Welcome to Quake's Chronograph Primer and Chronotech Review. I have a Chronotech chronograph, and use it often to check the performance of my Stingray. A chronograph is indespensible for judging the effect of various modifications on your marker's performance. A chronograph is also indespensible for safety.

What is a chronograph? A chronograph, chrono or chrony for short, is a device designed to measure the velocity of a projectile. There are two sensors on the top of the chrono, and it measures the time the projectile takes to pass between them. It then electronically converts the time into a measurement of feet or meters per second (FPS or MPS), with the velocity shown on a digital display. Most chronographs are designed for use with firearms and archery, but work very well with paintball guns.

Velocities over 300 feet per second can be potentially dangerous. For this reason, all paintball fields require you to chrono your gun before you play, and usually have a 280-300 FPS limit (less for indoors). This is a safety measure, designed to prevent "hot" guns. Paintballs shot at a too high velocity can break the skin and even crack mask lenses. I know that a lot of players play so-called "bootleg" or "outlaw" paintball, at unorganized fields. For safety's sake, I emplore you to get a chronograph and require everyone to use it before you play. Chronographs aren't that expensive, and everyone can pitch in to share the cost. It's a small price to pay for safe paintball.

Using a chronograph. Most fields have a "chrono station", with the chronograph on a table and some sort of backdrop or firing range behind it. You simply fire your paintball gun a few inches above the chrono, and read the velocity on the digital readout.

Remember to wear your PAINTBALL mask whenever you fire your gun!

Some of the more expensive chronoes will have a "shelf" or "ledge" that you rest the barrel on when you fire. Others, like the Chronotech, are flat on top, and you simply shoot across the sensors. As seen to the left, the Chronotech also comes with diffusers. The diffusers are positioned over the sensors for use in bright, direct sunlight. They also serve as an aiming reference or guide for positioning the gun before you fire. When used in the shade or diffuse light, the white diffuser panels can be removed, leaving the black rods as a shooting reference.

The Chronotech can be mounted on a tripod for ease of use (as shown above). There is a hole on the bottom of the Chronotech that is the right size for a 1/4"-20 tap, which happens to be the standard size for tripod mounting screws. If you don't have a tap, the plastic housing is soft enough for a self tapping screw.

After you cut the threads in the housing, it can be mounted on a tripod just like a camera. Adjust the tripod head so that the chronograph is level, and you're all set.

For use indoors, or in deep shade (like my backyard), you'll need to set up some lights. The manufacturer recommends placing two incandescent bulbs, 25 watts or more, 10"-12" above the unit, with one light centered above each sensor. I've found that the inexpensive clamp lights are ideal. They are adjustable, and have aluminum reflectors that protect the light bulbs and reduce glare.

The Chronotech Chronograph. I got my chrono from G3 Paintball, and I know that I&I Sports carries them, also. Manufactured by Chronotech Ltd. in Canada, the Chronotech chrono is an inexpensive yet well made unit. It's powered by a single 9 volt alkaline battery, so it's completely portable. It comes with the chrono (of course!), two diffuser panels and four rods. It has a white plastic housing with a four digit readout on the front. There are two slots on top for the sensors, and four holes for the diffuser rods. On the bottom are two switches, on-off, and feet-meters. The battery compartment is also on the bottom. There is no battery door, but there's a clip in the compartment that holds the battery securely in place. The Chronotech has a temperature operating range of 32 to 95 degrees F, and a velocity range of 75 to 9999 feet per second.

My Chronotech worked well right out of the box, and I've had no problems with it. The only thing I can say is that it does require plenty of light for reliable readings, but for use outdoors on sunny days, you should have no problems. For use on dark, cloudy days, or for night games, you could probably rig up some 12 volt lights that can plug into the cigarette lighter in your vehicle.

I know I feel better with the knowledge that my guns shoot at a safe velocity. It's very convenient having my own chrono. I can test my guns' performance whenever I want, and can make sure they're within the legal limit before I go play. I can also identify low velocity problems ahead of time, so I know my guns are ready to go before I get to the field.

If you play renegade paintball, I very highly recommend that you invest in a chronograph. It's a very small price to pay for safety!

Chronotech Chrongraph by Michael Simpson

Well I got my CHRONOTECH chronograph. It works great. As you can see from the picture it comes with these plastic rods that fit into small holes in the top of the unit. They are used as guides and if you shoot any where between them you will get a reading. I used the unit during overcast sky and bright sunlight. I found that it worked flawlessly. There are some small diffusers that are included that you are supposed to use in bright sunlight but I did not need them. The unit has both an on/off switch and a feet/meters switch on the bottom. I screwed my tripod into the bottom of the unit. There is a small hole that can be tapped by any self-tapping screw. If you want to use the unit indoors you will have to rig some sort of light system. The directions say that it requires at least two bulbs located 10" to 12" above the unit. There is also supposed to be a light set available soon. You can purchase a splash shield for further protection, but I suspect you can make something cheaper out of some scrap Plexiglas.

How did it work? We play a lot of renegade ball on my property, and after being blasted by what I felt were some very hot balls, I decided it was time to invest the $70 and purchase the chrono. I myself have two Tippmann M98's and two Stingrays. When first chronoed, these were the results (keep in mind that none of the guns had ever been adjusted): Stingray #1 - 290fps; Stingray #2 - 304 fps; M98 #1 - 328fps; M98 #2 - 347fps. All guns were then adjusted down to about 250fps. The bottom line is, if you play renegade paintball, I think that $69 is a small price to pay for safety. The unit is so easy to set up and use that whenever we leave my staging area we chrono on the way out. I got my chrono from I&I Sports.

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