IR chronograph?

Dawgdad · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:20 am Post subject: IR chronograph?

There are two types of shooters – Those who have put a bullet into the sensor on their chrono and those that will…

I now fall into the “Those that have” group and was going to order a pair of standard sensors for my PACT Model 1 XP with 18” bar but I see the IR conversion kit on the web page.

Is anyone using the IR version from PACT?

RePete · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:28 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

I've been running a PACT Professional for about 10 years and I've wasted an IR board or 2.

They have changed the IR sensors, and are supposed to be better - I haven't got to use the latest units yet.

The sensor housings are about 1 1/2" taller that the older units.

The older units wirke well.

I made a battery pack for mine using a 6v lantern battery, because there is no pwer at the range.

MacD · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:20 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

Had to laugh Dawdag. I am waiting for my turn to go from the latter to the former.

fnuser · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

I shot my first chony w\ a 6-284 85g Partition, It was a one shot kill it only went about 10 feet before it hit the ground. I'll never forget that "what the heck is going on" feeling that came when that tripod took off down range. Sometimes I am a little slow to catch on. It was my buddy's and we immediately went and replaced it. About a month after that I bought one for myself. It is still "hole-free" It was kinda an expensive lesson, but I guess it stuck I have had this one about 8 years.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

Having seen a friend shoot his chrony with a .45 Colt I came up with this solution to try to protect mine.

The idea is to make sure you can't see the target unless the path of the bullet is well above the chrony. Also the "shield" is soft, to allow a slightly low shot to go through it without jarring the unit. Now I haven't actually tested this yet and can see that I might have to play with the height some to get good results. Also note that my chrony has a remote display. But you get the gist of the idea.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:38 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

Welcome to the club! Glad that I'm not the only one to admit killing a chronograph!

Vince · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:32 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

Well...I haven't killed one yet...but I have wounded one a couple of times. Very Happy

Cheers, Vince

MRFixIT · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:17 pm Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

I shot the sunshade off of mine. Let hope thats all I shoot on it Smile

fnuser · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

I have seen snowplows for the front that come down at a 30 degree angle made out of steel that work pretty good I'm just not sure where the projectile lands.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:56 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

Pumpkinslinger...that should work. My solution was to stretch a piece of black electrician's tape between the front uprights about 4" above the sensor. I make sure that my crosshairs or sights never wander below that tape and have had no problems with readings (or hitting any more chronys!)

MacD · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:54 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

I use masking tape for the same reason.

dhc4ever · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

Funny how aware of scope height one becomes when you can turn $300 into junk rapidly. The same applies to shooting over car bonnets for similar reasons.
I like the tape idea, I might just steal that, thanks guys.

Dawgdad · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:50 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

As a matter of information - I was shooting and iron sighted AR and knew that the bore was about 2.5" below the sight. Light was not optimal and I was not getting any readings and was trying to get the bullet closer to the sensor to get detection. I had a mark showing where 2.5" was on the back screen. I finally got two readings and felt I had the aiming point until the third shot... post mortem revealed my cheap tripod had slipped and tilted toward the target and raised the front sensor about an inch.

With the poor signal due to less than optimal light being the root cause for this, I am ordering the infra red version.

MacD · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:57 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

Having read Dawgdads last post, has anyone ever tried blackening the bullet to improve detection by the chrony's sensors? Will this help on overcast days?

Ominivision1 · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:55 am Post subject: Re: IR chronograph?

Yes blackening the bullet tip with a sharpie does work great on overcast days.