The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Badgersmilk on August 02, 2009, 10:33:35 AM
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Looking at finally buying a chrony to monitor hand loads, and for factory load comparisons.
Any recommendations?
Thanks for your input!
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It depends on how many features you like, our club has had a Chrony brand, no frills machine for years, and it works. I had an Ohler and it was great, most of the serious fellas really like the Pact, it is fast enough to do machine guns, and you can record and print, it will figure SD for you. I can recommend all of the above.
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What M25 said. I too have the 'low end' Chrony brand that works fine. Look at features if ya want more.
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at our club the guys I shoot with got a Shooting Chrony F1 Master Chronograph
(http://media.midwayusa.com/highres/688064.jpg)
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=688064
we picked this one as it was not $$$ and also had a remote display to make it easier to see the speeds
also remember aim just above it not at it ;D as they don't measure well after they have been shot
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Like anything else shooting, the shopping is the fun and the frustration!
A friend and I purchased a Chrony brand Beta as a starting point. Considered it mid range of the basics.
My eye has been on the PACT since the beginning, and if I had the cash today I would purchase it. I have heard a lot of good about the PACT, and their ability to provide readings, printouts and tie in with other shooting electronics is why I am looking at it for my gun room.
By the way ... The Chrony brand is a tough machine. Its all steel case that is a self contained closed case is really strong, and its electronics survive abuse ... outside of the dreaded shot down the middle of the body :'( I actually shot on of the skyscreen wires, and it made no effect on the chrony. I have heard of others shooting their skyscreens and the electronics being damaged.
So ... Talk to others, oooops that is what you are doing here. Talk to as many as possible, go to online catalogs and read the reviews, and poll people like USPSA Range Masters for what they like. These people set them up at matches, and they need to be consistent, reliable and accurate, because the fun and careers of shooters are hanging on their readings!
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Ask BHO, he's an expert on chronies. >:(
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Thanks for all the info. and recommendations! Along with the opinions here, and those of about everybody else I've ever talked to on these I'm thinking the Chrony brand is the way to go. Nobody seems to have ever had a problem with them (so long as they remained un-shot! ;)).
I looked at about ALL the models from all the manufactures to compare features. Stuff I was looking for was if it had a remote with a display and controls on it, and if I could download from the chrony to my computer. If I can download I have no need for a small printer, so the Chrony Beta Master fit the bill PERFECT.
(http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_222713_imageset_01?$main-Large$)
Cheapest price I could find from a reputable dealer was here:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00084MASTER+BETA
Just placed the order. Thanks again for the input! Really helped!
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Looking at the prices they have on ammo, Midsouth actually beats even Walmart!!! (what they have in stock anyway)
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I too, have Beta Chrony. And considering how inexpensive, it's worth the upgrade from the lower end models.
I believe that Oehler's my be more accurate and more expensive. I also was quite impressed when over at the Accurate Reloading forum I posted a question about using my Chrony. Ken Oehler, himself, answered my question, even though I wasn't using one of his machines. Blew me away. If I had the money, I'd upgrade to one of his machines.
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Sounds like Badgers got his answer, good job team. I do think you will be happy with your purchase. ;)
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Good Choice!
Like I said earlier - That is what we are he is using ... I'm not allowed to shoot at it until I get a replacement wire for the one I hit :( Can't hit a great big A zone, but I can strip that little skyscreen wire right off the machine :(
Just remember that that "O" on the front is a part of the logo and not a target ;)
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Be careful where you aim. NEVER, EVER, try to use it freehand. Always shoot from a rest.
There's a saying on the air rifle forums:
There are only two types of chronographs. Those that have been shot and those that will be.
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"I'm not allowed to shoot at it until I get a replacement wire for the one I hit" ;D ;D ;D
I almost ordered a spare set already, but thought I may just be jinxing myself. ;D
Anybody know how these things actually work?!? I'm guessing they bounce a signal back and forth from the left wire to the right wire, and count how long it takes the bullet to get from the first set to the second set. But what kind of signal would it be (radio wave, ultra-sonic) when I read so much about Chronographs being effected by bad light? I dont see how aluminum rods picks up light signals... ???
THIS LOOKS COOL! (plug your laptop directly into the chrony and control / operate it!)
http://www.swproducts.biz/Chronocap.php
Works in conjunction with this to map EVERYTHING out.
http://www.robsoft.nu/rro3_en/screenshots.asp
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I'm gonna guess!
Pressure wave and the doppler effect when the projectile passes through the detector and a time calculation between the two sets of wires. Could be a light source of sorts as well....
What do I win?
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The sky screens are switches, the 1st is on, the 2nd is off, they react to the light source being broken by something passing over it. If it has a 3rd screen, that is a proof screen, more input = more accuracy. A real high speed stop watch.
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The sky screens are switches, the 1st is on, the 2nd is off, they react to the light source being broken by something passing over it. If it has a 3rd screen, that is a proof screen, more input = more accuracy. A real high speed stop watch.
To further that - the wires have noting to do with the timing. All they do is hold the skyscreens up.
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Yep, the detectors are photocells in the base of the unit, between the rods. "sky screens" are just light diffusers. You don't need them on really overcast days. Inside, a pair of frosted floodlights do the trick no screens needed. BUT, they suggest you put in the rods so you have a reference for aiming.
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I kinda figured I wasn't right....
Do I get a ribbon for just playing?
;D ;D
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OOOOOOOOOOO K. THAT makes a lot more sense of what I was told somewhere else then.
They said to ditch the aluminum rods in favor of 1/8" wood dowels from Home Depot because the sun can shine off the aluminum rods and cause false readings or error codes on really sunny days (It's 90+ degrees everyday here!), and if you accidently shoot a dowel rod it'll just shatter. NOT send your Chrony flying 50 feet through the air. I thought the guy was just pulling my leg cause I was asking newbie questions about the Chrony.
THANKS!
Tim, It still sounded good though! ;D