I need to get a different Chronograph!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Rule3

Rule3

Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2010
Messages
10,408
Location
Florida
I am tired of dealing with the Chrony Alpha Master. I am on my second one. I returned the first for bizarre readings and now the second is giving false readings and is just too sensitive to light and the Sun.

I live in SW Florida and the Sun is always blasting away at the range. The range is also mostly sand so there is a lot of reflection. I have tried taping cardboard to shade the sensors, moved the unit into partial shade from the shooting bay, tried early in the day, late in the day etc etc, Moved it close, moved it further away etc. I have had it!:(

It's a PITA to use and set up and then get meaningless data.

I like having the chronograph guts or main unit attached by a cable sitting at the bench.

So what brand and model actually works out in full Sun and has the readout detached from the unit? I do not want one that you have to hook into a laptop. So any unit that can be recommended based on first hand experience with them?

Pact Pro XP?
Pact Model 1 Xp?
CED M2 ?

Any others also considered.

Thanks!
 
I use the Competition Electronics ProChrono Pal Chronograph. I also live in Vegas where the sun shines strong. Once and a great while it will throw up an odd figure but for the most part work great for the price.
 
I use a Millennium by CED. It is a good unit and has given me great service for years.

In full sun you just use the diffuser screens to cut down the glare. You can also use an infrared set up and shoot in total darkness, why I don't know, but you can.. :)

Greg
 
Nudder vote for the Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital.

Like Sin City Shooter said "Once in a great while it will throw up an odd figure but for the most part work great"
 
I also had problems with the F1 Chrony, I returned it, and the second one worked much better, however, it does seem to go screwey when the sun comes out and you have to use the sky screens. I don't always trust the readings from it, I was shooting .38 wadcutters through it yesterday, 775, 805, 800, etc, then a 950 and an 1160, I think I would have felt the difference in recoil, but they were all the same. I understand the 1160, this is likely from the muzzle last moving through the screens even though I position the chrony about 25' forward of the firing line when shooting subsonic to avoid muzzle blast problems. Maybe the sun shining into the optical sensors made it more susceptible to muzzle blast, but how far away do I need to put it, beyond the target??

Definitely a quirky unit. If you find a good reliable chrono, please post what you find.

Dave
 
I was using a borrowed Chrony and often got bad results.

I've had consistent results with the CE Pro Chrony Digital. I've used it with no sunscreens on cloudy days and from mid-morning to mid-afternoon with the screens. (south Texas)
 
I've had the same F-1 like forever and it has always been reliable. In additon to that, I'm rather glad I haven't shot mine yet, considering how common that is. Do you use the defuser's that come with it? I live in sunny Arizona and haven't had any issues with or without the defuser's. The only time it will malfunction is if I use it very early in the morning just after the sun has risen, or when the sun is setting, but during mid day it is 100%. My buddy has a much more expensive chrony, don't recall what brand, but it is reading consistent with what mine is, so I'm certain it's reading accurately.
Try changing the direction it is facing, north, south, east west, if that is possible where you shoot. Sometimes the sun can cause problems with it reading, so I've been told. Make sure the battery that's in it is not half dead, that will cause problems for sure.
 
RCBS Ammomaster. Always reliable and affordable too...
Once I started to have issues with my first one from
Chrony then I was recommended this by a senior wildcatter
and bench-rest champion. It is dead on all the time.

100_6695b.gif

Cheers.
E.
 
The Competition Electronics appears to be a great unit but the readout is on the unit itself, do those that use it have it connected to a laptop?

Where I shoot I need the readout at the bench as I can not constantly call a Cold Range to go review the data.

As to the Sun where I shoot, I am sure it is most of the problem. My range faces E and W so I either have the Sun coming or going. Even overhead at High Noon:) the diffusers are to narrow to do much.
 
Where I shoot I need the readout at the bench as I can not constantly call a Cold Range to go review the data.
Click to expand...

You can see the readout at 15', no problem. I set mine up about 12' from the barrel.

Even overhead at High Noon the diffusers are to narrow to do much.
Click to expand...

Try taping a sheet of poster board over the shades the give that much more help.
 
The CE PCD has a remote that can be attached and positioned beside you on the bench---approx. + $85

With this you can change strings, view individual shots, etc, that you can't do without calling the range clear.
 
Find a square trashcan then cut the bottom out & use it as a shade tunnel .also you could do it with a clear 5gal bucket by screwing it to a board to hold it then inserting the chrony.

