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Radar Chronographs
Posted on 6/4/25 at 3:09 pm
Posted on 6/4/25 at 3:09 pm
Hey guys,
I went on a prairie dog hunt a few weeks ago and one of the hunters let me borrow his Gamin chronograph to check a few loads. At first I declined his offer, but before I knew it, he had it set up and ready to make a reading. I've been using optical chronographs for >30 years but rarely use them now because they're a pain to set up and my usual shooting range doesn't have much sun exposure. I was surprised by some of the Garmin readings, specifically 3820 fps for the new 17 Remington Fireball and 4120 fps for the 20 Practical. I'll drop the powder charges for them a little. When I got home, I immediately started researching the newer radar chronographs. It looks like the Garmin is the gold standard in the industry, but now Athlon has come out w/ one that's very similar but $100-150 bucks cheaper. I'm thinking a new chronograph would be a really good Father's Day present.
I've looked at a lot of YT videos of the two. I'm leaning towards the Athlon since it's so much less expensive. Does anyone here have personal experience w/ the Athlon?? 
I went on a prairie dog hunt a few weeks ago and one of the hunters let me borrow his Gamin chronograph to check a few loads. At first I declined his offer, but before I knew it, he had it set up and ready to make a reading. I've been using optical chronographs for >30 years but rarely use them now because they're a pain to set up and my usual shooting range doesn't have much sun exposure. I was surprised by some of the Garmin readings, specifically 3820 fps for the new 17 Remington Fireball and 4120 fps for the 20 Practical. I'll drop the powder charges for them a little. When I got home, I immediately started researching the newer radar chronographs. It looks like the Garmin is the gold standard in the industry, but now Athlon has come out w/ one that's very similar but $100-150 bucks cheaper. I'm thinking a new chronograph would be a really good Father's Day present.
I've looked at a lot of YT videos of the two. I'm leaning towards the Athlon since it's so much less expensive. Does anyone here have personal experience w/ the Athlon?? 
5
Posted on 6/4/25 at 3:23 pm to TigerOnThe Hill
I have the Garmin and also the old original LabRadar.
I used the LabRadar religiously and it did a reasonably good job. But it would get false readings constantly and took about 5 min to set it up and the app kinda sucks as well.
The Garmin is amazing. It's tiny, accurate and just stupid easy to use. Set it down beside the gun, tell it if you are using a pistol, rifle or bow, and then what speed range. It's so easy.
The phone app is pretty great as well.
I would highly recommend it.
There are now several other companies that make them. Caldwell, LabRadar, and Athlon (that I didn't know about). I can't comment on those as I have absolutely no experience with them.
I will say that there are a number of aftermarket accessories for the Garmin.
I used the LabRadar religiously and it did a reasonably good job. But it would get false readings constantly and took about 5 min to set it up and the app kinda sucks as well.
The Garmin is amazing. It's tiny, accurate and just stupid easy to use. Set it down beside the gun, tell it if you are using a pistol, rifle or bow, and then what speed range. It's so easy.
The phone app is pretty great as well.
I would highly recommend it.
There are now several other companies that make them. Caldwell, LabRadar, and Athlon (that I didn't know about). I can't comment on those as I have absolutely no experience with them.
I will say that there are a number of aftermarket accessories for the Garmin.
Posted on 6/4/25 at 3:57 pm to TigerOnThe Hill
There really is no reason to get anything other than the Garmin/Athlon.
Garmin launched it, Athlon copied it. The Athlon hasnt been out very long so I dont know if they hammered all the kinks out yet.
Im going to pick up the Athlon because Im cheap and I dont shoot 1/10 of what I used to.
Garmin launched it, Athlon copied it. The Athlon hasnt been out very long so I dont know if they hammered all the kinks out yet.
Im going to pick up the Athlon because Im cheap and I dont shoot 1/10 of what I used to.
Posted on 6/4/25 at 4:11 pm to TigerOnThe Hill
I've been using the Garmin for over a year and have 0 complaints. If in the market today, I'd research the heck out of the Athlon before buying. Just make sure their customer support is satisfactory with 4-5 star ratings.
Posted on 6/4/25 at 4:22 pm to TigerOnThe Hill
I have the Garmin. It's so easy and stores everything in the app. So small I even connect it directly to my arca rail with a cheap mount from Amazon. Super easy and keeps the bench clear.
Athlon screen looks like it has a better data layout. Saw one review where a guy was getting interference with it from other chronographs when the Garmin and Lab Radar didn't. But he was checking like 6 radars against each other at the same time. Doubt you are ever going to run into that issue.
Athlon screen looks like it has a better data layout. Saw one review where a guy was getting interference with it from other chronographs when the Garmin and Lab Radar didn't. But he was checking like 6 radars against each other at the same time. Doubt you are ever going to run into that issue.
Posted on 6/4/25 at 5:20 pm to Jon A thon
I’ve had a Garmin since they’ve came out with no issues. I think it was in the Hornady podcast where they said the Garmin within 1% or something crazy of their really expensive radar chronographs.
I’ve seen a lot of app connectivity issues. I’d personally skip Athlon and their copycat and stick with Garmin.
I’ve seen a lot of app connectivity issues. I’d personally skip Athlon and their copycat and stick with Garmin.
Posted on 6/4/25 at 10:51 pm to TigerOnThe Hill
I'm ready to get the Garmin. So frustrated with things on my Labradar...it will show a single-digit SD on five shots that was a 3" vertical group...I know that ain't right.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 6:32 am to Duckhammer_77
quote:
it will show a single-digit SD on five shots that was a 3" vertical group...I know that ain't right.
Achieving a single digit SD does not guarantee that the round will group well. I wouldn't chalk that up to the Labradar giving bad data. I didn't switch from the Labradar to the Garmin because I was getting bad data from the Labradar. I switched because of the Garmin so much simpler to use.
I would bet that if you got a Garmin you would get the same SD with those rounds that shot a 3" group.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 7:27 am to civiltiger07
quote:
SD does not guarantee that the round will group well
Yeah, if you were getting vertical stringing regularly and not on just a few groups, and that stringing was taking place at distance (300+ yards), then I think it has a higher chance of being velocity related and possibly there is something off on the radar.
I think I've found on my current long distance gun that at like 150 fps extreme spread, it's only a half an inch difference at 200 yards. I get much better SD's and ES's than that for sure, but I ran the numbers one day to see just how much difference it made and it's not much when I'm shooting at the 200 yard range near my house. But it's nearly 11 inches difference when I'm going to the 600 yard range.
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