The Chronograph Blues++ 6PM EST Update++

[Rule3]

I used an old Chrony F1 for a long time until I "just barely nicked it" with a 240 gr 44mag bullet at 1400 fps. Did you know that Chrony will give you generous trade in allowance on used Chrony's regardless of condition? I now use a Beta Chrony, and it works just fine. I find having the sun fairly direct overhead (regardless if it is bright or overcast). In other words placing your chrony (or any chronograph) in an orientation so the sun isn't at a drastic angle to the front or rear of the unit. I use the recommended 12-14 ft. from the muzzle to the unit. I find best results with 10 round strings. I have checked my chrony results against a couple other makes and get nearly identical results.

I didn't know about the trade in allowance. Good to know in case I blast mine. Were did you find 12-14 feet? My destructions say 10 feet for high powered rifles.?

 

[alwslate]

With low velocity hand gun rounds you actually need to be farther back
than you do with high powered rifles because of the muzzle blast
reaching the start screen before the bullet does.

 

[acl864]

With low velocity hand gun rounds you actually need to be farther back
than you do with high powered rifles because of the muzzle blast
reaching the start screen before the bullet does.

Yup, I found this out the hard way. Now I keep mine out about 15 feet from the muzzle and have no problems with it.

 

[38-44HD45]

Here's a link to the CED M2: CED M2 Chronograph Set

The keypad and readout are in the chronograph unit, which attaches to the skyscreens with two wires, a start wire and a stop wire.


Glad you got the Chrony working.

 

[Rule3]

Here's a link to the CED M2: CED M2 Chronograph Set

The keypad and readout are in the chronograph unit, which attaches to the skyscreens with two wires, a start wire and a stop wire.


Glad you got the Chrony working.

Thanks, I was looking at their website last night. So that keyboard and screen are sitting on the shooting bench where you are connected by a wire or cable like my Chrony Alpha (it has a phone cable)??

It works well in bright sunlight?

 

[shotslow]

What a great thread. Not the least of which is the shooting of the Chrony. I shot mine 3 times. Twice with a 308 and center punched it with a 45 acp. Worked after the nicks with the rifle. Not so much with the 45. It was a Beta. Worked good. Got the cheapest one next. Not happy. Had the same problem as what started this thread. Did get the thing to work with a 22 lr, About 1150 fps when box said 1200. I think I may have problems with the loads, a 9mm, and the new chrony was working

 

[38-44HD45]

Thanks, I was looking at their website last night. So that keyboard and screen are sitting on the shooting bench where you are connected by a wire or cable like my Chrony Alpha (it has a phone cable)??

It works well in bright sunlight?

So far, I have used it in every lighting condition one might imagine, other than nighttime. I do plan on getting the IR setup, so I can use it in my barn with my bullet trap, in case I need to chronograph when it is too windy or is raining. (The former happens a lot here, the latter not since last October.) So far, as long as the skyscreens are in the shade and the diffusers are used, it has worked in all lighting conditions. And yes, the chronograph itself is on the "bench" (usually, my pickup tailgate) and the skyscreens are on the tripod downrange.

 

[Rule3]

So far, I have used it in every lighting condition one might imagine, other than nighttime. I do plan on getting the IR setup, so I can use it in my barn with my bullet trap, in case I need to chronograph when it is too windy or is raining. (The former happens a lot here, the latter not since last October.) So far, as long as the skyscreens are in the shade and the diffusers are used, it has worked in all lighting conditions. And yes, the chronograph itself is on the "bench" (usually, my pickup tailgate) and the skyscreens are on the tripod downrange.

Thanks. I think it will be my next unit if this Chrony does not work out for me. I was looking at the RCBS (Big Bullet thing) I watched and read a video review on it and it did not fare to well according to that review. It died and looked cheap which is not like RCBS which has great equipment and warranty. Electronics are only one year.

The CED has 2 year warranty the Pact Pro Xp has a "limited" lifetime.

 

[38-44HD45]

I was torn when I bought the M2. I really wanted an Oehler 35, and they have become scarce and expensive. My old PACT Professional worked well for several years, though it was always a little picky about lighting conditions. I bought new skyscreens for it several years ago, and it did better for awhile, but recently became just too frustrating, requiring just the perfect lighting conditions to work at all. I nearly bought a new generation PACT Pro. I requested information from some compadres on a private forum, and spent a good deal of time on the net looking for reports on the various chronos now available. Mostly, the M2 gets rave reviews. I will say that it is not nearly as intuitive to use as is the PACT Pro. People complain about the instructions that come with the PACT, but it really needs no instructions, since it works so intuitively. The M2 needs good instructions, but its instructions are worse than PACT's. Nonetheless, I am very, very pleased with the fact that I need not wait for perfect lighting conditions to chronograph ammunition, which was the most frustrating thing about the PACT, and about my previous (and first) chronograph, an original Chrony.

 

[H Richard]

In post #27 you mention "as long as the sky-screens are in the shade". That could be part of your problem. If any "shade" drifts over the sky-screens it will affect the reading. You need direct light on the sky-screens. One day I was getting erratic readings, and then I noticed a tall tree and the wind was blowing the shadow of a limb past the sky-screens. As long as I only shot when the shadow didn't drift over the screens I got OK readings.

 

[Larry from Bend]

My Chrony was so old that it originally came with cardboard diffusers and it always worked great. Last week I put a 44 Special bullet thru it ---- and I'm STILL not sure how I did it. Chrony advertises replacement for $75 --- about the same as Midway charges for the F1 so I bought a new one from Midway. So far it is working great, just as the old one did. I HAVE had the light problem in bright sunlight, but just moving the Chrony around always solved it. I always use the diffusers.

 

[Rule3]

In post #27 you mention "as long as the sky-screens are in the shade". That could be part of your problem. If any "shade" drifts over the sky-screens it will affect the reading. You need direct light on the sky-screens. One day I was getting erratic readings, and then I noticed a tall tree and the wind was blowing the shadow of a limb past the sky-screens. As long as I only shot when the shadow didn't drift over the screens I got OK readings.

Now lets remember they are "diffusers"

I just got back from the range. Was shooting 44 MAgs. The Chrony Alpha Master was out in direct Sun. Over 100 degrees, not a cloud anywhere

Np error messages and all was well. I thank Erich again for the "tape cardboard around the sensors trick"!