Caldwell Ballistic Chronograph Review

[MarikinaMan]

Bought one sale for 55 bucks. The free app, decent reviews and the price attracted me to it. Am starting to reload and I will need velocity to use my ballistic apps.

First tests, 100% error. No results came out. Getting code Err 2 and 3.

Read the manual for the codes, the bullet is passing only one sensor each time. I was shooting through the rods, and not over the sensors, doh.

Seconds tests, Im getting readings. The sweet spot wear the bullet must pass is fairly narrow. If you recognize this and focus on getting over both sensors and not at the target, youll get a reading.

I tested two different air pistols and the results were close to the published velocities.

Buildwise, it looks like cheap chinese plastic crap. Reminds me of a low end bounty hunter metal detector. The app though is awesome. For fity bucks, am happy with the purchase. For the few times Ill need it, Im happy to save money and focus a little harder in putting the bullet where it needs to be.

Screen shots

[stilly]

This is NOT the G2 that you tested though correct?

[MarikinaMan]

Nope.

I think I'll take neon fishing line across the sensors and the sun shade. That way, I can tell if I am shooting across the sensors without too much effort.

[stilly]

Nope.

I think I'll take neon fishing line across the sensors and the sun shade. That way, I can tell if I am shooting across the sensors without too much effort.

You should see if you can make a mount to make it hang upside down and shoot under it instead of over it... Maybe it will perform like a G2 then...

[MarikinaMan]

You should see if you can make a mount to make it hang upside down and shoot under it instead of over it... Maybe it will perform like a G2 then...

Per my research, the G2 uses a built in LED array and is upside down so that it doesnt rely on ambient light. The sensor does not face the sun.

I can purchase the LED option, but I dont think I'll need it. I've experimented with the sun shade on, off in shaded situations, and the unit works. The biggest issue is shooting across the sensors, which is not an issue when bench rested, but can get challenging offhand. The sweet spot is 1.5-1.75 inches wide. At 10 feet, it needs focus and attention. I was simply firing my airgun over the unit. Not doing a good job at that.

Not a bad purchase for 50 bucks.

[randomBytes]

I bought one of these - with the IR light kit, worked like a charm indoors, 100% readings and the app is cool.

[Ubermcoupe]

I was running into some issues last year when I took it out to the desert. Wind kept giving me errors (as show in your photo) from dust or something. I would hold out for some still wind, get 3 or 4 good shots, then end up with a couple errors. Not being able to complete a string of 5, I gave up for the day to figure some other ways of doing things in a not-so-controllable environment.

I was set about 8-10' away, shooting rested at one end of the table to the other, under a couple of EZ ups (shaded area) with the chrono just outside the shaded area, sun overhead.

We just have to see how it turns out this year.

I've debated dropping it for the labradar, but i'm holding out until I actually try the labradar next to my loads.

[IrishJoe3]

I'm using that Chronograph too. The chronograph is alright, it mostly does the job. I've only used it outdoors and sometimes it'll have read errors, and its rather picky about picking up rounds. However once you're set up in the sweet spot, it works well.

The app, however, is awesome.

I shoot my sequence, (ten rounds). In the app I input the distance from the muzzle to the chronograph, bullet weight, ballistic coefficient. The app automatically logs time, temperature and barometric pressure. Using the data I input, it automatically calculates the average velocity, standard deviation, displays the min and max velocity, the spread, and the true muzzle velocity.

Using the app you take a picture of your shot group, and tag each bullet hole. It then calculates and displays your shot group size.

Once I get home, I print the data on one side of a sheet of paper, and a picture of the shotgroup on the otherside, then put the sheets in sheet protectors in a binder on my reloading bench.

Makes it easy to track and reference my load data.

[stilly]

That app works on a Samsung Galaxy S2 right? I have an S3 and 2 S2s. I imagine it will work okay on the S2 as well...

I was really thinking of picking up the G2 though because I figured that if it works as good as they advertise it, then I can use it in my favorite Indoor Range (Riverside Magnum Range) and then check out a lot more loads. I like that the G2 is about $190 last time I checked...

The regular one though I was not liking since it is very simlar to the Competition Electronics Digital that I got...