rockquarry
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The Oehler 35P works as well as any chronograph you can buy and provides all the useful features you need. It's just slower and more inconvenient to set up at the range.
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Update: New Garmin Chronograph
- Thread starter The Norseman
- Start date
The Oehler 35P works as well as any chronograph you can buy and provides all the useful features you need. It's just slower and more inconvenient to set up at the range.
If doing your load work ups at busy time on a public range, the ability to easily set up while not needing to go in front of the firing line would be significant advantage. While a F1 provides/ed everything i need, am usually alone at range when it was being used, and had plenty of time.
OP
The Norseman
Member
I have owned and used an Oehler 35P for over 30 years.......I see NO NEED to replace it with anything else.
I agree, I'm older now and not that interested in being a guinea pig. I let others be on the bleeding edge of technology because I have been burned and bled enough.
I'm sure I'll wind up buying a Garmin at some point. It scratches a lot of itches. But then, I've scratched a lot of chronograph itches over the years.
It all started for me with "affordable" optical chronographs. I didn't want to shell out the clams for an Oehler so I bought a Pact. It was unreliable and then died. Pact sent me some new parts. It never was right after that. So I bought a Shooting Chrony. It always worked unless the light was bad. Still it was a hassle to set up downrange. And I was unfulfilled . . . .
Next up was the Magnetospeed. Woo Hoo! Do it all from behind the firing line. Never mind that it wouldn't work on short barrel handguns. Never mind that the mass on the barrel affected point of impact. Worse yet, it affected group size. Depending on barrel weight the influence could be substantial. Then, the attachment clasp broke and Magnetospeed said sorry, parts not available, you can buy a new "bayonet." Phooey on that, so I put the "bayonet" money toward a LabRadar.
LabRadar works fairly well, but it's picky about setup. Doesn't always catch the bullet. Interferes with other LabRadars on the firing line. (fixable by changing channels.) User interface is awful. It's better if you use your phone to run it, but when the phone sleeps it loses the connection and you have to restart the whole process. I think a 7 year old hobbyist could have designed a better UI.
Now Garmin has my attention. It appears to solve a lot of my historical woes. I'm sure it will have its own warts which will become evident as people drink the Garmin Koolaide. Yeah, one of those Koolaide drinkers will be me - eventually. At least chronographs have evolved over the years, unlike firearms where there's not much new under the sun.
It all started for me with "affordable" optical chronographs. I didn't want to shell out the clams for an Oehler so I bought a Pact. It was unreliable and then died. Pact sent me some new parts. It never was right after that. So I bought a Shooting Chrony. It always worked unless the light was bad. Still it was a hassle to set up downrange. And I was unfulfilled . . . .
Next up was the Magnetospeed. Woo Hoo! Do it all from behind the firing line. Never mind that it wouldn't work on short barrel handguns. Never mind that the mass on the barrel affected point of impact. Worse yet, it affected group size. Depending on barrel weight the influence could be substantial. Then, the attachment clasp broke and Magnetospeed said sorry, parts not available, you can buy a new "bayonet." Phooey on that, so I put the "bayonet" money toward a LabRadar.
LabRadar works fairly well, but it's picky about setup. Doesn't always catch the bullet. Interferes with other LabRadars on the firing line. (fixable by changing channels.) User interface is awful. It's better if you use your phone to run it, but when the phone sleeps it loses the connection and you have to restart the whole process. I think a 7 year old hobbyist could have designed a better UI.
Now Garmin has my attention. It appears to solve a lot of my historical woes. I'm sure it will have its own warts which will become evident as people drink the Garmin Koolaide. Yeah, one of those Koolaide drinkers will be me - eventually. At least chronographs have evolved over the years, unlike firearms where there's not much new under the sun.
The 35P gives you 2 velocity readings for each shot. Creating a "proof channel to verify the shot is valid........None of that radar stuff will do that.
OP
The Norseman
Member
On Target
Well a few reviews of the new Xero C1
Pro Chronograph have been showing
up on other Forums.
The Enthusiasts that have used the Xero
have positive experiences with it, so
that’s a good sign.
One shooter said set up was so fast to
get data; point at target, shoot, and
data can go to your smartphone.
