Chronos on the cheap side
 

Allright, my question is simple. I want to chrono my guns, and I don't have a chrono. I don't need to chrono everyone and their mother, so I only need one that will match the readings with the famous xCortech x3200m, or that will read higher (so if the reading is wrong, I'm still field legal).

I though about this one.
http://shop.ehobbyasia.com/accessori...-100-120v.html

A good idea? Know something cheaper?

I have one of that, from same place, only different colour.

Works great at first, but started to behaviour weird after I leave it in -15 cold for few hours one day. (The problems might be related to that, but I am not sure. )

Problems includes:
Back light do not turn on when it should, and few seconds later, the display on the LCD started to become reversed from left to right, AND top to bottom. Keep pressing and it will just go dead.
Recharging it will solve the problem, for few days. after few days, maybe 2 weeks, (The battery should last longer than that, as I've used it for monthes without charging at first) the problems will come back. As I check the battery on the menu of the chrono the battery shows to be almost full, but it just need charging. I think the cold temp have damaged the battery inside the chrono.
New problem I just discovered yesterday:
When I was chronoing my gun, the chrono gives very low readings, such as 14, 25, 28 fps, once in a while, then went dead. After fully charged it over night and chrono'ed my gun again, I got two low reading at first, then everything went normal, and gives right readings.
I still think there is a problem with the battery of the chrono, maybe I will make a battery pack small enough to fit in, to replace the old one sometime, hope it will solve the problem.


Update 4th April:
After replacing the internal battery (a 3.7V very small lipo) with a similar battery (luckily these batteries are easy to find as small RC model batteries), the problem is solved. It no longer gives very low readings or missing readings, and the screen no longer blinks. I checked the old battery,it looks fine externally, but it appears to have unstable voltage sometimes.
Everything is fine with the chrono now, but I would not recommend it. If anyone already get one... Don't bring it to temperature such as -15C, the internal battery could be damaged.

I have seen some cheaper chronos, but in China. They can't ship it internationally because of the battery, and it is not worth doing that count the shipping cost anyway.

TA has X Cortech X3200 for 96 bucks seems good for the money by the time you ship and duty a 50$ one itll cost that me thinks

I carried that chrono for a short time, but customer feedback rated the item as poor to fair so I only carry the Xcortech 3200 now. It seems to be the "community standard" chronograph.

Mmm, so that chrono doesn't seem like a good idea after all.
I'll consider getting a x3200, I just need to mind myself that's it's for the best, and that it's not overkill for my needs :P.

Well, get a cheap one and get possible unreliable results. Get the same one most organizers are using, and avoid rejection of your gun.

4. Profit.

Fair enough.

Now, with that chrono, do I NEED .20 BBs to get a good read, or can I use .25/.28 to get the .20 fps?

In other words, I don't have any .20 here, only heavier. Should I buy some or the chrono can convert the result to .20 speed?

Get the app "airsoft fps calc basic" its fred you can add any bb weights youd like and use that to convert.
Example
400 on. 20
373 on 23
357.77 on 25
338.06 on. 28
326.6 on. 30
298.14 on 36
Its easy to use and you can set field limits it also gives joules and mps

You can set the BB weight.

It took me years of suggesting the Xcortech X3200 as the best bang for the buck, and I'm glad to see the community has finally followed and listened, after seeing a few Madbulls fail, or giving inaccurate results.

The UFC products.... you get what you pay for. They work, when they work. But they'll eventually break, like most of the China made products that airsofters buy these days.

Again, you get what you pay for.

$100 for a Xcortech is CHEAP. They used to cost more over a year ago. Even at the price I used to sell them for, they are STILL CHEAP. Consider, the professional grade chronograph that I use costs over $350, and still doesn't have some of the features that the Xcortech has (granted, it has quite a number of extra features....)

I agree.

If you can't afford a $100 chronograph for your airsoft workshop, it's likely you also can't afford to build an airsoft workshop.

If you're at the stage where owning your own chrono makes sense, you're likely going though a lot of parts and are investing in other tools as well. Aside from the tools to allow you to open and get into the guns themselves, a chrono is pretty much the most important thing in your workspace because it is how you verify your work and identify problems.

You may want to spend some time saving up money and then invest a bit later.

The Xcortech "is" cheap.

Noted. Ill get that chrono or nothing.
Not that I don't feel it's worth it. It totally is.

But to answer you MaciekA, owning a chrono personally does NOT make any sense right now. I just hate the fact that I don't know how my AEG and GBBP shoot.

15 years ago Coca Cola cans were the norm for "chronos"

If it goes through one side, its 300.
If it goes through both sides, its 400.
If it goes through the bottom, GTFO the field.

I miss those days...

I still use the can method today. It is a quick and dirty method when you don't feel like going to get the chrono.

Popcan processes must be more efficient now days because the fps standards have changed.

350 fps will now go clear through both sides easily
The bottom is an almost perfect measure of 400 fps
If it goes through the top then GTFO the field

EDIT: I still remember the day when Spike had the blood pouring down his face. The gun that shot him was popcan chrono'd. It shot through the bottom AND RIGHT THROUGH THE TOP! What was that 600-650!

