Garmin’s Delightful Little Xero C1 Chronograph

By Martin Auldist

Jun 2, 2024

Triple speed readings were recorded for Marcus’ 7x57 Parker Hale on a bag rest showing a readout comparing two Doppler Radar Chronograph readings; left the Garmin and right, the Speedtracker Mach 4. Note the ProChrono Digital chronograph downrange.

REVIEW Marcus O’Dean

A while back, I reviewed the Bulletseeker Doppler Radar compact chronograph, which promised to revolutionise ballistics for the common man. Now Garmin has taken that revolution one step further.

Introduction

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I caught up with long-term fellow target shooter and friend Aubrey Sonnenberg, of www.accurise.com.au, at ANZAC Rifle Range one Saturday recently and brought up the topic of the new Garmin chronograph I had seen all over the web. It just so happened, Aubrey is an authorised Garmin dealer for the genuinely revolutionary Garmin Xero C1 Chronograph, which is taking the shooting world by storm. It is dimensionally tiny for a stand-alone, all-up ballistic solution, but it is big enough for absolute user friendliness and readability.

Specifications for the Layman

While there is a lot of technical stuff that can be expanded upon, this little snapshot will suffice at the moment. More will come later.

Size and weight. Screen unit is 77 x 60.5 x 34.5 mm and weighs 105.6 grams. Deployed on its tripod it weighs 161 grams all up.
Button-operated design is simple to use.
May be paired with the “Shotview” smartphone app to track shots, measure deviation etc.
With IPX7 water-resistance rating (submersion for 30 minutes in 1 metre of water) they endure the foulest of elements.
Will fit in a back pocket due to its compact dimensions and weight. (Hallelujah!!!)
Battery life for up to 2000 shots or 6 hours continuous use.
USB-C port for charging its lithium-ion battery or downloading software updates via computer.

Operating

There are four keys on top of the device:

OK (press to select menu options)
PWR (turn device on)
Up and down arrows to navigate between displays.

Tripod mount is a standard 1/4 inch -20 thread.

Prior to safely positioning the Xero C1 to shoot, the following inputs are made.

Select NEW SESSION > RIFLE
Select VELOCITY RANGE
If you have enabled the PROJECTILE WEIGHT ENTRY SETTING, select an option (Pro settings (Xero C1) and you can calculate the kinetic energy and power factor of your bullet. If you wish to not use that option, just select SKIP.
Check alignment and positioning of the unit and press OK to continue. Position rifle alongside chronograph within 15-35cm and 15-35cm behind the muzzle.
Point unit at the target with screen facing you

To review shot data (session summary), simply press the OK button and select Session Summary menu option. Mind-numbingly simple and direct.

Test Results. In our Saturday session on a pistol range, Aubrey and I shot my Parker Hale 7x57 Mauser with factory ammo and some TrailBoss low-velocity loads, a .Sportco .22LR 1960s-vintage small bore rifle and my terrific CZ 527 full-stock .223 with my 55-grainn 200m service rifle handload. Shooting through or over three chronographs;

an updated Speedtracker Mach4 Doppler unit, which we strapped to the barrel;
My ProChrono Digital conventional chronograph 15 feet from the muzzle, and ;
The Garmin Xero C1 Doppler chronograph

You will see the setup and a selection comparative recorded velocities in the images here. In all but one case, every speed was recorded by all devices, bar one. The very first shot of the day through the .22 Sportco failed to register on the SpeedTracker due to incorrect positioning; operator error, in this case.

The average difference in recorded velocities between the Garmin and the SpeedTracker were minuscule, in the order of a few fps average and the ProChrono, further downrange registered predictably and consistently lower by 10-20fps depending upon the ammunition being tested. Reliability of reading by all units was 100 percent.

Conclusion

I was instantly attracted to this Garmin unit for one main reason; that a troglodyte and software leper like myself could finally use a beautifully designed, tiny, doppler radar chronograph that could be employed stand-alone, without having to use a separate device to read and report. You see, I am an analog-type of bloke, who hates supposed advances in technology that need me to undertake a short course online in order to operate what should just work out of the box. When you are staring down the barrel of seven decades on the planet, you appreciate an uncomplicated interface, so your remaining time on earth is not wasted.

I like paper. I draw and do watercolours and like transposing velocities from a chronograph into a notebook to go back home and analyse. I do not like scrolling between screens or downloading software onto my phone to accomplish what used to be a much simpler, and necessarily slightly longer, operation.

This Garmin unit just happens to have all that software whizz-bang connectivity and operability, but I like noting down velocities and cogitating between shots, allowing my barrel to cool a bit and for me to think. If I want to download data in digital form, I can, but when I complete a shot string with the Garmin, it is showing me updated Extreme Spread and Standard Deviation and it is right there, less than a metre from you on its cute little tripod, displaying all you need in big, friendly numerals. You immediately know that your proposed new handload is consistent as the data coalesces in an instant before your eyes.

To Diana, God of Hunters and Shooters, you finally came through!

If you wish to get more information or purchase a Garmin Xero C1, go to www.accurise.com.au.

Postscript

Since reviewing the Garmin at the range, I have acquired one for myself and have used the hell out of it on three successive weeks at the rifle range in the process of developing handloads for my 7x57 Parker Hale and I have to say now, in hindsight, it is faultlessly easy to set up, use and evaluate information it generates. It is truly the most intuitive, well-thought-out development in accurate velocity measurement for my purposes (and many others) I have had the pleasure to use. I will say, however, that I will retain my ‘Old Faithful’ ProChrono digital for the unlikely event that I may ever need a warranty claim on the Garmin.