Posted: 3/14/2017 7:38:26 PM EDT
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Any economy models out there worth recommending?
I don't need anything fancy, just one that is fairly accurate. I'll hang up and listen. |
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Shooting chrony from midway...120-130 bucks, they don't react well to bullets though.  I gotta wonder just how many Chronies have been killed by the first shot...it's amazing how many people forget about sight height over bore. Don't ever let some dude at the range shoot over your chronograph, that's a sure way to get it blown up. 
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Chrony Alpha model... had mine maybe 20 years and no issues as yet. Haven't checked my load data against a LabRadar or such, but I do know the velocities check out against the ballistics tables out to 1000 yds so I'm happy.
They are a bit fiddly in that you have to get the bullet to pass directly over the sensors...not much leeway, but easy enough. |
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Any economy models out there worth recommending? I don't need anything fancy, just one that is fairly accurate. I'll hang up and listen. I've had my Pact Model 1 for 22 years and it's been good, if not now a bit long in the tooth. About $100 with carrying case, back then. I need to send it back and let them tidy things up, or send me a new one. They want a check for $15, which seems reasonable to me. Chris |
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I'd look into this, Magneto Chrono
The advantage is that you'd have a hard time shooting it, it doesn't use a tripod or lamp stand, doesn't rely upon finding flat ground past the firing line and doesn't need a cold range to set up. I have an Oehler 35P that I've had for a long time which I wouldn't trade, but it's old tech. and not exactly the quickest thing to set up. |
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I gotta wonder just how many Chronies have been killed by the first shot...it's amazing how many people forget about sight height over bore. Don't ever let some dude at the range shoot over your chronograph, that's a sure way to get it blown up. I did, they nicked it but didnt kill it. I use a radar now cus im fuckin fancy. |
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I'd look into this, Magneto Chrono The advantage is that you'd have a hard time shooting it, it doesn't use a tripod or lamp stand, doesn't rely upon finding flat ground past the firing line and doesn't need a cold range to set up. I have an Oehler 35P that I've had for a long time which I wouldn't trade, but it's old tech. and not exactly the quickest thing to set up. If I were on a less than 200 dollar budget, that is what i would get. setting up the traditional chronographs can be a pain, and the accuracy can be questionable. those magnetospeed chronys are accurate, simple to use, and impossible to outshoot. |
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I'll +1 the Prochrono Digital. They have a good repair policy (you kill it, you get a new one for 1/2 MSRP + shipping). They also recently added a bluetooth adapter & an android app for use with it. Nick I still have yet to use it with the guns but it works great for my bow. 
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Just picked up the Prochrono like the one pictured above.
Another question; I've been reading that on sunny days these things can act up if the sun is directly on the chrono and that they should be paced in the shadow of a building or to tape cardboard to the rods. They also suggest using a black marker to black out the bullet. How critical is doing any of this? Is this necessary to avoid inaccurate #s or error messages? I'm not too concerned about a couple of error messages, but what numbers I get I'd like to be accurate. |
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Just picked up the Prochrono like the one pictured above. Another question; I've been reading that on sunny days these things can act up if the sun is directly on the chrono and that they should be paced in the shadow of a building or to tape cardboard to the rods. They also suggest using a black marker to black out the bullet. How critical is doing any of this? Is this necessary to avoid inaccurate #s or error messages? I'm not too concerned about a couple of error messages, but what numbers I get I'd like to be accurate. Yes, I have to tape a piece of cardboard on the skyscreens to keep the bullet sensors shaded - I haven't ever had to black out the bullet. I have since gone to the Magnetospeed Chronograph, it doesn't have that problem but it comes with its own limitations. |
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I've been reading that on sunny days these things can act up if the sun is directly on the chrono and that they should be paced in the shadow of a building or to tape cardboard to the rods. They also suggest using a black marker to black out the bullet. How critical is doing any of this? Is this necessary to avoid inaccurate #s or error messages? I'm not too concerned about a couple of error messages, but what numbers I get I'd like to be accurate. If you really care, build a box. |
| This. I love mine. |
| I bought a Magnetospeed V3 last week. Haven't got out to the range with it yet. Only thing negative I've seen about them is getting them aligned with the barrel. Probably a learning curve to get it set up correctly but once it's on there shouldn't be a problem. |
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I bought a Magnetospeed V3 last week. Haven't got out to the range with it yet. Only thing negative I've seen about them is getting them aligned with the barrel. Probably a learning curve to get it set up correctly but once it's on there shouldn't be a problem. The only problem (and it's not really a problem) is that it screws with the barrel harmonics (at least on my rifles) so I can't really shoot for groups while simultaneously gathering velocity data - I have to do both separately. And the damn thing won't fit on my 50... Attached File |
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Have a pact pro. 20 + yrs old. Was super cool stuff back then and works ok but it is a pain to set up.
And where I shoot is a steel bench out on blm and all by myself. I've never had it at a range where I would be holing up other shooters. With a little time I could get the tripod placed and shoot groups and chrono at the same time. But if I were to spend the 250 that it cost now it would be the barrel mounted unit. |
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My shooting chrony has been fine for years, is a little finicky.
If you go with a standard chronograph, an old trick to not shoot it; buy a cheap laser Boresighter, set up your rifle, on the bags, on target, with the boresighter in. Then set up your chrony, using a sheet of paper to center the laser dot over the chrony. Now, as long as you shoot the target, you can't hit the chrony. And remember to bring spare batteries for both the chronograph and the boresighter.....
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| This is what I have, it is always within 10 fps or so of the USPSA chronos at Area 3 |
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Best as in less errors, or more accurate #s? Or both? Quoted:
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Overcast days are best for chrono'ing. 
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Best as in chrono's that use sky screens to shade the bullet sensors don't have sun-on-the-sensor problems so that they actually work repeatably (overcast acts as one humongous sky screen). |
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I get that, but I guess what I'm asking is if I actually get a reading instead of an error am I good, or can the reading be inaccurate due to uneven light? Quoted:
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Best as in chrono's that use sky screens to shade the bullet sensors don't have sun-on-the-sensor problems so that they actually work repeatably (overcast acts as one humongous sky screen). Attached File On mine, I just won't get a reading if it's due to the bullet sensor being washed out by the Sun. My Pact chrony won't give inaccurate readings due to uneven light, as long as the start/stop sensors give a trigger signal it will give a reading. The biggest cause of inaccurate readings on mine is if the sensors are located too close to the muzzle and get disturbed by the muzzle blast. I usually have to keep my sensors located five to 10 feet in front of the muzzle (depending on the firearm), if the sensors are being "jiggled" by muzzle blast then my readings jump around. I don't have that problem with the Magnetospeed. Once you start using your chronograph you will get to the point pretty quickly learning when the readings aren't making sense. |