I have the blue Chrony, the one with the little digital readout on the telephone cord. What kind of lighting do I need to get good readings out of it? I have high sunlight just about every day where I live. And how do I alleviate or eliminate those maddening ERR messages? What causes them? Thanks.

Buy an Oehler 35p.
I have very rarely had bad numbers with mine. And never due to too much sun.
However you may try to imitate the Oehler sky screens by putting a wide orange plastic "shade" above your screens. As I understand it the orange filter defuses the light so that the "eye" can see the bullet pass over easier.

muck

Homebrewer,
read your instructions. On my Chrony it tells you to use the shades in bright sunlight or if no clouds are overhead. As per the instructions, it says the bullet/eye needs a back drop. On cloudy days I don't use the sun shade with no problems. Less light, like under a roof, then no sun shades.

I use the shades always. I also use them with the short sticks.

Yep use the shades, and don`t let the sun shine directly in on the sensors. The bright blue sky is actually dark to the sensors and a cloudy day gives a brighter background for them to work with. The shades are a must if no clouds are present.
You might also try coloring the bullet with a marker to "darken" it.

After three Chronies that gave numerous piss me off problems and no good factory help or guidence the Oehler has been doing great service with no bandaid fixes for perhaps 5 years. When you talk to someone for help at Oehler you get it***RAT NOW!!! roger

It's worked in the past. I find that if I don't have it set up just right, I get the error messages. I was using it with the extended legs. Maybe that is part of the problem. I'll try the short legs next time I use it, which should be this weekend.

I have had very few "err" messages with my Chrony. Just use the shades when one appears or take them off if one appears. Have never used the extended legs. But don't shoot bows & arrows either, at least not yet.

I've been using a Shooting Chrony F1 Master for 5yrs, it's one of the best $80 I've ever spent!! The only time I've had errors was before I started using the diffusers all the time regardless of conditions, it hasn't failed to work since, read the info on their website if you don't have a manual.

http://www.shootingchrony.com/manual_F1M1.htm

I receive an ERR reading on my Chrony Beta very seldom.

The range where I use it is layed out inappropriately (East-West instead of North-South). We are only allowed to use it after 17:00 on weekdays and 1.5 days on weekends. The overhead baffles also reflect light.

You've got to understand the lighting conditions of where you shoot.

The Chrony has to be set-up the same every time.

I've taped off measured distances on the cable connecting the Chrony from the remote display to easily ensure the distance is the exact same every time.

The reflector screens work fine based on lighting conditions - with or without depending on the amount of direct sunlight, clouds, partly cloudy, ect.

I also replace the steel two piece reflector screen support rods with wooden dowls. Makes a huge difference if "you're off".

I tape the dowels with red electrical tape to ensure I can easily see the safety margin above the Chrony through the scope.

I found the ENTIRE Instruction Manual to be hugley helpful although I personally didn't want to take the time to read all of it - It paid off.

Gerry says,

quote:

I tape the dowels with red electrical tape to ensure I can easily see the safety margin above the Chrony through the scope.

My plan is to use a laser boresighter in the chamber and play the dot against a target just 30 feet or so from the gun, or a distance at which the scope will adequately focus. Next, I'll bag the gun in so it doesn't move too far from where it has the dot hitting the target. Then I'll set the chrony in place with a piece of paper clipped between the legs and adjust its vertical location so I know where the bullet will go. I'm getting it that the bullet has to go fairly close to the sensors, maybe as little as four inches above. Is this correct? Once I have the chrony's eyes and the bullet in the correct relationship, I should get good results. Am I going about this correctly?

Here ya go....

That is an even better idea than the boresighter! I'll do that. Simple. Foolproof. Thanks!

Having bought an Oehler many years ago, this discussion is breaking fascinating new ground for me that I never knew existed. I had no idea that an ordinary chronograph could offer such a rich outlet for creativity and problem solving. I must get myself one of those Chrony's!

Unfortunately, the Chrony screens are probably the worst on the market. You need to use the sun shades & your shots need to be exactly over center of the screens, no more than 8" high. Shoot left or right by a mere 1/2" or higher than 8" & you'll get err. Bore sighting over the cent helps, so does palceing an aiming point that keeps you no mor ethan 8" high. Me, I would sell it & buyt a CED, better screens. I am fortuante to have an Oehler 35.

I used a Beta model Chrony for two years, wore out the diffusers from repeated use. Got a Gamma model with printer, wore out the diffusers after a couple of years. Those Chrony's gave me problems with slanting bright sunlight and funny readings and the dreaded ERR readout all the time I used them. The fall and winter slanting sun rays just had to be delt with daily, and the fall is when you want to do most of your shooting, preparing for the coming hunt. I then bought a little used Oehler 35-P and immediately thought I had died and gone to heaven. Big difference in accuracy and longevity of diffusers and all components, and help in trouble shooting. I have been using the Oehler for several years now, with no complaints. Good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Having bought an Oehler many years ago, this discussion is breaking fascinating new ground for me that I never knew existed. I had no idea that an ordinary chronograph could offer such a rich outlet for creativity and problem solving. I must get myself one of those Chrony's!

beautiful tongue in cheek.message loud and clear. roger

Gosh Homebrewer, don't the other range users complain of you spending inordinate amounts of time out in front of the shooting points fiddle-fucking with that Chrony? Or perhaps you have a spot out in the desert all to yourself?

zr2 asks,

quote:

Or perhaps you have a spot out in the desert all to yourself?

Yes. There is a monstrous dry lake close to here. Great place to shoot. The fooling around with the thing when others want to shoot is why I'm looking for a way to make sure it works so both they and I don't lose our precious range time. The laser-pointer idea is genius.