Another shooter commented other makers
of Chronographs might just as well throw
in the towel.
Appears the Xero is hit.
Well a few reviews of the new Xero C1
Pro Chronograph have been showing
up on other Forums.
The Enthusiasts that have used the Xero
have positive experiences with it, so
that’s a good sign.
One shooter said set up was so fast to
get data; point at target, shoot, and
data can go to your smartphone.
Another shooter commented other makers
of Chronographs might just as well throw
in the towel.
Appears the Xero is hit.
Borderboss
Member
I hope well because that's how I'll use mine when I finally get it.
Chubbs103
US Veteran
Just ordered one. It is scheduled to arrive between Fri and Mon.
I'll let you know how it works out. It just so happens I have a few loads that need worked up.
I'll let you know how it works out. It just so happens I have a few loads that need worked up.
Jeff423
US Veteran
Last week saw a NIB Lab Radar with a roll around case and tripod on Marketplace for about $150 less than it should have been. Now I know why.
The seller was probably kicking himself.
On "another forum" used LabRadars continue to go for low prices. Reports from Garmin users are extremely favorable. I have not read of any real complaints. Almost too good to be true, which of course, makes me skeptical.
I'll see how my buddy's Garmin works out before joining the LabRadar exodus. If I can sell my LabRadar for $300 I will just consider the remaining $300 for a Garmin as an upgrade fee. Not sure I'll even be able to get 3 bills for it right now. I expect LabRadar's business has gone down the drain. New ones surely won't fetch the current $625 tag. It could be that once everyone that wants a LabRadar snaps them up at ~ 3 bills, they might creep back up to $425 or so. That is unless LabRadar drops their price to that range.
This is an interesting case of Econ 101. Supply and demand. It shows how effective competition can improve the price to performance ratio.
I'll see how my buddy's Garmin works out before joining the LabRadar exodus. If I can sell my LabRadar for $300 I will just consider the remaining $300 for a Garmin as an upgrade fee. Not sure I'll even be able to get 3 bills for it right now. I expect LabRadar's business has gone down the drain. New ones surely won't fetch the current $625 tag. It could be that once everyone that wants a LabRadar snaps them up at ~ 3 bills, they might creep back up to $425 or so. That is unless LabRadar drops their price to that range.
This is an interesting case of Econ 101. Supply and demand. It shows how effective competition can improve the price to performance ratio.
Borderboss
Member
Did you order it directly from Garmin and they're promising it that quickly? If you're getting it from another source, please PM me with where you were able to source it with that quick a turn time. Thanks!
I'm surprised he found it as well as I have looked everywhere. I ordered from Garmin, maybe before Christmas.
I also listed my Caldwell G2, used twice and like brand new for $60 less than I bought it for last year....not a single inquiry LOL. May have to give it to Goodwill lol.
I also listed my Caldwell G2, used twice and like brand new for $60 less than I bought it for last year....not a single inquiry LOL. May have to give it to Goodwill lol.
OP
The Norseman
Member
Something New, something used.
Yeah, competition in the market place
is good.
Those Old Chronograph makers I believe
got complacent or don’t have the resources
to improve their products. They will
probably get crushed.
I don’t need a Chronograph right now, so
I’m going to sit back and watch if this
spurs something new and lowers price.
I know one thing, I definitely won’t buy
any old existing Chronograph or something used.
An iPhone with a chronograph would
be cool. Could you imagine the radiation
it would emit then.
Yeah, competition in the market place
is good.
Those Old Chronograph makers I believe
got complacent or don’t have the resources
to improve their products. They will
probably get crushed.
I don’t need a Chronograph right now, so
I’m going to sit back and watch if this
spurs something new and lowers price.
I know one thing, I definitely won’t buy
any old existing Chronograph or something used.
An iPhone with a chronograph would
be cool. Could you imagine the radiation
it would emit then.
Dashriprock
Member
I work at a high-volume Garmin dealer. I ordered one on October 24. ETA is December 5.
Nemo288
Member
Today got an email from LabRadar (even though I already own one) promoting their "holiday sale".
They are now $500 until December 31st.
Be interesting to see if that price doesn't become permanent.
They are now $500 until December 31st.
Be interesting to see if that price doesn't become permanent.
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