Same here.....Wife bought mine for me(35P)...Came in a gun case with 2 stands/3 sky screens/light defusers/cables/roll of printer paper.........Mine is over 20 years old too....Never missed a lick/no error readings..And I really like the proof channel for accuracy..........By once-cry once.....Quality for a lifetime.
Shooting Chrony for Reloading Validation
- Thread starter StarshooterX
- Start date
Same here.....Wife bought mine for me(35P)...Came in a gun case with 2 stands/3 sky screens/light defusers/cables/roll of printer paper.........Mine is over 20 years old too....Never missed a lick/no error readings..And I really like the proof channel for accuracy..........By once-cry once.....Quality for a lifetime.
MJFlores
Member
I heard enough bad about Chrony that I decided to buy a Pro Chrono. G;ad I did, it's never given me an error and I use it quite a bit when working up new loads
Magload
US Veteran
Really like my Pro I use the IR light Bar indoors and as the line is always hot have a stand I can roll it out to the distance i need with a push pole. I have the Bluetooth option so I can read the results on my cell phone each shot. Plus the option to dump the results to my PC when i get home. I have a Magnetspeed Sporter for my rifles and it doesn't require light. I like it but some time it is hard to get adjusted on the end of my fluted barrel. I am still waiting on the LabRadar.
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old&slow
Member
I have a Chrony that I purchased many many years ago. it's so old it has cardboard for your shoot thru window rather than the wires with sun shade. I think it cost $99.
With mine, the first shot is always wrong. So the first shot is just to get the unit warmed up. A time or two out in the bright sun I've had problems and had to put a additional piece of paper or something over the sun shade to get it working. It works best when it's cloudy or partly cloudy.
It may not be the best , but it has been close enough for me and has worked well for many years. Figured I'll replace it one of these days if I ever shot it.. Hasn't happened yet.
Compared the numbers with my friend's fancy magno chrono that fits on the barrel,, comparable number out of my rifle..
Sorry, can't do another comparison with another unit..
With mine, the first shot is always wrong. So the first shot is just to get the unit warmed up. A time or two out in the bright sun I've had problems and had to put a additional piece of paper or something over the sun shade to get it working. It works best when it's cloudy or partly cloudy.
It may not be the best , but it has been close enough for me and has worked well for many years. Figured I'll replace it one of these days if I ever shot it.. Hasn't happened yet.
Compared the numbers with my friend's fancy magno chrono that fits on the barrel,, comparable number out of my rifle..
Sorry, can't do another comparison with another unit..
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FWIW, I have the Caldwell too, and the smartphone connection works fine for 3 different android devices I have tried. Though with the newest one I had to use the "compatibility mode" feature in the software. It's working for me.
Just another tip for anyone wanting to replace the metal rods for their sky screens. I bought some 48" long 3/32" diameter white fiberglass rods off of Amazon and cut 16" pieces to replace the metal rods. Two of the 48" rods gave me 4 rods to use with 2 spares in case I ever break one. They are lots more stable than taping together chopsticks - though they did cost a little more
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SmokelessPowder
Member
I have the IR bars for my CED and it works great indoors for pistol loads. I only pull it out once or twice a year but it always works.
My Caldwell came with the IR light bars too, but I've never tried them. Do they make a difference in bright sunlight too?
Hit_Factor
Member
I had a CED with the IR lights. I only used the IR indoors or in a 'coffin' at matches with a chrono. That's how I believe they are intended to be used. But if it works in bright sun that's great. You won't break anything by trying.
I scored a Labradar late last year, indoors I'm having a little trouble with the signal bouncing back. Outdoors it's everything and a little more than I hoped for.
I scored a Labradar late last year, indoors I'm having a little trouble with the signal bouncing back. Outdoors it's everything and a little more than I hoped for.
Wee Hooker
Member
The SC alpha will do just what you need it to do as long as your willing to use a pen and paper to calculate averages, deviations and such. I've been using an Alpha for many years for just (and only) your purpose. I actually prefer it's simplicity over some other brands and models.
FWIW, Shooting Chrony used to sell refurbished units right of their web sight at considerable savings. That's how I got mine. I'm not sure if they still do but it's worth a look.
