How To Not Shoot The Chrono

[GeoDudeFlorida]

My LabRadar has always picked up 204 Ruger straight from the box at least out to 20 yards which is the maximum distance that I record to. 20 yards was chosen mostly for handgun chronographing. My backyard range is not optimum for long range measurements with any chronograph.

I have two 204 Rugers, an a long barrel AR-15 and a Savage 12 FCV bolt action.

I have not tried having the LabRadar measure my 17 Remington.

With optical chronographs, I had to blacken the bullets on 204 Ruger and 17 Remington for the bullets to make enough of a shadow for the sensors to see. Even then, getting a reading was hit and miss. My CED M2 was a bit more reliable since I had the auxiliary lights. I did not look through my records just now. to see if I used the Magnetospeed with 17 Remington.

I have similar problems with the Shooting Chrony and my .221Fireball barrel on the T/C. Low light, bright light, high noon... doesn't pick up that bullet very well. I get a lot of flashing "ERROR" when I try to chrono the .221. And carbon shafts. For some reason the optics on my old former Chrony would not pick up carbon shafts. Weird stuff these devices do.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I was confused because Labradar's site and manual say up to 100 yards.

That might apply to all calibers.

We're only using it on our 9mm, .38Spl, and .45ACP rounds

 

[Mark_Mark]

I was confused because Labradar's site and manual say up to 100 yards.
View attachment 999857

If personal experience says up to 300, terrific but Labradar is vastly under-selling their own product if that's the case.

they are Canadian! they like perfect 100 measurements. We Americans prefer the Arm size of King Henry the 8th from the 13th century as our standard of measuring. lol

 

[Poper]

The only time I shot my Shooting Chrony was intentional. After getting nothing but "error" readings one range session, I decided it had lived its life of usefulness.

Have you ever seen the end result of a 140 grain, .277 caliber bullet at 2950 fps lengthwise through a Chrony chronograph? Not very pretty, but really awesome....
I probably shouldn't a done it, but it sure felt good!

 

[RMH]

I was confused because Labradar's site and manual say up to 100 yards.
View attachment 999857

If personal experience says up to 300, terrific but Labradar is vastly under-selling their own product if that's the case.

The last time I took out the LabRadar was for testing a 30-06 load. I was shooting at the 200 Yd range. The LabRadar was able to track the bullet anywhere from 92 to 110 Yds.

 

[jmorris]

After getting nothing but "error" readings one range session, I decided it had lived its life of usefulness.

Have you ever seen the end result of a 140 grain, .277 caliber bullet at 2950 fps lengthwise through a Chrony chronograph?

How do you know it was going 2950fps?

 

[Poper]

How do you know it was going 2950fps?

Checked it later with a buddy's chrono.
He insisted I let him do the honors, tho.
Imagine that?

 

[Elktrackstw]

I shot one....barely nicked the upright holding the shy screens with 44 mag
Spun it around on the tripod like a circus ride...lol
And muzzle blasted another with a newly acquired 7mmstw in 1990
Part of the deal .....they die if you put enough rounds down range
Just like electronic powder measures...part of the gig we pursue

 

[GHinNH]

I'm more worried about a rod strike so I made some from fiberglass rod.

 

[GHinNH]

Found another pic if anyone is interested. "3/16" (4mm) fiberglass rod from a Harbor Freight electrical fish rod kit with lengths of K&S 3/16 OD alum tube slid over the ends with a drop of super glue in the open end to hold them on. I have found the bright yellow helps keep me aware of what I'm doing.

 

[gifbohane]

Found another pic if anyone is interested. "3/16" (4mm) fiberglass rod from a Harbor Freight electrical fish rod kit with lengths of K&S 3/16 OD alum tube slid over the ends with a drop of super glue in the open end to hold them on. I have found the bright yellow helps keep me aware of what I'm doing.


View attachment 1000551

I put bright red ribbons on the four corners of each support. Worked for a while before I was finally able to take the shot that killed the chrono.

 

[__steve__]

It's like dropping your phone. It can eventually happen.

 

[Electrod47]

My original Green Chrony was always erratic, finally shot it by accident. Bought another Green Chrony thinking it would be better. Set it up and turned around and breeze tipped it over and it was destroyed. THEN I shot it on purpose. Got the Caldwell with bluetooth to smart phone. A dream come true.
I set an ANCHORED tripod 10ft from muzzle and carefully fire a few rounds just to record FPS of a certain load. I never try to aim at a target thru the Chrono.

 

[kcofohio]

I have used 1/4" dowl rods, with the ends turned down to 3", for some time.
The time I forgot to bring the wooden dowels


It didn't damage the unit, surprisingly.

Also, I found that I need to verify that the gun sights are accurate. I posted a thread recently of my Prochrono Digital that I shot. Later realized that the gun shot way low and right. Since then I have changed out the sights for ones that will adjust elevation.

I have shot snubbies, pocket guns, ARs, over the same chrono, with no issues. But all it takes is one gun to kill the chronograph.