Chronograph needed

[sb327]

Thanks for all the replies i just ordered this one . For $33.42 to my door felt like i could not go to wrong .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Chargeable-Ballistic-Chronograph-High-Accuracy-Arrow-Velocity-Meter-Measure/383642319690?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

You can’t go wrong with it. Like Ribbonstone, I might want others (and have a couple), but this is what I use the most. I’ve blown this thing through the woods with a .457 Texan valve dump and it keeps kicking. (I had to resolder the battery and still can’t find the lid, lol)

Dave

[mrbulk]

Starting from the mid-90's through now I have had several different types of chronographs, and despite some negative reports here about the FX it is the best and most dependable one I have ever used (to the point of selling off all my Caldwell and Shooting Chrony and a no-name-brand units).

BUT apparently a lot rests on getting a "good one" from FX, so your MMV but I do stand by my (particular) FX.

[Booder98]

I have one of the ~$30 clamp on Chinese chronographs and it works very well.  But it affects POI if I use it while shooting groups.  So I bought a very similar one that can be tripod mounted in front of the gun.  I got it from Alliexpress.  It took a couple weeks to get here but it works well.  It also reads MPS but it gives you one digit after the decimal place (i.e. 274.4, instead of 274).  It's a bit of a pain to write down the MPS after each shot but once I get started it isn't bad.  Gives me an excuse on the size of my groups. 

I used to own a "Shooting Chrony" but it got shot one too many times so it doesn't work any more.  One of the nice things about these inexpensive units is they work on a different wavelength of light and seem very insensitive to lighting conditions (unlike my "shot chrony").  Both have rechargable batteries that last a long time but the way you know they need charging is they start giving you obviously inaccurate readings. 

I cannot see the logic in buying a more expensive unit when these inexpensive units work so well.  They do not require you to set a velocity range like the FX either.  They do not eat 9V batteries like my shot chrony.

You can glue a 1/4-20 nut on the bottom of the clamp-stype cheapo chronograph, and use that to fasten the chrony to a tripod.  I did that because the clamp won't fit to an Avenger.

[bduares]

I removed the top of the "diamond" shaped barrel clamp on mine and use the long U shaped clamp with wingnuts instead, so I get a few inches of room to clamp onto a barrel sleeve. I wrap a bit of cloth around the barrel sleeve and tighten the wingnuts and so far I don't have anything big enough to not fit in the thing. Same way Ribbonstone did in his photo. Fits my Origin easily so it should fit an Avenger

[Lani52]

I really like the fact that  my EC5000 works in the dark as I use a soundbox to shoot through.  The FX was not consistent in the sound box.  The numbers are small hard to read in the box, so I use a pair of Nikon close focus Binoculars to read it, the focus to slightly past 2 feet.

My Ec5000 reads in both FPS or MPs.

I believe my FX would work better with fresh batteries EACH time I use it, if so it is simply poorly designed.  Not going passed 1100 FPS is another design flaw, as is a having to pick a velocity range is another design flaw.

And you get all this for a mere $200.00.  It, the FX Radar should have been still borne.

When I first got the EC5000 I installed and shot both at once, at 400 to 880 FPS, there was no more than 3 to 8 FPS difference with the FX reading slightly higher.  I have not used the FX since.

Regards,

Roachcreek

[Ribbonstone]

Always something that screws up a “universal” fit.

Sumatra doesn’t what to take that cheap chrono either, unless it has an LDC.   Both too tall (barrel on top = 3 tubes)...the no LDC barrel “nub” won’t work...front sight so long that can’t mount behind it (the muzzle would over hang the first sensor).

BING...a little light clicks on.

They work mounted side ways.  Remove the mounting “hoop”..strip of duct tape (AKA “Bubba-tape”)...worked fine.

[sb327]

I use a piece of tig torch tube on the u bolt and thick cloth glued to the v.

I’ve scratched a few conversions on the bottom.

Here it is mounted sideways to fit between tube and barrel

Dave

[bduares]

I mount mine sideways on my Challenger so that I can see through the scope

[JimD]

I mount the clamp on chinese chrony to my Avenger with rubber bands.  Works fine.  But for guns too tall for this, I agree side mounting would be the approach to take.

I tried gluing a wood piece with a t-nut in it to my clamp on for tripod use and it would not work.  Not sure what I did wrong.  But once the wood was removed it worked fine again.  My similar unit made for tripod use was only about another $35 and gave me an added digit to the measurements. 

