Boom stick questions. Point me in the right direction.

First trip to my new range home, and bought a cool new toy...

Before we moved, I made sure to check out the shooting facilities in the area where we moved, but this was my first time actually shooting there.  At our previous location, I was a member of a private club and had anytime access to the club facility, which was really nice.  It's a bit of a letdown to go back to a public range, but the facility is actually much better for rifle shooting than our club was.  The facility is technically owned by the state Game & Fish Department, but it's run by volunteer personnel from a consortium of local clubs.  Really nice facility with paper out to 300 and steel out to 500yds on the public range.  There are several other ranges on the property for handgun/tactical/silhouette, etc.   Our club only had paper to 100yds, and steel to 250.  Not having anytime access to tactical bays will be a bummer, though.

The new toy is a Garmin Xero C1 chronograph.  TLDR - if you're a handloader or long distance rifle shooter this is the best thing since sliced bread!

It's a doppler radar chronograph about the size of a GoPro camera... unfold the tripod, set it on the bench and shoot.

I started with a mag out of one of my 5.56 ARs, then did some load development for my 6.5CM, and finished up with some .45 Colt plinking loads out of my Uberti Schofield.  The Garmin picked up every shot I fired, and never picked up any of my neighbors' shots.  With the rifles I was able to shoot steel and paper at varying angles, something that would not have been possible with a standard chronograph.   The Garmin stores data as 'sessions' and will give you ave, std dev, high/low, etc.  It also has an app to connect to your phone, but I haven't tried that yet.

I had nearly pulled the trigger on a Labradar a couple of times over the past year, but so many reviewers have issues with them, I held off.  Missed shots with suppressed guns, have to haul extra batteries, etc, etc.  And the Labradar is huge.   When I saw the Garmin about a month ago, I knew it was what I'd been waiting for...  They aren't cheap (cheaper than Labradar!), but worth every penny.  My Caldwell chronograph is going to be up for sale cheap! 

Ok That is cool!!!!

I paid less than 100 for my Caldwell.  How many times is this than that?

Edit:  Oooof!  That's a lot.

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

Look at it this way... it's a good bit less than a Catalyst.  

And compared to a 'sky screen' (optical) chronograph... worth every penny.  I have a Caldwell that's a few years old and a Chrony that's a few decades old.  Both were a PITA to set up, tempermental in getting readings, and I never once got the Caldwell app to work through a full range session.  Plus, you have have to shoot directly past the screens, so there's no flexibility with the target.  

In reply to Rodan :

The new Garmin Xero C1 Pro has been on my radar since learned of it a few month back... had thought about a Labradar for a long time (several years), but same concerns and size/power needs never let me act on one. Garmin Xero is everything you'd want in a chronograph - works 100% and very flexible in placement. Money is tight now so will need to sell some things before can get one. Have a similar unit designed for airguns from FX airguns which works decently, but its much more limited in area it picks up from, misses every so often, and limited to pretty much subsonic speeds.

In reply to tuna55 :

I assume you have taken the new rifle out. How does it shoot?  

I have a Chrony that works well but is super fiddly to set up. Are you seriously saying that this Garmin doohickey would, at $600, mitigate all of those setup hassles? 

In reply to brandonsmash :

Not mitigate... eliminate.  100%.  The Garmin is absolutely a game changer if you use a chronograph.

When I was setting up at the range yesterday, I was watching a guy a few benches down setting up a Caldwell chronograph.  I'm familiar with the process, because I have one.  He made about 6 trips back and forth setting it up... set up the tripod, hang a weight (it was windy), mount the chronograph after assembling it, get it oriented so he could shoot his target through it, pair it with his tablet, etc.  And repeat in reverse to tear it down.  I pulled the Garmin out of my bag, screwed on the little tripod and set it on the bench.  That's it.  Turn it on, and a couple of button presses to get it in the proper mode and start a session.  Basically it just has to sit next to the rifle on the bench.

I have a Chrony that I've had since they first came out, and I have a Caldwell that I bought a few years ago because the Chrony became so unreliable it wasn't worth taking to the range.  This Garmin makes both of them completely obsolete.