EDIT EDIT: I bet Spike remembers that day, too!

I used that before I got my chrono... And the uncertainty of the pop can method is why I got a chrono.

Personally I think access to a chrono, whether you own one or your buddy does, is crucial if you plan on doing any sort of upgrading work. How else would you know if you don't have an air leak problem?

I use a XCoretech as well, and found that it's very consistent as long as you hold the gun consistently as well. Even if you shift a bit in any direction, you'll get an oddball 5fps variance, but if you keep the position of the gun consistent the variance between shots drops considerably.

My XCoretech drives me nuts with the "TOUT" messages. I occasionally set up my BB catch next to a table or box or something and just place the gun on the table ... Consistent readings through the XCor every time.

Getting consistent readings through that damned thing should be the true test of marksmanship.

Challenge accepted.

http://youtu.be/9e15KlNtl0k

I flipping hate you, you darned sharpshooter ;)

too much tendon damage from gaming and sports to hold my hands that still. =(

i had the same issue, I placed a small flashlight shining into the back of the xcor and i no longer get the TOUT error.

My biggest gripe about the Xcortech is that I have about 20 BBs rattling inside it right now...

They're pretty easy to clear out. Just open up the unit a crack and shake all that crud out. The BB's get in there from shots that aren't straight through the tunnel. They end up clipping the optical ports at the end, which leaves shards (and sometimes full BB's) inside the unit.

This will happen with any type of tunnel chrony like this. The only way to avoid this is to get an open system, such as the Shooting Chrony, or CED units. They're much pricier, but if you want a truly accurate chronograph, these are the units to use. They're also great for recording things that you could never fit through a tunnel chronograph... such as grenades, real firearms.... baseballs? LOL.

http://img.redwolfairsoft.com/upload...g/CED-M2-L.jpg

Again, they're not cheap. To get a fully spec'ed out unit that's compatible with indoor lighting, in a full shooting station that can record data to a computer, you're looking at about $350.

Same goes for getting the TOUT message. It's caused by not shooting straight through. You might be straight on the left-right, but because it's difficult to see your alignment from the side (unless you have a mirror beside your shooting station), it's very possible you're positioned high and shooting at a downward angle.... or you're positioned low and shooting upwards.

End of the day, get what works for you and your needs. For the occasional output check, the cheaper units work fine. But for heavier work, the more expensive units are worth their weight in gold.

Can I use this thread for another question?

I got the x3200, and so far so good. Never got a single TOUT message (I kid you not).

I just wonder why the first shot with my GBB Pistol indicated 167.6, while the rest was +/- 240 (With .25) ?

What pistol are you shooting? It's very possible your hammer spring just isn't strong enough. First strikes are generally lower (especially with Japanese originated guns).

I have a question as well. I also have the xcortech 3200 and sometimes it doesn't give me a reading at all. It doesn't say TOUT either it just remains blank like nothing passed through. any suggestions as to why?

The weapon is a KWA NS2 system USP Tactical. Nothing wrong with it, I was just curious.

i bought my 3200 2 years ago and have used it almost every weekend *save for winter* and its still going strong.

while at Operation mason relic 4 there were 3-4 3200s at the chrono station..out of all 4 chronos mine was chronoing the highest fps's. by which i mean if you took ANY gun that was extremly consistant it would should upto 8fps higher on my chrono vs the lowest reading one. so i may have red tagged some people on my chrono if they hit 422 and may have actually been shooting under the 420 field limit. however we still are uncertain if my chrono is chronoing high/exact/low.

some tips we've learnt from my chrono

1. its easier to chrono a assault rifle if there is no silencer on in

2. if you don't have a tripod use 2 people...twice the eyes the better chance to not get tout

3. if you fire and get no tout and no reading it was a dryfire OR a peice of bb is stuck on your optics

4. if your pistol doesn't wanna read corrently or if it gives weird readings fire from further away *eg upto 6 inches as the gases may affect your readings

5. do not have your chrono parrallel with the sun. if due to safety reasons you must get as much shade as possible over both ends of the chrono


if anyone else has any tips or disagrees feel free to post :)

Is it a gas powered gun you're using? Guns that eject gas clouds can mess with the readings. This is part of the reason why I switched to open type chronos (vs tunnel). They are not affected by gas ejection. Considering how many gas guns I worked with, this was a positive investment for me.

I have a chrony alpha master but I have yet to put it together :D

I have 2 at my shop.
I have a "big red" paintball radar chrono ($350) for paintball and if I am in a hurry I will use it for airsoft works great for that. It usually is about + or - 5 feet from my airsoft one. Which is Mad bull. I haven't had a problem with it at all.

I've used Big Red tons of times, and have had wildly varying results - especially with gas guns. I've gotten huge swings as high as 80fps off the correct value for AEG's, and with GBB's, readings could swing +/-200fps - especially when there are large gas clouds emitted. I do not trust any radar based readings for airsoft use. The rounds are likely too small for them to read properly.