CHRONOGRAPH

https://www.basspro.ca/p/caldwell-ballistic-precision-chronograph-with-bluetooth
I used mine twice last year when I changed powders, haven't turned it on in four years. It's good for ballistic tables too. When I started out 47 years ago i used one quite a bit. You'll eventually care as much as busy plumber worries about an over due oil change.
Ken Oehler started this low es/sd nonsense to sell false accuracy to AJ shooters without proof on target. Good for Ken's wallet but concentrating on maintaining point of aim until muzzle exit is far more important.
There's been a Labradar used exclusively at 1000 since 2015. 4000 rounds a year.
Numerous records broken.
Lowest es/sd over 44,000 rds was never best.
THE HORNADY PODCASTERS & BRYAN LITZ CAN SUCK IT.
 
Sorry guys, are they nice to have, yes. You can get an exact fps for range trajectory.
Are they essential, no. I've always been very close on my estimation of my fps. By shooting 1, 2, 3, and 400yds and crunching the numbers. Actual shooting, not trajectory theory. Me and a couple hundred thousand others have and are doing just fine with out it.
 
bearhunter said:
I've shot a few thousand 22lr from my T1X, with the Garmin C1 behind the muzzle, about two inches higher, and six inches on the left side. Never dropped a round reading. What are "you" doing wrong, or maybe the unit has a glitch????

I've heard there are issues when the battery is just about dead, but I've never run mine that low.
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Mine was missing rifle shots last week. Reading online, I THINK I may know the issue I was having, but haven't been back to confirm. At our range we have a low 20 yard target board, and based on the bench I chose to shoot from I was shooting over that board to the 100 yard targets. Reading online and the manual, it states it requires the first 25 yards to the target to be free of obstructions. I believe that perhaps mine was getting confused bouncing it's radar off the 20 yard backstop and it was the "more powerful signal" which made it miss some of the rifle rounds

Like I said though, I haven't brought it back out since then, so I can't guarantee that was the issue but it does make sense to me
 
MRP said:
Are they essential, no. I've always been very close on my estimation of my fps. By shooting 1, 2, 3, and 400yds and crunching the numbers. .
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The poor mans reverse chronograph!(y) Done that a time or two in the past based on drops to reverse engineer the fps, and it's surprising how close you can get to ballpark numbers. But really handy to have a chrono when going off the reservation/coloring outside the lines with unusal combos.
 
MRP said:
Sorry guys, are they nice to have, yes. You can get an exact fps for range trajectory.
Are they essential, no. I've always been very close on my estimation of my fps. By shooting 1, 2, 3, and 400yds and crunching the numbers. Actual shooting, not trajectory theory. Me and a couple hundred thousand others have and are doing just fine with out it.
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Yup, it does, just by looking at bullet drop at each distance and comparing, then extrapolating, the drop distances between known points, will tell the tale of velocity. I did the same for a lot of years, and it's all doable from there.

However, if you're shooting a lot of different firearms and looking to reach a velocity point to work from, the chronograph can save a lot of time and money, by needing fewer shots (components) and range trips, which for some folks can be quite a distance.
 
I still use my 35 year old Shooting Chrony occasionally.
I'd like to upgrade, there were tons of MagnetoSpeed units for sale cheap when the Garmin came out. I thought about it, but didn't get one. I'd also like to upgrade to a Livescope for fishing too, but in my case, budget doesn't allow it.
 
DiMP said:
Mine was missing rifle shots last week. Reading online, I THINK I may know the issue I was having, but haven't been back to confirm. At our range we have a low 20 yard target board, and based on the bench I chose to shoot from I was shooting over that board to the 100 yard targets. Reading online and the manual, it states it requires the first 25 yards to the target to be free of obstructions. I believe that perhaps mine was getting confused bouncing it's radar off the 20 yard backstop and it was the "more powerful signal" which made it miss some of the rifle rounds

Like I said though, I haven't brought it back out since then, so I can't guarantee that was the issue but it does make sense to me
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Good to know. I've never read any instructions for mine or looked into dropped shots but that makes complete sense. It's worked flawlessly from the start. Never missed a shot and so simple and compact. I will tuck that info away in my head for the day it drops a shot.. if it ever does. Cheers and thanks.
 
