I have been receiving a lot of requests to review my new chronograph purchase. While I have been quite busy with other projects, I managed to squeeze in some time to give this a proper in-depth review.
I’m actually unsure who the original manufacturer of this chronograph is, though I suspect it might be Amp Tactical. You can in fact find this chrono branded by many different entities, including Evike, Swiss Arms, UFC, and more. Depending on where you shop, price can range from $50 – $120. It is available in two colors: black or tan.
External Appearance, Features and Observations
A brief summation of features:
- Measures ROF (Rate Of Fire)
- Measures power in Joules
- Custom Set Your BB weight and caliber
- Measure from 1 FPS to 999 FPS /MPS
- Backlit Digital read out
- Auto Shut Off feature
- Tripod mountable
- Customizable memory settings
The body of this chronograph is built of plastic that is mildly textured and ribbed in a pattern not unlike a P-Mag. I would not say the plastic quality is on the same level as Magpul’s however, as it feels thinner and probably more prone to breaking should you abuse it harshly. The overall design feels solid enough, however, and isn’t like holding the creaking plastic mess that is the Tokyo Marui FAMAS. The shoot-through tube is anodized aluminum and features a removable thread-in “cone” that is made from polished aluminum. There is a standard 1/4″ tripod mount underneath that is fortunately built of metal as well. Overall weight is extremely light – I estimate around 12 oz. total weight, certainly no more than 16 oz.
On the front is a small LED display with a simple 3 button arrangement that leaves little doubt as to their functions. The LED display is backlit by default, and is easy to see in direct sunlight or pitch dark. You can switch the backlit display feature off, but it is far easier to read the display with it on.
One of the really nice features of this chrono is the ability for total cordless operation. There is an internal rechargeable battery built into the unit, and it can be recharged with the included AC adapter. I have left this unit on overnight and the charge level still showed that it was ‘full.’ So the good news is that it appears it can be operated for at least quite a few hours without fail. The advantage of cordless operation is obvious – this definitely opens up possibilities for use in the field, far from power sources. Being that the unit is also highly compact and takes up a minimum of space and weight is another bonus for field use.
Operation
Operation of the AMP Tactical chrono is sublimely simple. It has often been called one of the most user friendly chronographs on the market – a claim I can agree with. While it includes a brief instructional paper on method of operation, I did not find it necessary to consult it. Out of the box one simply presses the power switch and proceeds to start shooting. You may or may not have to set it to your desired unit of measure, however. Mine was set to Meters Per Second (MPS), rather than Feet Per Second (FPS.) Switching between measurement units is intuitive and easy, and can be done in under 5 seconds or less.
Additionally, one can calibrate the chrono to specific BB weight, and size. So if you want to set it up for 40g 8mm BB’s, it is entirely possible. I suspect you could possibly gauge it all the way up to a .68 caliber paintball round, though the shoot-through section is on the small side for paintball use and you’d likely break a ball inside if your aim isn’t true.
Accuracy Testing
I tested the readings of this chrono against another unit I own, a real steel PACT 2, which is a considerably more expensive unit, albeit with some drawbacks – such as the ability to only work in direct sunlight, being much larger, and having miles and miles of connected wires slaved to a control unit. Side by side testing confirmed the accuracy of the AMP Tactical chronograph was nearly identical to within +/- 1 FPS. I proceeded to test all of my airsoft rifles and pistols to see whether the readings on the AMP Tactical chrono were the same as my recordings with the PACT 2. I am pleased to say they were all spot on to a T.
In summary, I am very pleased with this chrono. It is accurate, lightweight, compact, and eminently portable. If you do any tech work at all, you will need a chrono. If you don’t do any tech work, knowing what your gun is doing FPS wise is important, and it can be the difference between knowing whether you have a field legal gun or not. As a field admin or referee, having a portable chrono such as this would be a valuable asset and save time and questions for both parties in the midst of an OP should a chrono check be required.
Thus far I have not seen any strictly negative qualities – Look to the future for an update once I’ve owned this for a year or two and we’ll see how she’s held up over time.
