Using a Chronograph

[Reloader Perry]

I am considering adding a chronograph to my reloading/range equipment and would like your opinion on the best manufacturer and model to buy.

I am interested in both the Competitive Edge Dynamics M2 and PACT Professional XP Chronographs. However, I am having concerns about every chronograph I get interested in when I go to web sites that sell them and read the reviews and there are always plenty of people blasting whatever chronograph I am interested in buying. I realize that part of the problem with people having problems is that they may have not read the manual well enough or were rude to customer service representatives, but the things they say happened make me afraid to buy any of the chronographs I have considered. Please share with me your experiences with the two chronographs I mentioned and any recommendations you have for a chronograph that would be a better choice.

 

[LoonWulf]

I dont have either of the models you mentioned, i have a low end prochrony. I have access to a couple higher end chronos, and have found that they exibit the same oddities as the lower end ones, but to a lesser degree.
Ive found that generally chronographs are pretty repeatable within their own ranges, tho they may not be spot on for actual velocity. They also tend to only work consistently when environmental conditions are consistent. Im actually in the process of building a box with an opaque lid for mine to try get it consistent during pretty much any weather. I use a new battery, and have a set "control" load (checked on multiple chornos) i use to check my chrono (which is pretty much always about 80-100fps slow).

 

[1SOW]

Lighting is the big issue, especially with the less expensive models.

I use the relatively inexpensive Pro-Chrono Digital. If you have high bright sun and use the screens, it works fine. If you have an overcast day and no screens it works fine. If you are in the shade, it works fine, BUT if it's late in the afternoon or early in the morning with bright sun, results may not be consistent. Depending on your firearm and powder, muzzle blast will make results unusable. It has to be far enough away to avoid the blast. I don't use mine indoors.

Often a "dog-house" is built over a chrono to ensure correct results.

The Pro-Chrono works more reliably for me than the low end Chrony I was using. I'm well satisfied with the consistency. I use mine for pistol. It also read my BB gun and a paperclip shot with a rubber band very well too.

 

[cfullgraf]

As 1SOW said, lighting can cause problems but most times there are work arounds.

For low sun, tip the shields towards the direction of the sun. Add shades to the uprights to keep the sensors shaded. Put black bands on the bullets with a marker to increase contrast as the bullet passes over the sensors.

Generally, if I followed the suggestions in the manuals, i am able to get the chronograph to pick up the bullet. Sometimes, it just isn't meant to be.

Do not be too quick to blame the chronograph until you have used it a bit and learned the idiosyncrasies. I shoot in the "south 40" at my home so I can fiddle with the chronograph if it is having problems. This can be difficult, and frustrating, at busy public ranges.

Over the years, I have had three Chronys and a CED M2. Two of the Chronys expired from lead poisoning. All of them work as advertised and performed well for me.

I have one Chrony and the M2 currently and like the M2 the best. The major electonics are not in harms way with the M2 and I can directly download the data to my computer from the M2 and get a print out on 8.5x11 paper.

My current Chrony has Chrony's printer. it works but not as convenient as the M2's computer download.

I also bought the carrying case for the M2. It has a nice way of carrying the tripod as well.

I have not used the Pact, so I cannot comment.

 

[MtnCreek]

I have one Chrony and the M2 currently and like the M2 the best. The major electonics are not in harms way with the M2 and I can directly download the data to my computer from the M2 and get a print out on 8.5x11 paper.

It's comforting to know the expensive part it not downrange. The CED has been a consistent chrony IMHO.

 

[gamestalker]

I use a low end chrony, but I had to learn to know when to shade it, and when not to, and how to know when the readings were off.

 

[Samari Jack]

Glad this topic came up. I have an enclosed building beside my house with a 13 ft ceiling. I've been goofing around with the Chrony low end model trying to get a reliable reading indoors. Using the diffusers, I thought I had it worked out with a 150 watt incandescent flood light (not spot) suspended from a ceiling joist. These bulbs are hard to find now (politics over energy). Dropped the darn bulb trying to rig it in more of a permanent fashion. Had to turn off all florescent lights as the AC cycle is different. I've heard being around equipment motors can cause errors as well.

 

[35 Whelen]

I am considering adding a chronograph to my reloading/range equipment and would like your opinion on the best manufacturer and model to buy.

I am interested in both the Competitive Edge Dynamics M2 and PACT Professional XP Chronographs. However, I am having concerns about every chronograph I get interested in when I go to web sites that sell them and read the reviews and there are always plenty of people blasting whatever chronograph I am interested in buying. I realize that part of the problem with people having problems is that they may have not read the manual well enough or were rude to customer service representatives, but the things they say happened make me afraid to buy any of the chronographs I have considered. Please share with me your experiences with the two chronographs I mentioned and any recommendations you have for a chronograph that would be a better choice.

