{"product_id":"caldwell-ballistic-precision-chronograph","title":"Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph","description":"\u003cp\u003e An essential accessory for all shooters, from the air rifle enthusiast to the expert reloader for long-range shooting, but also for the hunter who wants to check commercial ammunition, the ballistic chronograph is the instrument that allows you to measure the velocity of the projectile launched from your gun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e Without going into too much detail, knowing the projectile's initial velocity not only allows us to calculate its kinetic energy, but is also essential for calculating its trajectory; there are many purposes for which these values ​​are necessary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eJust to give a few examples:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e a dynamic shooting sportsman should always check whether his ammunition is “factor-ready”;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e a reloading enthusiast will be able to confirm and refine a certain reloading load for his weapon;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e A long-range shooter will be able to accurately calculate the drop of ammunition used by his weapon.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e The USB socket on the right side is used only at the factory, while the connection with the smartphone is obtained via a TRRS cable with a minijack connector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e The slide switch for turning the instrument on with the central off position and the selection for reading in meters or feet per second (mps or fps)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e Most ballistic chronographs for hobbyist use essentially consist of a structure that includes a very precise chronometer, an electronic circuitry and a pair of sensors that, placed at a very specific distance from each other, are able to detect the passage of the projectile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eToday, almost all hobbyist ballistic chronographs are based on a variation of Oheler's Skyscreen system, a pair of optical sensors (photocells) that can detect the shadow of the bullet as it casts against diffuser screens above the instrument.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e As the projectile passes, the first sensor triggers the stopwatch, which is stopped by the second sensor. The ballistic chronograph calculates the velocity based on the time elapsed between the first and second readings. The detected velocity is measured in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (mps) and is typically displayed on a simple LCD display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eCaldwell sent us its new Ballistic Precision chronograph in the Premium Kit version, which includes a series of optional accessories, such as infrared LED illuminators and power cables, a smartphone cable (Android and Apple), a dedicated tripod, an external battery pack, an AC wall adapter and a comfortable, if very basic, black nylon soft bag to carry it all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eThe instrument looks quite good, although the green plastic case is relatively light and doesn't feel very solid; in use, however, it has proven to be more than sturdy and reliable. The screen supports are simple metal rods of more or less standard diameter, and can be easily replaced if necessary; the snap-together assembly is quick and easy. On the underside of the instrument is a threaded hole for mounting on a photographic tripod, which, in the case of the kit, is occupied by a plastic dihedral for quick attachment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e The tripod supplied in the kit is, in our opinion, barely adequate, and unfortunately doesn't offer the required stability, causing the camera to sway noticeably with every shot despite being more than five meters away from the firing line; the problem lies in the swivel head, and there's no danger of the camera falling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eThe distance at which the chronograph should be placed from the muzzle of the weapon should be approximately five meters, but in special cases (such as measuring weapons chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum...) the instrument can be positioned at a distance of ten meters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e The orientation of the chronograph with respect to the shooter is very critical, as the bullet must pass exactly over each window and even a small amount can give erratic results.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e The four-digit LCD display is not particularly readable in some lighting conditions, such as from a closed shooting range towards open-air targets; this problem is easily solved by using the convenient interface cable and the dedicated free smartphone app (iPhone or Android), which allows you to view the measured speed directly from the shooting range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eAnother advantage of using a smartphone is that you can protect the chronograph with a ballistic plate, leaving only the screens and supports exposed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e The accuracy of the chronograph seemed good to us, comparing the velocities recorded by high-quality commercial cartridges (RWS and RUAG) for which we have reliable data, also in relation to the standard deviations of the ammunition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e Caldwell claims that every single ballistic chronograph is factory calibrated, and that each instrument is accurate to within +\/- 0.25% thanks to a 48 MHz processor, with performance double that of the competition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e The smartphone connects with a mini-jack audio cable, and is therefore universal for all systems, although at the moment only apps for Android and iPhone are available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e The App allows you to perform a series of extremely interesting operations on the collected data:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Instant speed reading\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n \u003cli\u003eAbility to insert annotations (for example, charging data)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Temperature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Average\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Standard deviation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Maximum and minimum speed detected\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Choice between metric or imperial format\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Dispersion and shots fired\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Ability to record squads and send them via email.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Caldwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51506269127003,"sku":"CAL.720001","price":199.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0962\/5501\/7307\/files\/caldwell_720001-1_1fe1222a-cddc-4696-a862-14a3c9d8623c.jpg?v=1775471658","url":"https:\/\/www.planetshooters.com\/en\/products\/caldwell-ballistic-precision-chronograph","provider":"Planet Shooters","version":"1.0","type":"link"}