Garmin Xero C1 chrono vs. Athlon Rangecraft Chrono

[coldboremiracle]

For those who have been trying to decide between these two new chronograph options, I put my thoughts and experiences down to help you evaluate:

Garmin Xero C1 vs. Athlon Rangecraft Chrono

 

[angusb1]

Interesting to hear a review of these as the Athlon is not available in the UK for another couple of weeks and I have been waiting to hear how it compares to the Garmin. Thanks for posting this.

 

[wytonpjs]

Thanks for posting, and especially for including the addendum given the disparity in recorded speeds:

Update: because folks kept asking, I retried a few different times to see how much difference there was between the velocity readings compared to a Magneto Speed chronograph. It does seem that the Garmin Xero C1 was closer to the Magneto Speed more often than the Athlon Rangecraft.​

​

As other say, we don't have the Rangecraft here at present and when it does arrive, I doubt there will be the price disparity you are lucky to see in the US. Good review and post - thanks again

 

[Mr B]

Excellent review, thanks

 

[Jagged77]

Great comparison, thanks for the comprehensive evaluation. Looks like the Athlon will be available for about £400 here (when they arrive) so a good £130 saving on the Garmin. Hard to ignore the saving given how close they are in performance.

I got the Garmin as a birthday present recently and have to say the technology is brilliant. A really good investment and both look to be excellent options.

 

[angusb1]

Athlon Optics Rangecraft Velocity PRO Radar Chronograph

Optics Warehouse have the Athlon on pre-order at £400

 

[Jagged77]

Good shout on the protective case for the Garmin too - buying one now!

 

[trickie]

that’s a good price OW preordered 45, I ordered one on Monday reserved number 32, so not many left

 

[trickie]

EDA mid to end of June

 

[Cannon]

Have had the Garmin for around 6 months now and it's been a fantastic piece of kit. Expensive for what it is, but it's such a time saver versus setting up an older style chronograph. It hasn't missed a single shot from anything either. Air rifle, .303, 22-250 and so on. Could see the Athlon giving it tough competition though given the similarities and reduced price point.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Could see the Athlon giving it tough competition though given the similarities and reduced price point.

Agreed

 

[MarinePMI]

The big difference between the two IMHO, is the product support. The Athlon may be cheaper, but the Garmin has a more significant support infrastructure behind it (patching, updates, etc.). Garmin has been managing portable electronics much much longer than Athlon.

JMTCW...

 

[safer]

I did a similar parallel test between Garmin and Magnetspeed back in August last year. Garmin read 6 to 7 fps less the Magnetospeed.

S

Thread 'Garmin vs MagnetoSpeed parallel test'

Aug 10, 2024

Side by side speed test results.

• safer
• Replies: 27
• Forum: Ammunition, Reloading & Ballistics

• 

 

[villaman]

Both missed a trick by not incorporating bc function

 

[MarinePMI]

Both missed a trick by not incorporating bc function

Actually, the Garmin has it now, if you have a second Xero. They link now, one at the firing point, the other at 300yds (as an example) and collect data. At least that's how I understand that it works (still not clear how that works, or if you're just gathering two data points, and then adjusting BC to line up wit the two velocities; likely the latter, the more I read about it). "Down range" mode.

Xero C1 Pro - v3.30 update

 

[villaman]

Actually, the Garmin has it now, if you have a second Xero. They link now, one at the firing point, the other at 300yds (as an example) and collect data. At least that's how I understand that it works (still not clear how that works, or if you're just gathering two data points, and then adjusting BC to line up wit the two velocities; likely the latter, the more I read about it). "Down range" mode.

Xero C1 Pro - v3.30 update

So you have to buy two units , if that the case may as well buy Fx true ballistic chronograph

 

[trickie]

If your Maths is up to scratch then it’s not too difficult to work out BC from 1 Chrono



Calculating BC from Scratch Using Measured Data

You can calculate BC using a chronograph and shooting at least two targets at known distances.

Step 1: Measure initial velocity (Vi) using a chronograph.

Step 2: Shoot a target at a known distance (D1), and record the bullet’s velocity (V1).

Step 3: Shoot another target at a greater distance (D2 > D1), and record the bullet’s velocity (V2).

Step 4: Calculate average drag function K for both distances:

K1 = (Vi – V1) / (0.5 * rho * A * C * D1)

K2 = (V1 – V2) / (0.5 * rho * A * C * (D2 – D1))

where rho is air density, A is bullet’s cross-sectional area, and C is the drag coefficient of the reference projectile.
Step 5: Compute the ballistic coefficient using the average of K values:

BC = C / ((K1 + K2) / 2)

Much cheaper than a 2nd or replacement Chronograph. Once you have this set up in your device, it will then be very simple to get the result, likely more accurate than 2 chronographs unless they are reliably accurate and consistent between them (good luck with that). You can of course sell your Garmin and buy a replacement at twice the price. Hopefully you’ve checked out the reviews?

 

[long_range_rob]

I did a similar parallel test between Garmin and Magnetspeed back in August last year. Garmin read 6 to 7 fps less the Magnetospeed.

S

Thread 'Garmin vs MagnetoSpeed parallel test'

Aug 10, 2024

Side by side speed test results.

• safer
• Replies: 27
• Forum: Ammunition, Reloading & Ballistics

• 

That would make sense as the Magnetospeed registers closer to the muzzle.

 

[villaman]

If your Maths is up to scratch then it’s not too difficult to work out BC from 1 Chrono



Calculating BC from Scratch Using Measured Data

You can calculate BC using a chronograph and shooting at least two targets at known distances.

Step 1: Measure initial velocity (Vi) using a chronograph.

Step 2: Shoot a target at a known distance (D1), and record the bullet’s velocity (V1).

Step 3: Shoot another target at a greater distance (D2 > D1), and record the bullet’s velocity (V2).

Step 4: Calculate average drag function K for both distances:

K1 = (Vi – V1) / (0.5 * rho * A * C * D1)

K2 = (V1 – V2) / (0.5 * rho * A * C * (D2 – D1))

where rho is air density, A is bullet’s cross-sectional area, and C is the drag coefficient of the reference projectile.
Step 5: Compute the ballistic coefficient using the average of K values:

BC = C / ((K1 + K2) / 2)

Much cheaper than a 2nd or replacement Chronograph. Once you have this set up in your device, it will then be very simple to get the result, likely more accurate than 2 chronographs unless they are reliably accurate and consistent between them (good luck with that). You can of course sell your Garmin and buy a replacement at twice the price. Hopefully you’ve checked out the reviews?

Which chronograph twice the price

 

[MarinePMI]

So you have to buy two units , if that the case may as well buy Fx true ballistic chronograph

Well, if you have a mate that has one....