I use this method on very bright days
 
The Competition Electronics appears to be a great unit but the readout is on the unit itself, do those that use it have it connected to a laptop?

Where I shoot I need the readout at the bench as I can not constantly call a Cold Range to go review the data.

As to the Sun where I shoot, I am sure it is most of the problem. My range faces E and W so I either have the Sun coming or going. Even overhead at High Noon the diffusers are to narrow to do much.
Click to expand...


Take a pair of binoculars to the range with you.
 
I've used all three brands, and I have kept using the CED M2--the more expensive model, with the separate head. I particularly like the string storage and review options. When I get home I download the information into my computer and read it into an Xcel database.

The unit works reliably in direct sun, and rarely have I had bad readings. Two years ago when I was doing a lot of load development and test for a Short Barrel loads database, I would shoot and store up to thirty-five 10-to-12 shot strings and then download that when I got home.

Of the three brands I shot with, the Chrony was the most problematic. The PACT I had--a very early one--also worked well.

Jim H.
 
While you can see the Competition Electronics digital unit at 10 or 15 feet, you cannot activate the buttons, so it really won't work if you have to stay at the bench.

I like mine. It does throw an odd number up from time to time, but not often. With pistols I can almost always set up where I can walk to it after each string, so that part is not a big deal. With rifles not as often, so sometimes I have to wait till all clear, but if it's only me on one end and someone else way on the other end of 20 benches, heck, I'll walk the 5 yards and write down the results. If I don't get an ugly look, I'll keep doing it. :)
 
I've had one of the Chrony Beta Master's for years and it's a total POS. I now have a CED Millenium and wouldn't take for it. And for an addtional $100 you can buy infrared sensors and and chronograph in ANY light conditions.
35W
 
To sum up what my deleted post (??? mods) said in this thread... Two frustrating POS Shooting Chronys, with accompanying crappy CS from SC, lead me to the US made ProChrono Digital... Ahhh, chronograph use that is actually fun, accurate, w/o any err messages or constant no read shots, or complete psycho readings, and having a shooting area MUCH larger than a 3" tube directly above the eyes.

Also in another deleted post in this thread, I mentioned the digits for the PCD were sized 1/2" x 1/4" to help gauge if this is legible at whatever distance for the user.
 
Well I returned the 2nd Chrony and got the Competition Electronics Pro Digital.

Used it today out in the blistering Sun, no clouds, no breeze 93 F and the same humidity.:barf:

Ran 4 strings of 10, 9 MM, 40 SW and 45 Colt.

Didn't miss a beat!

Main advantage (other than it really works:)) is that it holds all the data for review in the comfort of home in the A/C.

Disadvantage is if you nail the unit the computer goes with it.

I think what makes the design work better than the Chrony is the sensors are down quite a way in the plastic unit which prevents light at a angle from hitting them.

Now I need to save a few bucks and get the laptop interface cable and software.

It's nice to actually have usable readings and not fight with the darn thing.

Thanks!
 
"It's nice to actually have usable readings and not fight with the darn thing.

Thanks!"

Amen; actually a pleasure to use, and how about the large shooting area. Even with clear (a bit dusty) packing tape over the "eyes", it performs perfectly in any outdoor light tried, even indoor incandescent.

Curious if you compared any numbers to your old, defective units; one of my SC was 6% faster than my PCD and other SC.
 
No, no comparison other than the 45 Colt. With the Chrony (the few times it worked when the stars and moon where in alignment:D) with the same load they were the same. None for the 9 or 40.

46 Colt 5" MT Gun
250gr LRNFP
8.7gr Unique

Avg 847
ES 79
SD 22

The 9mm had avg of 1055, 1112, 1128 (different loads)
ES 34, 33, 49
SD 10, 10, 16

:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

azar
  • Locked
Best chronograph for the $$$?
2
Replies
45
Views
8K
ArchAngelCD
ArchAngelCD
HKGuns
  • Locked
How about recommend a Chronograph?
Replies
17
Views
1K
Patocazador
Patocazador
M
  • Locked
Chronograph suggestions
Replies
7
Views
829
Reloadron
Reloadron
R
  • Locked
Using a Chronograph
Replies
11
Views
994
Offfhand
Offfhand
I
  • Locked
Getting ready to purchase a Chronograph [?'s]
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
cheygriz
cheygriz
Back
Top