By Mike Hardesty
I’ve owned, from the late ‘70s till the current, 4 chronographs. The primary two have been the folding Taking pictures Chronys. They folded in half for simple storage and transportation however had a behavior of slicing vital wires when folded for those who weren’t cautious. They have been powered by one 9-volt battery. I shot each of them. Not shot over each of them, however I actually shot them. I do know that I’m not the primary particular person to do that and I’m not proud to confess it, however it’s what it’s. I’m tough on chronographs.
The third one was a Caldwell Ballistic Precision. I didn’t shoot it. (Or haven’t, but…).
The fourth was the flowery G2 model of the Ballistic Precision, which has the sensors within the prime dealing with down. I shot it. Properly sir, I put a .22 bullet into one of many aluminum “legs” that supported the unit and carried the wires. I used to be fortunate, because the bullet simply handed between two wires and nonetheless allowed the factor to work. A chunk of grey duct tape later we have been pretty much as good as new.
I grew uninterested in capturing my chronographs, so I explored alternate options. I knew I wanted a chrono that didn’t want wired mild sensors, shades or assist legs to measure bullet velocity since I used to be so good at capturing them downrange. That meant different know-how, and that meant radar. That means, I may shoot wherever, at any time when. I wasn’t dependent upon lighting circumstances indoors or out. Extra to the purpose, that meant there could be nothing downrange that I may shoot.
When the Labradar got here out, I needed one however couldn’t pony up the six Ben Franklins-plus that it price. That turned out to be a great factor, because it allowed me to purchase one thing higher.
I simply took supply of the newest “massive thought” in shooter-owned chronographs, the Garmin Xero C1. I had seen a number of video opinions and had learn printed ones and knew this was the way in which to go. Spoiler alert: This assessment is overwhelmingly optimistic. Additionally, no one gave me this chronograph to assessment—I purchased it with my very own hard-earned Bens.
Why Garmin?
The Xero C1 wasn’t the primary chronograph Garmin made. They began with the Xero S1 Coach for lure shooters. It tracks your pictures on the lure vary and exhibits you your misses. The MSRP on this unit is $1,000. Critical lure shooters have used these for some time. It was the one chronograph Garmin made till October of 2023 when the Xero C1 was launched.
In all of the opinions I’d learn or watched, no one addressed the truth that Garmin makes this little surprise. I contemplated that. Even for those who weren’t accustomed to the Xero S1, you in all probability knew that the corporate makes all types of techie stuff, from watches/trackers/health/different to car-mounted GPS trackers. That simply barely scratches the floor. Not many non-shotgun shooters foresaw the introduction of a state-of-the-art radar chronograph for different shooters from this firm.
I do know I didn’t see this chronograph coming, and I attempt to sustain with shooting-related information. Suffice it to say, it was a shock when it got here out in October 2023. The 800-pound gorilla within the radar chrono market at the moment was the Labradar. The Garmin has actually shaken up the market … I do know of Labradar homeowners who’re promoting their massive, orange packing containers to purchase this tiny chronograph. Why? Let’s take a look at that.
Labradar Vs. Xero C1
First, permit me to state that I don’t personal a Labradar. That’s the disclaimer right here. However I’ve talked with those that do personal one and have additionally completed some severe analysis on this subject since I used to be contemplating shopping for one. I discovered, to the most effective of my information, that there’s just one perform that the Labradar will carry out that the Xero is not going to … down-range velocities. The Labradar will compute velocities not solely from the muzzle however outward, as nicely. At this level, the Xero is not going to do this however I think about that, down the highway, a software program replace will add that characteristic. At any fee, virtually any free ballistics calculator offers you downrange data.
The Xero provides you all the things (aside from the above) that the Labradar does however in a a lot tinier and lighter package deal. I’ve had guys inform me that their Labradars are finicky about positioning. Others have mentioned that their models had hassle with indoor vary lighting or ceiling baffles messing with the radar sign. Dropped pictures appear to be the principle criticism that I hear … you load up 10 rounds of extra-special ammo to strive on the vary you’ve pushed 10 miles to, after which the massive orange field fails to select up two of the ten pictures.
Yet one more issue that favors the Garmin is energy. The Labradar requires AA batteries, whereas the Garmin makes use of a USB-C cable to recharge its non-removable lithium battery.
At this level, the Xero reveals none of those defective behaviors. That’s why guys are promoting their orange packing containers for the Go-Professional-sized new man on the block who appears to be pleased virtually anyplace in your capturing bench and captures all the things it must.
Right here’s a telling truth: I simply checked Labradar’s website for pricing and I see that you could purchase a demo unit for $400, or a brand-new one for $450. That value was $600 (all costs rounded up)—I do know that as a result of I used to be making an attempt to determine find out how to purchase one. That alone tells you one thing. I additionally know of at the very least one vendor who sells chronos who has discontinued promoting the Labradar in favor of the Garmin Xero C1. Once more, that tells you one thing … I’ve a sense that there will probably be many Labradars on the used market very quickly.
Labradar LX
There’s a new Labradar unit out, made by the Infinition firm. From what I see, it appears to be like like Labradar took a take a look at the Garmin and tried to match its small dimension and have set, all on the identical MSRP. Apart from an aluminum case, I don’t see so much totally different about it. It is because of be out between Could 15 and June third, so I don’t have loads of information however you may test it out right here.
The Xero C1 Professional
Let’s take a look at the Xero’s specs after which we’ll verify its efficiency.
