Caldwell Velociradar vs. Garmin Xero

rustyinbend

GySgt USMC 1976-1992
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  • Dec 9, 2018
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    Velociradar shows available and ready to buy on the Caldwell site for $499 with free shipping. Decided to order one, even though I love the simplicity and super-small form-factor of my Garmin Xero. If this Caldwell gadget is able to provide multiple programmable down-range drops, velocities, and accurate BC's, that data for me could be a game-changer. I'll let y'all know whether I love it or hate it. Being a "Gadget Guy" ... I just couldn't stop myself.
     
    Let us know how stable it is on that tripod. I've seen too many Labradar's tip over like a windsail and I think this Velociradar has a potential to do it too since that that tripod looks so small.
     
    If you have a 12ga, can you see if it's able to measure non-slug shotshell velocities (#7.5, #8, etc.)? It advertises shotgun compatibility but I got a feeling it's slugs only.
     
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    I believe the BC's are captured within 100yds which probably aren't very useful depending on what you're doing. Looks like it still needs a trigger and to be pointed properly. I'd be happy to be wrong, but this seems like too little too late.
     
    I believe the BC's are captured within 100yds which probably aren't very useful depending on what you're doing. Looks like it still needs a trigger and to be pointed properly. I'd be happy to be wrong, but this seems like too little too late.
    Ultimate Reloader just did a quick review that showed a screen with BC's and downrange velocities showing out to 500 yards in 100 yard increments. I'm hopeful that screen is "real".
     
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    Ultimate Reloader just did a quick review that showed a screen with BC's and downrange velocities showing out to 500 yards in 100 yard increments. I'm hopeful that screen is "real".
    Update ... it looks like this table is "constructed" from the 100-yard data, not actual measurements beyond 100 yards. More details when I get the gadget and have a chance to play with it. Not sure if this will be enough to be the game-changer I was hoping for ... we shall see.
     
    I believe the BC's are captured within 100yds which probably aren't very useful depending on what you're doing. Looks like it still needs a trigger and to be pointed properly. I'd be happy to be wrong, but this seems like too little too late.

    Seems like it'd be possible to work up some way sub-maximum loads and capture BC at lower velocities. Ain't no way I'm going through that kind of effort, but some folks have a lot of spare time.
     
    I've had one for about a week and have had it at the range twice. I'm using if with an android phone .
    With android the tutorial isn't installed so so I'm kinda winging it a bit. You can't get into the app without signing in.
    With out the app it works just like any other chronograph but adds BC, you can choose between G1&G7.
    It weighs just over 3 pounds and the build quality is quite robust.
    The included stand is light weight plastic and does not support the weight of the crony well.
    I used it setting on the shooting bench without the stand and this worked well.
    There are quite a few features on this app that nothing else I have used offered ex dope setting.
    So far I'm very pleased with it and a more stable stand would be great.
     
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    Ultimate Reloader just did a quick review that showed a screen with BC's and downrange velocities showing out to 500 yards in 100 yard increments. I'm hopeful that screen is "real".
    Has that guy ever hated anything he features on his show? Serious question.

    It just feels like everything he films is actually a paid promo. Maybe he’s straight up, but I dunno man, I dunno…
     
    I got my velociradar about two weeks ago and have had it at the range 8 or 9 times now. At 100 yards, it works great. However, if you want to capture the same information on a target beyond 100 yards it gets a bit tougher. The radar beam appears to be very narrow and the unit is very sensitive to aim. The on-board peep sight works fine at 100 yards but not beyond. I brought this up to the people at Caldwell and was told that the unit was only designed to work at 100 yards. In order to make the unit work on longer shots, I had to place a paper target at 100 yards, close to the flight path to my 500-yard target and aim the radar at that 100-yard target.

    The included tripod is too flexible to be useful if its windy. I place my unit on a good camera tripod slightly above the height of the barrel and aim the radar down slightly. This seems to cause the bullet to pass through the beam and results in better consistency. Battery life is good on the unit, I usually get three or four trips to the range on a charge. That probably equates to 6 or 7 hours use.
    The Phone interface is good and allows you to do most functions without ever touching the unit. I did find that after a period of not firing, to allow barrel cool-down, it was best to activate the Radar Pause button once to ensure that the unit was ready to capture the next shot.
    Overall, I like it. This was an upgrade from a Magneto Speed. Using both units at the same time showed them to be very similar although the MagSpeed sometimes showed speeds 20 to 30 FPS faster. I have no experience with the Labradar so I can't help with any comparison.

    Gregg
     
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    I got my velociradar about two weeks ago and have had it at the range 8 or 9 times now. At 100 yards, it works great. However, if you want to capture the same information on a target beyond 100 yards it gets a bit tougher. The radar beam appears to be very narrow and the unit is very sensitive to aim. The on-board peep sight works fine at 100 yards but not beyond. I brought this up to the people at Caldwell and was told that the unit was only designed to work at 100 yards. In order to make the unit work on longer shots, I had to place a paper target at 100 yards, close to the flight path to my 500-yard target and aim the radar at that 100-yard target.

    The included tripod is too flexible to be useful if its windy. I place my unit on a good camera tripod slightly above the height of the barrel and aim the radar down slightly. This seems to cause the bullet to pass through the beam and results in better consistency. Battery life is good on the unit, I usually get three or four trips to the range on a charge. That probably equates to 6 or 7 hours use.
    The Phone interface is good and allows you to do most functions without ever touching the unit. I did find that after a period of not firing, to allow barrel cool-down, it was best to activate the Radar Pause button once to ensure that the unit was ready to capture the next shot.
    Overall, I like it. This was an upgrade from a Magneto Speed. Using both units at the same time showed them to be very similar although the MagSpeed sometimes showed speeds 20 to 30 FPS faster. I have no experience with the Labradar so I can't help with any comparison.

    Gregg
    Thanks Gregg ... that's super helpful. I got my Velociradar a couple of months ago, but can't get to the range to test it until I've solved a very painful back problem that I'm wrestling with. Until then, and until my own testing, these are very helpful.
     
    I agree ... he's got great potential, but instead he's more of the "QVC" of the gun world.
    I do not want to turn this into an Ultimate Reloader bash session, but I have to agree an all points previously posted. Also, did area 419 right out purchase his channel? Granted, I have learned a bit from his channel, but the Area 419 in the face constantly is a turn off...
     
    Old thread I know but any feedback on the BC reading? Just curious how accurate it is and if anyone has tested what the velociraptor BC readout is to distance
     
    copied this from a reply off a review by Bragging rights Precision Reloading on youtube. Take it for what it's worth " Only the Garmin and the Velociradar calculate the STD DEV correctly using STDEVP function. All the others use the STDEV function which results in a higher than actual STD DEV. " Maybe someone on here can clarify whether that's a correct statement
     
    copied this from a reply off a review by Bragging rights Precision Reloading on youtube. Take it for what it's worth " Only the Garmin and the Velociradar calculate the STD DEV correctly using STDEVP function. All the others use the STDEV function which results in a higher than actual STD DEV. " Maybe someone on here can clarify whether that's a correct statement
    Long story short, population SD (STDEVP in Excel) is the wrong one to use if you want to extrapolate your small sample size to a larger group, which what I think most people are trying to do. You shoot some # of rounds over the chrono to try and determine how your entire batch of ammo will generally perform. Sample SDs (STDEV) are also comparable for different sample sizes while STDEVP is not. If you shot 10 rounds of load A and 15 rounds of load B, the STDEVP of load A will be artificially lowered when compared to load B.
     
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