FWIW, Shooting Chrony used to sell refurbished units right of their web sight at considerable savings. That's how I got mine. I'm not sure if they still do but it's worth a look.
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Magload
US Veteran
Oh that is bad to hear as 95% of my chrono testing is done indoors. Guess I will see if it shows up in March.
Hit_Factor
Member
I haven't had enough time to tinker with all the settings. I was getting readings with a .41 mag, but not a .22.
I have the archery adapter and was able to read my crossbow bolts.
Just a little problem. I updated firmware today. So we'll see if that makes a difference. But that might take as long as it takes for a form 4 to be approved.
I have the archery adapter and was able to read my crossbow bolts.
Just a little problem. I updated firmware today. So we'll see if that makes a difference. But that might take as long as it takes for a form 4 to be approved.
Didn't need a chrony...
Just stayed with the data books and accepted generally their results, with some adjustments, to my guns.
Well, now I'm learning that cartridges for my compact 9mms can't be made to the length shown in the books and shortening them increases pressure and I can only guess at how much to reduce the powder. I don't have pressure equipment, so it looks like I may need a chrony after all.
Just stayed with the data books and accepted generally their results, with some adjustments, to my guns.
Well, now I'm learning that cartridges for my compact 9mms can't be made to the length shown in the books and shortening them increases pressure and I can only guess at how much to reduce the powder. I don't have pressure equipment, so it looks like I may need a chrony after all.
AveragEd
Member
I started 20(?) years ago with a Shooting Chrony unit and it worked fine as far as I could tell until a friend shot it while testing shotshell loads. I replaced it with a Pro Chrono analog unit and enjoyed using it without drama for many years.
Then about seven years ago, I decided that I should have a "better" chronograph and bought a Pact. I couldn't get as much as an error code out of it and after using up almost all my rifle test loads trying to get it working, I following the urgings in the owner's manual and called Pact at 10:00 a.m. their time on a weekday from my gun club.
Almost two hours later, someone finally answered the phone. When I told them the range faced west and the sun was behind me, they said that was the problem and that I should position the unit so the sun was shining directly into the photocell openings. When I then told them that would have the unit turned across the range and tilted back toward me, they said, "You gotta do what you gotta do." I did - I returned it.
I then bought a CED M2 direct from CED, a Pennsylvania company. It's a very nice setup but I got lots of goofy readings from it that were obviously erroneous as well as error codes with no readings. So I called CED and spoke with an oriental lady who tried to help me but wasn't successful. She finally told me she would have their chief engineer, Charles, call me when he returned to this country.
Over the course of about two months, Charles sent me replacements for every electronic part of the unit without improving its operation. He tried his best and when I kept telling him that I had started setting up my old Pro Chrono in line with the M2 so I would get readings and not waste test loads, he told me that their chronographs use "better" photocells that are more sensitive to lighting than those of cheaper units. I maintained that decent readings beat not getting any more exact readings and he finally agreed to accept the unit as a return.
I then bought a new digital Pro Chrono and haven't had a glitch yet, six or seven years later. And now Pro Chrono has a Digital Link Bluetooth adapter that transmits shot-to-shot and shot string data right to your smart phone (Bluetooth Adapter - Digital Link - Competition Electronics).
I have that as well as the bench-mounted remote control (which I no longer use since getting the Digital Link) for my unit and could not ask for better service. It may not be as dead-nuts accurate as chronographs costing hundreds more but for the average casual handloader like most of us, it's plenty good enough.
Ed
Then about seven years ago, I decided that I should have a "better" chronograph and bought a Pact. I couldn't get as much as an error code out of it and after using up almost all my rifle test loads trying to get it working, I following the urgings in the owner's manual and called Pact at 10:00 a.m. their time on a weekday from my gun club.
Almost two hours later, someone finally answered the phone. When I told them the range faced west and the sun was behind me, they said that was the problem and that I should position the unit so the sun was shining directly into the photocell openings. When I then told them that would have the unit turned across the range and tilted back toward me, they said, "You gotta do what you gotta do." I did - I returned it.
