Shootin' Crony

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Hondo 60

Hondo 60

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No not the brand name, it's what I did today. :what:

Got a brand new Comp. Elect. PROCHRONO Digital CHRONOGRAPH.
Took it out for the first time today & scared poopless I was gonna shoot it.
So I was aiming high in the arc. Well you guessed it, I hit the diffuser & bent the rods.

I was shocked when I started because it was only registering upper 500s to lower 700s with a 4" S&W 10-5, a 2" S&W 10-5, and a 4" S&W 66-2.
I was shooting 125g hp over 4g of titegroup. Looks like I need to up the powder a bit.


It wasn't working so well after I hit it. All of a sudden it was over 3000 fps. LOL. :D



PS: The load data listed is NOT an endorsement! Infact it needs to be adjusted so don't try it just cuz I did.
 
I've heard it said that there are 2 kinds of us chrony owners.

The ones who have shot their chrony and the ones, like me, who will. :eek:

Oh well.

ST

:)
 
Yup, I had a Shooting Chrony and sure enough a buddy shot it. (dead-center) I sent it back and they rebuilt it for $45. This was about 10 years ago. I don't let anyone shoot over it anymore. I have also added tough plexi-glass covers over the screen and electric eyes as gas checks and unburned powder can impact them too.
 
You also need to pick up some wooden dowels to use instead of the metal diffuser rods.

It will be less traumatic on the chrony when we shoot them. :rolleyes:

ST

:)
 
I have the same Chrony and fears.

So far I haven't shot it.

For me, I feel safer by positioning a target so the bull is in the sweetspot of the Chrono. I only use it off a bench with target properly positioned.

This also shows fairly accurate group results with my tests.

Now that I've said all this, I'm SURE to shoot it!
 
I drilled mine the other day in a very wierd way. I had it on a very cheap yard sale tripod. There was a stiff wind blowing and it blew the chrono and tripod toward me. I had one leg of the tripod pointing strait toward me and it caused the tripod to rise as it blew over. I shot my ProChrono right at the top of the display panel and the 200gr. LSWC punched a nice hole all the way through the unit and into the ten ring of my target! Anyway, does anyone know if CED has a replacement program? :)
 
See, this is why I don't like loaning mine out. Glad my SIL bought his own. I've had it for about 25 years, got it when I first saw one in Gander Mountain catalog. So far, it's been missed. I still use the old style screens and they get holy after a while, but I'm real careful about missing the expensive stuff. LOL
 
I shot mine the first day out as well, when switching from pistol to rifle. Didn't account for the difference in height between axis of sights and axis of barrel.

Oh well, live and learn i guess.
 

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Took out the sky screen rods 1st time out! now I take my time use a target and a rest.
200gr wad cutters send things flying.
 
rofl. Everytime I take mine out at my favorite range, someone mentions someone they know that shot theirs. I try not to jinx myself. So far, so good. Knock on wood.
 
There was a guy at the range that had one. When he was finished I asked him if I could shoot some of my loads to see how fast they were going. He looked at me kinda funny and I said, don't worry, I'm not going to shoot your chronny. His target was right behind his chronny so just to show him I shot one in the bull. He was ok then. I was shooting my .303 Brit.
 
Easiest way to avoid shooting a chronograph is to just use a rest instead of shooting offhand.

If you're shooting big enough bullets, you can also wait for an overcast day, take off the diffusers, and put the chronograph on the ground, or just a couple feet up if you're shooting while standing. Works great for chronoing shotgun ammo that tends to send wads in every direction.
 
I nicked mine a couple times the first time I had it at the range. The second time out, I put a 9mm bullet through the LCD. LOL! I "traded in" the shot up Chrony, and, hopefully, the new one should be here soon.
 
So how much MONEY do you really save by buying Chrony over a Chrono that has separate screens and brains?? What does it cost to "rebuild" one?

I have nothing against Chrony, but I don't think it is wise to put ANYTHING out in front of a gun that you do not want to shoot.

I just don't get it!

Jimmy K
 
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So how much MONEY do you really save by buying Chrony?? What does it cost to "rebuild" one?

I have nothing against Chrony, but I don't think it is wise to put ANYTHING out in front of a gun that you do not want to shoot.

I just don't get it!

Jimmy K
Click to expand...

I don't understand the question. Are you asking why anyone would use one at all?
 
I've nailed the diffuser rods more times than I can remember. There is currently a minor ding in the front of my Gamma Master, and a slice in the screen that occurred one day shooting plated bullets out of my Security-six a little too fast.

My best buddy, on the other hand, had a very rough initiation with my chrony. As I'm loading my mag at the bench and not looking, I hear "Pop. Pop. Pop.......ohhhhhh, I'm an a**hole". Yes, a 230 gr. XTP will go end to end, metal housing and eyes alike. Fortunately, the GM eyes and housing was only about $60, IIRC.


I think the shooting chrony's are probably subjected to this more than others because, in my experience, they're finicky to begin with (leads to watching the screen instead of sights) and like the bullets passing closer to the unit. I never had good luck with the long diffuser rods.
 
I ordered new rods & diffusers from CE's website. They emailed me back & lowered the price!

Original order was for 2 sets:

Code Name Quantity Price/Ea. Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CEI-2526 Diffuser Pack 2 $12.00 $24.00
Shipping:UPS Ground: $10.45
Sales Tax: $0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total: $34.45


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They emailed me back saying they'd send the order for a flat $20 including shipping.
 
Jim Kirk,
The idea is not to save money by having one. The idea is to know how fast the bullet or projectile is traveling. By knowing how fast or slow it's going, I can calculate whether I'm using enough, too little or too much powder.

Before I hit the diffuser, I found out my favorite recipe is not good enough in my snubby Model 10-5. I was only getting 570 - about 620 ft/sec. I also found out that I was getting about about 100 ft/sec faster out of my 4" barrel Model 10-5.

I upped the powder & made a new box so when my new diffusers come in I can go to the range again & test again.
 
17

I was asking why you would buy something that you know that going to get shot, it is obvious that that is what is going to happen. If you'll read my earlier post about buying a chrono with the brain box separate from the screens, you'd understand what I was asking. I sorry I was not clear in asking my question, I edited my post to make it more clear.

That is why I like the chronographs that have the brains setting next to me on the bench. That way when I shoot the eye or eyes "again" , I only have to replace the "eye" not the whole deal. Less than $20 "last time" I had to buy one.
Click to expand...

Yurko
The idea is not to save money by having one. The idea is to know how fast the bullet or projectile is traveling. By knowing how fast or slow it's going, I can calculate whether I'm using enough, too little or too much powder
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how old you are, but I'd bet you a beer, I've had and operated a chronograph longer than you are old. If you're over forty then I owe you a beer.

I've shot my chronograph too, cost $12 last time I did.

Jimmy K
 
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FWIW you don't need the rods or screens if you have clouds overhead.
 
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