Chronographs - Shooting Chrony woes.
- Thread starter Kelly Timoffee
- Start date
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Seriously?
I use a Superchrono acoustic chronograph. It works well, but you just need to make sure its lined up along your shooting path or the readings can come out slightly off. But its very simple. Turn it on, line it up, shoot. If I was buying again I would seriously consider a Magnetospeed, but I'm happy with the Superchrono for now.
Well, that and losing it are the biggest risks. But the main strategy is, don't give the idiots a key to the lock it lives behind.
Yep. Only 8 years for me, but I've never shot my shooting chrony or blown off the rods/shades.
This whole topic has me pretty confused. Shoot between the rods. How much simpler could it be?
Chrony used to st their units on the range behind my house. When they left, they left me the units. Usually 6 to 8 of them.
I have used Chronies for about 25 years. I have noticed a few things about them.
First, reliable readings are best obtained 15 to 20 feet from the unit. 10 feet causes problems.
Best accuracy is obtained if the bullets pas through on the exact same path, so aim at something well behind the unit.
i only test on an overcast day. I don't bother with a sun shade.
I use small drinking straws as aiming guides.
I have seen a number of tests where a Chrony was placed in front of and behind a big Ohler. Velocities were the same.
I have used Chronies for about 25 years. I have noticed a few things about them.
First, reliable readings are best obtained 15 to 20 feet from the unit. 10 feet causes problems.
Best accuracy is obtained if the bullets pas through on the exact same path, so aim at something well behind the unit.
i only test on an overcast day. I don't bother with a sun shade.
I use small drinking straws as aiming guides.
I have seen a number of tests where a Chrony was placed in front of and behind a big Ohler. Velocities were the same.
There's options to have the Magnetospeed mounted on a pic rail if POI shift is of any concern. Then you don't have to deal with any of the drawbacks of the Lab Radar.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
I think I have the fix , I'll report back if it works.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Should do the trick, the threaded rod doesn't pull out of the base near as easy as the smooth ones it came with.
I may shorten the rods a tad as these are a few inches longer than what it come with.
Should do the trick, the threaded rod doesn't pull out of the base near as easy as the smooth ones it came with.
I may shorten the rods a tad as these are a few inches longer than what it come with.
There are holes inboard of the ones you have the rods in. Stick in pieces of coat hanger rod, or drinking straws, so that you have a narrow channel to shoot through. If rounds stray left and right he speed readings will change.
I mounted mine inside a box - a Makita box, and now I don't need sky screens at all. I cut slots in the box for the sensors, and covered them with glass. The narrowed/shadowed view that the sensors get makes them seldom miss a shot. It still reads with half an inch of snow on top. I put a wood screw front and back for sighting the box with the target. Mine is the model with a separate brain box to carry information home on so the box never needs opening.
For a power supply, get rid of the 9 volt battery and hook up a plastic pipe loaded with AA or C batteries until you get at least 12 volts - there is a regulator built into the electronics that will prevent damage and it will work accurately in any temperature and last forever. I use an old motorcycle battery and charge it about once per year.
If you are stuck on sky screens, screw a board - or two if you still want it to fold - to the bottom and drill holes in it for your support rods so if you hit them, it won't smash the plastic eye boxes.
For a power supply, get rid of the 9 volt battery and hook up a plastic pipe loaded with AA or C batteries until you get at least 12 volts - there is a regulator built into the electronics that will prevent damage and it will work accurately in any temperature and last forever. I use an old motorcycle battery and charge it about once per year.
If you are stuck on sky screens, screw a board - or two if you still want it to fold - to the bottom and drill holes in it for your support rods so if you hit them, it won't smash the plastic eye boxes.
Interesting thread. Has anyone tried placing the chronograph directly in front of a 100 yd target and using it there? If you're shooting 6 inch groups it won't be good, but most of us are in the 1 inch or better club.
I've been thinking of trying it, just to completely eliminate muzzle blast and see what that does to the results. Most if not all ballistic software lists a velocity at 100 yds, so you can work backward to get a muzzle velocity if you want.
I use a ProChrono myself.
I've been thinking of trying it, just to completely eliminate muzzle blast and see what that does to the results. Most if not all ballistic software lists a velocity at 100 yds, so you can work backward to get a muzzle velocity if you want.
I use a ProChrono myself.
Fastestmanalive
Regular
- Location
- Quebec City
- Location
- West Quebec
I like the drinking straws idea
It’s massive. It’s finicky. Many report missed shots. It’ll pick up shots from the guy shooting beside you. If you shoot supressed you need to buy a microphone and even that may not work. It’s fragile and falls over in the wind. The way it files it’s data is a PITA. It’s more expensive than a Magnetospeed. I can go on. Should I go on?
Fastestmanalive
Regular
- Location
- Quebec City
Then I must be a very lucky guy. Never had any issues at all with mine. Any at all. I don’t shoot supressed like 99% of Canadians, so it’s a non issue. And the 2-3 other regulars at the range that owns one too are very happy with theirs. Every time I get this orange thing on the bench, I get a line up of shooters who wants to try it and it takes 2 sec to get them ready.
Glad you like your Magnetospeed though.
I have seen 3 of them go down at the same time at a Major match in the US. And with known problems that the company had failed to fix.
I refuse to deal with a Canadian company that sells in USD.
They originally said about $550, then when it came out it was $575. No biggie. The they added USD on their web site. Since then, problems have abounded unresolved.
I refuse to deal with a Canadian company that sells in USD.
They originally said about $550, then when it came out it was $575. No biggie. The they added USD on their web site. Since then, problems have abounded unresolved.
Yup that is the same for me. It always works and does not pick up the guy shooting next to me. Beside if it is a concern you can adjust the sensitivity if required.
Bottom line the accuracy level is the highest of any of them. It uses Doppler radar and that is the most precise method of measuring velocity. Yes the other ones work but nothing is more accurate. Case in point. I used a magnetospeed to check my initial velocity on my load for a 6.5. I then validated the muzzle velocity through the Kestrel. Magneto speed was 50 FPS lower than what my my Kestrel computed. Hooked a lab radar and got literally the exact same velocity as what the Kestrel had calculated.
I've never thought of it as massive, it's about the size of small pizza box.
I've missed some shots, but that's usually a positioning problem. Once one figures out the best muzzle placement, missed shots aren't often. And most chronographs with screens miss shots too.
Never picked up someone else's shots but to be fair we arent' stacked on top of each other at our range.
Never tried suppressed but next time I see the cops at the range with suppressed guns I'll ask if they can try it out. That would be pretty interesting.
Mine has never fallen over, but I suppose if it was windy and I was concerned I could put a rock or something on the base- there is plenty of area to add weight on the base.
It would be nice if it had a touch screen like an Itelephone to file the data and navigate, but I think that would add quite a bit of cost.
Yes, it's more expensive. Everyone has to make their own choices with financial decisions. Well worth the extra cost for me.
Like any new product, I am sure some people have experienced defects and glitches, but I gotta say I'm pretty darn happy with mine. I like the ease of plopping it down, pushing a button and then you are in business getting accurate radar recordings while working up a load. No messing around, no attaching things to barrels. No possible change in group size or POI due to barrel attachments. And it's not like people haven't experienced problems with Magnetospeed as well, including missed shots. For me, the ease of use and accurate velocity readings more than compensates for the price tag.
