Best chronograph recommendation from experience

[Murfdurf82]

Lab radar, Garmin, fx, Nate chrony? I have a basic caldwell but I would like to find what any of the folks here have a preference for. With all the options it's hard to pin point what I should get. My mind says I'll save up and skip the cheap ones as I've done a bit of that, going with a best all around, ease to use and tracking info. Thanks in advance!

 

[Solo1]

No experience with anything you listed except garmin. My garmin has been great no problems no missed shots. Athlon sounds good too but no experience.

 

[Hvacguy]

I like the FX V1. It's cheap used and integrates well with their app.

 

[TN_Yankee]

A lot of users are quite happy with the cheap Chinese barrel-mount models. I went with an Athlon as its more versatile, very easy to set up, and less expensive than the Garmin. I also didn't want to be tied to an app, so a screen was important to me.

 

[Jaabaa]

A lot of users are quite happy with the cheap Chinese barrel-mount models. I went with an Athlon as its more versatile, very easy to set up, and less expensive than the Garmin. I also didn't want to be tied to an app, so a screen was important to me.

Totally see your point not tied to a app. Shoot and look. 2 steps

 

[FL22]

I have the cheap barrel mount unit and a ProChrono DXL with light kit, I wouldn’t recommend either , especially with what’s available now.

 

[Danman]

I have the cheap barrel mount unit and a ProChrono DXL with light kit, I wouldn’t recommend either , especially with what’s available now.

I'll agree to this! I have the prochrono without the light kit..... Almost 100% useless sadly. When I need data the weather has to be about perfect, i cant be in the shade(), cant be indoors, etc.
Spring for the light kit you say? The cost is pretty high and now you need to be hooked up to 120v power. If I could do this over...I'd have the Athlon unit 100%. Garmin needs to chill with their prices a bit on the second Gen model. And dont get anything that you have to attach to your barrel (Sorry natechrony lol) I want quick setup time with my gear, hate all the time it takes to set up everything just to shoot for an hour

 

[Billm]

For years I used either a PACT or KC with sky screens. When I started to do a lot of airgun shooting, I bought the Garmin C1. I hate sky screens. I like my Garmin a lot, even more so since they added graphing etc.. The C2 did not replace the C1 and the C1 is great for airguns. I like that I could walk into Bass Pro and buy one with a 10% military discount. I’m not interested in anything that requires being mounted to the gun. I wouldn’t be opposed to an Athlon either. The Garmin couldn’t be any easier to use.

 

[Murfdurf82]

Anyone have an opinion on LabRadar?

 

[Solo1]

Anyone have an opinion on LabRadar?

Heard a lot of complaints no experience

 

[FL22]

Anyone have an opinion on LabRadar?

You should check out this thread. It’s one of my favorites , the thread, not the chronograph .

Break Barrel Chronograph Day, or perhaps more accurately radar day.

Feb 18, 2026

Well, the weather is windy, so I thought that I'd spend the morning getting some numbers from my Weihrauch rifles. Testing has been done in the comfortable, outdoor shooting facility at Redneck acres. Velocities were recorded with a LabRadar unit, and all shots fired by the World's okayest springer shooter. In case you have already fallen asleep there is something happening here that I have never previously seen, so grab your popcorn. I created this post because several members were curious about the performance of my newly acquired rifles. It is important to mention that they have all...

• Scriv
• Replies: 87
• Forum: Weihrauch Airguns

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[Pumacarl]

The one you have with you. I have 3 of those cheap units that I pinch hold on the end of my barrels or suppressors to just check speed sometimes and they work great. I very rarely need to do more than just confirm a speed. I run strings on unregulated guns (I only have 2) but once I do that I only need to check their speed once. All of my regs are very consistent so I gave up wasting my time with strings unless tuning and changing something, including ammo. I have the new FX D1 radar unit on my FX which I do run all the time because a few fps at distance actually matters, and I'll slow down myself a little bit to get the spread down to just about nothing. The problem is usually me. If I wasn't shooting long range though, I would have just stuck with the cheapies. Not the cool answer everybody wants to hear, but they work well enough, and I have one at all my shooting spots, along with a cheapie laser range finder.

 

[Murfdurf82]

You should check out this thread. It’s one of my favorites , the thread, not the chronograph .

Break Barrel Chronograph Day, or perhaps more accurately radar day.

