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Posted: 5/18/2014 2:22:32 PM EDT
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I've had a Pro-Chrono for a while now, and have been pretty happy with it. For the money for the base unit(~$100-$120), it reads consistently with much more expensive units, and has few complaints from owners.
What it doesn't have included in the base price is a remote keypad. This isn't much of an issue for people shooting on their own private ranges, or on less busy ranges..but it can become annoying on a busy range when working on numerous loads, and having to wait for a cold range just to press the 'next string' button on the chrono. ;) A remote is available for the Pro-Chrono, but at ~$90, it's a bit expensive. A USB and PC software option is also available, for ~$50, which isn't a bad price, but I have enough stuff to bring to the range; I don't particularly want to bring a laptop with me as well, and as of right now, there's no software or options for a tablet or phone, with a tablet probably being the most ideal. A light kit, almost required for indoor shooting is available for the Pro Chrono, but runs around $60. So, Caldwell came out with a new chronograph, available in either 'basic' (chrono and cabling only), or 'premium' (chrono, tripod, cables, light kit, case) models. I've been using a somewhat large camera tripod for the Pro Chrono, and always on the lookout for ways to lighten the load, or make packing/traveling places easier, the idea of the Premium kit was appealing - instead of separate tripod, and Pro Chrono in it's cardboard box, a single smallish case fitting everything, tripod included...so I waited for Midway to run a sale ($30 off $150), added a few misc things I needed to the order, and got the Premium kit for ~$120 or so. There's good and bad with the package.. The case and full package is pretty neat, as it doesn't take up much room, and everything fits into the carry case nicely. The light kit feels a bit on the cheap side, but that's about par for the course; I wouldn't expect the Pro Chrono kit to necessarily feel more solid, either. The Caldwell has much wider sunscreens than my ProChronos, and the underside of them has a few built in sections to retain the sunscreen rods attached to the sunscreens when not in use, which is a nice touch; I've had a sunscreen rod fall out of my Pro Chrono box a few times, so anything leading to not missing parts when you're ready to shoot..is a good thing. The Caldwell can measure in feet per second, OR in meters per second, which is a nice touch for those outside the US, but it's switched via the main power switch, with the Off position sitting in the middle, between FPS and MPS. This is sort of a goofy switch design, as it's much easier to push a switch 'until it stops' to turn something off (or on)..versus 'in the middle.' I have no doubt the switch setup is going to lead to a surprise dead battery at some point...but at least there's room to store a spare battery in the chrono's battery compartment. Meant to be connected to a smart phone (IOS/Apple or Android) or tablet, this means the 'smarts' are mostly in the software, versus in the device itself. This has both good and bad, the good being a convenient 'remote' that most of us always have with us, and no 10, 20, or even 100 string limits...it will simply use whatever space you have available on your device. The downside is that there are no buttons on the Caldwell chrono, so without a smartphone or table t to connect to, the only thing you can get from the chrono's display is the FPS (or MPS) of a shot - no string groups, no average, spread, or standard deviation, as that's all done in software on your phone/tablet instead. We'll come back to the software in a bit... The tripod is nicely small and compact, but also seems to be a victim of cost cutting. Unlike most camera tripods, it has no hook on the bottom to add weight to in the event of a windy day, and is somewhat flimsy overall - I wouldn't trust my DSLR on this tripod...the hand crank to adjust height and general feel is quite a bit cheaper even than my cheapie SLR tripod...but maybe that's OK, as it's not needed for my DSLR. It does fit nicely into the Caldwell chrono bag, versus carrying around a ~2' long folded up camera tripod... Using it Install the software from the App Store or Google Play, and ensure your microphone input is enabled on your phone/tablet, as the cable connection is really just an audio cable that plus into your microphone jack. Put a 9v battery (not included) into the chrono, and ideally with a spare next to it in the battery compartment. If you just bought the unit and want to ensure it's working (at least to an extent) but can't go into your yard and throw some rounds over it, you can put the Indoor light kit on, plug it in, and flip the switch on and off - the chrono will register and display FPS, if randomly, so you can at least ensure it gets power, the display works, and the connection to your device is working. You can also run a flashlight from the front sensor to the rear, to also have it generate some readings. Getting an initial connection to your device can be...a bit random. The software is more or less 'initial release' quality, and could use some improvements, including the reliability of a connection when just plugging the chrono in. A few times, I had to power the chrono off, unplug the cable, and turn on/plug it back in until finally getting a connection. Once a connection is established, I haven't had it disconnect, however, which is good. It may work better on IOS devices, don't know. Setting up the tripod is quick enough, and is probably fine for rifle/bench shooting, but in my case, I'm doing more pistol testing than rifle currently, and found out that the tripod is apparently made for short folks. I generally set up a multi-target sheet at 15 yards or so, with the chrono in front of it, so I have a consistent point to shoot at through the chrono, and then can also step to the side of the chrono slightly, or move it out of the way, and be able to shoot a few rounds for accuracy. With the tripod fully extended, and the crank all the way up, I had to crouch a bit at 6' tall to shoot across the chrono. After a few rounds of this annoyance, I realized I still had my 'bigger' tripod in the back of the car, so went to swap tripods, only to find that the tripod adapter that screws into the chrono...isn't a standard camera plate, so wouldn't work. The chrono is at least standard threads, so I can thread the plate off my ProChrono onto the Caldwell and use the 'normal' tripod in the future, but that sort