New Inexpensive Air Gun Chronograph

[Gwhite]

I have to do a lot of testing on the air pistols I maintain for the college team I help coach. To do velocity testing, I've been using a couple "Combro" chronographs from England, and they work very well. The Combro is a very small, light-weight unit that lashes onto the end of the barrel with a couple rubber bands. You can shoot the pistol at a target normally, and I often end up adjusting the sights while I check the velocity. Unfortunately, the gentleman that sold and supported them has retired, and they are only (rarely) available on the used market.

I recently ran across a new option. There is a Chinese chronograph that is small and light enough to attach to the barrel. They can be bought directly from China off eBay for about $20-$25 USD for the basic model. They have one with Wi-Fi, and voice synthesis for a little more money. You want to make sure you get the latest model, the HT-X3006, and from a reputable vendor. Apparently there are fakes out there already...



Here's one YouTube review (there are several): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feGOGT-Nhnk

They attach with brass pins that can be arranged to suit your muzzle diameter, and then those are clamped to the muzzle with rubber bands or a zip tie. If you only have one pistol to work with, that's fine. I have at last a half dozen different makes & models to deal with, so I'm working on designing and 3D printing adapters that attach with a dovetail arrangement. The only minor annoyance is that if you want to be able to use your sights when you fire, the box has to be mounted with the display pointing down. I've got an adapter designed for Benelli Kites, but I don't currently have a Kite at home to get a good photograph. I'll post a picture or two in a day or so.

I've used mine a bit, and once I have all the adapters I need, I will probably use it as my main chronograph option. It will record a series of shots, and display them in a list. Eventually, I may explore getting the Wi-Fi version to get a record I can copy into my notes easily.

[Gwhite]

I just realized I never got around to posting photos of the 3D printed mounts I'm working on. I've replaced the end mounting plate with one with a dovetail to accept different adapters. Here's a picture of the chronograph with the end plate and a Benelli Kite adapter:

Here it is installed on a pistol:

HT-X3006 Kite Mount (sm).jpg (46.54 KiB) Viewed 44943 times

And here is the chronograph with an adapter for Morini 162EI pistols:

HT-X3006 Morini Mount (sm).jpg (36.66 KiB) Viewed 44943 times

I have adapter designs printed for Steyr LP10's, and Hammerli 480K's. I've got one in the works for Anschutz LP@'s, and I will also be developing one for Hammerli AP20's as well. Once I have them all finalized, I'll park the files on Thingiverse.

[Ramon OP]

Thanks @gwhite. You have a tremendous positive impact in our sport

[argus]

Thank you for sharing Gwhite, following with interest.
If not already there, is it possible to emboss the model number somewhere on the adaptor as part of the design?

[Gwhite]

They are labeled. I'd never be able to keep them all straight otherwise...

One issue I haven't investigated is that I may need two different ones for Hammerli 480K's. I think half the ones we have were converted from 480's (no "K"), and the spacing between the barrel & cylinders is different from ones that started out in life as 480K's. The original 480's had a very bulbous carbon fiber tank.

[idn]

Would you be able to make a version for the P8x?

[Gwhite]

If you only have one pistol to deal with, you can use the factory mounting system that uses brass pins. I need to deal with at least a half dozen different makes & models of air guns, which I why I need something that can be switched around more easily. I don't have a P8X, so unless it's very similar to one of the other designs, I can't help. Once I have completed all the versions I'm working on, I will provide CAD files that are editable. If you are handy with 3D CAD, you could modify one of my designs for a different pistol.

[motorcycle_dan]

Hey Doug, The Steyr guy who used to come to Camp Perry with Scott Pilkington. He had a rig in his tool box. When servicing the Steyrs he would adjust the velocity and the bottom of his tool box had a chrono in it. From the outside just a small hole maybe 2" diameter with foam protection around it. He would shoot into that hole and it would read out velocity. I'll reach out to Scott and see if he knows.

[Gwhite]

That would have been Buck Parson.

When I'm repairing the Team pistols that have been taken out of service, I often want to shoot them on a target anyway. That way I can see how badly the sights are messed up. Students often have technique issues they have compensated for with their sights that are holding them back. We also occasionally discover that students have decided to shoot center or 6:00 hold, despite being taught otherwise. Their scores usually jump when we fix that.

There are a whole bunch of airsoft chronographs for under $100 on Amazon with pretty big holes to shoot through. A few bricks of ductseal in one end of the tool box would take care of the pellets. I don't need anything portable, but it's an interesting bit of "kit."

[motorcycle_dan]

I talked to Scott and he said he built it himself. I ordered one of those 3006 chronographs you mentioned from E-bay. I figure that will be better than my old Chrony although it still works but eats 9V batteries like M & M's
I started iron sights 6:00 technique. Switched to Sub-6 and scored quite well. As I've aged out, I switched to Center of Target hold. I wouldn't recommend it but the technique does work. I coached a local league here in OH. Many of the techniques I taught them work well. Adjust the sights down 2 full turns then shoot on a backwards target. Just concentrate of sight alignment at sear release. Start asking them to describe which way the front sight moves as they squeeze. In follow through, hold the trigger back, Where is the front sight in follow through? The goal was to get them to a point of self coaching. They need to know what to ask of themselves.

[argus]

Hi Doug, any update on the files going up on thingiverse please?
Unit has arrived and keen on the LP10 and morini files in particular if possible please.

[Gwhite]

I just shipped the team I help coach off to the Collegiate National Championships, so I have a short break to catch up on stuff. I'll try to get those two up first, possibly in a day or so.

The models were mostly created from one or two pistols, so with manufacturing variations, there may be some tolerance issues with the fit. I will provide STEP files as well so they can be tweaked, but I'd also like to get feedback on any serious issues. I think I will probably have to make two models for the Hammerli 480/480K's, because I think the cylinder mounting height was changed between the two variations. I want to check that soon while the design approach is fresh in my head.

[Gwhite]

All the models are posted to Thingiverse, including STEP files:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6977381

Current pistols supported are: Anschutz LP@, Benelli Kite, Hammerli AP20, Hammerli 480K, Morini 162EI and Steyr LP10.

[argus]

Thank you Doug, very much appreciated!

[wjwillia]

I love my FX pocket chrony. It is lightweight and attached to the barrel with a rubber band. Works via Bluetooth. Also works with well with 22LR subsonic rounds. The only drawback I've seen is that battery life (3AAAs) is short. I'm not sure if they make them anymore, but they come up for sale on the airgun sites sometimes. Good luck.

[Gwhite]

The FX is supposed to be very nice, but the current version is also literally about ten times the price of the HT-X3006. The latest version ("V2") uses a rechargeable battery.

[Wile E Coyote]

All the models are posted to Thingiverse, including STEP files:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6977381

Current pistols supported are: Anschutz LP@, Benelli Kite, Hammerli AP20, Hammerli 480K, Morini 162EI and Steyr LP10.

Just wanted to thank you for your generous support of this community.

[Gwhite]

You are welcome!

I have to do all sorts of odd things to support the college team I work with. It's silly to do all that work and then hide it away. Being mostly retired means I have time to document & share stuff. It also means that if I get hit by a bus (or a heart attack), the next team armorer won't have to start from scratch.