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Offline buckeye509

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New Chronograph Recommendations
« on: June 30, 2005, 11:52:48 AM »
I have about a $100 or so to spend on a chronograph, something I've wanted for awhile but never could afford until recently. What would be your preferences and why, were you in my shoes?? Who has the best deal on it??
I'll be developing handloads, mostly for TC Contenders and Encores.
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Offline ricciardelli

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New Chronograph Recommendations
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2005, 12:13:52 PM »
I have three of the Chrony units.  Two of the original F-1's and a Gamma Master.

I have had no complaints whatsoever with any of the three.
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Offline beemanbeme

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« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2005, 01:03:52 PM »
I understand you can get a "referb'd" Chrony for well under $100.  Then you'll have enough left over to buy a sturdy tri-pod to mount it on.  
My Chrony was among the first when they came on the market.  Its still ticking.  
I do remove the battery and put tape over the sensor holes in the unit (to keep out dust and such) when its not in use.
I'm gonna guess that its pushing 30 years old.
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Offline quickdtoo

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« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2005, 01:19:09 PM »
F-1 Master, $80 shipped, have seen em for as low as $50 refurbished!!! Works well for me for what little I've used it so far.

Tim

FYI...
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=52142352&an=0&page=0#52142352
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Offline Mark whiz

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« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2005, 03:08:45 PM »
yeppers, it that price range, the Chrony models are the way to go.  I highly advise getting one with remote readout.  I have the Chrony Beta Master and I love it.  :grin:
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Offline Siskiyou

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« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2005, 03:48:28 PM »
I just spent a day using the Chrony Alpha Master that my wife bought me for Christmas a few years back.  I recommend it and other Chrony models that give you the remote display back at the bench.

The data I have obtained from shooting a series of loads let me know which was the best load I was shooting for each rifle.

While we are on the subject of Chrony's has anybody made replacement Diffusers.  Mine are getting old and breaking at the joint.  A problem with plastic.  As reasonably priced as Chrony's are I think the replacement diffusers are over priced.  Yep, I am frugal.  Anybody have a suggested material from which to cut new ones out of.  I was thinking of going to a craft store for a material.  Does color matter?
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Offline Blackhawk44

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« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2005, 04:15:31 PM »
Go to shootingchrony.com and get a factory refurb with warranty for $49.95.  If you don't set it more than 15-20 feet away there is no need for the remote.  If you set it farther out, take binoculars.  Mine just had its fifth birthday.
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Offline firstshot

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« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2005, 04:55:56 PM »
I just got a F1 Shootingchrony and it works just great.  Took it to the range for the first time last weekend.  Tested it with a pellet gun and then shot 30 7mm-08 rounds throught it.  It recorded every round and told me exactly what I wanted to know.....how fast is my bullet going!

You can spend a heck of a lot more money on a chrony that has a lot more bells and wistles, but in my case the bells and wistles just are not worth the price.  I took my 30 velocities that I had writted down in my load book home, keyed them into Excel and got all the calculations that the high dollar chrony's can do and I got charts to boot...LOL

Get an F1.  I'ts the best money you can spend for reloading equipment.

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!
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Offline Siskiyou

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« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2005, 05:43:01 PM »
firstshot:  I am glad you like using Excel for displaying your data.  The other night I was discussing doing the same with the wife.  She has used Excel a lot and maybe she can teach me the basics.  Years ago I did the same thing using the old Atari and a data base program she wrote.  Glad I keep the hard copies.  I read awhile back paper documents are good for over one hundred years.  Computer records are good for about five years, if the computer does not get a virus or outdated.  Todays college freshman with a new computer will need another new computer by their senior year to keep up with technology.  Ouch!

I have about six pages of Chrony forms and field notes from shooting about ten load combinations in two .270 Wins. the other day.  The data gather from that shot along with data of the years past keeps accumulating.  The Chrony shakes out the truth(s) between two rifles in the same caliber.

Blackhawk:  Sometime people mess up a little more then others.  My brother failed to follow instructions and put a .45 round into his Chrony.  A friend who normally does not mess-up put a .25-06 round into his.  Both made good deals with Chrony for replacements, but I think if one still have the remote unit in one piece it cost less.  And it does not suffer over the long run from muzzle blast damage.

I take a number of measurements before shooting to insure that I do not hit the Chrony.
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There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

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Offline Dusty Miller

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« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2005, 09:04:43 PM »
The very BEST recommendation I can give you regarding a chronograph is DON'T SHOOT IT!! :grin:
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Offline firstshot

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« Reply #10 on: July 01, 2005, 04:06:44 AM »
Siskiyou

I put all my load data, field notes, and chrony data into a little hard copy spiral notebook.  Some of it, like the chrony data, I key into Excel and keep on the computer but ALL the data is kept in the notebook.  That way I can take it to the range with me.