of removed the point of buying the 'Premium' Kit. A very nice idea, but the accountants (or midgets? ;) ) turned the tripod into being nearly useless, at least for me shooting pistol. I'm going to have to see if I can find another tripod that's taller but that would ideally still fit into the Caldwell case.. The sunscreen rods aren't quite as long as those on my Pro Chrono, and for some reason, just don't really 'click' in as solidly as my ProChrono - on my PC, I just 'snap' them into place, then bend the screens slightly to fit the bottom part of the rods into the chrono. Trying to do this with the Caldwell unless you're holding onto the rods themselves will likely lead to - oops, rod dropped on the ground. Somewhat minor, but an annoyance nonetheless. I may try finding some longer rods, and/or taping the ends where they go into the sunscreen. On to the app. It's usable, but still gives the impression of 'not done yet.' You can NOT pre-create strings in advance, e.g. to plug all your load data in, then retrieve it and start shooting/saving data. You also don't seem to be able to edit the title once you start shooting, which can be annoying if you realize you have a typo, or wanted to add in which gun you decided to shoot that string with. There is a notes field, although it's not visible by default, so I completely missed it the first time I was using the chrono. Here's a pic of the Android screen when in use (not mine, but looks the same): 
You can also simply list/scroll through all saved groups, and SMS or email them to yourself or someone else. You do have to do this per string, however; it would be more ideal to allow multi-selection, select all, then click to SMS or email. One thing I also hope to see in the future, is a sane way to keep your groups synced to Dropbox automatically. The plus side, is that as the majority of functionality is in the software/app, it's easy enough to update, if Caldwell decides to do so. Shooting across it...it seemed to get more errors than I've seen with the ProChrono (approaching zero), with maybe on average an error being reported for a shot every string or two (ten shot strings). I haven't yet shot across both the Caldwell and ProChrono back to back for a direct comparison, but using some of my standard loads, I'd say the Caldwell so far seems to be 'close enough' and similar in results. In the event you're trying to do rapid fire (not entirely recommended over a chrono), it can and will record shots per second. Assuming you're not at Frontline and have cell/data service, it will also pick up and record temperature and pressure, which is nice (except I can't use ;) ). Using a smartphone as a remote is overall pretty nice, although I think a tablet would be perfect (taking notes, bigger keyboard). The software isn't overly intuitive to use, and as far as I can tell, you're unable to delete groups shot at the moment, but it's easy enough to get basic functionality once you get a good connection. There have been a few app updates since initial release, so I can only hope they keep working on it until it's better quality/usability. Right now I'm mixed, and would have to give the Premium kit an overall C or C+. If they were to make some relatively minor changes (longer rods, more secure locking into sunscreens, change switch orientation, get a tripod meant for humans, and software improvements), and it proves to be reliable over time vs 'disposable,' this could be a really nice setup. If you only chrono rifle or from a benchrest, the tripod's a non-issue. If you never want to chrono indoors, the light kit isn't needed. If they make some improvements in the software, and the hardware is long-term reliable, I'd put it as a solid B, but still decide on if the 'Premium' kit is right for you, or if you're better off with a normal height tripod, etc. |
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My biggest complaint so far is that you can't go back and adjust the group size after you've closed out that group. I'd like to be able to go back and punch in group sizes once I've recovered my target. Other than that, mine has been great so far. Also the tripod is super junky, but it'll do. |
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Quoted:
My biggest complaint so far is that you can't go back and adjust the group size after you've closed out that group. I'd like to be able to go back and punch in group sizes once I've recovered my target. Other than that, mine has been great so far. Also the tripod is super junky, but it'll do. Yep, the 'edit' capability is definitely a bit lacking. I still haven't been able to delete old strings... If the software is cleaned up a bit, and has a reasonable lifetime to it (some are still shooting through ~20yr old chronographs today..I think 5-10years should be a minimum lifetime on a chrono), it's not bad at all. Knowing up front the tripod is pretty useless, it's still not a bad price, although for some, the basic kit may make more sense. I don't regret the purchase for the $ overall, but am hoping to see the software improved, and will be looking for a higher quality (and height) tripod. Open to suggestions if anyone knows of one? |
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Nice review.
I used mine for the second time today. I shot about 100-150 rounds of 9mm and 300 blk over it without a single error. The iphone application recorded every round, which was different from last week when every once in a while a shot would register on the chrono, but not on the app. I used a different bi pod which made it a little easier to adjust and more sturdy. It is the Vista Explorer 60" for about $20. It is just a few inches too long to fir in the case, which is a down side. I also painted the metal supports bright orange from four inches above the sensor down to the chrono. This makes it much easier to line the shots up without guessing the height. At 10-11' from the muzzle as long as the scopes cross hairs are at or above the orange the height over bore on even an AR is not a problem - the bullet will pass over the sensors at about 1.5" above. I did notice when I was trying to shoot at a target that was too far left/right or close to the support the bullet completely missed going over either sensor, so pretty much try to stay center of just left/right and not too far over. I'm over all pleased with the simplicity and functionality. The iphone app, while it may have a quirk here and there, is a great tool. ETA: I didn't paint the bottom inch or so of the wire posts so they go into the chrono easy. And here is the Vista Explorer - not the best, but better than the original.  
