Caldwell ballistics calculator any good ?

[NDAR15MAN]

need a review on Caldwell ballistics calculator chronograph. They cost from $99.00 up to $120.00. Depends if you buy your own Tripod I think.
They are really cheap just wondering if any one here has or used one. Most of you guys use a much better brand and model. I don’t reload but would like to get data on my factory ammo. Thanks. Marty

 

[ballisticxlr]

Any of the optical types are going to be about the same until you start looking at high dollar rigs. There's a decent amount of error in them but if you're just looking for data on factory loads, it's totally fine.

Honestly, free advice you can ignore or not, don't bother with one of the optical types. Just get a magnetospeed sporter and be done with it. It's more accurate and you don't have to step in front of the line of fire to set it up and it's not susceptible to the kinds of niggly little problems to do with light and angles and getting shot in the face that those optical set-up-10ft-forward jobs do. Yes I know it's damned near twice as much but you'll be wanting to drop me a line to thank me for pointing out such an easy to use and durable piece of kit. Remember, Sporter, not V3, unless you're running a super fat barrel or a suppressor.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VTZXF8Y/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[Rsadams]

Just fwi , another option is the pro- crono from competition electronics about the same price range... I really like mine and there customer service is great if you need it.. I know this because mine blew over and cracked when it hit some rocks , they repaired it for $9.... The magneto speeds are very nice and ballist made some good points above about why... Your choice in the end but give competition electronics digital pro cronograph a look... And yes you will need a tripod for it also , not a big deal there some nice ones for cheap out there... A cronograph is nice to have , not something you use everyday but nice to have....

 

[Just Say Moe]

need a review on Caldwell ballistics calculator chronograph. They cost from $99.00 up to $120.00. Depends if you buy your own Tripod I think.
They are really cheap just wondering if any one here has or used one. Most of you guys use a much better brand and model. I don’t reload but would like to get data on my factory ammo. Thanks. Marty

I have one and it works fine. I like the phone app that comes with it also.

 

[Spaz]

I have one with the illuminated shades and tripod. I don't reload. I just needed to baseline some OTC ammo so I could run a couple rifles out to 1,000+ yards. I needed solid averages for feeding the calculator. In my opinion, it works very well for my infrequent intended use.

If you plan on reloading or using it frequently, I would get the magnetospeed. Its a pain to use the Caldwell at a public range, which is where I have used mine. With the magnetospeed, there is no need to have the whole range go cold multiple times so you can take some measurements.

 

[Toolbreaker]

I have one with the illuminated shades and tripod. I don't reload. I just needed to baseline some OTC ammo so I could run a couple rifles out to 1,000+ yards. I needed solid averages for feeding the calculator. In my opinion, it works very well for my infrequent intended use.

If you plan on reloading or using it frequently, I would get the magnetospeed. Its a pain to use the Caldwell at a public range, which is where I have used mine. With the magnetospeed, there is no need to have the whole range go cold multiple times so you can take some measurements.

+1. I have the Caldwell and the phone app is useful, but if I did it again, I'd purchase the Magnetospeed. After using one a friend owns, it really surprised me by how easy & reliably it can be set up to get good data vs. a conventional chronograph. To myself, that's more than worth the price difference.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

Folks... thanks for the goods reviews on why I should buy it and maybe why I should not buy the Caldwell chronograph.
The key factory for me is 90% of my use will be at a public range. I really cannot close range down every time a fine tune is needed , no matter how few times ajustment is needed. Looks like I should buy the 187.00 magnetospeed V- Sporter
Man I love this site. Money that shooters save is in the thousands $ each day using information here.
Folks thanks again for opinions and reviews. Marty

 

[normmatzen]

I, too, have a Magneto-Speed after using a Shooting Chroney for a few years. I haven't looked back!

Just remember, the MagnetoSpeed adds weight to the barrel when you use it so it will screw up the tune of a highly accurate rifle like an F Class or Bench Rest gun. I use my MagnetoSpeed just for characterizing my barrels to find a low ES load. The MagnetoSpeed works by monitoring the change in magnetic field as the bullet goes through it. There are some gigantic magnets in the BAYO. This field causes the bullet to jump up up to a MOA. As it adds weight, the cantilever tune is badly distorted. So, I use the MagnetoSpeed just for Muzzle Velocity during tuning of the longitudinal resonance. The weight does not distort the rsults much. Then, I take off the MagnetoSpeed and tune the tuner for cantilever resonance.
The Muzzle Velocity data is well worth the effort and they are very accurate.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

Normmatzen.... thanks for the info.
It sounds like a little more to the Magnetospeed ? Just leave my gun sighted in and do not make any changes with the turrets just shoot at record the FPS numbers ? Marty

 

[ballisticxlr]

Yep. Connect magnetospeed to barrel, shoot. Done. It will usually cause a small point of impact shift when you put the MS on the rifle but it shouldn't affect group size. hasn't in the hundreds of rifles I've put them on.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

thanks. marty