Chronograph
- Thread starter okespe04
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I have the top of the line Chrony with the printer. I do not have any problems with it but I read where folks do have problems.
On some cartridges, particularly 17 Remington and 204 Ruger, I sometimes mark a black ring on the bullet to improve the sensors seeing the bullet.
I am on my third Chrony in about 18 years and all have performed flawlessly as long as I keep the 45 ACP out of the sensors.
You might look at the others and see if it less expensive to replace the sensors when they get shot. It is not if, it is when the sensors get shot!
On some cartridges, particularly 17 Remington and 204 Ruger, I sometimes mark a black ring on the bullet to improve the sensors seeing the bullet.
I am on my third Chrony in about 18 years and all have performed flawlessly as long as I keep the 45 ACP out of the sensors.
You might look at the others and see if it less expensive to replace the sensors when they get shot. It is not if, it is when the sensors get shot!
mkl
Member
I've had a Pact Model I for over ten years and it has always worked flawlessly for me.
Only advice I'd offer would be to have the readout/electronics box away from the sensors that you shoot through. I hear a lot of "oops" of guys that shot the electronics box that was attached to the screens.
My old Pact I has 20-foot cords that plug into the sensor screens and then run to the electronics/display box that will set on the bench you shoot from. Never have to worry about blowing the expensive electronics away via a bad shot.
Only advice I'd offer would be to have the readout/electronics box away from the sensors that you shoot through. I hear a lot of "oops" of guys that shot the electronics box that was attached to the screens.
My old Pact I has 20-foot cords that plug into the sensor screens and then run to the electronics/display box that will set on the bench you shoot from. Never have to worry about blowing the expensive electronics away via a bad shot.
1SOW
Member
I've had good results from a Pro Chrono Digital. Good 'bang' for the buck. You can also buy the remote readout--or not.
There is a thread here somewhere that discusses chronographs at length. The Pro Chrono Dig. had favorable comments.
There is a thread here somewhere that discusses chronographs at length. The Pro Chrono Dig. had favorable comments.
I found that thread here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=315486&page=2
Leave it to THR to have good info. That thread did however end in 2008 so info on any recent advancements would be nice
You may want to reconsider the self-contained unit. If you accidently shoot it, which is common, you've ruined the whole chrono. I have the CED M2 where the brain stays on the bench with you. I have shot mine, the sensor at least. It only cost $40 to repair.
IMO FWIW, the combined units are the easiest to set up and take into the field or to a range. Personally I don't need the printers, pc connections, and all those things that just add more stuff to haul around. A pencil and a note pad are my data storage. At the range all I am interested in is gathering the data. Analysis and calculations come later after the information is entered into a spreadsheet.
If you have the luxury of being able to set up at home where you can load and then shoot a pc connected or printer unit would be nice.
I bought my Chrono-tech unit some 15 years or so ago and haven't shot it or any of its parts yet. The unit is very similar to the Pro-chrono at this Midway Pro Chrono Link. I set the unit 10 to 15 feet off the muzzle held by a camera tripod. If you can't keep your rounds within a 4" circle at that distance then your problems are not your load. Its a good idea to shoot a few at a target at that distance to see where the gun hits relative to aim at close range, after which you should have no problems putting the bullet over the sensors and between the sticks. If you have trouble reading the LCD screen bring a pair of binoculars, cheap low power ones work fine.
If you have the luxury of being able to set up at home where you can load and then shoot a pc connected or printer unit would be nice.
I bought my Chrono-tech unit some 15 years or so ago and haven't shot it or any of its parts yet. The unit is very similar to the Pro-chrono at this Midway Pro Chrono Link. I set the unit 10 to 15 feet off the muzzle held by a camera tripod. If you can't keep your rounds within a 4" circle at that distance then your problems are not your load. Its a good idea to shoot a few at a target at that distance to see where the gun hits relative to aim at close range, after which you should have no problems putting the bullet over the sensors and between the sticks. If you have trouble reading the LCD screen bring a pair of binoculars, cheap low power ones work fine.
I do not use a printer or computer at the range, which is behind my house. But, my chronograph remembers everything. I hook the chronograph to a printer when I return indoors and get a print out of my session.
But, pencil and paper still do a fine job.
But, pencil and paper still do a fine job.
jamesicus
Member
I live in town so my chrono will be going with me to the range and or my favorite shooting spots so self contained seems like the best idea. I'm not exactly made of money but if I were to shoot a $100 chrono I would forgive myself pretty quickly and have a new one sooner than later. The self contained ones on midway are looking pretty good. I would like one that I could link to my computer when I got home. I see some of them have IR ports.
Furncliff
Member
I received the Shooting Chrony Alpha Master for Christmas about three years ago. It has worked as advertised. And everytime I thought it was messing up, I discovered it was me, not the crony. It's compact and well built, I store it in one section of an old briefcase that goes to the range with me. The remote display is a must in my book. I got bored with copying all the data and I'll probably buy a printer. Midway has them on sale for ~$100. Just like Midway's large range bag, money well spent.
