Name: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph, Measures from 5 to 9,999 fps
Brand: Caldwell
SKU: CW720001
Price: 99.99 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 2.9 (73 reviews)

Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph, Measures from 5 to 9,999 fps

Caldwell Chronograph

Caldwell

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Caldwell Chronograph 

Buy: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph, Measures from 5 to 9,999 fps Buy now & save $14. Accessory: Chronographs & Shot Timers

The Ballistic Precision Chronograph provides accurate velocity measurements across a wide range of shooting conditions. Higher accuracy was achieved by using a high speed 48 MHz processor and by designing a circuit with an advanced data interface that allows each unit to be computer calibrated at the factory after assembly. The end result is the ability to provide much better accuracy than other chronographs on the market (+/- .25%).Although technologically advanced, the unit is designed to be simple to operate, displaying velocity in Feet per second or Meters per second on the large built in LCD screen. The chronograph can also deliver the shot string velocity data through the 15' foot audio jack cable (included) to smartphone/ mobile device. A free App is available for download that displays the velocity of each shot on the phone screen and records it with other data identifying the load and environmental conditions.The App also automatically calculates Average Velocity, Standard Deviation, Min, Max and Velocity Spread for the shot string. The data is stored and can be exported via Email or simply recalled for reference at a later date. The sunshades are extra wide for better reliability on sunny days and are constructed of a durable synthetic material. Measures from 5 to 9,999 FPS. There is a 1/4-20 threaded insert on bottom of housing for tripod mounting, operates on a 9 Volt battery (not included).

I was given this as a gift from my kids for Father's Day. I have used it 3 times, each time for about 4 hours at least straight in the Texas heat at 98 to 100 degrees.  This weekend I put the latest garmin next to it, well to my surprise it was only off by 7 fps. That to me is ok considering two different ways of measuring there will be a difference.  Yes tripod is flimsy so be careful. As long as you are very careful with it you should not have an issue. Only issue I have is the occasional bug flying through giving me an error and I didn't not get a reading out of my 22lr when shooting through it at 10 feet away.

Good Chrono

The unit works well on an indoor range but is sensitive to light and shadows when used outside.

Not Great. Needs Some Kind of Sun Shade

My chronograph lasted about 9 months, or 3 uses. The mounted tabs inside the digital readout mount broke. Product is extremely flimsy. The fitment of the aluminum bars are very difficult to install into the white plastic. Many times, I get an error for a reading. This product is poorly made and would not advise purchasing it.

Chronograph G2 short lived

I received my G2 unit as a replacement for my G1, which still used a cable to connect to my phone. One day, I tripped over the cable, ripping it out and breaking the cable port. I contacted Caldwell, and a few days later, they emailed me to send it in for repairs. A couple of weeks after sending it in, I received another email stating that the unit was unrepairable and that a new replacement would be sent at no charge.

When I opened the box, I was surprised to find a brand-new G2 unit with all the latest features. I had explained to Caldwell that the broken port was entirely my fault and expected to pay for any repairs. Instead, they assured me not to worry and sent a new one. This level of customer service goes above and beyond expectations.

I own several other Caldwell products and will continue to purchase from them. Customer service like this is rare and greatly appreciated. The new unit has exceeded my expectations in performance, working perfectly the first time I used it. Awesome company to do business with.

great customer service

Took it out the first time and it worked perfectly. 
The set up is key. The first shot produced an error. I did not have the bullet flying under both sensors. I made an alignment adjustment and it never missed a velocity the rest of the day (75 shoots from multiple guns). Set up 13 feet from muzzle. The app and link worked flawlessly! I was able to save 2 ladder test results and data from multiple reloads, factory ammo, and a pellet gun that was not up to its advertised speed. Excellent product and I didn't break the bank!

Excellent product!

Great chronograph was looking for something to replace my old chronograph one of the things I struggled with was lighting. This one works great love the LED lights I like having the app so all my stuff comes across on my phone with no wires to connect very easy to use and set up would highly recommend.

Great chronograph

This product has functioned flawlessly since opening of box.  User interface is extremely easy with 3 buttons on unit and app set up where a 5 year old can operated.  I recommend for those needed pertinent data for both archery and rifle ballistics

Great Functionality; App Works Flawlessly

I bought this chronograph in Dec 2023. I used it for a couple months and it was very accurate and reliable right up to the point where I shot it :)

I cut one of the ground screens in half.