I think the FX has some nice features but I still cannot get past the $200 price tag when the $35 unit works so well - and also has advantages over the FX.  Like rechargable battery that lasts a long time and no velocity scale to set.  Reads all the way to 999 meters per second - about 3,000 feet per second.  Not sure it will work on a powder burner but I have not tried it.  It might. 

[Greg_E]

I have the FX and it is a unreliable POS.  I also have the cheap Amazon that always works.

Regards,

Roachcreek

Me too. The FX was better at 10 percent return setting, but is that enough signal for accuracy? My problems are mostly with flat base slugs, traditional pellets from a smaller caliber where really good at 20 percent return. I'm guessing that the pellet skirt is acting as a retro reflector and returning a larger signal than the flat slugs. Even at 10 percent I need to get everything just right and that includes the amount of barrel sticking out past the radar. I want to love it, but just not as reliable as I want.

[Traxxx]

Wow, I haven’t had the first issue with my FX Chrono. I wonder what the difference is, granted it is only on for initial info for each pellet/slug or when changes are being made to the tune. So only a few hundred shots through it.
If I were to do it again I would have ponied up the extra for the Lab Radar with Bluetooth.
The Bluetooth was actually one of the features that sold the FX for me.
Anyway, it looks like OP has his chrony now. Good luck.

[EPG8]

I mount the clamp on chinese chrony to my Avenger with rubber bands.  Works fine.  But for guns too tall for this, I agree side mounting would be the approach to take.

I tried gluing a wood piece with a t-nut in it to my clamp on for tripod use and it would not work.  Not sure what I did wrong.  But once the wood was removed it worked fine again.  My similar unit made for tripod use was only about another $35 and gave me an added digit to the measurements. 

I think the FX has some nice features but I still cannot get past the $200 price tag when the $35 unit works so well - and also has advantages over the FX.  Like rechargable battery that lasts a long time and no velocity scale to set.  Reads all the way to 999 meters per second - about 3,000 feet per second.  Not sure it will work on a powder burner but I have not tried it.  It might.

Here are translated English instructions - I believe they apply for both the clamp on and tripod versions of the $32 Chinese chronographs. The Chinese chronographs are fantastic in that they never miss a reading- even when mounted sideways. As you can see from the instructions, they record and play back your entire shot string. They can even be set to show energy (joules) rather than meters per second- if you enter your pellet weight.

[Nomadic Pirate]

That little orange Amazon Chinese chronograph sure is great,

just slap it on the gun and go

[oldpro]

That little orange Amazon Chinese chronograph sure is great,

just slap it on the gun and go

+1

[Greg_E]

I think I need to 5 volt mod my FX... the transceiver runs at 5 volts and the batteries supply 4.5v at best (under load). They use a boost device to bring the voltage up to 5 volts and it may or may not have enough current when working. If the tolerance on the components all stack up to being low, then you will starve the transmit cycle of power. they should have used 4 AAA cells to power this.

[Spin]

I have the FX and it is a unrealizable POS.  I also have the cheap Amazon that always works.

Regards,

Roachcreek

This had me 😂 laughing

Why I've used a AC5000 for around 2 years now without a hitch and I'm not alone on this board or elsewhere I'd guess.

[avator]

I like my Pro Chrono Digital with the Blue Tooth add on and the light kit.

[AndyKunz]

I think I need to 5 volt mod my FX... the transceiver runs at 5 volts and the batteries supply 4.5v at best (under load). They use a boost device to bring the voltage up to 5 volts and it may or may not have enough current when working. If the tolerance on the components all stack up to being low, then you will starve the transmit cycle of power. they should have used 4 AAA cells to power this.

It may not be the boost device's fault.  It could be the batteries have too high of internal resistance to be able to deliver enough power.  You need to use high-quality AAA cells in there, not whatever cheapos are in the supermarket checkout line.  The 4.5V max output of the cells may work to your advantage.  Rather than going with AAA cells, look for a single LiIon cell.  If you get the standard type found in vape pens, they can deliver a wallop (the ones in the product I work on provide over 200mA for about 8 hours between charges).  It won't fit in the case, but it won't kill your warranty and it will most likely deliver the juice needed for a much longer time.

Andy

[nervoustrigger]

The FX does eat batteries like candy so undoubtedly the batteries’ output impedance is a factor.  Alkalines are fairly poor performers in this area.  For example they start out at 1.5V nominal but sag under load, frequently delivering less voltage than a NiMH having a 1.2V nominal rating. 

[mrbulk]

Although I have always used Duracells in my FC chrono and never had an issue, I can see where rechargeable AAs (depending which ones you get) might be a better solution.