problems with making my chronograph read, any opinions appreciated!

[tillroot1]

Guys, I have a Pact chrono that I have used for years, it works fine except when shooting with a break. I am wondering if anyone has had problems with errors or mis reads and if they came up with a solution? Thanks, Ron Tilley

 

[Nomad47]

When I owned an optical chronograph, I set the unit 10 to 12 feet in front of the muzzle. But I found out I could set it 2 feet in front of a muzzle brake.
You might try setting the unit closer.

 

[Erik Cortina]

When I owned an optical chronograph, I set the unit 10 to 12 feet in front of the muzzle. But I found out I could set it 2 feet in front of a muzzle brake.
You might try setting the unit closer.

Not all muzzle breaks work the same way.

OP, how far away is your chronograph from the muzzle?

 

[tillroot1]

I have been placing it at 12 feet, I will try it a little further, maybe the length of the cords and try it again. Thanks, Ron Tilley

 

[bozo699]

Ron,
I have had nothing but trouble with pact chronographs period but some chrono's just don't seem to work well with a break, I have ran into that before, as already mentioned try different distances.
Wayne.

 

[Lapua40X]

I set the Chrony somewhere between 10 and 15 feet from the muzzle. Haven't found that it makes a great deal of difference, as long as I am consistent in its placement. Testing loads with the Chrony at 10 feet one day and 12 feet or more the next day screws up the data by a long way. Too close to the muzzle = false readings from muzzle blast. I don't believe it's possible (within reason) to set the Chrony up too far out and the reduced muzzle blast from your muzzle break should have no effect on the machine's performance because you're not measuring muzzle blast.

 

[bozo699]

I set the Chrony somewhere between 10 and 15 feet from the muzzle. Haven't found that it makes a great deal of difference, as long as I am consistent in its placement. Testing loads with the Chrony at 10 feet one day and 12 feet or more the next day screws up the data by a long way. Too close to the muzzle = false readings from muzzle blast. I don't believe it's possible (within reason) to set the Chrony up too far out and the reduced muzzle blast from your muzzle break should have no effect on the machine's performance because you're not measuring muzzle blast.

I agree with you but with my worthless pact II, I found the same thing a couple years back, take the break off, reads just fine, screw it on and no read! I posted on here about it and was told and I am not sure if I remember exactly correctly but a millisec blast of hot gasses and air come before the bullet and with the break it changes it some and it changes the light just enough for a read, usually a error but sometimes a false read also like 800 fps out of a 22-250?....
Wayne.

 

[bozo699]

P.S to above statement!
I was going to give my pactII away on here but haven't ever found anyone I hate that bad!!
Wayne.

 

[CaptainMal]

FYI.

For the past year I have been using a Pro Chrony with absolutely no issues. Way easier to use than my old Shooting Chrony.

I mean NO issues and I have used it on literally everything imaginable.

 

[nosualc]

I was going to give my pactII away on here but haven't ever found anyone I hate that bad!!
Wayne.

+1 one on this. complete junk.

-nosualc

 

[leadburner]

I have a pact & it is a piece of junk to. Had the same problem with mine. Found that if I put the readout display down on the other seat of the bench out sight to say of the muzzle brake error issue went away. But when one you solve one issue with it theres always another waiting. I feel your pain Bozo my enemies deserve better. lol

 

[MildBill]

the pact I had was a piece of junk, and it finally ended up in the junk....

 

[Gman]

I must be the only one who has had good readings with my Pact 1 XP. With the exception of some LED's that burned out on the display unit, it has read fine. BUT, I have never shot a rifle with a brake through it yet. Also, I must admit that when I sent it back to Pact for the LED repair, it took like 6 months to get it back.

 

[tillroot1]

thanks for the replies, I am not wanting to bash pact, I just want to make it work with the breaks on some of my and my friends rifles. I guess if I have to, I will just remove them while using it, but I think they are lock tite threaded to the barrels. Ron Tilley

 

[dan06]

Take off the sky screens and put a plain piece of flat white cardboard over the eyes make sure that it is bigenough to cover the eyes completely so that will not see changing light conditions from the sky.......This helps my cronos be much more consistant.

 

[treeman]

Take off the sky screens and put a plain piece of flat white cardboard over the eyes make sure that it is bigenough to cover the eyes completely so that will not see changing light conditions from the sky.......This helps my cronos be much more consistant.

when you say put a peice of plan white card board over the eyes do you mean above it several inches faceing down? I have a crony and have had the same problem except on overcast days.. thanks for the input

 

[GWN]

Years ago I had the same problem shooting magnum handguns off the bench using an Oehler M33. I found the same cure as leadburner. I started taking a couple of extra sandbags or wooden blocks with me and building a buffer to block the muzzle blast from the electronics. This worked very well. Also, I would not run the cables along the bench top and off the front. I would take them sideways off the bench and to the ground immediately. I figured this may not matter but couldn’t hurt.

 

[amlevin]

I must be the only one who has had good readings with my Pact 1 XP. With the exception of some LED's that burned out on the display unit, it has read fine. BUT, I have never shot a rifle with a brake through it yet. Also, I must admit that when I sent it back to Pact for the LED repair, it took like 6 months to get it back.

Gosh, I feel lucky. It only took 3 months the last time (got it back last week).

When the unit woks it's great. It's just their customer service that sucks. Whoever answers the phone acts like he could give a cr@p.

If this unit quits one more time I'm going to use it for a wheel stop in my garage and buy a Magneto Speed.

What I can't understand is how they keep selling product with such an indifferent attitude towards Customer Service.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I must be the only one who has had good readings with my Pact 1 XP. With the exception of some LED's that burned out on the display unit, it has read fine. BUT, I have never shot a rifle with a brake through it yet. Also, I must admit that when I sent it back to Pact for the LED repair, it took like 6 months to get it back.

Gosh, I feel lucky. It only took 3 months the last time (got it back last week).

When the unit woks it's great. It's just their customer service that sucks. Whoever answers the phone acts like he could give a cr@p.

If this unit quits one more time I'm going to use it for a wheel stop in my garage and buy a Magneto Speed.

What I can't understand is how they keep selling product with such an indifferent attitude towards Customer Service.

Amlevin, why did you buy that chronograph?

 

[amlevin]

Amlevin, why did you buy that chronograph?

Straight answer, because our Club has one and it worked just fine. I liked the I/R sensors because of the overhead "baffles" that keep most light away from the "Chrono Zone" ahead of the firing line.

The Chronograph is great as long as it works. It's just the company that sucks.

FWIW, I've picked up some "spares" from others that have either shot the sensors or have upgraded to PVM's, Magneto Speeds, or others, and now have three "heads" with two sets of sensors.

I can now just "rotate" units that are "down" and can then wait for Pact to get around to repairing it.

Would I buy one again? Not just NO! but HELL NO!

If I'm ever in the market again I'll go with a Magneto Speed and call it good.