Edit: I don't think this unit (Alpha Master) will connect to your computer but the $135 Beta Master will as will the $200 Millennium has much more memory and a USB port.
http://www.shootingchrony.com/products_SCMMCM.htm
Edit: I don't think this unit (Alpha Master) will connect to your computer but the $135 Beta Master will as will the $200 Millennium has much more memory and a USB port.
http://www.shootingchrony.com/products_SCMMCM.htm
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JimKirk
Member
Famous words at the shooting range when using a chronograph!!! Kinda like saying ...my kid won't do something like that!!!
I've use a Pact Model One for 20+ years never shot the "Brain" because it sits beside me at the bench ... the other parts... well....
Jimmy K
Airborne Falcon
Member
I have a couple (2) of Shooting Chrony Alpha Masters and I like them a lot. I shot one a couple of years ago ... 357 Mag, yanked the trigger, took out the box. They repaired and replaced it for like 30 bucks if I remember correctly. In the meantime I rushed over to the local Sportsman's Warehouse and bought another one as a back up just in case and while waiting on the other one to be returned, being impatient as I am ....
The digital printer works well for me because I like the printed record of my loads to staple to my log entries - it allows me to work a graph showing what I was loading for verses what my actual results were. It's a big deal to me.
FWIW, a friend has a ProChro and another has a PACT and we've lined them up side by side shooting at the range together, and compared them. They were all within a few fps of one another. I personally believe it's a matter of personal preference - and price of course.
The digital printer works well for me because I like the printed record of my loads to staple to my log entries - it allows me to work a graph showing what I was loading for verses what my actual results were. It's a big deal to me.
FWIW, a friend has a ProChro and another has a PACT and we've lined them up side by side shooting at the range together, and compared them. They were all within a few fps of one another. I personally believe it's a matter of personal preference - and price of course.
josephbw
Member
This is why you want to have a separate readout that can be housed on your shooting bench. The readout box was all that I could save from this mess.
"Stuff" happens.
"Stuff" happens.
greyling22
Member
We've used the pro for years without problems. mostly outside. as far as shooting it..... well nobody in my family claims to be a good shot, but even the kids have avoided hitting it. I mean, it's only a few feet in front of you
It is not if you shoot out the screens, it is when. Things placed in front of the muzzle of a gun are always at risk.
The first Chrony I blasted I got in a hurry trying to finish up before some rain set in. I jerked the trigger on the M1911 sending a 230 FMJ though both sensors. The second, I failed to account for the offset between the scope and the barrel sending a 204 Ruger through both sensors.
Yes, more care might have avoided the hits but sometimes...
Cemetery21
Member
My "buddy" killed my first Chrony. Right after I told him he needed to hold higher with the AR because the scope is so much higher than the bore.:banghead:
He bought me a better one, but I still just write down the average for each string.
He bought me a better one, but I still just write down the average for each string.
josephbw
Member
I contacted Chrony and they said for $49.00 they would send me the unit I destroyed. It also came with a new phone line to the remote readout, new screens and new rods. Shortly after I got it, I made new rods out of skewers I got from the grocery store.
I shot the old one with a 9mm 90 grain HP that was going about 1400fps. The bullet hit one of the front rods, deflected down to the center section, then went on through the front panel bending it around. The hit on the front rod broke the front sensor, and when the bullet went through the back it destroyed the back sensor. It even broke the weld that held the captured tripod nut to the bottom of the case.
I am much more careful with the new unit.
I shot the old one with a 9mm 90 grain HP that was going about 1400fps. The bullet hit one of the front rods, deflected down to the center section, then went on through the front panel bending it around. The hit on the front rod broke the front sensor, and when the bullet went through the back it destroyed the back sensor. It even broke the weld that held the captured tripod nut to the bottom of the case.
I am much more careful with the new unit.
budman46
Member
my basic chrony acted up, so i upgraded...now i hafta study directions each time i wanna use it...shoulda stayed with the base model; more expensive is not always better for some of us old guys!
budman
ignorance is fixable, stupidity is forever...
budman
ignorance is fixable, stupidity is forever...
A little tip to avoid shooting the chrono with your scoped bolt rifle:
- Tape visual references on the screen rods to show where the chrono's sweet spot is. The sweet spot is where you want the bullet to go.
- When setting up the rifle in the rest and the chrono on its tripod, look for a point of aim on the backstop (or staple up a target).
- Pull the bolt and look through the rifle's bore.
- Adjust rifle and chrono position so that what you see through the bore is the chrono's sweet spot while the scope remains on target.
You're good to go so long as each shot is taken while aiming at the target - and the chrono and rifle rest do not move.
- Tape visual references on the screen rods to show where the chrono's sweet spot is. The sweet spot is where you want the bullet to go.
- When setting up the rifle in the rest and the chrono on its tripod, look for a point of aim on the backstop (or staple up a target).
- Pull the bolt and look through the rifle's bore.
- Adjust rifle and chrono position so that what you see through the bore is the chrono's sweet spot while the scope remains on target.
You're good to go so long as each shot is taken while aiming at the target - and the chrono and rifle rest do not move.
greyling22
Member
Aim high. there's generally not more than about 2" of difference between the scope and the muzzle and about a 12" tall pie shaped hole you have to shoot through. It's really not that hard, and I'm a fist sized groups at 10 yards with a pistol shot. nothing to brag about.
put it on a camera tripod and set it to whatever height you need.
put it on a camera tripod and set it to whatever height you need.
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