beta master chrony

[potatoe]

I'm looking to get a new chrony, does anyone have any thing to say about these, good, bad whatever. Thaks

 

[necchi]

The neat thing about the "Chrony" is even the basic F-1 has the internal chip for all the data as the "Alpha" model;
*ONE String, from 2 to 32 shot memory (Numbered)
*Measures High, Low and Average Velocities, Extreme Spread and Standard Deviations.
*Retrieval of individual shot velocity measurements

You can easily build a momentary switch to plug into a port on the display to get all the data with parts from your junk box or new from Radio Shack or $10.

I've had the F1 Master for 2 years now and I'm happy with it. The Master is nice to have for the remote display. It can sit on the bench with me when the unit is setup.
If someone next too me is shooting a `06 cartridge or large it can trip the sensors in too "error", other wise no problem above any other Chrony.
Needs proper lighting/sun and shade set up, not real reliable when temps are around 10-15 degrees.

If you decide on the F1, get ahold of me and I'll give ya the instructions I have for the homemade switch,,

 

[normmatzen]

First off, you can find a lot of bad news about shooting chronies on the net!

It is my opinion, after learning over and over to "Read the damn instructions," that if used as it was designed to be used, it is VERY hard to beat these chronies!

I have a Beta Master and have also used the club's chroney ( a more expensive unit than my Beta Master) and the Beta master is more consistant.

I learned the hard way to 1. Use a good stable tripod. 2. Use the sky shields with the appropriate support rods. and 3. set up the unit so the bullet passes right over the center of the sensor and the appropriate height above the sensor ( a VERY important parameter!). I also correct the reading to muzzle velocity by making the ballistic program read my recorded velocity at the effective distance the chroney sits. Then, read the "real" velocity off the ballistic pgm.

Now, I feel I can take my velocity data "to the bank!"

 

[tome]

I have a Beta. It came with the worst set of instructions I have ever tried to decipher.It seems to try to do to much. All I wanted was a remote and record a shot string .It does that ,once you figure out the instructions. If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten something easier to use.

 

[amlevin]

I have a Chrony Beta Master and at best it's OK. Not great by a long shot. Sure it folds up small and doesn't cost much but what good are those features if you have to run several shots over it to get ONE reading?

It's light sensitive. If shooting outdoors on a clear day with no shadows, trees, or reflections it's great.

When shooting at a range, like the one at my Club, the shadows created by the overhead baffles cause issues. If someone turns on the overhead fluorescent lights at the shooting positions the unit errors out, period.

I "folded" mine up and quit using it. Invested in a more expensive unit that works every time I set it up. It has Infra-red sensors so it doesn't care if the lights are on, off, or it's totally dark.

I like to keep my blood pressure and heart rate down when I shoot and using a Chrony isn't conducive to this. Maybe it's great in the Southwest under the clear blue sunny skies but here in the dark, damp, cloudy Northwest, I pass.

 

[dreever]

I have a Beta Master Chrony and have used it for years. Sure there are better chronograph's on the Market cost 4-5 times as much or more. You just have to ask yourself how much will I use it. If you are like me and use it to work up a load, and perhaps check it every so often you don't need the high priced spread. If you are obsessed with numbers and plan on shooting over it everytime you go to the range, well by all means spend the bucks for an Oehler.
I like my Beta Master so I'll just keep on using it.

Danny

 

[Silverfox]

I have had a Beta Master Chrony for maybe 9+ years. It has worked pretty much flawlessly for me. The only times it misses a reading are when I forget to turn it on :-[ and when the sun has almost set. I leave the diffusers in place at all times. for me, the Beta Master Chrony has been a great chronograph. I use it when I am working up loads and it is indispensible.

 

[potatoe]

Thanks for all the input guys

 

[dan06]

I have one .........I like it but didn't......... until a friend suggested that I replace the provided sky screens with the white side of a uspsa target on top of the support rods. any good sunlit day with this method the crony works great. A 3'X3' piece of cardboard spray painted flat white would work just as well.

 

[5spd]

I have been using my beta master w/remote since the late 80s with never a hitch, until my pal put a .220 swift hole in it. The the replacement unit from Chrony was only $38. Thats why I like them, you can get bases for spares & they are inexpensive.

 

[artbosco]

I'm looking to get a new chrony, does anyone have any thing to say about these, good, bad whatever.

I own an Alpha Master Chrony. It has performed as designed. Very happy with the purchase and price. You'll benefit the most, by reading the manufacturer's instructions. I take a copy to the range so I can refer to it, if needed.

 

[weewilly]

I have had an Oehler for several years, and it was always a pain to set up and get the 2 tripods straight by myself. I had to make several trips from table to chrono and back to get it aligned. Bought a Beta Master, and camera tripod and set it up behind the Oehler and there was 3 foot per second difference in 5 shot string. Haven't had Oehler to the range since. Only problem I have had was at certain times the sun has shined on the pickup glasses and it has shown error. 30 Minutes or so later when the sun has moved it has worked fine. Bill

 

[Larryh128]

One thing that I've seen is that quite often it will work better without the sky screens. I don't think that I've used them more than once in the last several years. Bright or cloudy, mine seems to "see" the bullet better. I do however run it out further than most people 20-25 ft to keep it out of the blast area.

 

[amlevin]

I have had an Oehler for several years, and it was always a pain to set up and get the 2 tripods straight by myself. I had to make several trips from table to chrono and back to get it aligned.

I too hate making the trips back and forth even though I only need one tripod for my PACT chrono.

I bought an inexpensive laser bore sighter and use it to set up with only ONE trip. First I set the rifle up on the rest and bag, put the laser in the bore, with the rifle aligned with the target. When going forward I now know where the bullet will be passing in relation to the sensors and can adjust accordingly. One trip and done. This is especially nice as it doesn't tick off the other shooters that have to wait for me to get set up during a cease fire.

 

[Killshot]

For not a lot more money you can have the CED Millenium II, which is a much better unit. The wired remote control/display is excellent as is the computer interface for downloading and sorting the output.

Have seen them on sale for as low as $179.