Is the Chrony F1 the best chronograph ? Video Review of the F1

[catanonia]

A new video I forgot to post.

A review and my thoughts on the Chrony F1.

https://youtu.be/QYIqkC0ZeBE

[lensman57]

No it is not and we dont need a review of something that is old as dinosaurs, thanks.

A.G

[markpimmy]

A good review mate. Great stuff. Subscribed. I had one of these, and it was so light fussy so I sent it back for a refund. Totally lost confidence in it. Looking for a different one now.

[hareng]

A good review mate. Great stuff. Subscribed. I had one of these, and it was so light fussy so I sent it back for a refund. Totally lost confidence in it. Looking for a different one now.

Nothing exists will have same trouble with any led type chrono IR or not, results quite dramatic.
Only ones can trust are the radar outdoors.

[Scubashot]

Nothing exists will have same trouble with any led type chrono IR or not, results quite dramatic.
Only ones can trust are the radar outdoors.

Tell that to the police forces that use the Skan units to check confiscated rifles for muzzle energy!
I have also not heard any bad reviews of the R2 series of chronos manufactured in
Poland and sold in this country by Blackpool Airrifles.
They are both reported to be unaffected by ambient light conditions - at least to an appropriate degree for an average air gun user.

[hareng]

Tell that to the police forces that use the Skan units to check confiscated rifles for muzzle energy!
I have also not heard any bad reviews of the R2 series of chronos manufactured in
Poland and sold in this country by Blackpool Airrifles.
They are both reported to be unaffected by ambient light conditions - at least to an appropriate degree for an average air gun user.

For starters police dont chrono theyre sent to the lab at £500 a pop.

Been listening to the wrong people R2 are affected by light same as any other. Showing an led light on to the sensors makes no difference, switch on extra set of indoor lights reads 18-24 ft/sec faster to match a controlled unit.

[pelletcaster]

I have to say that I chrony ANY airgun when I get it and repeatedly during my tuning process until I find the best set-up and pellet.
This may take measuring 500 to 700 shots sometimes or sometimes even more - I don't care.
Airguns I keep for a longer time will be measured regularly to understand changes and behaviour at differing weather/temperatures conditions. Not only springers but PCP too.


I have been measuring with the Chrony F1 for four years now.
It's not perfect but quite good and it fits my demands nicely.

Light sensible - yes.
Especialy at bright sunny sky the sun shields are a must and sometimes it's even better to provide some (more) shadow by an umbrella or similar.
At dim light you just have to shoot right over the centerline of the lenses about 3 to 4 inches up and it will measure correctly until dusk. Please note - again with the shields up.
It seems that the lenses need the reflection of the bullet against the underside of the shields.
Same accounts for shooting in the badly lit basement where an old style desklight (bulb) positioned about 20 to 25 inch above and centered between the lenses.
Taking care that the batterie isn't weak is favourably.
LEDs work too and are easy to come by.

I like the F1.
I have it on a tripod in front of the shooting table and can change its lateral and horizontal position easily.
The display is sufficient to get nice readings that I write down on a slip of paper and put into my spread sheets later. Admitted - a connection to a note book for automatic registration of every single shot would be an advantage but I got used to the paperwork where I additionaly make my records how the specific pellet fits into the barrel plus how and where it groups.


I tried the Combro 625 once and send it back after some attempts.
Main reason was to have to take the gun back and turn it quite around everytime to get a reading of the single shot was an unacceptable PITA for me.
Plus this device is a joke on spring/Gas Rams especially break-barrels even for sub-12fpe not to mention FAC.
I tried to connect it to my notebook with that special cable but never got it working but that's another story I suppose.
What a rubbish. No - thanks.


And there is that (Poland made?) Air-Chrony.
Excellent readings even in the dark due to its built in IR(?)-lighting and PC-connection.
Please note there is a strong manufacturers advise NOT to measure in the sun and to avoid other strong light emissions too.
Finally I find it really unpleasant to have to shoot through the small tunnel where the surrounding device/construction many times just covers more or less of your target.
Consequently this device furthermore is absolutely inappropriate for measuring at bigger distances while as example trying your own check of BC of a specific pellet.



Oh yes - I know that there are some other makes available but they're all more or less the same as the F1 just mainly more expensive.

So did I mention yet that I like my Chrony F1?!

[Scubashot]

Nothing exists will have same trouble with any led type chrono IR or not, results quite dramatic.
Only ones can trust are the radar outdoors.

Hi lensman57,

You'd better ask hareng about the "radar outdoors" as they are apparently the only ones that you can trust.
He claims that turning on a light will make all others read 18 - 24 fps fast but doesn't say whether that is irrespective of calibre, pellet weight, design or muzzle velocity!
Even if that were true, it should only mean that you would turn down your muzzle velocity by a few percent, thereby increasing your margin of safety from prosecution!

He may also inform you that the police do not test rifles using Skan units but send them to the lab for a fee of £500.00.
It's good to see tax payers money being used so freely when they could buy their own Skan for £200.00! ;-)

I too have a Combro and now an R2A. They have so far read consistently within 4 fps
of each other on my 0.22" at around 600 fps.
That is within 1% which is good enough for me.

[Aimstraight]

....It's not perfect but quite good and it fits my demands nicely.....

.....Taking care that the batterie isn't weak is favourably....

....LEDs work too and are easy to come by.....

I'd go along with that, and for the low cost of one second hand they do a good job. Much more versatile than a combro (mounting not practical on many pistols). I found that my F1 favours a good quality zinc carbon battery (Sony 6F22) as opposed to an alkaline battery. 21 LED 'puck lights' (integral magnet) under the sun screens work well indoors, with strong rare earth magnets above the screen.

There is no mention of the fact that a push button switch can be plugged into the 3.5mm jack on the side of the F1, this can be used to scroll through the stored results (each shot fps, low, high, average, standard deviation); this is a worthwhile and easy accessory to make up

Agreed the F1 is bulky, cumbersome and a faff to set up; not such a problem if you have space to leave it set up permanently

[gtfreight]

No it is not and we dont need a review of something that is old as dinosaurs, thanks.

A.G

I think it's good that Catanonia is doing these videos. Perhaps it is an established brand but for people who are just coming into the hobby this is a great source of unbiased information to give them an idea on which chrono' to use.
If I remember correctly when Catanonia started making his videos he did explain which angle he was coming from.

[secretagentmole]

Why not review the good old humble 625 mk 4 Combro?

[PhatMan]

secretagentmole.

He has :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lju9saqMtpw

Have fun & a good Sunday

Best regards

Russ