Ballistic Chronographs: Suggestions for air rifles

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Johnairgun

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Looking to get my own chronograph to test my airguns at various shooting ranges and ensure they’re always sub 12 legal.

I would like suggestions for reliable, accurate well priced units available, please.

Any bad products I should avoid would be nice to know about.

Thanks for reading.
 
Johnairgun said:
Looking to get my own chronograph to test my airguns at various shooting ranges and ensure they’re always sub 12 legal.

I would like suggestions for reliable, accurate well priced units available, please.

Any bad products I should avoid would be nice to know about.

Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
Use the forum search facility !
 
I bought a LMBR R2a after similar advice from this forum, they come in three sizes and are simplistic to use.
I’ve used mine at home and at the range as they just stand up turn on put in pellet weights and off you go they don’t attach to the rifle/pistol .
Think they have recently come back in stock on Amazon , I purchased mine from Blackpool air guns good service and price.
😀👍🏻
 
@Johnairgun I was going to purchase a LMBR as they are regularly recommended. Three things put me off, which may or may not be relevant to you.
  • Shoot through design - Seems risky/foolhardy to shoot towards an electronic device one needs to remain accurate, when there are designs that remove any risk of damage. This is important for me as my HW110 has to be disassembled to adjust power. Removing stock, scope, bipod, trigger guard etc. makes accuracy somewhat harder. Making/buying a clamp or jig is a pfaff I'd sooner avoid. I've seen several posts on forums about people shooting their chrono, and didn't want to join them! I'd also like to be able to let others use my chrono, without having risk of a difficult conversation should they shoot it.
  • Size - Many posts about the LMBR include comments recommending Midwater's dedicated chrono bag. I want a chrono I can put in the bag I already use, rather than carry a second bag.
  • Lighting negatively affecting performance - I want it to pick up all my shots irrespective of sunlight or flourescent lighting.

My own choice is the Athlon Rangecraft. Your "well priced" criteria probably rules it out so I won't add to MikeyB's link above.

Happened to chat about chronographs in my local gun shop yesterday evening whilst getting a cylinder refill. The owner swears by FX v2, which come without the hefty price tag of the Athlon. I have no personal experience of them though.

edited for typos
 
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Ive been using the FX V2 mounted on a mini camera tripod just sitting below the end of the barrel, very impressed with it, out yesterday afternoon and shot a few hundred pellets, very missed one when using it. .177 HW97
 
I have never used an LMBR so can't comment. My 'workshop' chrono is a Skan. I use it mains powered via a transformer but it can operate via batteries. Not reliant or influenced by any external light source i.e use indoors or outdoors.

Cheers, Phil :)
 
Not again! We have this every week. Buy an Al-baba chinese cheapy for less than £20. Barrel mounted easily, gives fps, stores a string of 30, and the conversion to ft lbs or joules is easy. Few probs with missed shots and very difficult to damage it. No software or phone to fiddle with. Direct reading. I've put up the extensive spreadsheet several times that covers all you might need.
To ensure legality that is all you need.
 
Genuine question - Apart from checking you’re legal why Chronograph and why take one around with you, I’m missing something here.

You get a new gun, you get the store to check it. You enjoy it and possibly take it back for a recheck. Assuming you don’t ever tinker with it why keep on checking on a daily shot by shot basis

I don’t think I’ve seen a single post of anyone complaining the rifle is above limit and asking advice of how to lower.

I’m not saying it’s not important to check your rifle is under limit but assuming it is from new and it still is a few weeks later doesn’t the Chronograph become an expensive dust collector
 
ristac said:
Genuine question - Apart from checking you’re legal why Chronograph and why take one around with you, I’m missing something here.

You get a new gun, you get the store to check it. You enjoy it and possibly take it back for a recheck. Assuming you don’t ever tinker with it why keep on checking on a daily shot by shot basis

I don’t think I’ve seen a single post of anyone complaining the rifle is above limit and asking advice of how to lower.

