New Chronograph, Garmin Xero C1 Pro

Well, I've been handloading for over 45 years now. And LONG ago,, I scrimped, saved & then purchased an Ohler 35P chronograph. I've never regretted it. I still have it, and it's still a top quality product.

Well, last year I started seeing some info about the new Garmin XERO chrono. After a bit of study,, I decided I'd like to try one. Miss Penny tried to get me one for Christmas,, but they were selling so fast,, she wasn't able to get one. Then a few weeks ago,,I began building new ammo for a new caliber & gun for my DIL. An AR-15 pistol in .300 Blackout. I knew the AR pistol would not produce the same velocities as a normal length barrel, and knew I'd have to get my chrono out & set up.
Well, Miss Penny & I were discussing what I was doing,, and she asked me if I wanted my B-Day present early. We went to Cabelas,, and she bought me the Garmin.

Last Sunday,, I took it out for it's first run. I shot my MKII Comp Target .22 as a "test run" gun. Flawless. Then I tested the .300 Blackout stuff, and it again showed me how easy it was.

Yesterday,, a friend, Danny came over & he wanted to test some ammo. He had a NIB Caldwell chrono. We set his up first,, and then, I set up the Garmin as well.
To paraphrase wrestling; "It was a serious smackdown!"

The Garmin was super easy to set up & use. No skyscreens, no wires, no battery issues, no alignment of the skyscreens, nothing. Just turn it on, set the parameters, and set it beside the gun & shoot. It records the stuff, calculates several things, and if you have it paired with your smart phone,, it saves ALL the individual sessions for printing.

Danny was writing down his velocities after each shot as they passed over his Caldwell. He didn't have his set up to pair with his phone,, and wasn't able to get anything more than each velocity. No high, no low, no average, no standard deviation,,,, nothing but his velocity & he had to physically record that. Now,, to be fair,, I think his Caldwell may be capable of doing more,, but since he didn't bring the batteries for part of it,, and had never used it or tried to pair it up etc,, he didn't get anything else.

After each session of identical ammo was fired,, I'd take the Garmin, pick it up, do the summary, and set it on the table where he could write down the info. Then I'd put it back up beside the gun & start the next session.

While this is only the second time I've used it,, AND the fact I'm "computer stupid" and have issues often trying to understand modern technology & all the "features" a single button does,, the Garmin is actually more user friendly than I expected. Even I,, as bad as I am about such electronic stuff,, was able to easily work the Garmin. THAT'S a miracle!!!!!!! ( Just ask Miss Penny!)

So,, if any of y'all are considering a chronograph,,, I'd look very hard at the Garmin.

I bought one the other day. It is amazingly simple to set up and use. I tried it out on my back deck using my slingshot. I guesstimated the .1 oz. clay balls were doing about 200 fps. 8 shots averaged 196.9. I varied how much I pulled it back just to watch the results. I'm really looking forward to seeing what my .32 mag. is doing.

I've had a PACT chronograph for about 35 years but stopped using it. I'd have to call the range cold and everybody would have to wait on me while I set the PITA thing up. This Garmin is simply amazing! Supposedly they're accurate to decimal points meaning they're never even a single fps off.

I'm gonna have so much fun with this new toy! I'd rather have this Garmin than a new gun



I bought this hard case for it on Amazon.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say, these are not gonna be overstocked and cheap for a long time ,,,,,,,, a very long time.

Seen and read lots reviews and comments on Snipershide. Have yet to read anything bad about them. A good chrono is invaluable to precision reloading.

Scheels Sportings Goods had about 10
Garmin XERO chronographs the other
day. Had retail price on them.

I am going to buy one when the opportunity
arises, but waiting.

I predict the diopter will show up on a cell
phone someday, for golfing, shooting, and
archery.

I bought one about 2 months ago, and I still have not gotten a chance to use it! It's driving my nutz looking at it all unused and stuff.. LOL. I am, however, getting a case for it that I saw mentioned by another fellow on ARFCOM.


Scratch that. I ordered the one that @Cholo got. I like his recommendation better.

I was using an even older Ohler, a model 12 from the 70s until 2020. I gave it to a friend that still uses it. Good review, I will look into that one.

I have 2 friends that have the Garmin and they both love them. I use them and they are Nice. Just turn it on and point it down range.
Faster and a lot easier than my Lab Radar.

