Has anyone here use the Prochrono? I just purchased one from Midway and today was the first time I tried using it. I didn't have very good luck with it. It failed to read a bunch of rounds put over it. In fact I think it only registered 3 or 4 out of about 60. I tried moving it closer, further, with diffuseres, with out diffusers. Nothing. I was shooting at a public range that has a covered roof, however it was setting about 15-20 feet down range in the open. Part of the afternoon it was in the roofs shadow but not all the time. THe reviews all state that everyone had very good luck with the unit and only occasionally a no read. What am I doing wrong?
Prochrono Chronograph
- Thread starter Rhinorider
- Start date
I don't have that model, but mine set's 10 feet away. And I need to shoot 4-5 inches over the center of the photo cells. (yeah, ya gotta get'm in there close)
Figuring out the light is a big deal too.
Give yourself a little time to learn it's peculiarities. I would have been very PO'd if mine read only 3-4 out of 60!
Figuring out the light is a big deal too.
Give yourself a little time to learn it's peculiarities. I would have been very PO'd if mine read only 3-4 out of 60!
necchi said:I don't have that model, but mine set's 10 feet away. And I need to shoot 4-5 inches over the center of the photo cells. (yeah, ya gotta get'm in there close)
Figuring out the light is a big deal too.
Give yourself a little time to learn it's peculiarities. I would have been very PO'd if mine read only 3-4 out of 60!
The lighting is a BIG deal. Bright sun tends to wash out the shadow of the bullet over the sensors. Hopefully you had the plastic sky shields in place while you were shooting. It helps to be shooting toward the south if you can, that way the sun is behind the chrono. Also, the chrono should be at least 10' away from the muzzle, more if it is a 6.5, 30 cal or larger, or something with a pronounced muzzle blast. The muzzle blast can throw off the readings.
If you're still having problems, contact CE and discuss with one of their tech reps. Let us know what they say, and we'll try to help you. Chronos are great tools for evaluating your loads.
I've had a ProChrono for over 5 years, and not had any problems.
Bill
Thanks everyone for the replys. I will call tech support this morning when they get in, I am on the east coast and they are an hour behind.
The weather yesterday was clear blue sky, and cold, 38-40. I was shooting nearly directly north. I tried setting the chrono at different places 15-20 feet away, and up as close as 5 feet. The chrono was set up in the shadow of the shooting station roof but out from under the roof. The guns used to shoot over it was 40 shots from .308, in which it read 3-4 times. Also a 22LR pistol in which it never did read, (20 shots), and 5 shots from a 9mm also no shots read.
The 308 loads it did read were 110 grain Hornady V-max. String 1 was with 48.5 grains of Varget. It registered one shot at 2917. String 2 registered 2 shots, one 2965 and one 2969. Same bullet, with 49 grains of Varget.
I'll post up what the tech guys tell me, thanks again for your input.
The weather yesterday was clear blue sky, and cold, 38-40. I was shooting nearly directly north. I tried setting the chrono at different places 15-20 feet away, and up as close as 5 feet. The chrono was set up in the shadow of the shooting station roof but out from under the roof. The guns used to shoot over it was 40 shots from .308, in which it read 3-4 times. Also a 22LR pistol in which it never did read, (20 shots), and 5 shots from a 9mm also no shots read.
The 308 loads it did read were 110 grain Hornady V-max. String 1 was with 48.5 grains of Varget. It registered one shot at 2917. String 2 registered 2 shots, one 2965 and one 2969. Same bullet, with 49 grains of Varget.
I'll post up what the tech guys tell me, thanks again for your input.
Yes, I have been using this chrono for about 6 months now and I don't remember it even missing one shot. It even picks up .17 cal pellets under my shop patio. I use the main unit with the remote controller. This thing has been great.
This is the second chrono I have owned. The first was the Chinese made model that cost MORE. It was hard to use, unreliable, performed pretty much as you have described, and quit working in about two years.
I am sure you have replaced your battery, cleaned your sensors, etc. Send it back. You must have a dud. You will like it when you get it working properly.