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No luck on swiping to delete in either direction on Android...seems like the iPhone app may be better.
Good call on the paint, was actually thinking of that today.. Going to take some measurements and see if I can't find a suitable tripod..interestingly, a local shooter vs aid the tripod is tall enough for him at 6ft 3"...I'm just no it sure how...did I get a 'special' short one?. |
| Good review. I haven't tried mine yet. Was waiting for my stamp for SBR to try on my 300 blackout. Few comments about the review. No hook on the tripod. Never considered that. Mainly because I just don't test my loads on windy days. Just not worth it. Second, it needs an iPhone interface and doesn't have its own in the chronograph. This is absolutely the reason I purchased it. I have a gamma master chrony and hate the interface. So outdated. I'm pleased with mine. I've only tested it at home with a pellet gun but look forward to using at the range soon |
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Quoted:
No luck on swiping to delete in either direction on Android...seems like the iPhone app may be better. Good call on the paint, was actually thinking of that today.. Going to take some measurements and see if I can't find a suitable tripod..interestingly, a local shooter vs aid the tripod is tall enough for him at 6ft 3"...I'm just no it sure how...did I get a 'special' short one?. Adding: You can actually delete individual groups. Go into saved groups, and hold your finger on the group to delete for a few seconds. It will bring up a check mark and trash can; hit the trash can to delete a group. This is per group - no multi-select supported, at least not that I've seen. |
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Quoted:
Good review. I haven't tried mine yet. Was waiting for my stamp for SBR to try on my 300 blackout. Few comments about the review. No hook on the tripod. Never considered that. Mainly because I just don't test my loads on windy days. Just not worth it. Second, it needs an iPhone interface and doesn't have its own in the chronograph. This is absolutely the reason I purchased it. I have a gamma master chrony and hate the interface. So outdated. I'm pleased with mine. I've only tested it at home with a pellet gun but look forward to using at the range soon Interface-wise, the ProChrono is quite simple and obvious, but I definitely have heard some gripes about some of the other chronos being far less than initiative. The 'must have a phone connected' is sort of a double-edged sword, and great/positive for some, less so for others. It's growing on me, although I'm still hoping to see some app improvements (as well as getting it to work with my tablet). |
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One thing I hate about running loads of my chrono (shooting Chrony Beta Master) is having to write down all the readings. I was thinking about getting
the printer for it that runs ~$88 but I might consider getting this since I would plug my phone in and call it done. But, then I would have two chronos... |
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I just took mine out for the first time today and had some problems. First, I could not get the android app to work. Kept telling me to unlug the cables. i saw a utube video that showed something about the order of plugging in the cable has to be a certain way. I dont know, will try it later. So, I tried will no cable and kept getting du01 on the readout. Anybody know what this means? I had it set up about 10' in front me at the range rifle station and made sure to try and center my shots (Ar15) thru it. The tripod is a little short.
Thanks, Robert |
| I took mine out today for the first time. I hooked everything up. Used the infra red lights and before I started it said error 3. I said to myself, crap....I'll have to wait until cease fire to shut it off and turn it back on. I had a green light on my iPhone, so I went ahead and shot. The unit worked flawless. I put 8 sets of 5 groups through it and no problems. I emailed all the data to myself and printed it out. Soooooo easy as compared to my gamma master. That unit will be sold along with the printer very soon. My new toy is here to stay. Everything packaged well together in one bag. I didn't have issues with the height of the tripod. It's a little flimsy but it works and it fits in the bag. I really do like the iPhone interface. |
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Quoted:
I took mine out today for the first time. I hooked everything up. Used the infra red lights and before I started it said error 3. I said to myself, crap....I'll have to wait until cease fire to shut it off and turn it back on. I had a green light on my iPhone, so I went ahead and shot. The unit worked flawless. I put 8 sets of 5 groups through it and no problems. I emailed all the data to myself and printed it out. Soooooo easy as compared to my gamma master. That unit will be sold along with the printer very soon. My new toy is here to stay. Everything packaged well together in one bag. I didn't have issues with the height of the tripod. It's a little flimsy but it works and it fits in the bag. I really do like the iPhone interface. As you figured out, just shoot through the error messages and it will record the next round. |
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Quoted:
I just took mine out for the first time today and had some problems. First, I could not get the android app to work. Kept telling me to unlug the cables. i saw a utube video that showed something about the order of plugging in the cable has to be a certain way. I dont know, will try it later. So, I tried will no cable and kept getting du01 on the readout. Anybody know what this means? I had it set up about 10' in front me at the range rifle station and made sure to try and center my shots (Ar15) thru it. The tripod is a little short. Thanks, Robert Came back to say that most of the issues I had were operator error. Thanks for the review OP. |
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