freire said:
Labrador is Canadian made but Garmin is manufactured and assembled in Taiwan, with some components sourced from China and other locations.
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Do you think the Labradar has all its components sourced in Canada? I would be surprised that all are, most likely lots of overseas parts.
 
freire said:
Labrador is Canadian made but Garmin is manufactured and assembled in Taiwan, with some components sourced from China and other locations.
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I'll purchase Asian technogoly over Canadian. Asians are at the forefront of digital tech; case-in-point, they have the highest IQ in the world. Same applies with european firearms, much superior than American.
 
jimbo14 said:
I’ll stick with the big orange box until it dies
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The thing that will go is the coin battery inside that maintains things like the clock, when turned off. You can replace that by opening it up, slicing the hot glue (used to make it impact-resistant) off and putting in a new one.
track said:
they have the highest IQ in the world
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Racist much?

DPB1sgVGOJKzBAhb9BcLwZwfd42Jofwoohs_mXDF9dT3lG9E3Q2Gis4q5zzlfsrq-cQyr42QWUAu_3ywE2LjAodiGJxMRap_m-ZBzO3zvH2Wt43_0L56NW_AS4mKsMTA3cowdJb15tDjpOc62tCI0WQ
 
LoL this is Morphing into something strange...
I like the O P's question and will re-assert my previous answer with a little more detail to my need of Chronos the god of time...
First off my time is limited.. Like everyone's... Secondly my shooting skills are subject to environment and skill level.. While taking data and measurements walking back and forth to 100, 200 and 300 yard targets at a busy range that is over an hours drive for me I cannot express enough to explain the value of using a scientific instrument that eliminates my inaccurate shooting and environmental conditions that would skew the data leaving it frankly and simply always subjective and not empirical... If someone wants to assume they always make a perfect shot... Well you do you... Yes you can do it and get close given a large enough group and averaging.... But why? There is a scientific instrument that can answer for each shot individually... I mostly shoot magnum cartridges... they burn barrels faster.. so it's a win for my pocket...
I didn't catch were your located but if anyone is interested in meeting me at Mission some weekend I will pretty much give you a Magnetospeed Sporter. It's mint but useless to me now... Doesn't work well with muzzle breaks... Just pay my gas for the range trip... and it's a win for both of us. My shooting buddies don't want it cuz they just use my Xero when we are developing loads. I do it for fun and don't need the bull..... Oh ya it stores data on your phone for you to reference at a glance...
Cheers guys... BTW it's education that dictates IQ groups not race...
 
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I have used various chronographs over the years and now own a Labradar.
However it rarely gets used since our club bought shotmarker targets.
I can shoot a group, get scores and group sizes if I want and get the velocity right at the target.
A few of our members are buying their own sin ecwe can only use the club's whe. An authorized RSO is there as well keep them locked up when not in use.
If i were starting over, I would buy a Shotmarker unit and build a portable frame that hinges in the middle and never worry about a chronograph.
Cat
 

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My shotmarker speeds are generally less than what they should be at the target, when comparing it to Applied ballistic. Sometimes MUCH less with a short, light for caliber varmint type bullet. Shotmarker is wonderful, but it does not replace a quality radar on the bench
 
todbartell said:
My shotmarker speeds are generally less than what they should be at the target, when comparing it to Applied ballistic. Sometimes MUCH less with a short, light for caliber varmint type bullet. Shotmarker is wonderful, but it does not replace a quality radar on the bench
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We tested three different chronographs with severa different projected ballistic apps and at 500 meters they were all pretty close to what the shotmarker indicated. at 500 meters and beyond I also believe that there are a lot of variables at play that affect velocity that cannot be controlled by the shooter, so I don't worry near so much about the velocity as I do my wind calls.
Cat
 
MRP said:
Sorry guys, are they nice to have, yes. You can get an exact fps for range trajectory.
Are they essential, no. I've always been very close on my estimation of my fps. By shooting 1, 2, 3, and 400yds and crunching the numbers. Actual shooting, not trajectory theory. Me and a couple hundred thousand others have and are doing just fine with out it.
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I agree with this.
For the average guy reloading who works up a maximum load that shoots well, a chronograph is a luxury item, not really required. I went without one for 30 years. Then I bought the best available at the time an Oehler 35P. Sure I now know what the actual velocities are for my particular rifle but it did not really make a difference to me. I would say though, if you are buying one, buy the best on the market.
 
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