Question for new Garmin chrono users

[N-frame-guy]

I had a chance to try my unit out this afternoon. Total winner in my opinion. Ran 14 different strings with various rifles from 17 HMR to cast bullets from a 38-55, captured them all. So simple to set up and use, just like everyone else has said.
We did have some problems with a muzzle loader, only captured 2 of 4 shots. We don't know if it was the smoke or perhaps the combination of the sabot and the bullet or if we maybe didn't have it correctly located along the barrel.
In case you didn't know, when testing with a rifle you have to choose one of 2 speed ranges; 600-1700 or 1700 to 5000 fps. The 2 shots we captured were at 1694 so it's possible that the other 2 were over the speed range and that might be why they didn't register; just guessing on that one.
I'm very happy I got it, now to figure a way to get the data off at some point. I don't know how big the memory is and whether 50 or 60 strings in storage will cause any problems. Might be a way to clear them off via a delete option too, I haven't searched that out yet.
Range temperature was 35 degrees; unit was on for about 2 hours and 15 minutes and battery was down about 1/3, with 2/3 remaining. I can live with that.
With the compact size and ease of setup and use, I can see this coming along on every trip where load testing of any kind will take place.

 

[Mike0251]

And the Pelican 1040 case (with nice rubber insert) fits the unit exactly!

 

[Borderboss]

And the Pelican 1040 case (with nice rubber insert) fits the unit exactly!

Thanks for the intel on that. I just ordered one on Amazon. That'll make it easier to store and carry in the range bag.

 

[Krogen]

And the Pelican 1040 case (with nice rubber insert) fits the unit exactly!

Thanks for the info! I think I'll have to buy one.

Mine is currently in a Pelican 1010. It fits the chrono itself, but not with the tripod. I just know I'm going to lose track of the tripod.

As an alternative, I bought a cheap photography clamp on Amazon. It has a 1/4-20 stud and jaws so I can mount the Garmin to my bench rest. That way I don't need the tripod. Avoiding the tripod, I "shouldn't" knock the chronograph off my bench as I bumble around.

 

[BC38]

I'm waiting for Caldwell to reverse engineer it and sell it for $250 less.

Yeah, me too. Early adopters of any new technology are always the ones who pay a premium price for the bragging rights to having the latest and greatest. But those of us with enough patience to wait a little while get all the benefits of the latest whiz-bang electronics at a steep discount. All it takes is a little patience.

Here's a thought for those looking for a simple, cheap solution for connecting to their shiny new Garmin Chronograph. Buy a used, slightly outdated, smart phone on eBay, or at a flea market and use it as a dedicated control unit for your Garmin chronograph.

FWIW, I bought an Android 12 tablet and an Android 10 smart phone at a local flea-market just yesterday, and I got them both for the princely sum of $3.20. Either one of these devices have more than enough computing horsepower to serve nicely as a dedicated control unit for the new Garmin chronograph - and there are literally THOUSANDS of devices just like them out there.

Sophisticated hand-held computers (smart phones) like this are available at second-hand stores everywhere for mere pennies on the dollar. There are so many zealous young "save the planet" eco-warriors who don't even think twice about sending their existing (adequate) device to a landfill, just so they can upgrade to the "latest and greatest" new device. Just for the bragging rights - so that they can be the envy of all their friends (a.k.a. keeping up with the Joneses).

The good news is that their loss is our gain - as long as we are quick enough to grab their castoffs before they actually end up buried in a landfill somewhere...