I've just got the cheap Shootin' Chrony and it is fime for what I do with it.

I have a CED M2 that does way more stuff than I'll ever need it to (do I really need a calculator in my chrony?), but I didn't have to pay for it. The USB connection is nice for getting data out and into spreadsheets or whatever you want to track your results with.

If you want to do it old school, I can cut you a deal on a Herter's Mark VII Computer Chronograph. The output is in binary-coded decimal, and you have to use actual wire-mesh screens 30 feet apart that get repaired or replaced after each shot, but it ought to do what you need 

I've had experience with the Shooter's Gamma chrony, and with the PACT.

Shooter's Gamma


PACT


I recommend the PACT.  Didn't have nearly so many problems as with the Shooter's Gamma, and PACT's customer service helped me with one or two finer points that had given me trouble.  The Shooter's Gamma wouldn't work except with 22LR rounds, anything more potent and it would throw error codes indicating it saw the bullet on one screen but not the other.  Was I ever glad a guy at work loaned me his and I didn't have to find this out by buying one!  And very importantly, if you shoot your chrony by accident like I did once   , you only have to repair the sensor housings on the PACT ($20) instead of replacing the unit ($130-$170 with the Shooter's Gamma) because the electronics are separate from the sensors (on the PACT).  I've seen at least one of the Shooter's Gamma chrony's in the trash can at my club, after someone accidentally put a round through it.

I got the most basic PACT model, the one that does a little bit of math but that's it.  I just want to know how fast the rounds are going, thanks very much.  The data points are all I need, which I record in a paper notebook.  I like having the average, extreme spread, and standard deviation directly reading out too, but don't have to have it so why pay extra for it?

To be fair, I didn't try calling tech support for the Shooter's Gamma chrony.  I did try every combination I could think of fiddling with the sky screens on/off, making a shroud to go around them, nothing worked.  The unit may have had some sort of defect, as it would throw error codes when the AR-15 shooter next to me would let off a round, too.

Even the most basic PACT model does calculate average, ES, and SD.  I thought I'd throw that out there since I mis-spoke yesterday and implied that it didn't.  If you want, I think with both brands of chrony you can get a little printer and also some kind of electronic data transfer to a PC.

One more little thing I liked that I found out only after buying the PACT: the PACT owner's manual had more or less the same instructions and admonishments that the Shooter's Gamma did.  But, in addition, the PACT manual specifically said "for God's sake, don't suffer in silence!  If it doesn't work, call us and we'll get you working".  I did, and they did.  That extra little line in the manual got me to call them (of course I only used it on the weekend when they weren't there).  So whatever you buy, call them if you don't get good results.

Okay, I was looking at the PACT's just now. Need opinions. Is the IR (infra-red) system worth the $40 extra? ($130 vs $170)

Okay, I was looking at the PACT's just now. Need opinions. Is the IR (infra-red) system worth the $40 extra? ($130 vs $170)

It's a pretty sweet setup from what I've heard and seen.  I shot a sanctioned IDPA match where an IR-lamped PACT was the chrono they used and it looked very nice, setup in a protected-from-the-elements little cardboard cave.  I was too cheap to buy that option but I'd say "go for it" if $40 isn't too big a deal.  I would think the IR lamp setup would totally get rid of the occasional burp I get out mine where it might not pick up every single shot.

Two-week mini thread revival:

Since I'm adopting a new cartridge (300 AAC BLACKOUT) and there isn't a ton of load data for it yet, I know I need a chrono.

HiVelSword has his requirements, but I figured I didn't need a new thread to ask about mine.

I need a fairly simple chronograph. One requirement is a remote readout. One reason is my eye sight sucks, and I'll be using it at public ranges where I can't just walk down and check the numbers between every shot. Second reason is I don't want to shoot the valuable parts, because with a new rifle, and almost exclusively hand loads, I'll have no idea where the first few bullets are gonna go. Shooting a $150 target isn't acceptable. A part that's cheap to replace is a different story. Remote hardware is a must. The PACT line looks good for that.

Second requirement is that I can download to a PC. I keep all my load data on an Excel spreadsheet, and don't have any on paper other than the labels on my ammo containers.

I don't want a printer, but if the best unit has one, can I just not put paper in it and have the chrono still work? It's not gonna throw "load tray 3" errors, is it?

I could care less about most of the other features I've read about. I just want to be able to download my velocities through a USB connection.

What do you guys recommend?

I would be nice if someone made one that was just sensors, like these but instead of the hardware on the bench, just a software package that turns a laptop into a chrono. Bring a laptop and the screens to the range and that's all you need.

I was also looking at the PACT Mark 4 Championship. It's appealing because it has everything I want, no stupid printer, and I can use it without the screens as a shot timer. Just have to buy the screens separately. Anyone use one of these?