Odd chronograph readings

[Lost Sheep]

I took my Ruger 480 to the range last weekend and got these velocities. The Chronograph was a Chrony Beta Master, 12 feet from the firing station, using skyscreens on a sunny day. Temperature was around 60 degrees.

All figures are in feet per second and were Hornady factory loads, 325 grain bullets.

1707
341.6
1707
360.4
328.4
1688
1701
1686

I also ran other rounds over the instrument, including a batch of 5 Hornady factory loads in 454 Casull and 25 other other rounds (handloads). None of the other rounds gave those oddball low velocities (the three in the 300 fps range) that contaminated my first batch of rounds.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what would cause a Chrony Beta chronograph to give a random smattering of ultra-low readings like that?

I am pretty sure it couldn't be a low battery because it the odd readings were the first rounds of the day and the instrument worked well for the rest of the day. Nor do I think it could be the contacts because I made no changes or adjustments all day.

Thanks for reading.

Lost Sheep

 

[Tape]

low battery

 

[steveno]

cloudy days are a lot better for using a chronograph. direct sunlight can play tricks on the screens.

 

[Walkalong]

Both reasons could cause that, as well as the angle of the sun. Sometimes chronos are just screwy. If you were really getting velocities in the three hundreds, you would feel it, so obviously the chrono is confused. You could throw out the odd radings and get your numbers, or try again in different conditions.

 

[Sport45]

You could also try moving the chrono a little further out. Maybe to 20' or so.

That's just a guess, as I don't have a lot of experience with chronographs. But it seems from reading that most problems are caused by them being in too close.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I have a Shooting Chrony F1 Master and I have also had errant readings like that. They just seem to come from nowhere, however now that others mentioned it, I think it happens on clear, blue-sky days with the sun-screens mounted over the V - sticks.

I know, if there is any kind of fluorescent or certain other lighting able to reach the sensors, that will also cause weird numbers, as certain lighting flickers off and on very quickly (60 hz?).

 

[Tape]

You could also try moving the chrono a little further out. Maybe to 20' or so. That's just a guess.

not a good guess, I've seen them explode at that distance and its made for close range setup not 20' or further.

 

[BADUNAME37]

If your chrony is too close, the muzzle blast and smoke will definately bear on the outcome of those shots! Better further away in my opinion. As long as one takes prudent care to not shoot his equipment, you can place it at any distance you choose, and at a distance you are positively certain you are not going to shoot the box or the V wires!

 

[Tape]

12 to 18"s is idea not 20' or further

 

[BADUNAME37]

To the OP, I would read your manual that came with the unit and perhaps visit their web site to see if others have the same issues you are having.

If you have a voltmeter, you can also check the battery level. Most products like the battery to be at least 80% power or greater.

 

[Tape]

Sport & Friendly, Don't Fire is correct, for whatever reason I read .40 instead of 480, yes, chrony should be set at least 15-20'. Sorry guys.

 

[cfullgraf]

So far, all suggestions look good.

Just to add, with my Shooting Chrony, I made sun shades from index cards that slip over the sun shade rods to shade the sensors from sun that is lower in the sky and miss the chronographs sun shades.

In general with my Chrony, it works fine most of the time. But, I would have to make little adjustments for conditions from time to time to get reliable readings. Things like the extra sun shades, black rings marked on bullets, removing the sun shades all together and so forth.

Also, i always disconnect the battery when the Chrony is not in use and in storage. My Chrony gets used infrequently so this helps keep the battery drain to a minimum.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I bought a red, shallow metal toolbox that is a few inches longer than my Chronograph, when it is in the fully-open position. I never close it, I keep it fully-open at all times since I bought it.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zFmRAvHHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zFmRAvHHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UDF62Y...e=394997&creativeASIN=B000UDF62Y&linkCode=asn

For less than $20 you can have a place to keep the Chrony, rods, batteries, cords, remote box, etc.!

I just had the thought that excessive bending of any wires can result in the wires becoming broken inside. I have a trail camera that has a ribbon cable going out to the door that swings open and two of the seven conductors of that ribbon cable (the two end ones) are visibly broken where the wire bends!

 

[ILikeLead]

either the sunshine or the distance. I have had similar results with mine...like velocities in the hundreds...

My solution was kinda costly, but it takes the variability out of the equation. I bought the red lighted screens for indoor use. No problems since then, shoot sunshine or cloudy...

 

[DanTheFarmer]

Hi All,

Short Version - Try a new battery. Wicked cheap and easy fix as we say hear in New England.

Longer Version -
I had similar problems. It was on a cold day (right near the bottom of what the manual said was the operating temperature range) and a new battery fixed the problem. The Low Battery signal wasn't flashing and it would give some logical readings and then some illogical readings in no pattern that I could figure out. I popped in a new battery just in case that was the problem and I've had no further trouble.

One question for you. Was anyone else shooting in a lane near yours? I consistantly get errors on my chrony from muzzle blast from adjacent lanes.

Good Luck.

Dan

 

[gamestalker]

I have that same chronograph and have had problems with it picking up muzzle blast. Just to eliminate that variable I would step back a few more feet to see if your readings settle down.

 

[murf]

lost sheep, what time of day did you start shooting? if early morning, the low angle of the sun will cause those readings. gets better as the day goes on. fwiw

murf

 

[gamestalker]

Oh ya, I forgot about the early morning thing, it happened to me also. I was all set up right after sun up and couldn't get a consistent reading for a good couple of hours because of the suns' angle.

 

[bentongunclub]

The battery is getting low. Do the old 'battery on yer tongue' until you find one that zings you. and you are set to go.

 

[Scott_R]

I also have the Beta Master and don't measure the distance, but I put it as far as the cord will let me.

The low sun is another likely culprit.

I did have a problem with my cable once, but that yielded NO result at all. All I could get was ERR2. I sent it back and they told me there was debris on a contact.

Good luck. They can be finicky.