Athlon Rangecraft Chronograph and H1000

[nomadicbohunk]

I recently bought one and it's mostly working great.

It will not read any bullet from my .257 weatherby using H1000. I have no idea why. It starts taking a reading and then doesn't show anything. I've done this over multiple days. I'll shoot a few with h-1000 and then try one with a different powder and it will take it. I've moved it around. It won't read different bullet types.

Has anyone else run into this?

 

[Brijake]

Not sure if this will help but have you made sure you have the most recent update?

 

[nomadicbohunk]

Not sure if this will help but have you made sure you have the most recent update?

Yes. I'm completely puzzled by this. I loaded some more h1000's up and I'm going to try moving it way off to the side as well as putting it in other mode tomorrow. I've shot about 100 total with it, 25 with h1000 that it hasn't taken. The only thing I can figure is those big kernels of flaming powder coming out the barrel are messing with the radar or something (26 inch barrel though). Like it senses the shot, but doesn't change. I can go back and forth between other powder loads and it'll read them. Just not the h1000s no matter the bullet. I tried moving it all around the bench too. Restarting, changing to default, etc.

If that doesn't work tomorrow, I'm probably going to warranty or return it.

 

[Chase16]

That is interesting, do you have access to GRT/Quickload to predict your powder burn? You would think that it would all be burning in a 26" in that case but I guess it is possible it is a little on the slow side depending on bullet weight, but I wouldn't think so...I'm going to be experimenting with on this weekend with some N570. Kernels the size of tic-tacs. We will see

 

[nomadicbohunk]

Yeah, I have grt. I'll look at that later today. Great idea.

The thing that boggles my mind is the lower to max ones I tried had sooty necks. Like I'd expect full burn with that. I shot a ladder until I hit pressure signs as the max book loads with all bullets/powders had sooty necks, less primer pressure than factory, and were way slower than they should be. During the pressure ladder I was getting farm enough over book max in grains that I was like, "uhhhh...." Then I got mild pressure signs and velocity was what I'd expect for that. I will say, I'm running less powder than some folks. If you're curious, I'm thinking h1000 or grand with 95hhts will be the magic mix. Factory weatherby, I used n160, grand, h1000, and h4350. For bullets, 90cx, 95 hhts, and 100 ttsx.

 

[Brijake]

Yes. I'm completely puzzled by this. I loaded some more h1000's up and I'm going to try moving it way off to the side as well as putting it in other mode tomorrow. I've shot about 100 total with it, 25 with h1000 that it hasn't taken. The only thing I can figure is those big kernels of flaming powder coming out the barrel are messing with the radar or something (26 inch barrel though). Like it senses the shot, but doesn't change. I can go back and forth between other powder loads and it'll read them. Just not the h1000s no matter the bullet. I tried moving it all around the bench too. Restarting, changing to default, etc.

If that doesn't work tomorrow, I'm probably going to warranty or return it.

I had to call them twice and both times they have been extremely helpful with great customer service. I’d give them a call first before you beat yourself up too much more! Sure seems strange and will be interesting to see how it all turns out

 

[SloppyJ]

That's an interesting observation for sure. I run a garmin and haven't had anything like this happen before but I think you're onto something with the burn rate. Maybe unburnt powder obscures the reading somehow. Are you using any slower burning powders in that cartridge that it actually reads?

 

[nomadicbohunk]

That's an interesting observation for sure. I run a garmin and haven't had anything like this happen before but I think you're onto something with the burn rate. Maybe unburnt powder obscures the reading somehow. Are you using any slower burning powders in that cartridge that it actually reads?

I'm pretty sure h1000 is the slowest. I've used Grand, H1000, n160, and h4350. I should do some goofy load with some retumbo and see what it does. Grand and H1000 I think are pretty close. But h1000 is a lot larger grain sized.

It did read my 9.3x62 with a mega load of varget. Barnes 250, and I think I'm running 62 grains. That has to have some unburned coming out. Bigger bore though and faster powder... I'm going to try it with my sabot slug reloads with 4227. Those spit all kinds of powder out and have cards flying all over.

Now I'm thinking about all the guns I have super hot loads in for hope of unburned powder. My 6mm remington is loaded pretty zesty as the throat is about gone. I think that's at like 3450ish with 85 grain barnes with no pressure signs. I could be wrong on that.

 

[Chase16]

Yeah, I have grt. I'll look at that later today. Great idea.

The thing that boggles my mind is the lower to max ones I tried had sooty necks. Like I'd expect full burn with that. I shot a ladder until I hit pressure signs as the max book loads with all bullets/powders had sooty necks, less primer pressure than factory, and were way slower than they should be. During the pressure ladder I was getting farm enough over book max in grains that I was like, "uhhhh...." Then I got mild pressure signs and velocity was what I'd expect for that. I will say, I'm running less powder than some folks. If you're curious, I'm thinking h1000 or grand with 95hhts will be the magic mix. Factory weatherby, I used n160, grand, h1000, and h4350. For bullets, 90cx, 95 hhts, and 100 ttsx.

Based on "sooty necks" I generally equate that with very mild charges that don't blow the case neck out fast enough and allow some carbon back around that seal. I don't have access to the softwre until this evening, but I what I've experienced in the past (and it is modeled correctly in GRT) is that your burn % will actually go up when you add more powder due to increased pressure and therefore temp. You can actually have less burn percentage on a mild load.

Depending on what you find with Athlon/GRT it may be worth trying a slightly faster powder or try H1000 with some heavier bullets just to rule some stuff out. Sounds like there is a path ahead, though.

 

[Chad E]

I shoot h1000 in a 7 saum with a 20 inch barrel. My Athlon has recorded every shot with this combo successfully.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Yes. I'm completely puzzled by this. I loaded some more h1000's up and I'm going to try moving it way off to the side as well as putting it in other mode tomorrow. I've shot about 100 total with it, 25 with h1000 that it hasn't taken. The only thing I can figure is those big kernels of flaming powder coming out the barrel are messing with the radar or something (26 inch barrel though). Like it senses the shot, but doesn't change. I can go back and forth between other powder loads and it'll read them. Just not the h1000s no matter the bullet. I tried moving it all around the bench too. Restarting, changing to default, etc.

If that doesn't work tomorrow, I'm probably going to warranty or return it.

my 257 wby is 115vld and h1000. I will try it sat morning. But my 7prc is H1000 and no issues there.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

my 257 wby is 115vld and h1000. I will try it sat morning. But my 7prc is H1000 and no issues there.

I'm using 95 hammers and h1000. It didn't read with 90 cx or 100 ttsx either.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

Based on "sooty necks" I generally equate that with very mild charges that don't blow the case neck out fast enough and allow some carbon back around that seal. I don't have access to the softwre until this evening, but I what I've experienced in the past (and it is modeled correctly in GRT) is that your burn % will actually go up when you add more powder due to increased pressure and therefore temp. You can actually have less burn percentage on a mild load.

Depending on what you find with Athlon/GRT it may be worth trying a slightly faster powder or try H1000 with some heavier bullets just to rule some stuff out. Sounds like there is a path ahead, though.

That makes sense. I mean, it reads everything else I tried. Grand is really close in burn rate and it reads that.

 

[ezwy]

I have been doing loads with a 21" 25 prc. 134 gr eldm H1000. The athlon missed maybe 1 shot out of 35.....

 

[TaperPin]

How interesting. Ive heard certain combinations can cause a shockwave that confuses things, but having one powder be the straw that breaks the camel’s back is really something.