Opinions wanted on chronographs

[geobru]

I am looking at a beta master Shooting Chrony. Thay are on sale at Midway for $112 + change. I would like to know what those of you who have Shooting Chronies think of them.

The feedback at Midway is mixed. Typical, people love em or hate em. Some say they are tempermental and don't give consistent readings. What is your experience with them? Are they dependable? How is the ease of use? Is there a better brand out there that is reasonably priced?

[Don McDowell]

I've had my shooting chrony for close to 20 years. A person needs to make sure it's completely unfolded, and keep the batterries fresh. Also make sure the sky screens are set into the frame at the same depth.
There's most likely "better" outfits out there, but for the majority of what the average shooter does with one the Chrony works fine.
If I were going to do anything different from the Chrony I'ld go whole hog and get the RSI pressure trace system.

[KirkD]

I have been using a Chrony Alpha (the cheapest one) for the past few years and it works excellent. There were times near the beginning when I did not use the sky screens if it was a cloudy day and got some errors. So I decided to use the sky screens all the time and what do you know? ..... I get consistent readings all the time. If you use it under a leafy tree on a sunny day you might get bogus readings sometimes as the shadows play across the Chrony, but I don't use it under a leafy tree, so don't have that problem. Bottom Line: keep your sky screens on all the time and you'll get great results all the time .... at least I do.

[AJMD429]

Whatever you get you might consider making a board-with-shield like this as the 'base' you'll set it up on. I hate to admit it, but it 'saved' my chronograph within the first dozen uses from a 'low' shot...

The Beta Chrony I have has been great. You can tell by the instructions and menus it was designed by an engineer and shooter vs. a software-interface person, but once you get the hang of it you'll find it really easy to use. Lots of additional statistical and string-oriented features you can learn; lots I've not even tried to use yet in 10 years of owning it.

[Leverluver]

Just to clarify Don's post, although the RSI gives lots of valuable data, velocity is not one of them. If you want velocity, you still need an add on chronograph in addition to the RSI.

[piller]

Chrony works and their service is good. Don't shoot a sabot shot from a black powder rifle without something protecting the digital display screen. I learned this the hard way on BrianSH's Chrony.

[adirondakjack]

They work fine. I've had both the Beta and before that the simpler F1. Honestly, the extra doodads the beta will do are great if ya can remember how. The F1 is rock simple and both work the same. HOWEVER, ya can shield the Beta easier, (I shot my F1, once a minor hit I fixed, the second time was fatal.) I would also replace the wire skyscreen legs with wood dowels. That way if ya shoot one it breaks, and won't break the socket the leg goes into.... Cheap insurance.

[vancelw]

Kirk touched on this....Chronys need sunlight to work. The sensor has to "see" the shadow of the bullet going over. If you set one up in a shady place, it won't work right. Flying bugs can give false readings, too.

I only mention this as a possible reason why some folks have bad results with their chrony and may give bad reviews.

I have a Oehler 35P myself, that cost considerably more than what you are talking about. I doubt it works any better, though.

[Hobie]

Mine works. Has been compared to other units.

[1886]

Only way to know how your ammo is performing in your gun. I have the Oehler 35 chrony. I have had it for 15 years. Works wonderfully and great customer support. One of the kids actually shot one of the optical units and the factory replaced it at no charge to me. 1886.

[jnyork]

I have that exact model and have never had a problem with it. I found that it doesnt like to work just after sunup with the light shining from the side, but as soon as the sun is somewhat overhead it works fine. I cant imagine a serious shooter who reloads being without one, for the money they are an excellent tool.

[AJMD429]

I would also replace the wire skyscreen legs with wood dowels. That way if ya shoot one it breaks, and won't break the socket the leg goes into.... Cheap insurance.

I like that idea...! Maybe even stiff plastic rods or stiff tubing.

I've also wondered if you just left off the skyscreens and mounted the unit under a sheet of white plastic maybe 2'x4' if that wouldn't work well. May try it this summer.

[Old Savage]

Chrony is fine if you don't shoot it and until you get to low battery when it begins to make huge errors.

