My new Chronograph

Fluorescent lights will drive a chronograph nuts.
The IR illuminators should overpower the flicker and get good readings, my CED did OK the one time I set it up indoors. You will just have to try yours.

Tip: Shoot from a rest, EVERY TIME. I shot mine and have seen others hit with hasty offhand shots.

Depends on the type of lighting the range has. If the range has fluorescent lighting, then you will need
a light box that has the old style incandescent lamps installed. Fluorescent and led lamps actually turn on and off
due to the alternating current. That strobe effect screw's up the crony.

Jim Watson said:

Tip: Shoot from a rest, EVERY TIME. I shot mine and have seen others hit with hasty offhand shots.

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Yep, all it takes is one sloppy shot.

Lee Q. Loader said:

Here's what I bought:

https://www.cabelas.com/product/CALDWELL-B-P-CHRONY-PREM-KIT/1837672.uts?slotId=4
Will it work at the indoor range?
I've read all I can find about it and it looks good. From all I've read it looks like the only sure way to know if it will work at my indoor range is just to go try it.

What do you guys think? Any tips for a first time chrony user?
Thanks

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I own a three Chrony's got that set up and like it the best, Great little package. Love the software. Congrats.

Bring extra batteries and make sure you turn it off,

I had over of those. Never used it indoors. It died from being knocked over by the wind one too many times.
I will be getting another one.

kcofohio
Ouch.....
If it was a Comp Elect. I think they will replace it for 1/2 price even if you shoot it.

When I go to chrono I don't worry about where the shoots end up on target.
I setup the target to give me an aiming point over the chrono and try to make sure I shoot above the chrono.

Be careful with scoped rifles as the line of sight through the scope is higher than the bullet light path up close.

Lead poisoning seems to be the main mode of chrono failure

I have one to use with my revolvers, it works, outdoors fine.
Tried using one at an indoor, it just couldn't read, don't know if it was the light or what.
Magnetospeed for everything else.

The other problem with indoor use is getting it setup since it has to be setup in front of the booth. None of our indoor ranges have breaks as they are pay by the hour which means you have to get everyone to stop shooting long enough for you to get setup, a major hassle and if something isn't right you have to stop them again. Won't make you the most popular guy at the range.
Makes the Labradar unit very desirable if only it wasn't so darned expensive.

Yup.
The one time I used my CED Millennium indoors, I went in at opening. I was able to set up, shoot my strings, and take down before anybody else arrived to shoot on that bay. Unfortunately the management was not interested in my proposal to set up occasionally and chronograph customers' ammo for a modest fee to be split with the range.

I have that exact setup too. I like it alot, but have used it only outdoors.
I do know that if the day is dark I need to set up the IR lamps. Fortunately, I can run AC power to them.
Also, my range is under trees. When the wind blows, the moving shadows can wreak havoc with the readings.

brutus51 said:

The other problem with indoor use is getting it setup since it has to be setup in front of the booth. None of our indoor ranges have breaks as they are pay by the hour which means you have to get everyone to stop shooting long enough for you to get setup....

Makes the Labradar unit very desirable if only it wasn't so darned expensive.

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Exactly. After you solve the light issue, then you need to get 12 to 15 feet in front of the firing line to setup the instrument. For that reason alone, most ranges won't allow it. Talk to your range first and see if it's even permissible.

If nothing can be placed in front of the firing line, then long guns can use a MegnetoSpeed. For handguns, a LabRadar is probably your only option

Jim Watson said:

Fluorescent lights will drive a chronograph nuts.
The IR illuminators should overpower the flicker and get good readings, my CED did OK the one time I set it up indoors. You will just have to try yours.

Tip: Shoot from a rest, EVERY TIME. I shot mine and have seen others hit with hasty offhand shots.

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Agree with everything you said.

I will be trying mine out at an indoor range I just joined. They have a 100 meter bay that I plan to use. I have the light kit that I have only used once (outdoors at night).

I used to shoot offhand with my chrono, but one time I pulled a shot and was sure I hit my chrono, but somehow I missed it. Ever since then, I always use a rest. I've shot well over 1000 groups across my chrono and have not hit it yet.

False readings are common place even outdoors, everything must be setup correctly. Too close or not level will produce them.
Once I was shooting some very shiny Extreme plated bullets out of my .45ACP and consistently got 4500fps. readings,
wow talk about bragging rights . Painted them up with a black majic marker and immediately went back to mediocre 850fps readings, quite a disappointment.

Indoors or outdoors, light is always your biggest issue. Too dark, too bright, or pulsing with the AC supply frequency.

Painted them up with a black majic marker and immediately went back to mediocre 850fps readings, quite a disappointment.

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and all this time I thought a coat of nice gloss black paint made everything faster

I have the same chrono as the OP. I used it yesterday to chrono 45 ACP load workup at the indoor range I shoot at. The owner lets me in two hours before the range opens to the public for chrono sessions. The bay I used yesterday has florescent lights. We put up a large piece of cardboard overhead on the target track to shield the chrono and used the lights that come with the chrono. Function was excellent as I only got one error out of 30 test loads. As Jo Jo said above, I turn off the chrono's lights while reloading or making notes as the batteries drain quickly.

Wish I could find a place like that.