Edit to add:  I've never used my Chrony or Caldwell on a range trip and captured 100% of the shots fired over them... either one always missed some.  The Garmin captured every singe shot I fired yesterdy, handgun or rifle.

Well, hell. That sounds really attractive. I might have to see if they ever go on sale, because one of the reasons I don't develop hand loads as often as I should is the annoyance of setting up the Chrony.

And you're right, there are ALWAYS some shots it doesn't capture. Maybe it's too bright or maybe it's not bright enough, or maybe it's too close to the bench or maybe it's too far, etc. 

Some years ago, one of the online retailers was running a special on 50 rd PS90 mags... despite the fact I didn't own one, I bought a few of them under the assumption that eventually I would.   I work in Portsmouth, NH and for those who know the area, Kittery Trading Post is about 15 min away in Maine. I've been going there to window shop for years, never really thinking I would buy anything other than clothes and a few AK mags.  I was looking and low and behold, there is a PS90 hanging on the wall for a price I can afford (probably slightly on the high end).  I ask about out-of-state sales - "you're from PA - no problem."  And about an hour later I'm walking out with a new plinker to go with my early 90's MAK-90 (AK).  Some day I'll add an AR (probably a WWSD 2020) and a pistol or three.

When I have a better storage and work space, the idea of reloading is interesting. Not so much for ammo that is relatively easy (if not cheap) to source, but more for ammo that is not readily available anywhere for obscure firearms no longer in regular use.  

Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:

When I have a better storage and work space, the idea of reloading is interesting. Not so much for ammo that is relatively easy (if not cheap) to source, but more for ammo that is not readily available anywhere for obscure firearms no longer in regular use.  

I've always considered it more "handloading" than "reloading".  I do load a lot of .38/357, .44 and .45 to save $$, but I also load it so I can shoot exactly the ammo I want in a particular gun.  Rifles are about accuracy, which means tailoring the load to the rifle.  I don't load 9mm or 5.56 because the time I'd spend loading those is more valuable to me than the small amount of $$ saved in the process.   

With the cost of primers and heads what they are, reloading makes less sense for some rounds now, for sure. That being said, 5.56 is now at the point where it's a bit more viable to reload. It doesn't hurt that through some connections I get 30% off all Lee stuff, so I picked up a dedicated press just for 5.56. That means that at least for that caliber I just bolt down another press rather than swapping die and primer sets.

Where reloading really saves money is in .357, .44, .45, and 10mm. (Also .22 TCM to some extent.) Sure, .308 and .300WM are cheaper(ish) when hand-loaded but I'm not shooting a large quantity of those rounds. On those, I want to know exactly what I'm shooting and how it will behave. That is, of course, where the Chrony comes in. 

Rodan, I differ a bit from you: I don't view reloading or hand loading as a chore, I see it as a pastime in itself. I rather enjoy spending some time at the press making rounds. 

I also view the loading I do as a hobby unto itself.  Loading FMJ 9mm or 5.56... now that I see as a chore!  

At the range today. This is what ended up on the table completely un planed. A really cool slice of history. 
 

For some reason we all brought old stuff. 

Ended up getting a Garmin C1 Pro chronograph... seeing that they are very limited/hard to get now and waiting time could be 3 months for additional supply decided to just go for it, will definitetly need to sell some stuff to help cover it though. Found a Scheel's store online that had stock and ordered it - last one in stock as was sold out afterwards when went back and checked. It came in yesterday and did some quick testing with the Diana Model 48 springer (.22cal)... not bad but but not stellar results kind of expected as though the Diana Model 48 is not a bad gun at all it is a springer and very difficult to be precise with. With the Air Arms Diabolo Field Heavy 18gr pellets looking at around 6.0fps SD and extreme spread of 20.8fps with Ave velocity of 676.9FPS. My dad had a sling-shot and he flung some cheap crossman .22cal pellets with it...got them to 222fps.