 I was not able to find a replacement part in stock anywhere else, so I contacted customer support, and Michael in Caldwell Customer Service was extremely friendly and helpful and got a replacement out to me. Extremely grateful for his assistance!

Thanks Michael!

Great service!

Just how many modern cell phones still have an audio jack? Have you ever heard of USB?

Audio Jack

I got my Caldwell ballistic chronograph two months ago to work up loads for various calibers and use at local competitions. First day out of the box, the app would not work on my iPhone 11. I contacted Caldwell about it and to my surprise they got back to me the very next day but couldn't resolve the issue. I've used it with pen and paper working up loads four times and would get at least 1 error code of err3 per string. Tried all the different recommended lighting tweaks every one uses and still the same thing. We'll, today I shot the thing two times with my ar9mm and it started working properly!! Got 6 strings recorded and it picked up all 10 shots in each string. Then?.. the 45 acp shot it and game over!! Err2 and err3 every shot! 2 to the dome made it work and one to the ear made it worse. This is a ok beginner chrono but for serious load development it's no dice.

Works ok but finicky

If you're using a newer iphone or Android (I'm guessing), don't bother buying the whole bundle.  You're basically wasting money since you can't use the app regardless.  I can't believe it's 2023 and they can't put Bluetooth compatibility in the unit instead of using a cord that you'll need an adapter for that won't work regardless.  Caldwell has really taken a step backwards in quality

Don't buy for app

I've spent more on ammo trying to get this piece of garbage to work than it initially cost. When it does read - about 1 in every 30 rounds - it's so far off its not even funny (115gr 9mm at either 100fps or 9000fps, and yes, I know the difference between fps and mps). But that's if you can ever even get it to take a reading. Winter, summer, overcast, clear sunny skies, sun high, sun low, in shade (with clear skies above), in the sun, at the muzzle, 10ft from the muzzle, 12ft, 15ft, 10yds, 25yds, at the target... Not a single bit of it matters. I think I've seen every error message this thing can produce. I've even tried it with an airsoft gun indoors. It doesn't matter. This thing is just a half-baked piece of junk designed to extract money from your pocket and that's it. Bug literally anything else. Guess. It's better than this.

Waste of Time and Money

I have owned this for about four years. I had to buy another one because I accidentally destroyed it because I was dumb and didn't factor my height-over-bore while getting data with a brand new rifle.  

There are two reasons I am not giving it 5 stars. The first is that I never liked the app. However, I will admit it has been a few years since I tried to use.  It is possible they have fixed it since I first tried to use it a few years back. 

The second reason it is only getting 4 stars is that this new chrono did not come with sun shades that can illuminate. I find the illumination feature very helpful. Luckily, the sun shades from my old one still work.

Liked it so much that I bought it twice

Taken it to the range twice now. Works great. I do have issues connecting to an iphone using an adapter. It says it's connected but doesn't show any readings on the phone. I've been using a tablet with a headphone jack.

good product

I should have read the reviews before I spent my money on this unit. The bluetooth is useless will not connect so one reading at a time, at least with the cheaper unit you can use a serial connection!! Since this has been a problem for years I guess they are not going to support it this makes it junk to me ! I would have given it 0 stars if I could have!!

App does not work!!

Works great. Haven't tried to use a cell phone with it. Shipping was decent.

I received this chrono two years ago as a gift. It worked with my old work phone which still had a headset jack. With the newer iPhones without headset jack the app doesn't work.
Back to recording the velocity with pen and paper.
Besides the iPhone issues it's a bit of a pain to set the chronograph up but once done it usually works if the light conditions are ok. There are better products out there which will work with the latest iPhone.

iOS app no longer usable

My last review got Caldwell's attention and I received an email from Bryan.  He apologized for no one getting back to my earlier requests for help.  He had no idea how my request fell through the crack.  

Anyway he worked me through my phone settings to make sure the phone was set up correctly.  There were a couple of issues that we corrected but the Chrono wold still not talk to the iPhone 13.  We went through several different "try this" scenarios and still nothing.  Then he sent me a new Chrono to try.  It didn't work with my iPhone either.  I even got a friend to download the Caldwell App to his iPhone 13 Pro and it wouldn't work with it either.  We tried other things including a trip to the local Apple store to see if they had any ideas, to no avail.  Bryan then checked with the software folks who wrote the App, and they admitted that there was a problem with the App and they were in the process of writing a new App.   

