View of RCBS skyscreens RCBS Chronograph
As a result of going to the 2011 SHOT show I received a RCBS Chronograph for testing and evaluation. Sheila Ennes sent it along with the Speer # 14 reloading book which I find extremely useful. The chronograph is made in China, what isn’t these days, has a novel shape much like a large round of ammo. It mounts on a standard camera tri pod which is a plus for it. The screens and electric eyes are stored inside the body which really makes it handy to carry and store. When it is in use it comes apart with the smaller end has the screen and various buttons while the larger part holds the sky screens. It is easy to assemble for use. All in all a neat arrangement especially for transport.
It has the usual buttons to retrieve data but I have found it less then user friendly. It seems overly complicated to operate at least to a gadget klutz like me. My shooting buddy who is better with gadgets doesn’t have as much trouble though he agrees that it could be easier to operate. Over a period of time it is getting easier to operate once you get used to the buttons. It helps to read the directions. It doesn’t have print capability at least yet. It takes a nine volt battery and has a one year warranty.
Large numbers are easy to readI have used it for quite a few types of guns and it picks up the velocities well from about 600 FPS to 4000. The numbers are large which makes them easy to read something my aging eyes appreciate. It is capable of reading velocities from 500 to 7,000 FPS and can also be read in meters per second. It weighs 4 LBS and 2 OZ and has 20’ wires which are nice because sometimes you have to be further then 10’ from the start screen. I find that true when chronographing black powder loads.
If you are looking for a moderately priced chronograph then I would suggest you check out this model. It novel storage features and lower price, around $130, gives it a thumbs up.
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To the Board of Directors,
Gentlemen I`am writing to present you with an idea that i think you may possibly find advantageous to your company. As i`am sure you are aware there is a great interest in whats called "Cowboy Action" shooting in this country and more and more guns of yesteryear are being resurected by the companies that make reproduction firearms.
The sport is growing constantly and the gun makers are constantly looking for ways to take even more advantage of this ever growing market. Guns like the Henry rifle,Spencer carbine, Colt and Remington conversion revolvers and the Colt 1872 Open Top and others are on the market and doudtless other guns of history will be made in the future.
The arms makers try to be as authenic as possible in their copies but one thing keeps them from being "true" copies.The majority of these guns are being made in calibers that the original guns were never made in.The Henry, Spencer,the majority of early Colts were made in rimfire calibers. Ammunition that has`nt been made by American companies since the 1920`s and early 30`s.But with the resurgence in interest in the old guns of our history and boost in ammo sales that go along with it i think it is time to resurect the original ammo these guns used as well. I ask you to think about it and concider this.
The new guns are generally offered in 2 and sometimes 3 caliber options, none of which were ever used in the originals to begin with. If the original rimfire calibers were offered as an addtional caliber option and the ammo for those calibers were available i believe both the guns and ammo sales would skyrocket.
Authenticity is what it is all about with the cowboy action crowd and the collectors and other shooters of these guns.What could be more "authenic" that having a repro in it`s original
chambering rather than a caliber that never was used in the original? Not to mention the fact that if ammo were available once again people that own originals like myself would love to be able to shoot them as well.
i believe that if arrangements could be reached between the gun makers and your company in that they would make the guns with their original calibers as options and you in turn make the ammo available i think it would be a boost in sales for both. I ask both of you to do this.
The gun makers offer the guns in their original calibers as a limited trial. You in turn make a limited run of the ammo. you both market the availablity of guns and ammo and see how it works. I believe you will find a gold mine has been discovered.
About 20 yrs ago i wrote a letter to your company asking that you concider making various rimfire ammo available again for people like myself who own antiques and would love to shoot them if ammo were available.My letter made it into the hands of someone { can`t recall who}
but he was a higher up in the company at the time.
He wrote me back saying he personally thought i had a good idea and he had presented my idea before the board and they turned it down saying they did`nt believe there was enouht of a market out there
Well things have changed quite a lot since then and i think that my idea might be worth concideration once again. I hope you agree as well.
Sincerely,
Robert Heins