LeviSS Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 This is my first experience with a chronograph. I bought a Prochrono a few weeks ago and have tried to use it a couple times. All times it was heavily overcast, twice in the evening and once in the middle of the day. I was just using sticks with no diffusers. The first day, with my old Berry's plated load it read with no problems. The second day I tried my new Bayou 147 load, red in color. I got an error message like 7/10 shots. So I packed it up, thinking maybe it was too late in the evening. Yesterday...heavily overcast again, at noon...went back out. I shot 5 shots of my old Berry's load through it. 5/5 recorded, no problems. So I switched to my new Bayou loads to test. Same thing. Maybe 7/10. The owners manual said to try coloring the bullets with black sharpie. I did, to no avail. I'm frustrated. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Are you 10-12 feet from the chrono? (If you're too close, you might "blast" the screen). I don't know why Bayou reds wouldn't work, if the Berry's worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan550 Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Try using the diffusers. They are included for a reason. It makes for a consistent "picture" for the photocells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmo Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Try using the diffusers. They are included for a reason. It makes for a consistent "picture" for the photocells. I've use the ProChrono for over a year in various lighting conditions ...but have always used the sun shades just so I know I'm shooting through the same "window" every time. My experience is only with lead or jacketed bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toothguy Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Mine hasn't given me any problems, but I have always used the diffusers. You said that you have only had it a few weeks and it looks like they have 30 day money back guarantee as well as a two year warranty. Try using the diffusers and if you still have problems give there customer service a call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviSS Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 Try using the diffusers. They are included for a reason. This is the reason I didn't use them: From the owners manual... "On an overcast day, it is generally better to remove the diffusers. This is because the clouds act as diffusers and so no further diffusion is needed; rather in this case it is more advantageous to allow more light into the chronograph." I'll try them and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I never use the diffusers on my Chrony. I'll get some Error Messages, but still find out the velocity, eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rwm983 Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 If the diffusers don't work, try to get a Labradar if your in no hurry. They are on backorder, but worth the wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviSS Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 Are you 10-12 feet from the chrono? (If you're too close, you might "blast" the screen). I don't know why Bayou reds wouldn't work, if the Berry's worked. I'm probably closer to 5. The manual said 5-10. Maybe I should try a little further. I can't figure it out either. The manual said sometimes bullets can be too shiny, hence the sharpie trick...but the bayous aren't shiny like the plated, and the plated have given me readings every time. I'm perplexed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Are you 10-12 feet from the chrono? I'm probably closer to 5. The manual said 5-10. Maybe I should try a little further. Five feet is too close. Move back to 10 feet from the muzzle to the screen - that should solve the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnote Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I try to duplicate the general distance I see at chrono at a match, and I would put money down its not 5 feet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptoid Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Most everyone uses 10 Ft. from muzzle. If you use it closer than that with susonic rounds, the muzzle blast can falsely trigger the screens. Always use the diffusers. They are provided for a reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.E. Kelley Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) Try shooting through a hole in a piece of plywood or a cardboard. That will "catch" any ejecta other than the bullet. Edited December 23, 2015 by P.E. Kelley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviSS Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 Most everyone uses 10 Ft. from muzzle. If you use it closer than that with susonic rounds, the muzzle blast can falsely trigger the screens. Always use the diffusers. They are provided for a reason That could explain why my 115gr loads were working, but the 147s I was trying wouldn't. As I said earlier, the manual said not to use diffusers on a cloudy day, so I didn't. I'll try them next time. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviSS Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 I tried again yesterday with a little better luck. I had 3 errors out of 20 rounds...still too many. I used the diffusers and stood back 10-15'. I'll have to try the cardboard in front of it. It was fairly sunny. It's still frustrating me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwray Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Overcast is better for a chrono if you are shooting a rifle its best to be ten yards away with the muzzle Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviSS Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 (edited) I've read about people putting white cardboard over the sunscreens. Anyone tried this? Edited January 4, 2016 by LeviSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Yes, on a sunny day with the sun over to the side I'll put a USPSA target over the diffusers so the lighting is equal on the screens. Do the same thing on my Oehler. (two targets on the Oehler) Put some little holes in the targets and anchor them on with some of the little wire ties like come on a loaf of bread - or a lot of other stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviSS Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 I took it out the other day for the first time in a while. I propped a target up in front of it and shot through it. It worked perfect except for one really high reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan550 Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 If you mean you shot through the target before the round got to the chrono, you may have some material from the target messing up the reading as well. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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