Caldwell Velociradar

[dhagerty40]

Now that they are shipping, Anybody brave enough to try one?

VELOCIRADAR | Caldwell

VELOCIRADAR

www.caldwellshooting.com

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I’m sure they will sell, but for $60 more I bet the Garmin is a wise investment.

 

[rijndael]

IMO, Caldwell has a branding problem that will hinder this unit's popularity.

 

[Ringostar]

When they first announced it a couple years ago. I think the price point was $200-$300. That probably would have sold better for them. Being it’s now close to the Garmin and small Lab Radar, that will probably limit their sales. You can buy a new original Lab Radar for a lot less money.

 

[AccelR8]

I WOULD have been brave enough to be one of the first but I got tired of waiting. I've been using a Magnetospeed for years and I'm happy with it but I wanted to do some in-depth handgun load development for this Fall season and after the delays of the Velociradar I spent the money set aside for it on the Garmin. Now, I'll just wait for the user's experiences to come out and maybe next year...if there's significant advantages to the Caldwell.

 

[Dimner]

The thing that this one has going for it is the app.

I wont trust a lab radar app, and the garmin app is just ok. You cannot control the garmin with the app.

For this caldwell, the app looks great. All the features you would want in an app that controls the chrono. My first chrono was an optical caldwell and the app that was used with the chronograph was perfect. So I have high hopes for this caldwell app.

I would have no problems buying this if the Garmin were not developed. Meaning, Labradar vs caldwell.

The biggest downside: the unit is: 10.75"x8.25"x2". compared to the others. It's chonky.

 

[Dimner]

I’m sure they will sell, but for $60 more I bet the Garmin is a wise investment.

Another thought on price. Perhaps Caldwell/Battenfield will not lock down the price on their units like how Garmin did. Perhaps coupon codes and sales can be applied to the caldwell.

 

[Spoonbill]

Besides being smaller and more compact, what does the Garmin and Caldwell do that my labradar won't?

 

[rijndael]

I don’t know about the Caldwell. But the Garmin has an app that works. Won’t act like a sail in the wind. Has a battery that lasts.

 

[Ccrider]

Besides being smaller and more compact, what does the Garmin and Caldwell do that my labradar won't?

Garmin is easier to aim. Garmin does not need a trigger to insure that you don’t miss a shot.

 

[Dimner]

Besides being smaller and more compact, what does the Garmin and Caldwell do that my labradar won't?

There are a ton of threads with the differences between the old labradar to the new garmin. I suggest a search.

I have both the garmin and the labradar. The labradar will do everything that the garmin can except the labradar will miss more shots and cause more aggravation, wasted range time, bulk in range equipment and fuss aiming the device. If you already have a labradar, it really depends on how much those things are worth to you.

To me those down sides were not worth the $600 price tag... at least at first when I shot at my old club. At my new club, the benches, targets and setups were different and it became much harder to use the labradar consistently. So I purchased the garmin.

 

[Tommie]

Get a Garmin

 

[jds holler]

Dang, I must be a cheap date. I finally just got one of the little 100 buck Caldwells, and I couldn't be more tickled. I feel like I woke up in silk pajamas. jd

 

[Just Say Moe]

I waited patiently after the initial announcement, lost patience, and got a Garmin. They had their chance.

 

[LVLAaron]

Garmin is the chosen one. Sorry Caldwell.

 

[SteveUrban]

The Caldwell unit says it will calculate BC’s?

 

[Dimner]

Dang, I must be a cheap date. I finally just got one of the little 100 buck Caldwells, and I couldn't be more tickled. I feel like I woke up in silk pajamas. jd

I never would have upgraded from the 100 buck caldwell if I had my own personal range. I just hated stopping the line to adjust and line up. I love my 100 buck caldwell.

 

[Rocketvapor]

The old LR and the Garmin are 24ghz units. The Caldwell and new LR are 60ghz units.
The large size of the old LR was partially due to a large 24ghz antenna array.
The Caldwell also has a large antenna array but because of the higher 60ghz frequency (shorter wavelength) LARGE at 60ghz is smaller than a similar array at 24ghz.
Large gives some down range data, a Small array won't.
The antenna transmitted field strength and received reflection strength from a bullet needs a high gain antenna array to get down range velocity data.

The Garmin uses "bullet in the beam" detection.
The Caldwell uses acoustic (like the old LR) and has a plug in accessory for inertia trigger.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

The garmin is so small I bring it in the drag bag when shooting a mile + and lugging all my gear across the desert. That brick would stay in the truck.

 

[jnr88]

According to Caldwell site this unavailable. Luckily.