Re: Shooting Chrony Chronographs?
Not sure of the model I have off hand, it is a Chrony, it is the most basic one though, and they are all the same except the extras I think. I'd get the one with the remote and a little extra memory though, that memory would be real nice so I don't have to record every shot after the shot. I wish they'd make one that plugs into a Ti-83/89/200 calculator though.
How well they work depends on where you live and when you use it. In NW, you get a guaranteed couple of working months in the summer, then after that the random sunny day, but only between the hours of 10 and 3 in winter --if at all. And if the sun is strong but not directly overhead that'll mess it up too, even with the screens. So will being too close, some strong muzzle blasts etc.
When it does work, it is invaluable. As a handloader, it is just priceless.
For me, I think I'll be needing the IR add-on. Almost all my problems are lighting related, so that is the heads up I'm trying to get across. They can be real finicky about that. The new one they have looks a lot lighter and smaller than the old incadescents that used to go over the top. I wouldn't get that outright unless you use a lot of indoor ranges or shoot in poor light. I reckon you have decent light outdoors in PA, but if you shoot at dusk or dawn you may need it. I find that HID lighting, stadium lighting, doesn't help either.
I saw a picture of the FBI using a piece of plywood with a rectangular cutout about 1'x2' or so in the middle, then the chrono went on the other side. That helped with the muzzle blast and those funny readings you get like "4000fps" with a .45.
To prevent blowing it up, I fix the trajectory so that my round will hit the target to be safe, but I actually aim to not hit the chrono, nothing else really.
Other than being finicky about light, I can't complain.