Chronographs

[Rol_P]

Is the Shooting Chrony a good reliable unit? I have been using one since the early 80's and am wondering if it has been surpassed by new technology or remains reasonably accurate. It seemed that I was having trouble getting near the "text book" velocities listed in reloading manuals when using IMR 4350 for my 30-06 loads last fall.. When I switched to Reloder 22 powder and all else being equal the velocities were near text book. My barrel is 24" as listed in the Nosler Reloading Guide 6.
Your Thoughts will be most appreciated. Rol

 

[DrMike]

The Shooting Chrony is still quite reliable. I have two and an Oehler 35p. For quick determinations, it is hard to bear the Shooting Chrony. Now, I'm considering an acoustic chronograph (http://www.steinertsensingsystems.com/the-worlds-first-acoustic-shooting-chronograph/) and possibly a Doppler radar unit.

 

[truck driver]

Mike, are you trying to predict the next super quake and forecast the weather or really check your bullet speeds :?: :lol:

 

[joelkdouglas]

I will probably never set another typical chrono up at the range now that I use the Magnetospeed. It's awesome the range doesn't have to go cold while dudes watch you tinker with your chrono.

The downside is I don't trust the unit on the barrel for group sizes, so I shoot groups and chrono separately.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I use a shooting chrony and have compared my results with other brands of chronographs at the range. Mine is close enough in measurements to give me what I want from the unit.

 

[Rol_P]

Thanks for the replies Fellas. For my purpose the Shooting Chrony will continue to serve my purpose. Being an Olde retired fella I can choose the quiet times, ie. late morning week days, to go to the local range when I generally have the whole range to myself so I am not holding anyone up while I fiddle with my chrony set-up.

I am amused to hear stories of people shooting their chrony's. I generally take two steps to minimize that possibility.. I dial my scope power down to minimum, (2X) to give me a good picture of the alignment of the barrel and chrony in one view, then I sight along the barrel just to check clearance.

This forum is by far the most friendly, informative and polite site that I have found on the internet. I also frequent 24 Hour Campfire and Graybeard Outdoors but do not find them up to the quality of the Nosler forum. Are there others that you frequent for good shooting and outdoor info? Thanks for any suggestions. Rol

 

[257 Ackley]

I will probably never set another typical chrono up at the range now that I use the Magnetospeed. It's awesome the range doesn't have to go cold while dudes watch you tinker with your chrono.

Used one of these for the first time last week. Great unit, easy to use and has good record keeping abilities.

 

[FOTIS]

Once in a while when `the light is not right I might get an error. That is however the exception.

 

[DrMike]

I am amused to hear stories of people shooting their chrony's. I generally take two steps to minimize that possibility.. I dial my scope power down to minimum, (2X) to give me a good picture of the alignment of the barrel and chrony in one view, then I sight along the barrel just to check clearance.l

One other step that I've taken is to wrap a piece of tape around the front rod to mark the elevation for optimal measurement of velocity.

 

[RiverRider]

The downside is I don't trust the unit on the barrel for group sizes, so I shoot groups and chrono separately.

Joel, have you experimented to find out whether this is a problem for real? I've seen where some guys insist that it has no effect but having seen barrel tuners used.on benchrest rifles and the way BOSS works, I really do have my doubts. I'd like to know THE answer on this question f or my own purposes.

 

[joelkdouglas]

RiverRider, I haven't tested it enough yet. Anecdotal evidence suggests groups are about the same size as without the unit on the end of the barrel, but, see, the thing moves around a little bit. Probably user error, but I haven't gotten the strap tight enough to have the unit be totally rock solid, shot after shot. Like I said, probably user error because I've been careful with the screw (don't want to strip it out).

The location of the unit changes the group POI on the target. From what I've read the changes are predictable, about an inch movement in the opposite direction of the unit. So, for instance, if the unit is under the barrel, the groups should move about an inch up from normal. In theory that's no problem, but if the unit moves a small degree under the barrel, the POI moves a small degree, giving the appearance the group size changes a small degree.

Long story short I haven't trusted my tightening of the screw enough to trust the group sizes yet. Maybe after I use it quite a bit more, but not yet.

v/r
Joel

 

[bobnob]

Rol P. I tested my green shooting chrony by shooting through it and an RCBS chrony at the same time. The results were close together, within 20fps for every shot. The chrony read slightly higher for the whole string which was about 20 shots. Load was a 7mm Rem Mag.

You are right, this is the most friendly and helpful site for hunters and shooters. Great people.

 

[Partisan]

I had 2 shooting Chronys and they were Ok. You have to be careful to get the unit fully unfolded. Even with it unfolded flat, the 2 I had seemed to read high. I ended up shooting both of them. Finally went to a CED ProChrono, a much better and consistent unit than the Shooting Chrony for not much difference in price.

That being said... I have just started using a Magnetospeed Chrono and wouldn't go back to a conventional sky screen. Far quicker and easier to setup, very compact and easy to stow in shooting bag, sky and lighting conditions don't matter anymore ( a big consideration in Winter-time), no low readings from bullet path misalignment, and little danger of shooting the unit.

The grouping results between loads seems to be consistent. That is to say if a load groups well with the unit on it will group well with it off. The difference being POI changes. As a previous post pointed out the POI depends on the unit's position on the barrel and if it moves under recoil subsequent shots will string out opening up the group. It is difficult to get the straps snugged down tight before putting the final tension on with the screw.