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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rick R on September 20 2018 05:47:46 AM MDT

Title: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: Rick R on September 20 2018 05:47:46 AM MDT
Is anyone using the Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph?  My Chrony has gone wonky and Midway has the Caldwell unit on sale for $70.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/626107/caldwell-ballistic-precision-chronograph (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/626107/caldwell-ballistic-precision-chronograph)
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: sqlbullet on September 20 2018 07:58:46 AM MDT
I don't have one.

The reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and the negative reviews are all older.  No reason I wouldn't grab one.
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: Ridgerunner665 on September 20 2018 07:52:40 PM MDT
Best chrono I've ever had... And I've had a few.

I got the whole kit, with the IR lights... But it's the same chrono.
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: Rick R on September 20 2018 08:34:43 PM MDT
Thanks guys,  i went ahead and put in an order for one.  Handloading without a working chronograph is limiting at best.
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: Kenk on September 21 2018 03:56:42 AM MDT
I need to pick up one of these, had no idea a decent one could be had for that inexpensive, Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: MyAlias789 on September 21 2018 08:40:09 AM MDT
I got the same one but it came as a package with a tripod and led reflectors. Works great. Gotta back up to 15 feet or else it reads the gasses instead of the bullet.
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: Kenk on September 21 2018 08:46:38 AM MDT
Great to know stuff like that in advance, Thanks!
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: PCFlorida on October 11 2018 12:32:26 PM MDT
Excellent Chronograph for the money. About the only thing I don't like about mine is I can't use it with my Samsung phone, the USB just doesn't play well. I bought an inexpensive tablet and it works fine.
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: Road_Clam on October 22 2018 08:01:03 PM MDT
I had the Alpha Chrony for the past 6 years. It served me well. Light sensing chronos have their inherant issues andI don't care whaich brand they ALL have the same problems and mainly it's inconsistent ambient light. My Chrony works most consistently in bright overcast conditions. If I observe passing sun and clouds my readings become inconsistent. Bright high sun is also an issue and the optional sun shades may, or may not help. Sun angle is also an issue. early morning or late afternoon low angle sun also causes error readings. I basically learned that if I could test in the overcast it was by best chance for sucess. I now have moved up to the Magnetospeed V3 and dam what an improvement over the stand alone distance units . No lighting issues with the V3 , and I can also test in the rain (under cover obviously) with the V3. A few of my gun club buddies have recently purchased the Labradar and i'm hearing that that table top unit works awesome as well.
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: sqlbullet on October 23 2018 08:02:25 AM MDT
I have a Chrony as well.  It was the budget option when I bought several years back.

The labradar is on my shortlist after I win the lottery or get a few more kids outta the house.
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: Sneed on October 23 2018 12:55:04 PM MDT
Quote from: Road_Clam on October 22 2018 08:01:03 PM MDT
I had the Alpha Chrony for the past 6 years. It served me well. Light sensing chronos have their inherant issues andI don't care whaich brand they ALL have the same problems and mainly it's inconsistent ambient light. My Chrony works most consistently in bright overcast conditions. If I observe passing sun and clouds my readings become inconsistent. Bright high sun is also an issue and the optional sun shades may, or may not help. Sun angle is also an issue. early morning or late afternoon low angle sun also causes error readings. I basically learned that if I could test in the overcast it was by best chance for sucess.

When I used a light sensing chrony for several years I made a sun shade out of one gallon milk containers and mounted it over the sensors. Worked like a charm. I'd still be using is except that I hooked up the battery backwards once, there was smoke and then there was no functional chrony.
Title: Re: Caldwell Chronograph
Post by: Rick R on October 23 2018 01:29:38 PM MDT
After three range sessions I'm liking the Caldwell chronograph a lot. I'v been setting it ten feet out from the muzzle and had good consistent results shooting 9mm, .38, 10mm, .44 rifle and pistol, AND my .375 H&H using a cast bullet at 2,500+fps.

I really like that you can type in the gun and load data as part of the record that gets saved in a .csv file.