Note to self when Chronographing a Dragoon!!

[Foto Joe]

I've been told on numerous occasions and by countless people, "Chronographs are NOT bulletproof." Of course, this is stating the obvious so every time I set the thing up I try to pay attention to where the hole in the end of the barrel is pointed before firing. My son-in-law even refuses to chronograph anything because he's afraid of "Shooting Dads Chrony." 'Nuf said right?

Not exactly. While chronographing the Dragoon this afternoon which was loaded with 45gr of 3f Goex, on about the 8th or 9th shot all of a sudden the front sky shield departed the unit. The first thing that goes through my feeble mind was "I finally did it, I wonder how much this is gonna cost to fix?"

So I walk up to the unit and start picking up the pieces of the sky shield and one of the support rods, examining each as I retreived it looking for the telltale bullet wound. Wonder of wonders, there's no damage!! Then I remember to look at the front of the unit thinking maybe I scored a direct bullseye....nothin'!! Then the little lightbulb goes off in my head, "Muzzle BLAST!!"

So...even from 10-15 feet away, the Muzzle Blast from 45gr of Black Powder can and will move stuff which you thought was securely in place. Kinda gives ya peace of mind knowing that even if you can't hit a bullet with the broad side of a barn, just letting a round down the tube at that range is gonna impress the beans out of who ever or what ever you're aiming at doesn't it?

There's hope for me yet, one of these days I'm sure that I will finally hit the thing and then I'll have to explain to my XYL exactly why I need to spend another $100 or so to get a new one.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

I have had a crony for a few years now and this is what I do to keep it safe.

1. 3 bricks 4 or so inches in front of the unit.

2. I also use wooden dowels to hold up the sun screens because if you happen to hit them, the wood will just break and not hurt the mount holes or the screens like the metal ones will.

 

[Foto Joe]

I've got to ask. Did you learn this the hard way?

 

[o Unforgiven o]

I've got to ask. Did you learn this the hard way?

Absolutely.

I learned pretty quick what hitting the metal rods will do and along came wood.

Then I learned what a 30-06 will do the unit and along came bricks.

Got another one after learning these things and things have been fine since. Have'nt had to replace the bricks yet but I have had to replace a few wooden dowels.

 

[Foto Joe]

I hate it when that happens!!!

 

[VA27]

I learned that a 40gr 22 magnum bullet will not completely penetrate a 9 volt battery after it has gone through the front screen.

 

[BHP FAN]

With a Walker or Dragoon, the muzzle blast will suck the air out of your opponents lungs and suffocate him even if you miss. If you don't just set him afire.

 

[45-70 Ranger]

Heard Agustus McRea say that as well...

BHP FAN, you crack me up!

Joe, I'm kinda glad that the worst I can do on my range is pop a fence wire or something like that!

XYL huh? Another ham out there? if so, 73's to you and yours!

Wade

 

[Voodoochile]

Thankfully I still have my Chrono & both sky screens but some how without damage to either I managed to turn one of the metal rods into a huge elongated C by hitting it with my 60' Army once.

Note to self, pay more attention to the hole inbetween the rods & the screen instead of the target down range.

 

[mykeal]

Smoke from a black powder gun will cause erroneous readings if you're too close...10 feet is kinda in that range. Perhaps that's why your 'with filler' rounds didn't chrono as expected.

 

[J-Bar]

Muzzle blast from a .45 blank will tear a hole in an aluminum soda can a foot away...just for those re-enactors who might think blanks are perfectly safe. Saw it done at a prematch safety meeting. Very impressive.

 

[Oyeboten]

All the Chronograph tests I have done with Hand Guns, have been at ten Yards, which of course is about the same as 30 Feet.

I think especially for Black Powder, this is a good distance to elect.

Foto Joe,


10 or 15 feet is way too close for BP! Or for any powerful Hand Gun anyway...too much Muzzle Blast too at that distance.


I usually just Hang a small Paper Target and try a few rounds, to make sure I know where to aim the particular Revolver to be printing on center of the Target, then I set up the Chronograph for it's shoot-through area to be centered on the Bulls Eye of the Target...then I do my Strings and take readings.

 

[Foto Joe]

The biggest problem I've found with the 15 foot cord on my remote is "crud" accumulating on the front sensor. I cover both with clear packing tape so filler, burnt powder etc. doesn't get into the slots. Interestingly enough the rear sensor stays clean, not so much on the front though. This indicates to me that the 15 foot cord is adequate, but ya never know. The biggest problem I've found is actually lighting conditions. I've learned to set it up and test it with something easy to load like 38 Special smokeless loads. If the 38 chronographs out at some idiotic number like 150fps or 2000 fps, re-adjust the light angle. Also, I don't set a target behind the unit, I just sight between the uprights.

I'm a little paranoid about moving back too far and testing the "Bullet Proof" warning on this thing. I like the idea of the wooden dowel rods though for the uprights. Unfortunately I use a tri-pod so the brick idea presents a problem.

It's all for fun though. Like the Big 3 used to tell us in all the car commercials, "Your Mileage May Vary"