I'm looking for ideas to get my Beta Shooting Chrony to work better in (much) less than ideal conditions (e.g. cold - 10C range, heavy overcast, occasional flurry). According the specs its not supposed to work at all, but what the hell, I trying to build loads for winter! I'm doing load development for everything from .223 to 45 Auto. Over the last couple of days it has been heavy overcast (Edmonton) and the temperature has gone from about +5C yesterday to -8C today. I used a 22 Magnum revolver as my chrony test gun. I got very consistent results with the test rounds (i.e. about 1500 fps with small SD), but when I switched to shooting the 45 ACP and 40 S&W I consistently got Error 1...which apparently means the front sensor did not pick up the round. I tried all the combinations I could think of to make the ******* work! Diffusers on/off, new batteries, spacing out to 45 feet (at the target), etc. My hunches are that it might have something to do with the temp, maybe humidity, possibly the lighting, or maybe all three. But why is it so consistent with the .22 Mag test rounds and will not work with the 40s?
Tips for the Chrony in Winter Weather
- Thread starter Cardiff
- Start date
I use the same in - Gamma? - model - the one with the separate readout and printer. I have chronied thousands of rounds in gloomy and cold weather - many hundreds at - 25f and some colder.
I made a box with a glass top to protect the sensors etc - it is very surprising how well they can pick up the shadow of the passing bullet through a glass lid.
I have tried a box heater - it helps - only because it keeps the battery warm.
There is the answer to your problem - the 9 volt batteries don't put out enough voltage when they are cold - so you need to build a battery pack that will give at least 12 volts. I use a piece of plastic pipe long enough to hold - I don't remember - AAs or AAAs - end to end with a spring to finish off with and a nail with a wire soldered to it stuck through each end.
If you look in your toy box, you might find an old walkie-talkie or on an old clock radio with the same sort of plug as the 9 volt on the chrony. Make your new battery polarity the same as a regular battery. Check it twice.
It works perfectly - only miss a reading if I am out of line.
Other stuff - don't get too close to the brain with muzzle blast.
Put the wire posts away - if you hit them, you wreck something - and make little wooden ones - and the screen things - I haven't used them for years. Little posts are good though - to line up with.
I shoot about eight feet from the chrony.
I donno why your .22 mag works - but maybe we don't need to - if we can get them all reading.
I occasionally take the sensors apart - say if I leave it out in the rain - and clean the lenses etc., take notice of which way up they are from factory - whups.
Try a higher voltage battery setup - and if that is not the problem - keep talking to us.
I made a box with a glass top to protect the sensors etc - it is very surprising how well they can pick up the shadow of the passing bullet through a glass lid.
I have tried a box heater - it helps - only because it keeps the battery warm.
There is the answer to your problem - the 9 volt batteries don't put out enough voltage when they are cold - so you need to build a battery pack that will give at least 12 volts. I use a piece of plastic pipe long enough to hold - I don't remember - AAs or AAAs - end to end with a spring to finish off with and a nail with a wire soldered to it stuck through each end.
If you look in your toy box, you might find an old walkie-talkie or on an old clock radio with the same sort of plug as the 9 volt on the chrony. Make your new battery polarity the same as a regular battery. Check it twice.
It works perfectly - only miss a reading if I am out of line.
Other stuff - don't get too close to the brain with muzzle blast.
Put the wire posts away - if you hit them, you wreck something - and make little wooden ones - and the screen things - I haven't used them for years. Little posts are good though - to line up with.
I shoot about eight feet from the chrony.
I donno why your .22 mag works - but maybe we don't need to - if we can get them all reading.
I occasionally take the sensors apart - say if I leave it out in the rain - and clean the lenses etc., take notice of which way up they are from factory - whups.
Try a higher voltage battery setup - and if that is not the problem - keep talking to us.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Just keep a spare battery in your pocket and switch it out when it gets upset. I've used my chrony a ton of times in -20 and even -30 deg weather, so -10 is nothing. I was using it in -23 just the other day.
You need a spare battery, and I would also recommend something that solved nearly all my error 1/2 issues, which is to put a layer of clear packing tape over the sensors. It keeps stray light out a bit, and really seems to help.
You need a spare battery, and I would also recommend something that solved nearly all my error 1/2 issues, which is to put a layer of clear packing tape over the sensors. It keeps stray light out a bit, and really seems to help.
Sure - the hand warmer will work - but even on a warm day, it seems to read better with a little more voltage - a battery only puts out peak voltage for a while.
I can't find a picture of it - it is simply a box made of 1/2 x 6 ash with slots in the two side boards for the glass to slide in from the end. The chrony is laid out and a couple of screws hold it flat - the box might be 24 inches long. It is maybe six or seven inches wide. I use the two side boards to sight for straight. Mine has wires out - one for the battery and one for the brain - which sits by me - so I can take the info home to record.