Yep,, the Garmin is apparently well received across the board by many if not all good shooters. Even Danny,, as he was leaving the other night,, he said; You know,, you are making me buy more toys!" But he was just having fun. And I actually foresee him owning one soon.

I've got to load some subsonic ammo soon, and the gun to be used,, well, the books won't be correct,, due to barrel length. Gonna put the Garmin to use & try a few other things too!

contender said:

Well, I've been handloading for over 45 years now. And LONG ago,, I scrimped, saved & then purchased an Ohler 35P chronograph. I've never regretted it. I still have it, and it's still a top quality product.

Well, last year I started seeing some info about the new Garmin XERO chrono. After a bit of study,, I decided I'd like to try one. Miss Penny tried to get me one for Christmas,, but they were selling so fast,, she wasn't able to get one. Then a few weeks ago,,I began building new ammo for a new caliber & gun for my DIL. An AR-15 pistol in .300 Blackout. I knew the AR pistol would not produce the same velocities as a normal length barrel, and knew I'd have to get my chrono out & set up.
Well, Miss Penny & I were discussing what I was doing,, and she asked me if I wanted my B-Day present early. We went to Cabelas,, and she bought me the Garmin.

Last Sunday,, I took it out for it's first run. I shot my MKII Comp Target .22 as a "test run" gun. Flawless. Then I tested the .300 Blackout stuff, and it again showed me how easy it was.

Yesterday,, a friend, Danny came over & he wanted to test some ammo. He had a NIB Caldwell chrono. We set his up first,, and then, I set up the Garmin as well.
To paraphrase wrestling; "It was a serious smackdown!"

The Garmin was super easy to set up & use. No skyscreens, no wires, no battery issues, no alignment of the skyscreens, nothing. Just turn it on, set the parameters, and set it beside the gun & shoot. It records the stuff, calculates several things, and if you have it paired with your smart phone,, it saves ALL the individual sessions for printing.

Danny was writing down his velocities after each shot as they passed over his Caldwell. He didn't have his set up to pair with his phone,, and wasn't able to get anything more than each velocity. No high, no low, no average, no standard deviation,,,, nothing but his velocity & he had to physically record that. Now,, to be fair,, I think his Caldwell may be capable of doing more,, but since he didn't bring the batteries for part of it,, and had never used it or tried to pair it up etc,, he didn't get anything else.

After each session of identical ammo was fired,, I'd take the Garmin, pick it up, do the summary, and set it on the table where he could write down the info. Then I'd put it back up beside the gun & start the next session.

While this is only the second time I've used it,, AND the fact I'm "computer stupid" and have issues often trying to understand modern technology & all the "features" a single button does,, the Garmin is actually more user friendly than I expected. Even I,, as bad as I am about such electronic stuff,, was able to easily work the Garmin. THAT'S a miracle!!!!!!! ( Just ask Miss Penny!)

So,, if any of y'all are considering a chronograph,,, I'd look very hard at the Garmin.

Click to expand...

I am looking into getting a chronograph, so how much was this one? I shoot revolvers - .357 Mag, .38 Spec. .45 ACP, and .45 LC. So, I would like to verify the specs the manufacturer gives. I have a very elaborate ballistics file, with over 3,500 entries, covering 35 handgun and 25 rifle calibers, all with their ballistics info. Some ammo manufactures I tend to not believe, like Armscor. My guns are 5 1/2, 6.0, and 6 1/2" barrels. I only shoot at an outdoor range.

vlavalle,, these chrono's list for $599.00. Not any real discounts anywhere yet,, as they sell quickly when in stock. I used my military discount at Cabelas to get 10% off.

If you've never used a chrono,, be prepared,, most often,, proclaimed velocities or published ones, will NOT be what actually happens. In general, I have found that actual velocities are usually lower than published stuff.

But I can say that when we tried the Caldwell & the Garmin the other day,, side by side,, they never matched each other as well.

The Caldwell would show one velocity,, while the Garmin was different. Not enough to truly be concerned unless you were well past the safe levels. Then all bets are off.

I have one also, it is a jewel.

Published velocities are usually those from a test barrel in a ballistics lab. For any given caliber, they may have only one barrel length. Often it will be longer than what you have, so your velocities will be less.

