Garmin Xero C1 Pro - The One to Rule Them All?

[RegionRat]

What I wasn’t able to do today was get my down range speeds. I really like that feature of my labradar.
Also, I was not able to control the chrono through the app like you can the labradar.

Thanks for the review.
Just a quick follow up question about your last comment on not liking that you can't control the unit from the app.

With the Lab Radar and using an external trigger, it was necessary to constantly arm and disarm with most bolt rigs or vintage military rigs because the act of loading would cause false triggers, etc., and then you took extra time to delete that mess.

Which leads to my question... since you don't need the external trigger with the Garmin, and the act of opening and closing the action won't cause a mess in the data, I'm guessing I would only stop to label strings and start new ones from the app. I'm wondering what other control you were mentioning that you would have liked other than missing the down range velocity detail?

 

[KyleC]

I was not able to start and stop strings. That is what I would like to be able to do from the app

 

[RegionRat]

I was not able to start and stop strings. That is what I would like to be able to do from the app

Gotcha, so in essence you have to reach over to the unit instead of being able to run from position. I only ran a few strings playing around with one at the club and now that you mention it, that makes sense.

I'm thinking it won't be too big of a deal since the mounting requirements are more forgiving with this RF trigger. You can have the rig close enough to arm's reach to keep the position breaks to a minimum.

That was a very inconvenient part of running Lab Radar before they turned loose the BlueTooth connection. We had to get up or break position to arm and disarm the unit to record data, not to mention anything else that needed doing.

I would have preferred a reliable USB cable connection to a tablet or iPad a million times over, compared to the very flaky low power BlueTooth, but that is now water under the bridge.

My guess is that many of the designers are not actual users, and that's how we get into these traps and corners that annoy the actual users.

It took me a while to learn how the Garmin was supposed to export the CSV files cause none of my friends save their CSV files, and none of the early reviewers or the unit manual mentioned it either. It took a while but now folks are figuring this out.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[KyleC]

You're correct, for me its not a big deal but it would be nice to be able to do it.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Yeah, the exporting feature for the CSV files is my most aggravating issue f or me with the Xero C1. I did mention in a review how I manage it and hope others wouldn't be too frustrated in trying to figure it out:

New Garmin Xero C1 Radar Chronograph

Travel case size comparisons on all 3. Magnetospeed V3, LabRadar and the Garmin Xero. Lol what hard case is that for the garmin sir?

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[Scalloper]

I just got mine and can’t wait to try it out (Once my club gets its head out of its @ss that is). I really think that there’s no way this is going to stay on the bench next to a braked .300 WM but we shall see. I do have a camera tripod that will work if needed.

I used mine beside my 7mm Mag and 28 Nosler both breaked no issues.
It a great tool. I have not missed one shot in 100 or so.

 

[Scalloper]

I was not able to start and stop strings. That is what I would like to be able to do from the app

I stopped shooting drove down and checked/measured the target, drove back and started shooting again and it never missed a shot while keeping all of the shots added to the same string.

 

[Zero333]

A million Thanks for doing this comparison. Absolutely phenomenal !!!

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

 

[jxb]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered, I didn't see anything.

Has anyone tried this in the 3800-4500fps range? I'd love to know folks are actually getting reliable data at these speeds before buying one. Yes I saw they said it's good to 5000fps, but who believes marketing folks?

 

[RegionRat]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered, I didn't see anything.

Has anyone tried this in the 3800-4500fps range? I'd love to know folks are actually getting reliable data at these speeds before buying one. Yes I saw they said it's good to 5000fps, but who believes marketing folks?

Yes, it had no problem tracking a .20 cal over 4000.

ETA: and just for fun, I put a 12 GA load over it and it tracked that too.

 

[jxb]

Yes, it had no problem tracking a .20 cal over 4000.

ETA: and just for fun, I put a 12 GA load over it and it tracked that too.

Thanks, guess I'll spend some money too. Yeah both my 204 and 220 run over 4000 and my current one has some low limit so I didn't even try it on those.

 

[newbieshooter]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered, I didn't see anything.

Has anyone tried this in the 3800-4500fps range? I'd love to know folks are actually getting reliable data at these speeds before buying one. Yes I saw they said it's good to 5000fps, but who believes marketing folks?

here are a couple of references:

New Garmin Xero C1 Radar Chronograph

Has any one tested the new garmen to the labradar? I have one on order, I would a field report.

forum.accurateshooter.com

New Garmin Xero C1 Radar Chronograph

Hit End session on chrono App gets data, add notes to data in app if desired Tap Export CSV and you can save it to phone, or text it, or email it, airdrop it, etc just like other files on your phone. Any way to do it without going through the app? I'm not necessarily opposed to that route...

forum.accurateshooter.com

New Garmin Xero C1 Radar Chronograph

I compared my new Garmin to my old Oehler 35P yesterday. The Garmin and the 35P were about 20 ft/sec different consistently. The 35P readings were always the slower of the two. The first 35P screen was about 10 feet from the bench. The Garmin was about 15" behind the muzzle.

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[MadMadHoosier]

Just ordered one and expect it's size and ease of use will find it on the bench more often that the LabRadar or MagnetoSpeed were used. I did find this video interesting about accuracy vs placement of device.

 

[markm87]

Ran the Garmin yesterday. This thing obsoletes everything. No more strapping my Magnetospeed to the barrel, Daryl!

 

[neckturner]

The short answer, for those in a hurry, is an unequivocal ‘yes.’

[...]

Now, like there once was, there is only one.

Great writeup, thanks for sharing it.

If I needed only muzzle velocity and didn't care about non-replaceable internal batteries, I would already own a Garmin for all the reasons you mention.

One trick, that I use, the Labradar can do is - as you mentioned - easily export a trace to CSV. On its own, not a huge thing (as you note, the Garmin can do something similar). But coupled with this beautiful thing - https://bc.geladen.ch/labrabaco/labrabaco.html - you can get a very good idea of the real BC of your bullet. Which I "need" - or like a lot, or both.

Which is a shame, because I travel to the range on my motorcycle, and the Labradar is a significant lump.

One question, related to the Garmin's internal battery. When plugged in to recharge, will the Garmin operate as well?

 

[jxb]

Just ordered one and expect it's size and ease of use will find it on the bench more often that the LabRadar or MagnetoSpeed were used. I did find this video interesting about accuracy vs placement of device.

I noticed that Garmin says to keep it within 15" of the barrel so I'm happy to see they left a good margin of error based on this guy getting good results considerably more than 15"

 

[Richard Jones]

@neckturner

"One question, related to the Garmin's internal battery. When plugged in to recharge, will the Garmin operate as well?"

Mine does.

 

[neckturner]

Mine does.

Thanks, that removes one barrier to acquiring the Garmin if I head in that direction.

 

[acbrunton55]

I am a Magneto Speed V3, Labradar, and Garmin Xero C1 owner.
I love the Garmin, and will most likely put my Labradar and Magneto Speed on the market.

I did experience one issue with the Garmin my last trip to the range. To set the scene, concrete firing line with roof above, no side walls between lanes. Shooting prone, F-TR rifle, .308 Win. Shooting off a mat with my usual match setup, JoyPod-X, SEB rear bag, mat under the JoyPod. Temperature in the mid 50s.
On three different occasions the Garmin rebooted after a shot. On 2 occasions it was after the 1st shot in a 5 shot string, another reboot occurred after the 3rd shot in a string. The only thing I can think of that would cause this behavior is did I have the Garmin too close to the rifle? The unit was placed approximately where the Garmin diagram specifies, but I didn't measure it down to the 0.001.
Any ideas or thoughts on cause? Any other similar experiences?