Some powders definitely have less snap in the cold - all pistol powders lose velocity badly.
But even if you do build a higher voltage battery - do take a hand warmer out to try too.
I can't find a picture of it - it is simply a box made of 1/2 x 6 ash with slots in the two side boards for the glass to slide in from the end. The chrony is laid out and a couple of screws hold it flat - the box might be 24 inches long. It is maybe six or seven inches wide. I use the two side boards to sight for straight. Mine has wires out - one for the battery and one for the brain - which sits by me - so I can take the info home to record.
Some powders definitely have less snap in the cold - all pistol powders lose velocity badly.
But even if you do build a higher voltage battery - do take a hand warmer out to try too.
Sure - the hand warmer will work - but even on a warm day, it seems to read better with a little more voltage - a battery only puts out peak voltage for a while.
I can't find a picture of it - it is simply a box made of 1/2 x 6 ash with slots in the two side boards for the glass to slide in from the end. The chrony is laid out and a couple of screws hold it flat - the box might be 24 inches long. It is maybe six or seven inches wide. I use the two side boards to sight for straight. Mine has wires out - one for the battery and one for the brain - which sits by me - so I can take the info home to record.
Some powders definitely have less snap in the cold - all pistol powders lose velocity badly.
But even if you do build a higher voltage battery - do take a hand warmer out to try too.
I can't find a picture of it - it is simply a box made of 1/2 x 6 ash with slots in the two side boards for the glass to slide in from the end. The chrony is laid out and a couple of screws hold it flat - the box might be 24 inches long. It is maybe six or seven inches wide. I use the two side boards to sight for straight. Mine has wires out - one for the battery and one for the brain - which sits by me - so I can take the info home to record.
Some powders definitely have less snap in the cold - all pistol powders lose velocity badly.
But even if you do build a higher voltage battery - do take a hand warmer out to try too.
Instead of steel rods, I use drinking straws. No damage to unit if I hit one.
I tape a spare battery in the unit. If i don't, the battery will die.
I like the idea of a AA battery pack. 8 re chargeable batteries would be about right. The top of a dead 9v battery will give you a connector you can solder to the wires.
Will try that clear tape idea. I get Error 1 a lot.
I tape a spare battery in the unit. If i don't, the battery will die.
I like the idea of a AA battery pack. 8 re chargeable batteries would be about right. The top of a dead 9v battery will give you a connector you can solder to the wires.
Will try that clear tape idea. I get Error 1 a lot.
Sometimes the screens catch the blast wave and vibrate generating Error 1. Never been able to chrony a 50 cal Desert Eagle.
I'm getting a lot of Error 1 from the adjacent bench blasts.
Try the plastic straws on a cloudy day.
I'm getting a lot of Error 1 from the adjacent bench blasts.
Try the plastic straws on a cloudy day.
With .454, I have to hide the wire and the remote brain from the shock wave - and I also protect the front of the chrony.
I used a rechargable toy racecar battery pack for a while - till it stopped recharging - 9.6 volt - Walmart - actual voltage was well over ten.
Tape works fine - though I don't use it anymore - it keeps the lenses clean for sure too.
I put little pipes on the outside of my wooden box for little posts - the posts really should not be connected to something as delicate as the sensors - of course drinking straws would be okay.
Has anyone used lights?
I used a rechargable toy racecar battery pack for a while - till it stopped recharging - 9.6 volt - Walmart - actual voltage was well over ten.
Tape works fine - though I don't use it anymore - it keeps the lenses clean for sure too.
I put little pipes on the outside of my wooden box for little posts - the posts really should not be connected to something as delicate as the sensors - of course drinking straws would be okay.
Has anyone used lights?
The straws work great. It is all I use. Diffuser not needed ever. If you are getting error one a lot, move the Chrono furhter away, the muzzle blast, and/or unburnt powder kernels are meesing you up. That is usually why the 22 mag works and the 45 ACPs don't.
Also make sure the flight of the bullet is going square across both sensors and at the same height, preferably between 2 and 3" above the sensors. At some ranges you have to watch becasue you are sometimes shooting uphill or downhill a bit. Keep a spare battery around in the cold for sure, and yes putting a chemical handwarmer around the battery in the cold helps a bunch to keep output voltage where you want it.
Have never tried the clear packing tape trick, so thanks for that.
Also make sure the flight of the bullet is going square across both sensors and at the same height, preferably between 2 and 3" above the sensors. At some ranges you have to watch becasue you are sometimes shooting uphill or downhill a bit. Keep a spare battery around in the cold for sure, and yes putting a chemical handwarmer around the battery in the cold helps a bunch to keep output voltage where you want it.
Have never tried the clear packing tape trick, so thanks for that.