Pal K,, I knew that. I just wanted to put out that info for those who have never used or studied the actual use of a chronograph. And in some manuals,, they use actual firearms as test platforms. But even then,, variations cause differences.

It's why I bought my first chrono about 35-40 years ago.

My buddy had one at the range a month or so ago and showed me how it worked and after a few shots I was ruined!! I came home that night and bought one. I have a Caldwell and while it works great its a pain! Only bonus is it came with LED lights so I can use it inside at our indoor range,I have NOT tried the Garmin inside but will soon. I bought mine for $591.78 shipped. If your a Vet/LEO etc go here and sign up its worth it. It shows in Stock now.

contender said:

Pal K,, I knew that. I just wanted to put out that info for those who have never used or studied the actual use of a chronograph. And in some manuals,, they use actual firearms as test platforms. But even then,, variations cause differences.

It's why I bought my first chrono about 35-40 years ago.

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I know - my post wasn't directed at you, but rather to the whole thread.

I have a problem: my friend has a Garmin, loves it, and wants to give me his LabRadar (for free). Being that I actually do load development for accuracy, that would be a great tool. My problem is I have a Shooting Chrony I bought in 1988 or 1989 and I want to still use that and nothing else.

This is where the heart overrules the head. I know the LabRadar would be far more accurate and far more convenient to use and good tools are important. Yet I want to use the old Chrony and not be given the LabRadar at all. Why? It took me a while to realize it, but when I'm at the range with my guns, many which I bought decades ago, and that Chrony, it is like I'm back in that time for a little while and that's what's important.

Pál_K said:

This is where the heart overrules the head. I know the LabRadar would be far more accurate and far more convenient to use and good tools are important. Yet I want to use the old Chrony and not be given the LabRadar at all. Why? It took me a while to realize it, but when I'm at the range with my guns, many which I bought decades ago, and that Chrony, it is like I'm back in that time for a little while and that's what's important.

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I also have a CRONY crono,and compared to the Caldwell its a snap to set up! With everything being one unit it goes quicker than my Caldwell,both are kinda all one unit but I feel the CRONY is a bit fast,easier in the setup. Hey a FREE Labradar is cool,,heck take them both and get twice the data,more is always better. "but" I think in time you will shy away from the CRONY and be content with the more advanced/easier setup of the new tech. And for what its worth I have many WWII rifles both M1s/1903A3/1903A4s and my Garmin works just fine with them & my nostalgia side is still fulfilled!

contender said:

vlavalle,, these chrono's list for $599.00. Not any real discounts anywhere yet,, as they sell quickly when in stock. I used my military discount at Cabelas to get 10% off.

If you've never used a chrono,, be prepared,, most often,, proclaimed velocities or published ones, will NOT be what actually happens. In general, I have found that actual velocities are usually lower than published stuff.

But I can say that when we tried the Caldwell & the Garmin the other day,, side by side,, they never matched each other as well.

The Caldwell would show one velocity,, while the Garmin was different. Not enough to truly be concerned unless you were well past the safe levels. Then all bets are off.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the chronograph info Contender. But $600 is WAY too steep. I am looking at one for about $150-$200 at most. And yes, I believe that you are correct on the velocities given with the ammo, and this is precisely why I want a chronograph - to compare the published velocities with the chronograph ones, and hence, the published power (ME) also.

m1a_scoutguy said:

I also have a CRONY crono,and compared to the Caldwell its a snap to set up! With everything being one unit it goes quicker than my Caldwell,both are kinda all one unit but I feel the CRONY is a bit fast,easier in the setup. Hey a FREE Labradar is cool,,heck take them both and get twice the data,more is always better. "but" I think in time you will shy away from the CRONY and be content with the more advanced/easier setup of the new tech. And for what its worth I have many WWII rifles both M1s/1903A3/1903A4s and my Garmin works just fine with them & my nostalgia side is still fulfilled!

Click to expand...

Kudos to you on your WW II rifles! I am a VERY big WW II buff, and on my website I have listed over 20 WW II books, and another 20 or so WW II video documentaries to watch. I am so upset with the US military to move off of the 30-06 round, and the .45 ACP pistol. The move to the M16 and 9mm pistol is a very poor one, since they both shoot pea shooter ammo! We have lost both wars (those that are mainly land based with troops) ever since they went to the M16.

"But $600 is WAY too steep."

That's why I really like having my better half buy it. It was my early B-Day present!