[Hobie]

I have that exact model and have never had a problem with it. I found that it doesnt like to work just after sunup with the light shining from the side, but as soon as the sun is somewhat overhead it works fine. I cant imagine a serious shooter who reloads being without one, for the money they are an excellent tool.

Mine does that, too. I don't get up so early to go shooting any more.

[Sarge]

I've been running a Beta Master for a couple of years now and it's a good unit. My only gripe is that the manual reads like Egyptian hieroglyphics but you'll get onto it, regardless.

[COSteve]

Deleted

[JohndeFresno]

I use the Chrony F1 with printer and have had no issues after following the included instructions, as mentioned in part in the previous posts:
1) I shoot in sufficient light
2) Keep the screens on the unit (I always use them)
3) Mark the minimum and maximum height from the electric eye with tape on the rods
4) Keep the chronograph at a proper distance from the gun muzzle so that blow-by does not affect the readout (instructions included; rifles are farther away than pistols)
5) Test the batteries with a cheap Radio Shack battery tester before use and carry spares
6) Verify a few test shots of known velocity before a session, to make sure that the available lighting allows the device to work properly. You can use a .22 or BB gun, for instance, which allow for cheap test of known velocities to calibrate the unit. That is, use the same brand of .22 in the same rifle where you know the velocity of the projectile, or likewise with a BB gun.

EASE OF USE - spend a couple of hours reading and re-reading the instructions and playing with the device before you have to use it. Use a BB gun to test it if you have one. You can't move your hand quickly enough across the windows to get it to register. Once you have set it up a couple of times, it takes less than two minutes to unfold the device, turn it on, insert the rods, and run the wire back to the printer, if you purchased one. The only time consuming part of the setup is getting the chrony level and at a proper height for use with your shooting bench. I solved this problem by using a lawn chair, shooting across its arms through the screens of a Chrony on an upside down bucket of a certain height, as shown in the photo below.

For consistent readouts in very bright sunlight, I use a large shade - whatever works.

NOTE THE TAPE WRAPPED AROUND THE UPPER AND LOWER SHOOTING LIMITS OF THE RODS.

The chronograph is a great aid in determining what your load will do at various ranges, coupled with either a ballistics software program or ballistics tables in a reloading book (such as Hornady's Reloading book, 6th Edtion, Volume 2 of the 2 volume set - not so with latest 7th Edition).

Several sites offer ballistics online, or you can shell out some bucks and get full-blown ballistics and load data programs for your computer. WinLoad/WinGyro and Point Blank Ballistics software programs are both free, the last time I checked.

[Doc Hudson]

I have never had a Shooting Chrony and never will have one, I am not trying to claim that the Shooting Chrony is not of good quality nor do I claim it is inaccurate. But do you know anyone who has ever shot a Sky Screen?

I've done it. And if it had been a Shooting Chrony instead of a PACT Pro Model, i'd have killed the whole danged chronograph. Replacing Sky Screen ells is a derned sight cheaper than replacing the whole chronograph every time you aim a bit low.

if you think you will never shoot too low, miscalculating the height of your scope sight above the line of bullet flight, go ahead and get a Shooting Chrony. I think you can replace it at least twice before you will spend more than the cost of a Oehler 35P.

When I decided to buy a chronograph I gave strong consideration to a Chrony since the price was just over 1/3 that of the PACT. But I decided that shooting in the direction of the Chronograph[s brain was to risky for my taste, lucky me, so I bought the Oehler 35P Printer Model and have not regretted it.

In the FWIW Department, the folks I've known who ownde Shooting Chrony chronographs have been quite happy with them. i guess they have steadier nerves than I have.

You pays yer money and takes yer chances.

[Mike D.]

I use a Beta Master Chrony and think it's fine. Full power batteries are a must, but they do last a couple of years. I have scattered the sky screens from large diameter HV bullets passing through them. No hits, just air turbulence.

[Sarge]

Replace those darn rods with 1/8" wooden dowels, appropriately marked, and the only thing you'll have to worry about is shooting the unit itself.

[Modoc ED]

I have the Beta Master Chrony and have had no problems. That said, I just may put an angled piece of materian in front of it as "Sixgun" did for insurance. After some initial use, I did mount it to a spare tripod I have which makes it very easy to level and adjust the height.