I’m not saying it’s not important to check your rifle is under limit but assuming it is from new and it still is a few weeks later doesn’t the Chronograph become an expensive dust collector
Click to expand...
It's not unknown for a gun to be supplied high, and with "infant mortality" guns can develop faults, such as in the regulator, where a while ago I believe BSA guns gave extensive trouble. So an occasional check is good to do- but that can be done with a cheapy. Or borrow the use of one!.
Know your gun. If you can shoot at a decent distance, say 40-50 yards, your zero can be consistently set at 25-30 yards, ideally using the same brand and weight of pellet. . After that, there will be a vertical drop at distance. Get to know what and where that drop is. If it reduces then your power has gone up. If it drops more, you have lost power. You usually have to know these vertical changes in any case.
This is indicative only, but I easily spotted a regulator fault that developed by simply knowing my gun.
 
ristac said:
Genuine question - Apart from checking you’re legal why Chronograph and why take one around with you, I’m missing something here.

You get a new gun, you get the store to check it. You enjoy it and possibly take it back for a recheck. Assuming you don’t ever tinker with it why keep on checking on a daily shot by shot basis

I don’t think I’ve seen a single post of anyone complaining the rifle is above limit and asking advice of how to lower.

I’m not saying it’s not important to check your rifle is under limit but assuming it is from new and it still is a few weeks later doesn’t the Chronograph become an expensive dust collector
Click to expand...
No ... a chronograph is an essential tool to ensure you stay within legal limits as power can vary between different pellets and weights. Also useful after doing any work ot alterations
 
ristac said:
Genuine question - Apart from checking you’re legal why Chronograph and why take one around with you, I’m missing something here.

You get a new gun, you get the store to check it. You enjoy it and possibly take it back for a recheck. Assuming you don’t ever tinker with it why keep on checking on a daily shot by shot basis

I don’t think I’ve seen a single post of anyone complaining the rifle is above limit and asking advice of how to lower.

I’m not saying it’s not important to check your rifle is under limit but assuming it is from new and it still is a few weeks later doesn’t the Chronograph become an expensive dust collector
Click to expand...
Let me be of service & perhaps blunt. To assume ( makes an ass of u & me) that just because a store chronoed your rifle at purchase proves only that rifle was legal at that time. Rifles quite easily gain power with break in and use & most certainly with different type/ weights of pellets. Chronographs are an important diagnostic tool for keeping track of not only your rifle's "health", but keeping you potentially from a rifle confiscation & a hotel stay at one of his majesty's half star accomodations. In short, being an airgunner & not having a chrono is as asinine as polar exploration in your only your birthday suit. For the paltry sum charged for purchase, there's little excuse not to have one.👍
 
It depends on your circumstances regarding where you plan to use it and finances. Shoot through chronographs are great at a club or from a bench. They're problematic in the field for placement. Personally I only use gun or moderator mounted ones now. FX V2, battery powered, reports of them at times struggling with .177 readings. Although I've never had an issue. https://natechrony.com/products/ excellent chronograph but requires an external power source.
Aliexpess is your place for a cheap and cheerful one. I use this one up to 1000fps, it's constantly 8fps quicker than the V2. I just have it permanently mounted on a spare moderator as it is a bit of a pain to mount.

This goes out in the field with me when I'm arsing around with different pellets/slugs.
I just found this on AliExpress:
￡26.10 | Speed Measuring Instrument for Shooting Speed Meter Ball Velocity Energy Measurement Shooting Chronograph Bullet Speed Tester
a.aliexpress.com

Speed Measuring Instrument for Shooting Speed Meter Ball Velocity Energy Measurement Shooting Chronograph Bullet Speed Tester - AliExpress 1420

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com a.aliexpress.com

Pros and cons with them all. Chronograph do come up on the forum sales section now and again if you don't mind pre used.
 
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