Data is accumulating quickly though, especially since I started using the Chrony, and the pages in the little spiral notebook I'm using aren't quite big enough.  Also since it doesn't have that many pages it's filling up quickly.  I think I'm going to see If I can find a hard bound book with more lined 5"x7" pages and copy all my current data into it.  Will probably get 2 or 3 of them so I'll have extras for when the first one fills up.

It's always a VERY GOOD IDEA to periodically make a back up disk of the important stuff on your computer.  Murphys' Law is very much alive and well when it comes to computers and sooner or later something WILL go wrong.

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!
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Offline firstshot

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« Reply #11 on: July 01, 2005, 04:29:19 AM »
Quote from: Dusty Miller
The very BEST recommendation I can give you regarding a chronograph is DON'T SHOOT IT!! :grin:


The instructions that came with my F1 Chrony said that for optimum reading, the bullet should pass between 4" to 6" above the sensors.  Taking into acount a 1 1/2" scope height, I took some black electrial tape and wrapped it around the sky screen support rods about 6 1/2" above the sensors.  I took another piece of electrcal tape and put it in the center of the front sky screen.

When shooting with my vairable scope on lower magnifications, I can see all three tape markers.  I line up the horizontal cross hair with the two taped marks on the support rods and lign up the vertical cross hair with the taped mark on the sky-screen.

When shooting with the scope on higher magnifications, I can NOT see the the tape markers.  So, I first use the lower magnification to lign up scope with the target keeping an eye on the tape markers.  I adjust the Chrony/tripod as needed and then go to the higher maginfication to shoot.

So far so good!  No Shot Chorny!  (Knock On Wood!)

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!
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Offline bgjohn

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Another Chrony........
« Reply #12 on: July 01, 2005, 05:38:11 AM »
I have one also. Mine has a printer. It works good and I love it.
JM
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Offline MT4XFore

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New Chronograph Recommendations
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2005, 06:02:24 AM »
The chrony I have works great.  A really good investment.  Try this website too: http://www.shootingchrony.com/products_NEW.htm



good luck
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Offline beemanbeme

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« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2005, 06:23:35 AM »
A hint:  if you're trying to set up your Chrony and are using a target rifle with a high powered scope, ie T36 and such, that can't focus on the Chrony 'cause its too close, take a standard rifle with a lower powered scope that's about the same height about the barrel and use it to adjust your sand bags and Chrony.  Then switch rifles.  
You can also remove the bolt and "bore sight" to make sure there ain't no hunks of Chrony in the way.
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Offline buckeye509

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« Reply #15 on: July 01, 2005, 02:47:40 PM »
Thanks for sharing. Looks like it will be a Chrony. I like the ideas of using the tape, and excel for the calculations. You've been a great help!
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Offline Siskiyou

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« Reply #16 on: July 02, 2005, 06:59:28 AM »
The tape works great.  I use Red duct tape.

This group of post got me into action regarding a new spread sheet.  I had been talking Excel while the wife was talking Microsoft Access.  A little miss communications.  I messed with Access a little last night while watching TV.  I used many of the headings off of the Chrony worksheet.  I did run into a data impute problem in one category (cell).  The wife says there is a way to modify the cell to except the impute, but she was not ready to do it at 2330 hrs.  

No doubt about it.  It is more fun to shoot then impute data.  A heat of the day project or a rainy day project.

Muzzle Blast:  The other day I was shooting two different rifles in the .270 Winchester caliber.  A Remington 700 and A Savage 110CL.  From the bench the Remington produced more muzzle blast.  Every few shots the Remington would blow the diffusers lose.  The Remington has had far fewer rounds fired in it.  It might set slightly high on the rest because of the wider forearm.

I was using the same measurement standard what I had established with the other rifle.

The wife squared me away on Access and I have been entering data.  I need to plug it in to the printer and see what my reports look like.  She went over to the book case and pulled out two publications on Access.  It was easier to have her show me.
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There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.

Offline quickdtoo

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« Reply #17 on: July 02, 2005, 07:17:00 AM »
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Offline Siskiyou

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« Reply #18 on: July 02, 2005, 05:30:37 PM »
I like it.  I will be looking for a "cheap" laser pointer.
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There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.

Offline buckeye509

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« Reply #19 on: July 06, 2005, 12:33:08 AM »
I went with a F-1 CHRONY, already have a tripod. Bought a pair of Burris binos too. Thanks to all for the advice. Reports to follow as time permits.
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