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funkstafunkie
03-16-2008, 04:26 PM
I went out shooting for the first time in a few months, was going to chrono all the new loads I'd been working on (2 for the .41 Magnum, about 8 for the 10mm Auto, a couple .40 S&W, and another 5 or so for .45 Super).

First of all, I had a heck of a time getting the stupid chronograph turned on. I have a Shooting Chrony Beta Master (used to have an F1 Master, still have the remote display), so I set it up on the tripod, marched it out about 10 feet, plugged it in, and went back to the truck and turned the remote on. Nothing. I'm thinking, crap, maybe the battery's dead. After all, it was the 2 for $.97 Everlast or some crap from Wal-Mart (the blue top, silver bottom, with red line across the middle). Fortunately, I have two spares (a Duracell and another Everlast?) in the glove box. Pop the other Everlast in, and nothing. Pop the Duracell in, and nothing. There's no way all three of these batteries are dead, right? Stick my tongue to the one that's in it, yep, it's good. Try the other two, and they're both good. Not the battery.

So, I unplug the phone cable going into the chrono, check it out, and plug it back in. Nothing. Do this a few more times, nothing. The Shooting Chronies have that little hole in the side next to the sensors that I usually run the cable through, but today I decided to run it out the back for some reason. Surely this wouldn't make a difference, would it? Worth a shot. I run it through the hole, and, wow, it works (well, it powers up, at least). That somehow holds it at an angle and allows it to make contact. I'm thinking, "Great, now I can get to work."

I go back to the truck, pull out the guns and ammo, and load up the .41 Mag, since I won't have to chase the brass if it doesn't work. I start shooting, and nothing. It's not registering anything. I empty the cylinder, and it hasn't done squat. I load up another cylinder full and move closer, about 5', and try it. Nothing. Crap. I pull out the 1911 and load it with some LSWC I'd loaded a long, long time ago and already chronographed, so that if it did read anything, I'd have an idea whether it was accurate or not. Nope, nothing (although the mouse fart .45s cycled with the heavy - 28 pounds, maybe - spring). I packed it up and called it a day, but I could definitely tell the .41 Magnum loads were getting hot!

The lenses on the chronograph had a few specs of dirt on them. I'm going to try and clean them up real good and see if that fixes it. If not, I get to replace an almost brand-new chronograph. :incazzato:

freakshow10mm
03-16-2008, 04:36 PM
That is a ton of suckage, dude. I'd be pissed.

HiddenEyes
03-16-2008, 04:42 PM
It migh have been a weak battery? I know that in my truck 9v batteries don't last very long.

My chrony has always worked so I never had to try and figure them out.


Mr. HE:cool:

Steve Koski
03-16-2008, 04:45 PM
What was the sky like (clear, cloudy)? Were you using the sky screens?

funkstafunkie
03-16-2008, 04:48 PM
What was the sky like (clear, cloudy)? Were you using the sky screens?Started off cloudy but still light, and then it got cloudy and darker, and I tried it both with and without the sky screens. I also ran my finger over the sensors at different heights to see if I could get even an error, but I got nothing (I haven't done this while it was working so I don't know if that tells anything, but I believe if the front sensor is tripped and the rear sensor isn't tripped after a certain time, it reads E1, and if the rear sensor is tripped without the front sensor being tripped, it reads E2, or something like that).

Steve Koski
03-16-2008, 04:59 PM
I don't know much (anything) about your particular chrono, but here are a couple ideas:


Bring a 22 rifle or pistol to use while getting it "up and running" so you don't burn through a bunch of nice ammo for nothing.
Try some different distances from the chrono.
Try shooting at different heights over the sensors. Some like the bullets lower, some higher.
Call the manufacturer. Don't junk it until you've tried everything.

funkstafunkie
03-16-2008, 05:09 PM
I don't know much (anything) about your particular chrono, but here are a couple ideas:


Bring a 22 rifle or pistol to use while getting it "up and running" so you don't burn through a bunch of nice ammo for nothing.
Try some different distances from the chrono.
Try shooting at different heights over the sensors. Some like the bullets lower, some higher.
Call the manufacturer. Don't junk it until you've tried everything.Thanks. Now I've got a good reason to find a little .22 plinker. :lol:

zdogk9
03-16-2008, 08:36 PM
Thanks. Now I've got a good reason to find a little .22 plinker. :lol:
this only half in jest,
You want to get good you have to shoot .22. easiest cheapest way to develop good habits it is, easiest way to develop bad habits is to shoot a steady diet of big boom stuff without sound fundamentals, 'sides .22's fun

freakshow10mm
03-16-2008, 08:51 PM
:animlol:That title makes me think this is a Koski thread. Sounds like something he would say.:lol:

jimruger9
03-17-2008, 09:10 AM
You can always do a Koski and just shoot the thing to go and get a new one.

Steve Koski
03-17-2008, 02:33 PM
Um, excuse me.

WHO shot the chronograph? ? ?

fredj338
03-17-2008, 02:44 PM
You may have a bad skyscreen. It's one reaon I went w/ the Oehler, their screens are the best. Nothing owrse than driving a couple hours to test some loads & have the chrono crap out.:banghead:

funkstafunkie
03-17-2008, 03:16 PM
Hmmm...disassembled the front unit and cleaned the lens over the front sensor and sprayed the rear sensor lens with Dust Off (compressed air in a can), changed batteries, and tried it out with no sky screens. It worked, I think - consistent velocities in the 1040-1060 fps range with the Remington 525 value pack stuff from a Mark II Target with the shorter, maybe 3 1/2", barrel. I swapped out batteries, and it continued to work, with the same velocities. It's cloudy out today. Maybe it was just dirty. Don't know, don't care, as long as it works again next time.

On another note, I'm going to have to get me one of those Mark III Targets and maybe a conversion kit for one of my other guns, probably my Glock 29, since that's what I carry and I'd benefit the most with (if they make one).

Steve Koski
03-17-2008, 03:29 PM
Those velocities agree well with what I get with the same ammo from a Ruger MkIII 22/45.