chrony shade screens

i have been using the chronograph a lot lately. i'm trying to work up a +p+ load for my glock 30 so all the loads have to be run through it. if i try real hard, i can get three loads through in a day, but the last load gets run late in the afternoon when the sun really messes with the results. the last late afternoon load session wouldn't even register.

so today, i decided to make shade screens for the ole blue shooting chrony:



usually at this time of day i get errors and no readings. but today, at 5:15 pm, i fired seven rounds through without one error! and no damage to the sun shades.

anyway, i thought i'd show my solution to a long time problem of mine.

i used the flaps from a cardboard box, large straws cut to fit, bread ties and duct tape:



i used a 9/64" drill bit for the bread tie holes and the shade dimensions are:



murf

update this morning:



fired seven more rounds through with no errors. took my compass with; the chrony is pointing @ 300 degrees, the sun is @ 120 degrees (directly behind the shooter).

murf

Catpop said:

I was wondering. Didn’t the factory top shade work?
I’m glad you took time to post- ive had same problem late in pm. I’ll try your trick!

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the top shade (light diffusers) works but, just in case, i spray painted the underside gloss white. when it gets dirty, or dull, i will spray them again!

murf

vaalpens said:

Thanks for posting.

I have the Pro chrono and have the same issue late in the afternoon. My solution to the problem normally is to park my car next to the chrono to block the sun.

I like your plastic straw solution. It is a nice non-permanent solution that can be installed when needed. I think I will try and put some side shades together before my outing onto the desert this weekend.

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yes, i don't think they are needed on cloudy days. but, who knows?

murf

hey guys, let me know how the shades work out. i'm interested in the effectiveness of the width of the shade. maybe a wider shade will work better.

murf

vaalpens said:

I will try mine out this weekend, but this is what I did so far. I just made a shade for one side that can be installed when needed. I started with the plastic straws, then my wife found these plastic pipes that worked out great.
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looks great! curious to see if that would block out too much light. bet it won't because you are only blocking one side. we'll see.

murf

Charlie98 said:

I have an original base model Chrony, the sun shades are so brittle now I'm almost afraid to use them. FWIW, I have the same problems with side or angle light with mine... sometimes it's so bad I get about a 1:3 error rate. I'll have to give the side shades a try.

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my diffusers broke a few years back. i have masking tape holding the two pieces together. i can't use the center pieces because they are both broken. i'll eventually have to make new ones. the arizona sun just destroys the white plastic.

murf

hdwhit said:

I use diffuses made from a plastic milk jug on my Shooting Chrony (one of the old red ones that they no longer acknowledge having made). I use wooden shish-ka-bob skewers to hold them up and they work about as good as the originals.

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i used welding rods to replace my shot-up stakes. i forget what diameter works, but all you have to do is bust off the flux and cut to length.

murf

Cemetery21 said:

Another option for diffuser material is flexible cutting boards. They are a little thicker than milk jug material. I cut one to size and clamp it on the top diffusers for a solid "roof". I have not played with side diffusers yet, but I need to since I normally test early mornings and the sun slant gives me errors. I don't use any diffusers on overcast days and that works best.

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agreed, i have never had a chrony problem on overcast days.

the cutting board idea sounds great. i'll have to stop by walmart and get one or two boards.

murf

vaalpens said:

I went out today with the chrono and used the shade all the time. No errors at all the whole day. At some point I had to adjust the direction of the chrono a bit since the sun was getting close to one of the sensors. I will probably make an adjustment to the shade to move it so there is more overhang on the one side. This will then allow me to block more sun on the front or back of the chrono.

This was the setup I had today.
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glad it's working for you. was thinking that setup could become a sail plane in a stiff breeze. probably why there is a hook underneath the tripod for extra weight!

murf

spitballer said:

IMHO an accurate, dependable chrony reading is also important from a safety standpoint and a project such as yours is well worth considering if you do any shooting with side lighting. Down here in the swamp where it gets oppressive in the summer months my range time is early morning when there's strong side lighting (and fewer patrons) and I just couldn't use the chrony without a custom shade. Good idea and great photos.

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thanks. a chrony is a necessity when "pushing the envelope", imo.

murf