I finally got out to the range this week. Twice actually. First groups I've shot since last October.
Here are some first impressions with the Garmin Xero. I gotta say that I must be the only one in the world that didn't immediately fall in love with the Garmin, albeit I've only used it the two days that I was at the range. Our gun club has one for us to use.
The first day I wrote off as a learning experience and (again) read through the manual. The second day it recorded 53 shots in a row, just like a clock ticking, when it stopped reading. It was at the start of a 10 shot string when it stopped. I didn't notice it until I had finished the group. It wasn't location because after the first string I used a magic marker on the bench so I knew where the Garmin should be placed. After every shot string you have to pick it up, end the session and start another. That means it must be repositioned every shot string. And it shouldn't have stopped reading since it had just recorded 53 shots (10+ 5 shot groups) in a row. Right??
After re-reading the manual I'm starting to think that the unit needs to be reset to factory specs to delete all the data being stored. I didn't come up with that on my own, Garmin recommends it as part of their trouble shooting recommendations should it stop reading.. The software is designed to dump the oldest data when you start a new session. I'm guessing that its on data/sensory overload. I'm shooting again Monday and I'll do a factory reset and see how things work. Below you'll see the screen shot on what to do when your Garmin stops recording.
And a quick comment on the Bluetooth capability with Garmin "ShotView". I have a new Competition Electronics ProChrony that doesn't leave the shop. Setting up ant sky screen chronograph outdoors has never worked for me, so I gave up on using them at the range. Maybe I'm just not smart enough.
However the Bluetooth software on the ProChrony is flawless. You have instant feedback on your phone. Managing your shot string is fast, easy and the uploading of the data is painless. All in all the software with the ProChrony is super easy, intuitive, and better than the Garmin's "ShotView". Since I was homebound I resorted to shooting sub sonic K Hornet in the shop and I probably put 300 to 500 rounds through the "lighted" ProChrony without missing a single shot. But at best the ProCHrony its problematic when used outdoors.
Back to the Bluetooth software: The Garmin's software (ShotView) is written that every time you start a new session, delete a shot etc, you have to handle the unit. On the ProChrony ever shot pops up on your phone. The ProChrony reads real time on your phone where the "ShotView" software does not. At least I don't think it can be use in real time (off your phone). After you pick up the unit and "end" the session it automatically uploads the shot string to the "ShotView" software. If I'm wrong maybe someone can correct me on that.
Managing, naming, uploading strings from the ProChrony is as close as the phone within inches of you. However the Garmin works outdoors and the ProChrony is at best problematic when used outdoors. I've never had much luck with a sky screen chronograph. And I've got 30 years of experience with them.
As a rule I typically don't use chronograhps, I just need them long enough to give me a working range of 1500 to 1750fps on a powder that looks promising. But after sitting home for these past 11 months I had a lot of accuracy trials that I planned to shoot that required velocity, SD and ES using a number of different powders, primers, flash hole sizes etc.
Nationals are in process as I'm putting the post up. I wish I was there and hope everyone has a good time. Thanks, Bill C.
