Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Professional
Purchase Now
The Dutch band Golden Earring had a serious hit in 1973 with the rock anthem “Radar Love”. It made its strategy to the U.S. in April of the subsequent yr, and reached No. 9 on the Document World chart, No. 10 on Money Field, and No. 13 on the Billboard Sizzling 100. It was as soon as known as the very best track on the radio by some individuals.
So why would I begin an article on chronographs with this ‘70s hit? Due to the title. Radar Love. I’ve discovered that, radar love of types… nicely, like anyway… within the three chronographs we’ll study herein. The hyperlink is that each one three of those chronos aren’t optical, however use one among two kinds of radar to do their factor.
This text is designed to be fundamental. I received’t go into the weeds right here, exhibiting you quite a few screenshots; that’s not the aim of this report. I wished merely to introduce these three chronos to you, in case you’re contemplating shopping for one.
What Are They?
So what are we taking a look at? Right here they’re, in alphabetical order by firm…
Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Professional
Caldwell Velociradar
Garmin Xero C1 Professional
The Athlon and the Garmin are roughly the identical measurement and weight, whereas the Caldwell is far bigger. It operates a bit in another way than the opposite two… see under.
Let’s evaluate the specs of our trio.
Specs Chart
* There’s an included recoil-activated set off that you may connect to your rifle to cease the unit from triggering from surrounding shooters
All three of those chronographs are straightforward to make use of and appear to be very correct. I do know of at the very least one loading firm that makes use of a number of of them to measure the speed of their hundreds.
The Athlon is the latest of the trio, being launched this yr (2025). The opposite two have been round some time, though all three are comparatively new. The expertise retains enhancing. I’d search for much more sooner or later.
How Do You Use Them?
First, a bit of non-public chrono historical past…
I began out my chrono expertise by buying and selling for a Taking pictures Chrony, the folding unit that took a 9V battery. I promptly missed the sunshade opening and shot the nook of the unit. I graduated to one of many Caldwell optic fashions, after which obtained their Ballistic Professional chrono that’s the other way up, with the sensors on the prime. It’s supported by aluminum “legs” with wires in them. I put a .22 bullet via a leg, however it went between the wires, so the factor nonetheless labored. I assumed that was a fairly good shot…
I couldn’t afford a LabRadar chrono, however later was capable of get the Garmin. At this level, my chrono troubles ceased.
In a sentence, there is no such thing as a likelihood of taking pictures these radar chronos, as they sit subsequent to you on the bench with no wires or sensors downrange. That’s refreshing, as a result of I do know I’m not the one shooter to ventilate a chronograph!
Setting Them Up
All three work roughly equally. After powering them on, you’re offered with a number of screens of choices. Usually talking, you’ll need to pick or enter:
“New Session”;
Whether or not you’re taking pictures a rifle, pistol, or bow;
The rate vary (decrease for pistols, larger for rifles);
The bullet’s weight. That is optionally available, however in case you enter it, you’ll have the ability to get power readings.
These are the fundamentals. The Caldwell is a little more concerned since it’ll calculate downrange velocities and energies out to 100 yards… the others merely document muzzle velocities.
After making your menu selections, set the unit beside and behind your gun muzzle, with the again of the unit dealing with the goal. The smaller two fashions can sit nearly anyplace behind & off to the aspect of the muzzle – Garmin recommends 15 inches each methods, and Athlon recommends 4 – 10 inches. Stage or not, they need to work.
The Caldwell is a bit completely different. It must be stage and, to that finish, features a swiveling ball/socket head. You then place the chrono with its again dealing with the goal and sight via a gap at its prime heart, aiming on the goal. That is essential to measure downrange ballistics.
For a bow or shotgun, stand in entrance of the unit, off to the aspect a bit. It ought to choose up the speed from each simply.
That’s just about it. After knowledge entry, the subsequent display you must see is a clean display with dashes that may then populate with the velocities of every shot, so as. The Garmin takes a bit to “suppose” between photographs… You get sliding B&W panels simply earlier than the speed pops up. The Caldwell and Athlon are a bit faster. I don’t have to attend between photographs with them.
After you’re finished taking pictures the string, choose “Finish Session”. Then it is possible for you to to view your ballistic info on a abstract display, together with velocity, muzzle power, commonplace deviation, and excessive unfold. The Caldwell will even show downrange velocities and energies out to 100 yards, because it makes use of a distinct kind of radar expertise, Chirp. The opposite two use Doppler. So, you’ll know what your bullet did on the muzzle (0 yards), after which 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards.
Which One Would Work For You?
We’ve lined the fundamentals of all three chronos. If you’re nonetheless battling an optic unit and had been questioning about getting a radar-based one, hopefully, you now have extra info to assist information your determination.
What are every unit’s strengths?
First, commonalities…
You may construct a set of weapons within the settings that you may reference later to see how sure hundreds did in that gun.
All three have a companion smartphone Bluetooth app that enables a deeper dive into ballistics and can bear in mind a whole lot of hundreds.
All three are simply charged through a USB-C cable, included. No fumbling for batteries.
You’ll embody a chronograph in your vary gear extra typically, since these are moveable and really easy to arrange and use.
The Athlon and the Garmin are very helpful for sticking in a pocket as I head to my yard vary. They’re simply arrange and readied for the session. If you’re a pistol, bow, shotgun, or airgun shooter (I clocked my granddaughter’s Daisy BB gun at 277 fps), and all you want are muzzle velocities, these are very useful and a bit cheaper than the Caldwell. You may nonetheless get power, SD, ES, and so forth. readings simply and construct a database of these.
Rifle shooters who’re curious about downrange ballistics ought to go for the Caldwell. It’s dearer, however it does extra. I discussed its downrange capabilities. Rifle reloaders particularly are drawn to it for its downrange capabilities.
With radar chronographs now simply accessible, it is sensible to select one up. I’ve all three… I’m a little bit of a reloading nerd, and so it doesn’t matter what I’m taking pictures, I’m lined. You don’t want all of them… one will do. For a do-all unit, get the Caldwell. Nevertheless, if excessive portability is a precedence, one of many others will suffice.
For the worth of a gun, you possibly can add a software that may vastly improve your taking pictures expertise. Extra data is healthier for shooters, and these chronos will present that. Radar Love, certainly!
For extra info, please discover the next hyperlinks…
Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Professional
Caldwell Velociradar
Garmin Xero C1 Professional
