Shooting Chrony.
This report covers:
- Don’t need no radar chronos!
- Cost!
- Nate Chrony
- Is the Nate Chrony okay?
- What I need
- Extreme flexibility
- Summary
Today I’m writing a report for myself, because when I say “we” need a good chronograph I really mean I need one. I currently do have several chronographs. Some I purchased and others were given to me, but I primarily use one—the Shooting Chrony Alpha. It sets up quickly, is compact and is reasonably accurate.
Don’t need no radar chronos!
These days radar or doppler chronographs are all the rage. I own a Labradar that works great for some things—but it often needs a microphone to trigger the radar to start.
Radar chronos do a lot of things other chronographs don’t—like record velocities at different distances for the same shot. And they calculate many things shooters used have to do manually, plus they pair with your smart phone for recording data. They are wonderful—but they do have some flaws.
Cost!
The radar chronos cost a lot of money. Compare them to standard old-style skyscreen chronographs and they are often several times as expensive. I understand they cost because they need sophisticated electronics to do what they do, but they are priced beyond what many shooters can or will afford.
Compare them to the old-time standard chronographs that are still under $200 and you will see there is a problem. But wait—have I considered everything that’s available? Are there other chronographs that don’t cost a lot?
Nate Chrony
Nate Chronys are priced right there with the affordable chronographs. So why don’t I use one of them? Well, one reason, really. Adaptors. Here’s what they say.
“Adapter system: we can do adapters for ANYTHING – if we dont have it, reach out. Drawback – if you have 30 really odd guns – you could need 30 adapters = $.”
Thirty really odd airguns is just where it starts for me. I have hundreds of airguns, with new ones coming all the time. Not all of them are odd, of course, but many are. I will need LOTS of adaptors. Reader RidgeRunner is in the same boat—just a little closer to shore. And because I have lots of different airguns to test I want a system that doesn’t require any adaptors. Give me a chronograph that just works and doesn’t need adaptors.
Is the Nate Chrony okay?
Absolutely! In fact, the Nate Chrony is better than just okay. This company is more responsive than any other chronograph maker I know. They will bend over backwards to satisfy their customers and potential customers.
For the shooter who owns a few precharged pneumatics (PCP) the Nate Chrony is the way to go. These guys get the adaptors they need and they are good to go.
So what is my problem? Just that the Nate Chrony, as it is currently designed, does not meet my needs. Could it meet them if it was modified? Perhaps. I don’t really know. I’m not a chronograph designer. It would be wonderful if it could be because this company is the most proactive one in the marketplace. I would really enjoy working with them.
What I need
I need a chronograph that:
1. Works at all distances from the muzzle.
2. Does not need to attach to the airgun.
3. Will work with ambient light. I currently reflect a 500-watt incandescent light off a white ceiling to work with skyscreens. Or I use ambient natural light.
4. Needs no adaptors.
5. Can measure velocities of size 6 shotgun shot to .72 caliber bullets.
6. Works to record velocities from 50 f.p.s. to 4,000 f.p.s. (I test firearms, too).
7. Does NOT require a separate microphone to activate the start screen.
Extreme flexibility
My requirements stated above are based heavily on chronographs that use skyscreens. I know I’m a dinosaur and need to adapt, but I never know what I am going to have to test. For this blog I have tested crossbows, rubber-band launchers that shoot number 6 lead shot and AR-15s shooting 68-grain bullets at more than 3,000 feet.p.s. That’s in addition to the airguns, new and old, I have tested.
If a chronograph could be developed with a near-universal adaptor (one size fits most) then I believe I could learn to use it. But I don’t need forty-‘leven chronograph adaptors to keep track of. I already have problems keeping up with scopes, scope mounts and fill adaptors.
Summary
When Shooting Chrony left the market a few years ago we lost a good resource. I haven’t used my Oehler 35P in more than a decade because the Shooting Chrony is so handy.
I have other chronographs but I almost never use them because they are too darned hard to set up. Like I said at the start, today’s report was about me and my needs. If anyone has any ideas I’m happy to listen.
