I went to the range this morning to check some varmint loads for my trip to Wyoming this month and it looks like the PACT Model 1 chronograph is giving up the ghost.

It started turning itself off randomly (new battery) then switching from chronograph mode to review. Velocities for identical loads ranged from 1100 fps to 5680 fps. Two readings of 3240 fps and 1670 fps averaged to 5212 fps. I would clear the memory and it would give me a 2800 fps average for one shot that read 3189 fps. When I try to review the memory it tells me that there is nothing in the memory.

I took the cover off at home, all the wires are connected and nothing looks wrong so I figure that the 23 year old computer has had it.

What chronograph is everyone using now?

If you've been satisfied with the performance of your PACT in the past you might want to consider the same brand again. I've used them with excellent results.

For the past few years I've been using a CED Millenium chronograph with skyscreens. It is light, compact, sets up fast, hardly ever misses a shot and seems to give good and consistent results. Battery life (one 9V) has been very good.

I use a batch of Winchester .22 target ammo (from the same lot number) in a Win 75 sporting rifle to check for consistency, so far it has been excellent. Mine is eight or ten years old, I would expect current production to be as good or better.

Why not give Pact a call? Maybe they can refurbish it for you.

quote:

Originally posted by Sagebrush Burns:
Why not give Pact a call? Maybe they can refurbish it for you.

I called PACT aabout three years ago asking if I could use the new skyscreens with the sunshades on it and they said that mine was too old to upgrade and they don't work on them at all.

It looks like PACT has a lifetime linited warranty so I'll call them tomorrow and see what that means.


Also, can anyone tell me what the IR skyscreens are for? (indoors?)

http://www.competitionelectronics.com/index.html

Mine still works (Prochrono Plus) but I like the new Prochrono Digital USB interface. The plus has been retired.

Are the windows to your sensers clean? roger

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

Also, can anyone tell me what the IR skyscreens are for? (indoors?)

They are for shooting on cloudy days when there is little direct sunlight. There is IR in that light. The sensors can see it when you use the IR screens.

I would go w/ the CED. I ran one back to back w/ my Oehler, very repeatable, easy to setup & use. Much better IMO, thant the bes Chrony.

The IR screens are for indoors. They can be used outdoors with the IR sources if the lighting conditions are a bit flaky.

They can also be used without the IR source for good conditions outdoors.

They increase your options. Convenient and well made.

Chronos prefer cloudy to sunny days.

+1 CED . . . with IR so you can shoot in the dark

Called PACT this morning and they said to ship it to them and they will go through it and check it out.

What the heck, I'll see what they can do with it.

Hopefully, if they can't fix the problem, they'll send you a new shiny one!!!

Speaking as a heretic, I'll say that should you find that your old chrony is defunct, you should not throw good money after bad, but refer to the many available and free ballistics tables available now to work up loads if you need to. These are as accurate or even more accurate than any data you can collect for yourself using a chrony without a muzzle blast and flash screen. These tables are worked up with many more samples (shots in a string) than the casual shooters uses himself and under more controlled conditions in order to eliminate errors.

quote:

Originally posted by amamnn:
Speaking as a heretic, I'll say that should you find that your old chrony is defunct, you should not throw good money after bad, but refer to the many available and free ballistics tables available now to work up loads if you need to. These are as accurate or even more accurate than any data you can collect for yourself using a chrony without a muzzle blast and flash screen. These tables are worked up with many more samples (shots in a string) than the casual shooters uses himself and under more controlled conditions in order to eliminate errors.

Considering that i have gotten 23 years of service from the chronograph that cost me around $100, I don't consider it "bad money"

As far as using software ballistic programs, I use them as a guide and fine tune them with actual shooting.

I have three 26" 243 barrels barrels that shoot the same loads to different velocities. I've worked up loads that are remarkably consistent in regards to velocity and standard deviation and then shot them in the different barrels.

