A picture's worth 1000 words. . .

[Nick_C_S]

A little low there . Twice.

 

[4runnerman]

Nick- I have 2 of them like that. Called Chrony on the phone and was kinda embarrassed to say it, Then the lady said- You shot your chrony. I said yes.
She said they get about 40 plus calls a day for that reason. They will take it back and give you like 50.00 off on a new purchase. I set mine for 300 yards and then being old and senile I decided to take a shot at 200 to see where I was. Man a 308 from 10 feet sure does make a mess of them.

 

[Nick_C_S]

Thanks for the advice 4runnerman. I'll give 'em a call to see if they can just replace the "box" itself. Maybe they'll offer me the same $50 off. If not, it would still be nice if I didn't have to pay for a full kit.

Amazingly, it still works. Not that I'd take it back out to the range looking like that.

I'm not that bad of a shot - really. I'm more guilty of making a bad decision - to chronograph rounds from a 38 snubby - when there was no real need to do so. I was just doing it out of curiosity. I wanted to see how much loss the 1.875" bbl (Smith model 60) has over a 4."

I had the chrono all set up and was lined up nice with the target. I was testing a lot of ammo from my 4" Smith 67 - with no trouble whatsoever. I had previously "warmed up" with the snubby, without the chrono. I was good to go.

Then I started testing with the snubby - "err 1" "err 1" "err 1." My shots were right on target - exact same trajectory as from the 67. But for some reason, the chrono wouldn't read the bullets. So I shot higher, same thing. So I - reluctantly - shot lower; then I started getting readings. I got about 20 readings with a few "err 1's" mixed in. The shots were low low low. For some reason the chrono would only pick up the bullets from the snubby when they were wizzing right over the sensors. I have no idea why; but that shoulda been my clue to stop.

Why would it be that way when the only thing that changed was the firearm ? Anyway, I got my data and then there was a cease fire. It wasn't until I went to get the chrono from downrange (about 3 yards), that I noticed the damage.

So I know it looks bad, but my shooting accuracy was actually pretty good - especially from a snubby. If you notice, the two hits are very close to one-another. At least I'm consistent .

 

[4runnerman]

You mean it did not break the chip inside?. Man did you get lucky.

 

[Nick_C_S]

You mean it did not break the chip inside?

Evidently not. It still works. But it's on "permanent disability," if you will. I won't be taking it out to the range again.

 

[CommandoX]

Guess I'm not the only one then.

I have a green one of that model that has one .22 cal pellet strike to the back housing (Adds character) and a chrono shade rod with a clean laser like cut 1/3 of the way through it from a .30-06 round.

Still chuggin' along but ugly as sin.... Hehehe.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Best picture I ever saw was worth 405 words/grains

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&f=2511043&m=446105658

 

[Marco Califo]

So is it product quality, unreliable performance, or difficulty getting usable readings . . . . that cause so many Chrony brand users to shoot the unit?

I can hear one of you saying "Oh yeah, well how fast was that one, you POS chrony? No reading, huh. Lets just try another round."

 

[McCarthy]

I can hear one of you saying "Oh yeah, well how fast was that one, you POS chrony? No reading, huh. Lets just try another round."

That was my plan.. with some .500 hardcast.. after getting no readings whatsoever with my brand new Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit (bla). Returned that Chinese POS and got me the MagnetoSpeed V3 Ballistic Chronograph (which I strongly suggest to Nick).

 

[DaleA]

well how fast was that one, you POS chrony?

Priceless. Thank you for that comment.

I've read else where on this web site that they are perfecting the units where something like the speed guns the cops use would measure the speed of the bullets-nothing for you to hit with that system.

I could see a range installing one of those on a lane and then charging a little extra to use it.

There's also one that attaches to the muzzle of your rifle that would prevent you from hitting it.

 

[Brutus]

I had the same experience last fall only in the opposite direction, blew apart the rear diffuser screen. Fortunetly some white duck tape fixed me right up ( if it can't be fixed with duck tape, it can't be fixed). I think the trick with snubbies is to move the chrono closer, like about five feet.
Don't leave it there for other guns because if your using a powder like power pistol your chrony will begin recording muzzle flash velocities. Which may be considered bragging rights if your buddies are gullible enough to believe the 4200fps. velocities recorded for a 9mm.

 

[Brutus]

Just a tip, while waiting for the new diffusers to show up, I began researching what new technologies have been developed, my shooting chronoy is over 15 years old.
Saw the new Doppler radar units but they want $500 + for one.
Then I found the Precision Electronics Pro Digital unit for just over $100 What made it appealing was the optional bluetooth transmitter that can pair to your Iphone, Ipad or Android through the use of a free App. Bought the unit and all I can say is I'm very pleased so far. No more jotting down shot strings and then calculating statistics, does it all for you and generates a handy PDF summary. Plus it has a larger window which helps avoid the mishaps.
Highly recommend it.

 

[Rottweiler]

Welcome to the "shot my chronograph" club. That being said, There is a way to ensure that I (or you) never do it again. The bullet DOES NOT need to pass over the sensors that close to be seen. Don't believe me? Try this take a 1/4" dowel rod about 2 feet long. and swing it about 6-8 inches over the top of your chronograph front to back, the same direction a bullet would be traveling. You'll get a reading of how fast the dowel was traveling. When you get done playing with this, (took me about 5 minutes of "how fast can I swing a stick"to get bored with it too) put the screens on the chronograph as usual and tape a target to the rear screen so the center of the target is about the same height as the dowel was traveling. No more shot chronographs since I "discovered" this

 

[Nick_C_S]

The bullet DOES NOT need to pass over the sensors that close to be seen.

It did this time - as I explained in post #3. That's the mystery of it. All I did was change guns - same ammo, even. And suddenly, it wouldn't take a reading unless the bullet was just skimming over the top of it.

I'm wondering if maybe the battery was going dead?? It's two years old, and I use it quite a bit.

 

[Pathfinder45]

There are two kinds of chronograph users: Those who have shot their chronograph; and those who will.

 

[Armed_Chicagoan]

I haven't shot my chronograph yet, not really anyway. I did shoot one of the metal arms that holds the diffusers, it sent it flying downrange and when I finally found it it had a 90 degree bend in it. I just straightened it back out.

 

[Don P]

That's what I call gun control

 

[sawdustdad]

If it works, I'd take it back to the range and continue to use it. Who cares what it looks like?

...says the guy who drives a 1998 Ford Windstar mini van with 175,000 miles on it...

 

[Nick_C_S]

Heh sawdustdad

I'm getting another one. I called Chony today. It was probably a "had to be there" moment, but here's how the rather amusing conversation went:

CSR: "Shooting Chony. This is Amy speaking. How may I help you?"

Me: "Hi Amy. My name is Nick. And I kind of . . sort of . . "

CSR, interrupting: "You shot your Chrony. Would you like me to send you another unit? What model do you have?" . . .

It's on its way.

 

[Nathan]

I must be some kind of idiot or lucky! My Shooting Chrony is 15 years old and I'm wearing it out setting up and taking down! Hmmm. I wonder if they would replace my wires with one of the shot ones you guys send in!