Chrono Advice

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danielsonson

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Ok - so started reloading and need a chrono.

Do I spend £175 on a mint SH Magneto V3
Or £389 on an Athlon
Or £429 on a garmin

Are the newer compact units worth the substantial price difference?

Thanks
 
Save yourself the money. For many many many years chronographs were very expensive, awkward and unreliable. They were the equipment of ammunition laboratories not reloaders.

Reloaders used group size and pressure signs (especially flattened primers and stiff bolt handles) to determine limits and optimal load.

Once you have determined optimal load you work out the trajectory by shooting at different known distances and measuring the drops / adjusting your sights.

As a novice focus your attention on making consistent ammo. £500 is an awful lot of ammo.
 
i was in the same boat a year ago, bought a V3, used it, sold it, for me having a £400-500 chrono sat about doing noting is a non starter,
Nowadays if i need one, i do what Heym RS20 said, work it out myself, final speed comes from ballistics app once iv worked out my drops i match it with there drops, so technically the speed is not needed, your own homework will give you better results than any app with given speeds,
 
If it's just for stalking, and you're either happy with your factory ammo or capable of solid load development, you don't really need it, just check drops as indicated above.
For longer range target shooting, it's better to have one.
The Athlon or Garmin handier as they don't potentially affect POI. Should see a few Xero C1 getting sold off as users move up to the new C2.
 
You don't need a chronograph to make good accurate ammo but if you really want one go for the athlon or garmin.
I used various ones over the years. Most of the time they stayed at home as I couldn't be bothered setting them up.
I have a garmin now and its great.
I use it all the time when working up loads and shooting targets and steel.
You just set it up and forget about it and shoot away .
Its also great when testing different rimfire ammo.
 
Danielsonson,

If you feel you need a chronograph then go for the Garmin or Athlon. The ability they give to chronograph as you shoot normally without having to attach anything to the barrel (with the resultant change in point of impact & possibly precision of the rifle), is a distinct advantage.

For years I used to use an Oehler 35P which was tripod mounted, later moving on to the barrel mounted Magneto speed type. More recently I bought a LabRadar LX which is similar in operation to the Garmin/Athlon. Without a doubt it's the most convenient chronograph I've used.

Your best friend though is a proper reloading manual. A chronograph is handy to allow you to compare the published velocities to your actual ones but it's not a 'must have'.
 
Plenty of people have shot the blades on the V3 chronograph…

Affect poi

People engineered stands for them to get away from dangling it off a mod

You can rent garmin from some shops or just klarna one at however much over 6 months

If you were to use a V3 and a garmin in the same sitting I know which one you would want to own.

Interesting they are bringing out a new chronograph…

Might sell my garmin if the new one offers many upgrades but to be honest it does all I need it to do
 
Garmin or Athlon. I went for a second hand garmin and it has been brilliant. I started with an old Chrony which was terrible then moved to a magnetospeed sporter which was better but still an annoyance. Can you work it out without a chronograph? Yeah probably but I for sure cannot be bothered with that faff
 
Had a V3, works but tedious to set up, poi can change so wasted ammo. Likely to depreciate a lot, sold mine early.

Garmin brilliant switch on and forget, fantastic bit of kit

Athlon cheaper and as good, the Garmin, that's what I would buy today, or a second hand garmin.
 
There should be some used garmins coming up for sale soon now that the new model is out
I won't be changing mine as the one I have does everything I want.
 
Garmin or Athlon mines great and goes to the range every time with me.

Also its not just for reloading. I use it for plugging accurate data into ballistic calculators for various rifles especially if playing with long range on club days, tuning my FAC air and setting up the ballistic calculator on my thermal for drop.

I could not imagine all the faff of attaching the Magneto to the barrel tbh now.
 
the smaller it is the more likely you are to pack it and the less hassle it is

the easier it is to set up the better

personally i would go garmin or athlon they are compact light and easy to use

i had a lot of trouble with a few labradars and getting them to read reliably so even S/H i would avoid

a good chrono is a great bit of kit and knowing your velocity easily is way less hassle than guessing and trying to interpolate it from data you collect yourself
 
I can recommend the Labradar LX. I am very happy with it and it provides the BC measurement. The Garmin seems to be more user-friendly though. I have never used the Athlon.
 
Having had a go on my pal's new Garmin I'd say go for that. Brilliant bit of kit, small, handy and transmits results to your phone, very easy to use. Me? I'll borrow his! :D

Have you also had a look at the Athlon Rangecraft? Seems almost the same and a fair bit more budget friendly.
 
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