This resulted in velocity differences larger than 15% between the barrels. No software program written can account for the differences in the barrel's performance.

quote:

Originally posted by amamnn:
Speaking as a heretic, I'll say that should you find that your old chrony is defunct, you should not throw good money after bad, but refer to the many available and free ballistics tables available now to work up loads if you need to. These are as accurate or even more accurate than any data you can collect for yourself using a chrony without a muzzle blast and flash screen. These tables are worked up with many more samples (shots in a string) than the casual shooters uses himself and under more controlled conditions in order to eliminate errors.

A free balistics table won't tell you how fast your bullet is. Without a speed for your bullet you can't use a table unless you shoot two or three ranges then estimate the curve. Even if you know that load x is 250 FPS faster in your gun than the book you loaded it from that may not be the same for load y or bullet b. It also doesn't allow you to compare two powders for velocity.

Fjold,

If you find you need a new chronograph, Oehler are back in business. Can I suggest you seriously look at the Mod 35. Great unit, I am still shooting a 33 and it hasn't missed a beat for over 25 years. Great unit, great service from Oehler.

My uncles died too when he hit it w/ a 300gn XTP from a .460 S&W Encore. LOL

quote:

Originally posted by amamnn:
Speaking as a heretic, I'll say that should you find that your old chrony is defunct, you should not throw good money after bad, but refer to the many available and free ballistics tables available now to work up loads if you need to. These are as accurate or even more accurate than any data you can collect for yourself using a chrony without a muzzle blast and flash screen. These tables are worked up with many more samples (shots in a string) than the casual shooters uses himself and under more controlled conditions in order to eliminate errors.

Haven't worked with very many different rifles have you, amamnn?

quote:

Originally posted by RigbyUser:
Fjold,

If you find you need a new chronograph, Oehler are back in business. Can I suggest you seriously look at the Mod 35. Great unit, I am still shooting a 33 and it hasn't missed a beat for over 25 years. Great unit, great service from Oehler.

My understanding is that Oehler is taking orders for a limited run of M35 consumer chronographs. If I didn't have one already I'd jump on this opportunity like a hen on a Junebug.

Actually, there's nothing better or different about Oehler's "box" from any other chronograph on the market -- it's just that the Oehler "box" fits the vastly superior Oehler Skyscreens. It be the bullet detectors that are the important part. If you could wire the Oehler Skyscreens to a cheap Chrony brand box your chronograph would be every bit as good. Whether this is practical or possible I don't know as there may be an incompatibility in the voltage/amperage/ohmage/circuitry between the Oehler screens and other's boxes.

quote:

Originally posted by K20350:
My uncles died too when he hit it w/ a 300gn XTP from a .460 S&W Encore. LOL

I'm still shooting over the original skyscreens from 1987. This may be a record.

quote:

Speaking as a heretic, I'll say that should you find that your old chrony is defunct, you should not throw good money after bad, but refer to the many available and free ballistics tables available now to work up loads if you need to. These are as accurate or even more accurate than any data you can collect for yourself using a chrony without a muzzle blast and flash screen. These tables are worked up with many more samples (shots in a string) than the casual shooters uses himself and under more controlled conditions in order to eliminate errors.

Those fancy labs are not testing MY rifle. In addition there is usually some variation in recipe, bullet make, brass, primer and barrel length. In additoin, most of the loads in the Manuals are constructed with new brass, but most of us shoot fired brass. Last night I was looking at two manuals, and they listed a 300 fps difference on the same load.

Until you chrongraph a load, you are just guessing.

The more I reload, the less I trust the manuals, and the more I trust my chronograph.

I think you got your money out of it. roger

I am shooting the same ohler 35P that I bought used in 1989.

I recently updated with some new stands and a new bar from Ohler web site. With these upgrades, I am "keepin on" with my original Ohler box. Why fix what's not broke?

That said, PACT will probably honor their warrenty. They are a good company. Please post how this finally resolves. thanks rc

Amamnn, I think the Hornady book sez it best: "each rifle is a law unto itself and generalizations should be made with circumspection".