Chronograph Question

[kmitchl]

At the range yesterday trying to chronograph some 22-250 rounds on a Pro Chrono Digital. I know it is working because i had shot my 260 Rem over it just prior. Could not get it to pickup the smaller bullets. I have a piece of white cardboard i place over the sensors. I have used this chronograph previously for 22 caliber so I know it can work. Do I need to black the bullets?

[RifleBowPistol]

Outside lighting makes a difference on a chronograph working properly. When you said you put it on the very top of the chronograph?

I would remove the cardboard, it should hot help at all. I have shot a lot of 22-250 over a chronograph years ago, I think I remember it being harder to get a good reading, but I was able to record most of my 22-250 shots over the chronograph.

Overcast days, I have found are often a waste of time trying to use a chronograph. My current chronograph, is definitely more sensitive to light than my old chronograph.

Also making sure the bullet passes directly over the sensors, about 2" above them, should give you the best results. The higher up the bullet passes above the sensors and or farther off to the left or right of the sensors, the less likely you are to get a good reading. Then I am sure you have already figured out you need to have the chronograph at least 10 ft. from the muzzle of the gun, I like to set mine up about 15 ft. from the muzzle. Much closer than that, and you will start seeing crazy numbers from the gasses that come out of the muzzle. If you are less than 10 ft. you are probably measuring the speed of the gas coming out of the end of teh barrel. My 7mm Rem. Mag. was the reason, I used to have to set up at least 15 ft. from the muzzle, or I would get false readings, basically reading the speed of the gasses coming out of the muzzle. 15 ft. to 20 ft. is a good distance to set up the chronograph, then really only use it on nice sunny days. Some calibers and some chronographs, you can get away with recording shots on partly cloudy days, but if the sky is gray, over cast, just forget about setting up the chronograph.

[Old Bald Guy]

Weird. I use mine for .22 more than any other caliber. The only issues I have is right before sundown it will quit reading.

[kmitchl]

It was a bit overcast yesterday. Also, I place an aiming point well above the chrono to avoid one of those OH S moments. I will try a better day and shoot closer to the sensors. I usually set my chrono about 30' from the muzzle. Would be nice to have a LabRadar but I can't see parting the that amount of BitCoin.

[Old Bald Guy]

I set it about 10’ from the muzzle and shoot about 6” above the chrony.

[kmitchl]

I set it about 10’ from the muzzle and shoot about 6” above the chrony.

Thanks. I will give this a try.

[db@100]

The chrony reads the shadow of the bullet as it passes over the sensors. Too much sun isn't good. That's what the shield is for. Real overcast day isn't good either. That's what the light bar is for.
If you are shooring on a day where the sun gets covered by a cloud sometimes, you will not get accurate readings.
This is what I've ben told.

[Mike D]

Your cardboard isn’t helping you. You need light above the sensors to pick up the bullet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[kmitchl]

Wonder if a LED light bar hung above the sensors would help?

[Mike D]

Chronograph Question

Wonder if a LED light bar hung above the sensors would help?

Light bar shouldn’t be necessary unless you are shooting near dark.

Sky screens could help though.

There are better options than optical chronos these days. I have a Shooting Chrony Beta that I’ve used for years but the LabRadar I upgraded to is light years ahead of it an much simpler to deal with.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Old Bald Guy]

Wonder if a LED light bar hung above the sensors would help?

LED might work but fluorescent won’t.