The unit is roughly 3-by-1.4 inchews with out its included tabletop tripod and weighs 3.7 ounces. Yessirree, it’s tiny. I’ve heard it in comparison with a GoPro digital camera in dimension. Ah, the marvels of recent digital know-how! You possibly can stick it in a pocket if wanted.
The battery is lithium and rechargeable through USB cable. A single cost ought to final six hours or 2,000 pictures. You’ll be able to dunk the factor in water as much as a meter deep for half-hour because it’s IPX7-rated, however I’m unsure why you’d need to do this. What may occur, although, is a sudden rain or snow bathe on the vary, however all is sweet when it comes to waterproofing.
Obtain the “Shot View” app on your cellphone and join it to your Xero through Bluetooth for knowledge evaluation, and so on. You’ll be able to even make a remark (through the app) if a string was shot with a chilly or clear bore or different such information. The Xero remembers 50 classes at a most of 100 pictures per spherical earlier than an app sync is required to save lots of the info to your cellphone.
It’s going to observe projectiles from 100 to five,000 ft per second(fps). Projectiles could possibly be bullets from handguns or rifles, arrows, air rifles, pellets, slingshot ammo or no matter else your creativeness comes up with, to some extent. I’ve even seen movies of men capturing Airsoft weapons and getting readings. It’s going to learn out minimal/most/common velocities, excessive unfold, power and normal deviation. For pistol rivals, it is going to inform you the ability issue of no matter load you’re capturing. That’s a begin on what it’s able to doing … so much to pack right into a tiny package deal. Its MSRP is $599.99. It’s not low-cost, however with its capabilities, it’s a value you would possibly count on. As for accuracy, Garmin claims that it’s correct to 0.1%. That signifies that if a bullet goes 3,000 fps, the C1 will probably be correct to inside 3 fps. Not dangerous!
Utilizing the Xero C1
While you first open the field, you see the unit, a tripod, a USB-C cost cable and an proprietor’s handbook. I want they’d included a bag or container to move the factor in. I noticed one video reviewer who’d made a case for the unit and tripod out of a tough plastic case and had custom-cut Styrofoam to suit—that’s an choice. It would be best to defend it, though I noticed one other assessment the place they by chance dropped it onto the gravel with no in poor health results.
Take the unit out, peel the paper display screen protector off, and switch it on. It’s endorsed that you simply cost it completely earlier than use with its included cable, however usually there’s some juice on the prepared (mine was 76% charged out of the field) so you may see what the “buttons” do. There are 4 of them. Left to proper, they’re: OK, energy/return and up and down arrows. That’s it—fairly easy.
Now, the enjoyable half. It’s time to place the little man to work. You’ll be able to verify the onscreen diagram that exhibits you the place to put the unit in your capturing bench. (Or, for those who really feel courageous, put it on a giant tripod and stick it near your goal to get terminal velocities). On the capturing bench, you simply have to hold it 5 to fifteen inches behind the muzzle, and the identical distance to the facet of the muzzle. Place it with its again to the goal, the display screen dealing with you. You’re good to go.
I used to be anxious to get one thing on the display screen for this assessment, so I braved the awful, wet climate we’re within the midst of and headed outdoor. I grabbed the primary gun within the secure I noticed, a Kel-Tec P17 .22LR semi-auto pistol.
Organising the Garmin was a breeze, as I’ve described elsewhere however the drill is: Flip it on; choose “New Session”; choose your velocity vary; enter a bullet weight for those who like. (Within the pic beneath, I had not completed that, however I remembered to enter one for the second string I shot). Right here’s a tip on choosing projectile weight. I couldn’t determine find out how to set it for 40 grains … all I saved getting was 100, 200, 300, and so on. I lastly discovered that the up/down arrows will be moved over the suitable quantity by urgent the arrow keys to pick out the right column—a whole lot, tens, and so on. That was not defined within the handbook.
Choose if you wish to view, or not view, the diagram of Garmin placement—you may flip that on or off within the settings. (Talking of settings, right here’s a hyperlink to these pages within the proprietor’s handbook. The menus are super-easy and intuitive to make use of).
4 dashes seem on the display screen and will probably be changed by numbers after your first shot. It takes a second to course of every shot, so don’t go all Roger Rambo on it and do a magazine dump. Set the Garmin with its again to the goal, behind the muzzle and let fly. I simply caught it on the closest flat floor I discovered with a view to get velocity readings as I shot right into a financial institution behind the home. It labored nice! I discovered that the Fiocchi Vary Dynamics .22 ammo was nowhere close to the printed 1,050 fps on the field … extra like 875 fps. (Rifle vs. pistol, I get it. That’s why I like chronographs! The reality comes out.
After you’re completed along with your string of pictures, you may finish the session or not. You will have management over deleting pictures, if wanted. The session seems in your linked cellphone, the place you may add feedback corresponding to “chilly barrel,” “clear barrel,” and so on.
That’s it in a nutshell. There are many movies on the market that illustrate the method. It takes much less time to do it than to explain it.
Remaining Ideas
If you’re seeking to purchase a chronograph for measuring the velocity of nearly no matter it’s that you simply shoot, the C1 is your huckleberry. Of us have even used it to document Airsoft gun speeds. I’ve little question that it may clock rocks propelled from Opie’s slingshot for those who level it appropriately.
At $600, it’s not low-cost however it must be a instrument that you’ll use for a few years, with many alternative projectiles. And, lastly, you don’t have to fret about having to stroll forwards and backwards from gun to chronograph setting screens up. There are some nice benefits to proudly owning a Xero C1. Among the finest ones is you gained’t shoot your chronograph!
