

I borrowed one recently, I think it was the V2 version, recently and was surprised at how easy they are to use after faffing around with a Cauldwell for years, I'm now just about to buy my own, I know it won't be used that much, but if I try a different powder, load or bullet, for hunting I need to know the MV and that's the bottom line.

 

[wytonpjs]

As others have said, just do it you will not regret it. I had a Chrony F1 and struggled on occasions to get readings when I really needed it. Bought Ed’s current rental unit (talk to him - I recommend it) and it’s been flawless, easy to use and copes with the contours of my F&D .308 mod as well as my Evos. Buy once, cry once, you will not regret it!

 

[Yorkie]

Hi Lads.
When you remove the V3 does it affect group size? Altering barrel harmonics etc.

 

[Jamsie]

Hi Lads.
When you remove the V3 does it affect group size? Altering barrel harmonics etc.

Quite likely.

Jamsie

 

[Eric the Red]

Quite likely.

Jamsie

Spoken like a true armchair terrorist who has no actual experience to offer. Do you really think a successful specialist product was designed without taking this into consideration?

When attached to the moderator, there is no evidence to suggest a change in harmonics as you allude. There are now kits to attach to other parts to remove any concern over this doubt - but why would you shoot for a group with it on when your focus is on speed/SD. Just for reference however, Richard Utting at Sharpshooting UK shoots with one on all the time - and does not seem to have an issue.

To the OP and his question: Buy one.