Feb 18, 2026

Well, the weather is windy, so I thought that I'd spend the morning getting some numbers from my Weihrauch rifles. Testing has been done in the comfortable, outdoor shooting facility at Redneck acres. Velocities were recorded with a LabRadar unit, and all shots fired by the World's okayest springer shooter. In case you have already fallen asleep there is something happening here that I have never previously seen, so grab your popcorn. I created this post because several members were curious about the performance of my newly acquired rifles. It is important to mention that they have all...

• Scriv
• Replies: 87
• Forum: Weihrauch Airguns

• 
• 

I just read the entire thread. It's great dialogue, like a short story almost. I wonder if the Garmin reads down range like the flawed labradar. With pyramid airs 20% off it would be a good price.

Edit the Garmin isn't at pyramid.

 

[Murfdurf82]

The one you have with you. I have 3 of those cheap units that I pinch hold on the end of my barrels or suppressors to just check speed sometimes and they work great. I very rarely need to do more than just confirm a speed. I run strings on unregulated guns (I only have 2) but once I do that I only need to check their speed once. All of my regs are very consistent so I gave up wasting my time with strings unless tuning and changing something, including ammo. I have the new FX D1 radar unit on my FX which I do run all the time because a few fps at distance actually matters, and I'll slow down myself a little bit to get the spread down to just about nothing. The problem is usually me. If I wasn't shooting long range though, I would have just stuck with the cheapies. Not the cool answer everybody wants to hear, but they work well enough, and I have one at all my shooting spots, along with a cheapie laser range finder.

I'm in an experimental area where I'm changing parts and reg pressure, ect so I'd like to use the chrono as much as possible. The Doppler type radar interests me with the down range readings as well.

 

[Pumacarl]

I'm in an experimental area where I'm changing parts and reg pressure, ect so I'd like to use the chrono as much as possible. The Doppler type radar interests me with the down range readings as well.

If you really want to play around I would recommend the FX D1 simply because of the veratility of not needing to use a phone. They all pretty much work the same, but I really like not having to use an app or my phone at all. Strelok is always up on my phone.

edit: D1 only does muzzle readings so skip it, I just realized you wanted downrange info too.

 

[Solo1]

I just read the entire thread. It's great dialogue, like a short story almost. I wonder if the Garmin reads down range like the flawed labradar. With pyramid airs 20% off it would be a good price.

Garmin only does muzzle velocity

 

[Murfdurf82]

If you really want to play around I would recommend the FX D1 simply because of the veratility of not needing to use a phone. They all pretty much work the same, but I really like not having to use an app or my phone at all. Strelok is always up on my phone.

edit: D1 only does muzzle readings so skip it, I just realized you wanted downrange info too.

I think reading down field is interesting, yet the difference in price, being the fx true ballistics looks like the best option and paying almost 700$ for a chronograph is pushing it. I don't know, lots to think about. I do like the D1 as an option that doesn't have said feature.

 

[Waytoomany]

Like others I really like the FX D-1 because it is easy to use. It comes with various attachments but I simply place it on the bench or deck rail. That way it matters not when I switch to another air gun. It isn’t expensive, is reliable, is rechargeable and the long lasting battery has automatic shutoff. While it works without a smart phone, you can get fancy if you want.

Waytoomany

 

[duchunter007]

I think reading down field is interesting, yet the difference in price, being the fx true ballistics looks like the best option and paying almost 700$ for a chronograph is pushing it. I don't know, lots to think about. I do like the D1 as an option that doesn't have said feature.

I have an FX True Ballistics and a Garmin; I use the True Ballistics data for checking down range as and getting a BC number for plugging into my Ballistics app for shooting at different ranges. I am learning how to use it more all the time so that I can get the best data. I use my Garmin for checking FPS and use it for the majority of the time. by the sounds of it, the FX TB would be your best choice, IMO

 

[Murfdurf82]

I have an FX True Ballistics and a Garmin; I use the True Ballistics data for checking down range as and getting a BC number for plugging into my Ballistics app for shooting at different ranges. I am learning how to use it more all the time so that I can get the best data. I use my Garmin for checking FPS and use it for the majority of the time. by the sounds of it, the FX TB would be your best choice, IMO

That price is tough to swallow but I've learned it's easy to waste money on budget products a person isn't happy with. I suppose I have a summer full of mandatory overtime where I work so it's within the budget. Too bad it's not in stock at pyramid until after the birthday sale is over