Gents,

The GF graciously got me a new chronograph for my birthday last year, and I'm getting around to testing some loads with it. It has the standard 1/4 x 20 mounting hole on the bottom. I'm searching through tripod and mounting options and finding things are either very cheap and flimsy or very stable and way too expensive for something that'll only get rolled out a few times a year. I'm not opposed to making something, so I wanted to ask what is everyone else using as a stable mount for their chronos?

Thanks,
Brandon

I use a number of tripods for phography, and I can tell you a cheap one is totally useless.

Find hoe heavy is your sky screens, then go to a camera store and buy a tripod that will support that weight.

Tripods tend to get more expensive as they carry more weight.

No substitute for a solid tripod, but they tend to get expensive. Checkout your local Goodwill or other thrift stores. You never know what you will find.
C.G.B.

I usually shoot off the ground, so I've drilled holes in a few pieces of rebar. Drive in the rebar and a 1/4" threaded rod plugs into that and screws into the chronograph. Tripods don't go low enough unless I find a hill or little ridge or something.

quote:

I use a number of tripods for phography, and I can tell you a cheap one is totally useless.Find hoe heavy is your sky screens, then go to a camera store and buy a tripod that will support that weight

Heavy is better. I also prefer to have braces between the legs.

Depends on what sort of chronograph you have. I have just returned from the range today using my Chrony F1 set up on a fairly light and relatively cheap camera tripod. Was a very windy day but the Chrony is lightweight and had no problems. I can push the feet of my tripod into the ground if need be, it has legs with two telescopic extensions plus a centre column which can be raised 300 odd mm so has plenty of adjustment to get everything lined up.

Another shooter at the range was using a chronograph requiring sight screens set up on a fairly solid looking tripod (had braces between the legs) but we had to halt our shooting at one stage as his tripod blew over in the wind and he needed to reset it.

I use one of these, minus the lights.

http://www.harborfreight.com/f...hop-light-61540.html

I use an inexpensive tripod. My old tripod was from K Mart. After 20 years a plastic piece broke on it. My new one was my father in law's, it's an Albinar. It is probably the model up from the one I had. Something with spikes in the feet and a wide stance works well. You can find good tripods for anywhere from $10.

quote:

Originally posted by craigster:
I use one of these, minus the lights.

http://www.harborfreight.com/f...hop-light-61540.html

That's a solid idea! I was actually headed to HF today for some items, and that would kill two birds with one stone. I'd get a shop light for most of the time, and can take them off when I head to the range.

For reference, I have a Competition Electronics chronograph, so it's not what I would call "heavy", maybe 5 lbs. Thanks for all the responses on this. I certainly agree with Saeed in that crappy tripods are basically useless, but I'll probably only use this when testing loads so not all the time. I suppose I'll take a few side trips on my way to Harbor Freight today and see what I can find. My main concern isn't the weight, it's the wind. My range is at the top of a hill, and there's always a slight breeze blowing.

It's pretty easy to make the HF stand bottom heavy, if needed.

I purchased a tripod for my Beta Chrony off the Internet for @ 20 widgets.

It has a hook underneath the mounting platform and I hang a plastic bag on it with one (or more, depending on the wind) of my range sand bags in it. Adds considerable weight, making easier to set-up and does not blown over in the wind.

Years ago I purchased a Gitzo Super Studex that I used for medium format photography. With the virtual elimination of film photography it would be relegated to the closet with the Hasselblad, but it comes in very handy to set the chronograph on- doesn't matter if the wind is blowing or if the rifle has a severe muzzle blast. Where I set it is where it stays. I'd check the used photography websites for one that is no longer used.

I use a camera tripod for my chronograph. 20+ years now.

quote:

Originally posted by Ray B:
Years ago I purchased a Gitzo Super Studex that I used for medium format photography. With the virtual elimination of film photography it would be relegated to the closet with the Hasselblad, but it comes in very handy to set the chronograph on- doesn't matter if the wind is blowing or if the rifle has a severe muzzle blast. Where I set it is where it stays. I'd check the used photography websites for one that is no longer used.

Damn! That is a heavy duty sumbitch! I will certainly see if one is available on the cheap(er) used somewhere. I will likely be out and about tomorrow and can look at the usual places. I might also scour Amazon to see what they can offer.

20 plus years ago I bought a 14.99$ tripod from Walmart.
It worked flawlessly until last winter and one of the leg lengthening stops busted off.
This spring I bought its replacement at Walmart, an infinitely better tripod for about 35 or 40$. New one is far more stable and I imagine it will last 20 years or so.
I see no need to spend a fortune on a tool to simply hold up a chrony.

That's good to hear the Walmart/Target tripods will do the job. Like I said, the chrony is pretty light and will only get used a few times a year. Do you remember what brand or model it was? I'm passing by a Walmart today.