I've had both and they both worked well. the PACT got stolen and I replaced it with a Chrony Beta Master. BIG mistake. It's a POS that's been under my loading bench gathering dust for 4 or 5 years now.
Replaced it with a CED and all is well. It's been a fantastic chronograph BUT the diffusers need to always be used. the nice thing about the CED is if you happen to shoot a sensor, they're less than $40 at Midway. Also, for a little under $100, they have available infrared sensors which detect in ANY light including, flourescent lamps, incandescent lamps, and even total darkness.
+1 for the CED.

35W

 

[Samari Jack]

chrony indoors

Report on my chrony trials.

I seem to have it working somewhat reliably indoors. I suspended a 150 watt incandesent bulb within a bell shaped work light fixture obtained from the local hardware store. I hung it 8 ft above the chrony using the difusers furnished with the chrony. The difusers are position so that they shade the eyes from direct exposure to the bulb. I pulled a piece of clear tape across the top of the diffusers to position them to make sure the eyes were shaded from direct light from the bulb. I also put clear packaging tape accross the openings to the eyes to protect them from burnt powder residue, dust , etc. The chrony is 7-8 ft from the muzzle of the gun (pistols--.380, 9 mm, .38 spec) and my .22. I used the spec fps for .22 CCI shorts and long rifle cartridges listed on the box from my Remington 552 rifle. It was +- 15 fps with those listed on the plastic box for the .22. Checked my reloaded .38 out of a 4" barrel S&W and was close to anticipated fps considering I was using 158 gr lead without a book reference and had to combine multiple sources to get an approximate fps.

My .380 and 9mm loads were consistently 40-60 fps below what Hodgen loading data gave for HP 38 powder with Berry plated bullets. My Glock 19 and Kahr P9, 9mm with the same loads were just about identical in fps. I'd get a wild one every now and then but if I through out the high and low seemed consistent for my purposes. My goal is to check my reloads within a reasonable range, not for precise target shooting.

One point I have corrected at my indoor range. It is a lot harder to aim at a "space" than at a target. After a hundred or so rounds, I nicked one of the uprights. It was easy to straighten out but concentrating on not hitting the eyes without a point to aim at is risky for me. I lined a real target up on my bullet trap and made aiming much easier.

 

[cfullgraf]

My .380 and 9mm loads were consistently 40-60 fps below what Hodgen loading data gave for HP 38 powder with Berry plated bullets. My Glock 19 and Kahr P9, 9mm with the same loads were just about identical in fps. I'd get a wild one every now and then but if I through out the high and low seemed consistent for my purposes. My goal is to check my reloads within a reasonable range, not for precise target shooting.

With your gun or guns having different velocity from the published data is not unusual. There are lots of factors that affect the velocity of the bullet and the comparison between your gun and the test gun. Over time, you will have some guns that are high, some will be low.

And data from different sources may be high or low when compared to your guns.

 

[Galil5.56]

My shooting chrony F1 I got in 1993, and for the most part was OK, but finicky to lighting conditions, even when set up correctly to the "t"... Just the nature of the SC beast/design/whatever. Got a F1 Master in 1997, and it never performed correctly, and calling SC in Canada to rectify the situation was interesting to say the least... Got ahold of I think the owner, and he basically said in a very condescending tone, it must be me, and if I send it back they would more than likely verify this and sent right back. Great, so I'm gonna waste time and $$$ just to have the same POS?

This SC would at times not register a single shot from a string, nearly all error messages when it did register, one day under similar conditions and same lot of ammo from the same pistol would be +80 fps, or -100 fps avg from the previous time, numerous psycho readings, 3" diameter area directly above the eyes to even register a shot... I tried an email asking them to receive my F1 Master using their self touted "exchange" program, and was told my black painted one was not eligible, only green painted ones. Great, now they renege on their very own policy. Bought a ProChrono Digital from Midway, and what a joy... Take it from the box, add a battery, put up the convenient, easy to use screens and shoot. 99.999% of the shots register, the shooting area is massive, and it's made in the USA to boot. It also gives me readings very similar to my first SC, so it confirms my POS F1 Master read about 6-8% fast.

In my experience, I see a lot more critical/negative SC product reviews, and even some of the good SC reviews, mention the missed shots/no reads/error messages. It was never an issue of improper setup or use; simply that the SC products were no where near as reliable, or as easy to use/pleasant to use compared to the PCD. I can't say it any more firmly based on my actual long term experience with SC and their CS, to not buy any shooting chrony product.

 

[Offfhand]

Oehler 35P, the Gold Standard of amateur chronos, are available again. They cost more and do more. No need to say anything more.