I then bought a CED M2 direct from CED, a Pennsylvania company. It's a very nice setup but I got lots of goofy readings from it that were obviously erroneous as well as error codes with no readings. So I called CED and spoke with an oriental lady who tried to help me but wasn't successful. She finally told me she would have their chief engineer, Charles, call me when he returned to this country.
Over the course of about two months, Charles sent me replacements for every electronic part of the unit without improving its operation. He tried his best and when I kept telling him that I had started setting up my old Pro Chrono in line with the M2 so I would get readings and not waste test loads, he told me that their chronographs use "better" photocells that are more sensitive to lighting than those of cheaper units. I maintained that decent readings beat not getting any more exact readings and he finally agreed to accept the unit as a return.
I then bought a new digital Pro Chrono and haven't had a glitch yet, six or seven years later. And now Pro Chrono has a Digital Link Bluetooth adapter that transmits shot-to-shot and shot string data right to your smart phone (Bluetooth Adapter - Digital Link - Competition Electronics).
I have that as well as the bench-mounted remote control (which I no longer use since getting the Digital Link) for my unit and could not ask for better service. It may not be as dead-nuts accurate as chronographs costing hundreds more but for the average casual handloader like most of us, it's plenty good enough.
Ed
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Magload
US Veteran
I like the Digital Link I can't see the numbers from each shot on the chrono. The only time mine has gave me a problem is shooting the 357 mag across it indoors and the fireball goes halfway down the range. It also will not work with the ranges indoor lighting. first I made a light bar from LED lights from Harbor Freight and they worked but I felt the light might be distracting to shooters in the other lanes so I ordered the IR light bars. They work off a small jell cell battery hooked to a small inverter that all mounts on my roll a round tripod platform. Don
My CED M2 works fine. I rather like it.
Two things, though. I need plenty of light for it to work. I have to put it up well before the sun starts going down. The other thing is I need to set it pretty far out from my shooting point, or it will pick up and measure the velocity of the muzzle blast.
Two things, though. I need plenty of light for it to work. I have to put it up well before the sun starts going down. The other thing is I need to set it pretty far out from my shooting point, or it will pick up and measure the velocity of the muzzle blast.
AveragEd
Member
I liked the design of the M2 very much but couldn't get it to work reliably. I did find that if I erected a canopy over it, I got readings that agreed with my Pro Chrono. Charles said it shouldn't work at all like that because the light into it was blocked but that's the only way I could get it to do anything but display error codes.
I'm glad yours works well for you. As I said, they are a nice unit and I wish mine would have been better suited for the orientation of my gun club's rifle range.
One thing I have found with the new Pro Chrono is that it is sensitive to muzzle blasts from neighboring benches. If someone fires a high-pressure round next to me (the benches are about six feet apart), it will display a low number - like 700fps - and if I don't notice that reading and delete that shot, the average velocity I get from my test loads is way low and my muzzle velocity deviation numbers are way high. Now I just watch it every time someone fires a rifle within two benches of me and clear any readings that creates before shooting again myself.
Ed
I'm glad yours works well for you. As I said, they are a nice unit and I wish mine would have been better suited for the orientation of my gun club's rifle range.
One thing I have found with the new Pro Chrono is that it is sensitive to muzzle blasts from neighboring benches. If someone fires a high-pressure round next to me (the benches are about six feet apart), it will display a low number - like 700fps - and if I don't notice that reading and delete that shot, the average velocity I get from my test loads is way low and my muzzle velocity deviation numbers are way high. Now I just watch it every time someone fires a rifle within two benches of me and clear any readings that creates before shooting again myself.
Ed
Road_Clam
Member
Love my Chrony Alpha. It gets finicky in certain light situations but i've learned to use it with the best sucess when the conditions are brighter overcast. I've also learned you better be shooting pistol off a sturdy rest when testing or you will probably end up shooting the sun shade support rods ! The Chrony's have their pros and cons but for the $130 I payed for mine I can't complain it gets me consistent FPS data.
Magload
US Veteran
Ed I also noticed if I end up shooting on either end of the line next to the wall I get error readings. The guys there position me so I am at least a lane from the wall and try not to but people close to me unless the range gets full. I was a little worried the other day the old couple beside me couldn't even hit the cardboard target backing most of the time at 5 yds. Don
