plant_one wrote:i use a magnetospeed v3. i've not tested it with a .450 BM (doing my homework now for an upper purchase) but with the other calibers i've measured with it i've had great results. its only real flaw is its minimal adaptability to a handgun.
one MAJOR Plus is that - at least around here - all of the outdoor ranges (public) do NOT allow traditional chrono's to be used.
having a chrono in your reloading arsenal is very helpful - its the only way to really know what velocity you're at and if your loads are consistent.
I would already own a magnetospeed but for one reason. I love the fact that I would not have to pack and drag another accessory bag to the range like I do with my tripod mounted conventional chrono. I love the fact that I would not have to spend 10 minutes setting up, deploying it while everyone has to stop shooting and wait for me to take several attempts to get it aligned between me and the target. I love not repeating that effort again knocking down when I'm done.
Lastly, given the orientation of our rifle range and our northern location, the sun arcs across the sky from behind, casting light underneath the screens and at times of the day, causing errors in optical chronos. Not just my particular brand either. OK, that why I would not hesitate to plop down my hard earned money.
I haven't bought one however, because I like to combine shooting for accuracy with shooting to record a loading recipe's resultant velocity at the same time. I have owned and still own many different caliber rifles. Hanging an object on the barrel interferes with its natural harmonics. Not just making it sag a small amount, but impacting the frequency that it bobs and shakes at as the bullet races down the bore. That reflects in group consistency and POI. Overcoming that means loading or buying more ammo and spending more time.
Enter the Radar based solution. A lot to love, other than the price. Not that the Magnetospeed is chump change. I hope the radar based units catch on. Volume sales will bring prices down in a year or two. Look at baseball radar guns. They're under a hundred bucks. Admittedly, clocking a much slower moving object the size of a baseball for 60ft is less of a technical challenge, but we can hope.
Hoot