Today did more testing but with the Benjamin Cayden PCP this time and now know why I love it so much. Shot the 4 magazines with 10 rounds each of AA Diabolo Field Heavy 18gr, JSB Diabolo jumbo heavy 18.13gr, NSA .2175" 17.5gr slug, and NSA .2175" 20.2gr slug - and worst it did was a 2.9fps SD with extreme spread of 9.8fps (@ 857.0fps average) with the AA Diabolo Field Heavy 18gr. Best it did was with the NSA .2175" 17.5gr slug - SD of 0.9fps with extreme spread of 2.5fps (@ 829.0fps average). Absolutely love how the Cayden shoots... a great budget PCP rifle with outstanding shot to shot repeatability and precision, especially not being regulated. Also a very good learner/trainer rifle, my 8yo nephew and 6yo niece were over today and they took the NSA slug shots as I coached them... never shot anything before. He very much enjoyed it and she enjoyed it as well but had more difficulty being much younger with less strength so looking through the scope and holding the rear steady was harder. It was on a Harris bipod, but for her added a rolled up towel underneath the buttstock to help support it.

Really liking the Garmin... it just plain works with zero issues. Well worth the investment.

I bought a belt. 
I don't wear belts often. 
I live in "belt buckle" country. 
I've never been to a rodeo. 
I spent a little extra for the buckle. 
 

Now, why does a belt belong in this thread?

Yall can fill in the blanks. 

In reply to barefootcyborg5000 :

I may have a couple belt buckles as well.  

Is it an IWB or OWB belt buckle?  

dean1484 said:

At the range today. This is what ended up on the table completely un planed. A really cool slice of history. 
 

I love Enfields and wish I owned more but for whatever reason they don't exist locally much

In reply to dean1484 :

IWB, but that's not the buckle. 

The buckle itself doesnt serve any secondary function. The belt does have a weight/carry capacity. 
 

Rawdog tactical is sending me a related piece that I have on good authority is very comfortable.

Both were on sale. 

Got both ebr's out yesterday. The rifle to get the scope in the same zip code and the pistol to make sure the rear and front sights are in agreement. Cold as balls, started walking the scope in and then it was all over the place. Whiskey tango foxtrot? Apparently my "armorer" didn't get the scope rings tightened. Tightened back down and imagine that, it was decently accurate. 

I just completed the most expensive rifle I have ever built.  I have battle rifles but as you all know a good one is 2moa and the bigger problem is optics are usually optimized for 0 - 500 yard's. I wanted a true DMR. Something that is to be shot from a bipod. Not something that is to be shot standing.  This is the rifle that is used by the guy sitting up on the hill overlooking a valley. However this is not a sniper rifle.  That is a whole next level of shooting.  
 

This has been in the research and planning stage for a long time. It came down to this or a SCAR 20.  The main reason I went with this I will get in to later as it will give away what it is.  I will say it costs about the same as as the SCAR 20. (Base rifle versus base rifle). 
 

For now here is a photo. Since it was not a very good photo What did I get?  Bonus points if you get the caliber. Hint: This rifle is in active service with a NATO country. This was something I wanted when I started reasurching this. A big reason why the scar 20 ended up being the 2nd choice. 
 

Got out over the Xmas break with the family and enjoyed the 45, 357, and 22 pistols.  I brought out a couple of 22 lever actions for the boys to kill clay birds with at 20yards.  They were all fighting over Dad's long barrel Smith 41 with a red dot.  Had a great time refreshing the kids memory on good shooting skills.

I have to get back to handloading for my EAA Witness match 45.  It's super finicky on handloads and Hornady discontinued it's favorite 185gr semi wad cutter.  I think I snagged 4 different potential 180-200gr semi wads and just haven't gotten around to cranking some out.  It'll eat 230gr round nose jacket but has soft springs for match loads so bucks like a bull.

I like the Garmin idea as otherwise I am generally working from estimates in the reloading books.  I've been wanting to get out with the Witness and try IDPA which requires power factor / chrono.

In reply to dean1484 :

6.5 CM if you are going 500 yds most likely.  But I don't think anyone uses it in service.