I'm very new to reloading. I've loaded a total of 175 rounds for my RSB 44 mag. All went bang and I've loaded only to mid range. They "feel" light compared to factory loads but this is like stabbing in the dark to me. I'm a stickler for details and need to know how fast they are going. Does anyone use the "Shooting Chrony F1 Chronograph"? Midway has them available and apparently I'm due a discount till 6/24. I've been spending some $$$ there lately. Thanks Rick
Thinking about a chrony
- Thread starter rick300
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I have a very fancy and expensive chronograph with all the bells and whistles. It takes me 10-15 minutes to set up, get everything placed correctly, etc. and another 10 minutes or so to break down and get packed back into the car, where it takes up considerable space. While it is capable of doing all manner of things, the one bit of information I generally take home with me is average velocity.
My friend has a Chrony. It takes him about a minute to set up and about half that long to break down. It fits into his range bag. And as far as I can tell, it is just as accurate as mine.
So I wish I had the choice to make over again.
My friend has a Chrony. It takes him about a minute to set up and about half that long to break down. It fits into his range bag. And as far as I can tell, it is just as accurate as mine.
So I wish I had the choice to make over again.
I've used the Chrony Beta ($90 I think) at my indoor range. Once I found out how to set up lights, it gave 100% readings. Tried at first to use the Chrony incandescent light rig, but that was worthless. White foam board attached to the rods & a couple of scoop incandescents aimed up from below work fine.
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Furncliff
Member
I received the Shooting Chrony Alpha Master Chronograph for my birthday last year. Very handy gizmo if you're working up loads. Mine works fine, if it's missing shots it's usually because I don't have the distance to the muzzle right. What ever you get be sure to buy one with the remote control box, so it's right there on the bench with you. I write all my shots down, in retrospect a printer would be nice to have to paste on the target for later reference. Midway has the alpha chrony on sale now for $99, that's a pretty good price. Perhaps the beta is on sale too? That one has more memory and other features that are not necessary but nice.
I have tried the Chrony brand - was not impressed and returned it
lots of errors, poor quality
Am now using this:
http://www.competitionelectronics.com/pages/Prochrono_Digital.html
Good price, dependable, nice features
lots of errors, poor quality
Am now using this:
http://www.competitionelectronics.com/pages/Prochrono_Digital.html
Good price, dependable, nice features
fireman 9731
Member
I have a cheap base model chrony... perfect for what I want I use it for.
faire bien de...!
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I'd check but I'm not home... I don't remember the model Chrony that I have, but I think it's the F-1 Master. I tend to get more errors on sunny days, but when it's cloudy it's perfect. On those gray overcast days, you don't even need to put the sky screens on the thing. If you can set it up in a shaded area you won't get many errors, if any. I think I payed $70 or $80 for it three years ago and it really is a great tool for the reloader. I don't have any experience with other brands, but I don't think you'd be disappointed if you got a Chrony brand chronograph, I'm happy with mine. I don't remember where I got it either, but if you do a search online you can find it for less then what Midway sells it for. Last time I had it out, I got one error out of about fifty shots. It's a good brand and if your shoot your sky screen, they'll send you a free replacement. At least I got one.
Just as joeg26er said- the Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital is a GREAT unit. It doesn't need the sun-screens unless the sun is directly overhead, I've shot through it till dusk with no issues, and it's a breeze to operate. Read lots of bad reports on Chronys, and that's why I selected this unit. Midway had a sale on this last month for $95- but even at current price of $107 it's a great unit.
Can't report yet on indoor use- here in Colorado that's rarely something I need to do.
Can't report yet on indoor use- here in Colorado that's rarely something I need to do.
mongoose33
Member
I've got that unit, though I wish I had a printer. Works well.
As far as indoor use, it can be problematic. Not enough light or, worse, fluorescent lights, which screw up the timing.
You can buy the kit they sell for indoor use, but a tech helped me devise this system for free:
Sorry about the image, taken w/ a cellphone camera. What I do is take two clamplights w/ 100-watt bulbs and clamp them to the legs of my tripod shining up. I then put a piece of styro-posterboard on the diffuser supports, without the diffusers. The board is about 1/4" styrofoam w/ posterboard glued to it, the kind of thing kids use for science-fair projects.
I tried shining the lights at the ceiling alone but it didn't work--not smooth enough apparently, or white enough, or whatever. You might try that first in whatever place you might try it, but if it doesn't work, try the board.
No more "Shooting Chrony's" for me, ever. Psychotic errors not user induced, "optimistic" velocities, constant missed shots, terrible CS, must need light from another dimension to properly function, tiny shooting area... More in detail here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=419904&highlight=prochrono+digital
New ProChrono Digital fixed all the SC B.S., plus it's US made. Can't comment on their CS as I have never needed it. Unlike the SC, you take the PCD out of the box, set it up and shoot without errors/missed shots/no reads/drama.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=419904&highlight=prochrono+digital
New ProChrono Digital fixed all the SC B.S., plus it's US made. Can't comment on their CS as I have never needed it. Unlike the SC, you take the PCD out of the box, set it up and shoot without errors/missed shots/no reads/drama.
MovedWest
Member
I also have a shooting chrony and like it. I think mine's the alpha with the remote - a must if you have to wait for "all clear" before approaching your chrony. Very quick to set up and take down while being very accurate.
Also keep in mind that if you actually shoot your chrony (a serious possibility) you'd probably feel less ticked off if you shot a cheap one versus a more expensive one.
