Chrony Question

[Sisco]

Fathers day is coming up and I feel the need for a Chronoy. Midway has a deal going on the Shooting Chrony F1 for $64.
I really don't need anything fancy, just want to know how fast my bullets are going.

[Jeeper]

And the question is??????

[Peter M. Eick]

The answer is "42" if I remember right.

[Jeeper]

Actually Peter the correct answer is 3 feet 6 inches not 42.

[Poodleshooter]

The answer is "42" if I remember right.

What is "The average number of shots you can expect to fire over your Chrony before shooting it"? Do I get to go to Double Jeopardy now?

Sisco: get a Master chrony (model doesn't matter,just get one with the detached readout). You'll thank me for the cheaper repair bill after you shoot it accidentally.

[Sisco]

Jeez, four guesses and nobody got it right. Poodleshooter came real close though.
Question(s) are: Is the remote readout worth the extra $$ (assuming I'm real careful and really lucky and don't shoot the machine).

Remote control on the F1 is extra, just what does it do? Midway's product descriptions aren't real descriptive.

[Jbar4Ranch]

Go with the remote screens. I've got a "pre-Model 1" PACT, from 20+ years ago and haven't yet shot the screens, but there's always a first time.

How many of ya "old timers" can remember when ya had to shoot the screen? Skyscreens used to be printed circuits on a piece of pasteboard. You would attach tiny little clips on wires from the chronograph to two contact points on the screens, and shoot through the screens. The bullet breaking the first circuit started a timer and breaking the second circuit stopped it. Each set of screens was only good for one shot.

[dodgestdshift]

I have used the chrony for over 5 years. It works well and the price is low. Just don't shoot it. Be careful and you won't.

[Paul B.]

Sisco. I have both the F-1 Chrony and the Master Chrony. Both work just fine, but If I had to do it all over again, I'd go with the master Chrony. it's just more convenient to use and can be upgraded later on, should you decide to do that. Myself? I've never seen the need for the upgrades but you never know. I might change my mind down the road. The comments about the master being cheaper to fix is a good one. Don't say you never will shoot yours, because, believe me, you will. Been there and done that one a few times myself.
Paul B.

[Guy B. Meredith]

I'll check in as being with the above responses. I took out the front part of the Beta Master and the difuser last outing. Cost about $38 to replace the unit.

By the way, despite the injuries the Shooting Chrony kept on working. Can't guarantee the accuracy at the time.

[rwilson452]

I have the Alpha Master. I haven't shot it yet. I replaced the wire rods with wood doweling. I reamed out the unit and the sky screens to take a 3/16 dowel
I used a 11/64 bit. I checked with Chrony first to be sure there was room to do it. just ream out the top of the sensor case and the screens don't worry about getting all the way to the bottom of the sensor units you don't need to. I think I paid around 35 cents each for 3/16X36" doweling. I got three so I could make a couple of spare rods. I store them in a piece of 3/4 PVC with end caps. I might upgrade to the Gamma master. I did buy the printer. it's nice just shoot and worry about record keeping after the day is over just staple the readout to the correct target. You can then peruse it at your leasure. A master unit is a real help and the printer is a nice addition. If money is tight I would suggest the alpha master then upgrade if the urge moves you.

[P95Carry]

My F1 has served well over last three or so years ...... and when in use (invariably am shooting rested) .... I eyeball the barrel in my ''on target'' position ... both in horizontal and vertical. This ensures that bullet is close to ''down the middle''.

Not long ago - someone on THR was selling his printer .... bought that off him and now have printed read-outs, plus, the printer does the math too! Makes a great combination..... as long as I remember to check batteries each time!

[Smokey Joe]

I got a price on the Gamma Master Shooting Chrony, so I bought it although it seemed to be overkill.

IMHO: The readout at the bench (rather than 'way out front) is essential. The printer is really nice because as noted above you get permanent printed results, and the machine does the math (and makes fewer mistakes than yours truly!) The printer also acts as a detailed remote control.

Am still learning to use all the bells & whistles but just the printout and math features seem to me to make the additional expense well worth it. The Gamma Master will also interface with your home computer but I haven't even attempted that yet!

One thing I learned right away was to make sure the little rods holding up the curved white plastic screens are well installed in their sockets, else the muzzle blast will blow them and the screens off, much to the amusement of the shooters up & down the line!

BTW, a camera tripod is the most convenient mount for the screen/elec. eye unit. Wally World usually has a nice-but-cheap tripod that answers well.

[StrikeEagle]

I really love the Shooting Chrony... I have the cheapest model they made, too. Just to see how fast your loads are going, it can't be beat... certainly not for the money. And mine works with everything I have from my childhood bb gun (which I have wondered about for over 40 years!) to pistols to .17 Rem and .220 Swift Rifles.

It's not for hardcore techies, but just for an average joe who wants a better idea of what his projectiles are up to... it's perfect. Get the basic model and save some dough. You'll be delighted.

[steveno]

you definitely want a chronograph that just has the screens down range. I watched a gun come to the range with his brand new chronograph (I don't remember the brand). His gun of choice was an AR-15 with a BIG scope on the carrying handle. he got it with his very first shot and pieces of chronograph were falling out of the sky for a long time.
I have an Oehler 33 which I have had for close to 20 years that I paid $350 for it. back then though Oehler was the only game in town. Oehler is a very good company in my opinion

[Smokey Joe]

Steveno—That problem is called parralax, meaning that the line of sight is different from the line the bullet takes. The further away from the bore the sights/scope, the worse the problem. Also, the closer to the muzzle, the worse the problem.

To deal with the problem, you have to be paranoid about not shooting the chrony, and sight along your gun bbl while you are setting up to see that the bbl, not just the sights, is well above the base chrony unit. A little paranoia is sometimes a good thing.

He got it with the very first shot, huh?

It's got to be a lot funnier when the chrony getting bagged is someone else's.

[steveno]

I felt kind of sorry for him as he was as happy as a clam until he pulled the trigger. the only thing saved was the tripod.

[Smokey Joe]

Yeah, in a case like that you go help him pick up the pieces, and try to control your snickering.

It helps to think, "Coulda been me."

[steveno]

a LOT of very small pieces