Woolly
This is the second chrono I have owned. The first was the Chinese made model that cost MORE. It was hard to use, unreliable, performed pretty much as you have described, and quit working in about two years.
I am sure you have replaced your battery, cleaned your sensors, etc. Send it back. You must have a dud. You will like it when you get it working properly.
Woolly
clean the eyes with Qtip and alcohol......then if you want to fool with it further before getting tech help try replacing the sky screens with a large one piece pure flat white cardboard I use a uspsa target with the white side down and crono and cardboard in direct sunlite.... I have seen this work to "fix" 2-3 other models
this method seems to give the unit a better shadow of the bullet to record......
this method seems to give the unit a better shadow of the bullet to record......
I have one. My wife got it for me for Christmas 2 years ago. It works great. My Dad has a different brand. Mine works great when his dosen't. Sunny or overcast days. 10-15' from muzzle. For $100 on sale at Midway, you cant go wrong. In fact, my Dad liked mine so much, he folded up his, used mine. I got him one for this Christmas to surprise him! He has no idea and is not on this forum.
The tech support said there was something worng with it and send it back. I hope there is a quick turn around. Post more later.
I shipped the defective Chronograph back to Midway today. They should have it by Friday so hopefully I will have the new one back early next week.
jp
Silver $$ Contributor
one of my fellow shooters bought one of these and for us it works fine. And I previously owned one of the prochronys and used it for years. So when it finally went down, I purchased one from pact their best and from day one it was a pc of chit, called many times to get it repaired. Never did , I was told that it was probably me not having it set right . Funny thing is I pd for a good machine and got a pc of junk. So now it sits in my extra reloading storage room with all the rest of the junk... And the good ole pro- chrony...So I will be buying another prochrony soon.
Light will always be a problem unless using one with I/R sensors.
A suggestion that works with some of the cheaper units is to mount the chrono on a tripod with a tilt head. Then angle the unit so it's tilted up to 45 degrees to the Left or Right. This sometimes provides more favorable lighting especially if the range has overhead baffles or roof at the firing line.
Also make sure you line of fire is straight over the chronograph. If slightly diagonal it may not be tripping one of the sensors.
A suggestion that works with some of the cheaper units is to mount the chrono on a tripod with a tilt head. Then angle the unit so it's tilted up to 45 degrees to the Left or Right. This sometimes provides more favorable lighting especially if the range has overhead baffles or roof at the firing line.
Also make sure you line of fire is straight over the chronograph. If slightly diagonal it may not be tripping one of the sensors.
I shipped it out to Midway yesterday and just checked tracking, it is out for delivery. I can't say enough for the customer service at Midway and also Competition Electronics. Very good people to work with. That being said I am hoping a quick turn around with Midway and should have it back fairly early next week. Amlevin, I will remember the tip of tilting it to the better light. The one I had just wouldn't do anything, last thing I tried was 20 rounds from a 22lr pistol and took extra care at making sure the bullet path was directly over the windows, not one reading was registered, however it did give one Error indicating the front window picked it up. I idn't know they made one with IR sensors I will have to check that out and maybe have Midway send one of those.
Rhinorider said:
I don't believe that CE makes an I/R version. They do make a lighting kit for their product so you can use it indoors.
I have a PACT XP pro with the I/R sensors and the "brains" all back at the bench. Also has printer.
I used to have big light issues with my Shooting Chrony and replaced it with the PACT. No more problems, even in the dark, overcast mornings, beneath the overhead baffles at the range.
Just a little update. I sent the chrono back to Midway and they shipped a new one back to me right a way. This evening I took it out and fired 40 rounds over it with my 22LR pistol. This unit read every single shot with out the slightest hiccup. I am very satisfied. The folks at Midway's customer service are top notch, they will be getting more of my business.
Cool, that was actually pretty darn fast considerning the shipping season.
I was actually looking forward to a repair report though, but heck, a replacment is even better.
Glad it worked out for ya! ;D
I was actually looking forward to a repair report though, but heck, a replacment is even better.
Glad it worked out for ya! ;D
That's what it's all about man, looks like they done a good on ya, very important for future Business!!
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