-MW
Also keep in mind that if you actually shoot your chrony (a serious possibility) you'd probably feel less ticked off if you shot a cheap one versus a more expensive one.
-MW
The Bushmaster
Member
I have an old Pact Mod 1 that has served me for the last 20 years. I had a problem with it about 5 years ago and sent it back to Pact. They repaired it and sent it back to me. All I paid was postage one way. Any errors I get from it are usually my own fault...It is a bit persnickity about where the sun is, but my present range is among the trees and no longer a problem...
gbw
Member
Yep. Mine's not that old, maybe 5 or 6 years, otherwise same exp. IF you can locate a shaded spot for it never a problem, good company. Never tried it indoors.
Bruce H.
Member
I have had a Shooting Chrony F1 for about five years now and it works fine for what I need. I shoot factory rounds and then compare my loads to the velocity of the factory rounds. When I use the Chrony in the sun, I tape cardboard on top of the shields to make sure that the sensors are shaded. If the sensors are in direct sunlight I get error messages. As long as the sensors are in the shade, I have no problems with it.
dubbleA
Member
I had a Oehler 35P and silly me sold it. Have a PACT Pro and am currently using a CED M2. The latter is working well. I like the large display but did not like it not having a aux power jack. I have since fixed that. I have the regular set of screens and also a set of infrared that I use the most as I shoot indoors. With the infrared you can actually shoot in the dark. It comes with a cable that makes dumping the data in a laptop easy. So far it's been a nice unit but wish it had the a built in ballistics program in it like the PACT.
I have the regular set of screens and also a set of infrared that I use the most as I shoot indoors. With the infrared you can actually shoot in the dark. It comes with a cable that makes dumping the data in a laptop easy. So far it's been a nice unit but wish it had the a built in ballistics program in it like the PACT.
dagger dog
Member
If I knew then what I know now about CHRONY brand chronographs, I would have bought the F1 instead of the Beta Master.
The Beta Master is very finicky on several points,
1- distance of the muzzle to the first sky screen,
2- the bullet path must be over the center of both "eyes", and the "eyes" are about the size of a bubble on a level, very small when trying to shoot over both from front to rear "eyes",
3- the light if ambeint must be perfect, no clouds or shadows, and
4- the sky screens must be in place ALWAYS, no matter what the instructions say!
Then there is the user program, a real obstacle to over come. If you were using this instrument daily it wouldn't be a obstacle, but to the shooter that does the shooting as a hobby it takes a while to get the hang of all the cryptic substitutions used for LANGUAGE..
All else aside when these criteria are met the CHRONY works . The readings are in line.
I would not buy another, and I'm wanting to up grade to a printer but hate to add the extra 70 bucks or so to the one I have becase of the drawbacks stated above.
The Beta Master is very finicky on several points,
1- distance of the muzzle to the first sky screen,
2- the bullet path must be over the center of both "eyes", and the "eyes" are about the size of a bubble on a level, very small when trying to shoot over both from front to rear "eyes",
3- the light if ambeint must be perfect, no clouds or shadows, and
4- the sky screens must be in place ALWAYS, no matter what the instructions say!
Then there is the user program, a real obstacle to over come. If you were using this instrument daily it wouldn't be a obstacle, but to the shooter that does the shooting as a hobby it takes a while to get the hang of all the cryptic substitutions used for LANGUAGE..
All else aside when these criteria are met the CHRONY works . The readings are in line.
I would not buy another, and I'm wanting to up grade to a printer but hate to add the extra 70 bucks or so to the one I have becase of the drawbacks stated above.
alfack
Member
I have a Chrony Beta Master and never had a problem with it. Its readings are accurate, if you make sure it is unfolded all the way. I never use the diffusers and it works indoors or out. It is finicky about the light source indoors, though. Also, the distance to the muzzle is not a problem, as long as you are shooting over the sensors.
This weekend I had mine set up outdoors, working on some loads. It was overcast and worked perfectly w/o the diffusers. Once in a while I would have to re-position it due to the muzzle blast shaking the tripod and moving the unit a little. When this happens, you will usually get an ERR1 or ERR2 error, letting you know which sensor is out of alignment. My loads were all mid-level starting loads and the data I was getting was right in the middle of the published load specs. I like the long remote cord, too.
There are definitely better models, but I don't use it very often and it does the job nicely.
This weekend I had mine set up outdoors, working on some loads. It was overcast and worked perfectly w/o the diffusers. Once in a while I would have to re-position it due to the muzzle blast shaking the tripod and moving the unit a little. When this happens, you will usually get an ERR1 or ERR2 error, letting you know which sensor is out of alignment. My loads were all mid-level starting loads and the data I was getting was right in the middle of the published load specs. I like the long remote cord, too.
There are definitely better models, but I don't use it very often and it does the job nicely.
I have a Shooting Chrony Beta Master. I made my own screens for it out of aluminum sheet (8" wide rather than the factory 2") and added a bubble level. It works great in ALL conditions now. I also added a "window" made of black foam board so that all of my shots are right over the sensors.
Karl Hungus
Member
I've got the cheap green one. Never had any problems except for when I shot one of the leg thingees with a 9mm, but that was because I'm a dummy. For what I use it for (which is measuring ave. velocities for handloads with anything from a 9mm to a 22-250) it works flawlessly.
Never thought of that window thing - that's a great idea.
Never thought of that window thing - that's a great idea.
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