Bryan did a great job of trying to come up with a solution to my problem but the problem is software.  So there is nothing more he could do.  I've very pleased with Caldwell's customer service now.  They do make a great Chronograph and I'm looking forward to the new App to be released.

Update on "Great Chronograph Crummy Cust. Svc.

I bought this chronograph cause I thought it was a good price and it would hook up to my iPhone but when opening and trying to use it it doesn't hook to any iPhone cause it has a 3.5 jack on it so I went to Walmart bought the $13 adapter still didn't work so I emailed Caldwell 3 times and no response in a month so I found a phone number and called and they told me oh you have to buy the Apple iPhone adapter which is $35 so I should have just spent the extra $30 and bought the Bluetooth one oh yeah it gets a lot of errors also probably gonna pitch this one and get the other one

Not so good Chronograph

After 4 years of regular use OUTDOORS in many weather conditions - 5 stars. Over 30 years I've had Oehler, Chrony, other chronos. Outdoor lighting conditions can sometimes cause problems with any of them but it is always solvable. So far this Caldwell has been FORGIVING and has a good app for Android.  
     Works really good for me with very few false readings: smokeless muzzleloader, black powder muzzleloader, archery, handguns, 30-30, 270 Win, 223 Rem, 30-06, 22 LR & shotgun SLUGS. 
    SABOTS and WADS can fly off unpredictably so for peace of mind, I use 2 cheap CHINESE CHOPSTICKS glued end to end when shooting sabots or wads instead of the metal rods. I figure the chopsticks will fly apart and not destroy the plastic chrono holes or frame.
   -I keep an old RETIRED ANDROID PHONE with audio jack in my chrono bag with the app on it.  If audio jacks disappear on future phones or Caldwell stops supporting the app, I still will be ok for years to come. When I loan it out, friends don't have to mess with setup. They share the chrono data to themselves via wifi.
    -Lastly, it is not perfect, but TAKE THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS with a grain of salt.  I am a mechanical engineer who demands decent stuff, but also "thrifty". For the money, this Caldwell with an Android phone has been a good bang for the buck -- with no significant issues or headaches.

One "Hack" & EXCELLENT Bang for the Buck

I clicked 1 star because of the non-existent Customer Service I've requested.  I've had this Chronograph since about 2015 and it has performed very well.  My old iPhone died this past winter requiring me to get a new one.  Well the new ones don't have headphone jacks and without one the Chronograph will not interface with it.  Now before you start writing a reply telling me to get the adapter cable that converts the Lightning port to a headphone jack, I've already done that and it still doesn't work.  I contacted Caldwell on March 2, 2023 via their website requesting assistance.  I received the auto reply email with a case number saying that " customer service representative will respond to you as soon as possible".  I've replied to this email twice about 2 months apart to remind them I still need help and still no contact with Caldwell.  So if you want to interface this Chronograph with a newer iPhone don't do it!

Great Chronograpy but crummy Customer Service

Have use the Precision G2 for over two years and it, along with the app, works well.  I load for 17 different calibers and it has provided usable details for every caliber tested.  Emailing to data so that I can review and input into my files has been very convenient.

I notice that some users complain about the app but I never seem to have any trouble. Maybe its because I'm a shooter and not a "device app" nerd.

Works as advertised. Satisfies my needs.

Purchased this for the app. Plugged into both my android phone using an adaptor and direct to IPad and Samsung tablet. Chronograph reads but doesn't send any info to any other device after starting . Waste of my time

App doesn't work

I wouldn't waste your money on this piece of junk, I bought this unit and the light kit for it to use inside it worked for maybe 10 different uses but after that, it throws error codes and won't read anything no matter how many times you shoot it, Cadwell knew this was a problem which is the reason they discontinued the light kit for it I bought this specifically to use inside and now I wasted all the money they didn't want to offer a refund or give me a new unit they just wanted to give me 15% off a new unit completely unacceptable

Complete junk

I bought this for my SIL's birthday going on 2 years now. Almost immediately it wouldn't charge fully. He would get maybe 10 or 12 shots in (about 12 minutes worth) and the chronograph would go to BATT . I've reached out to customer services twice with no replies. They gave me a number to correspond to the problem but never followed up.  I tried to charge it again the other day to no avail. It ran for almost 2 minutes and went to BATT. Couldn't tell you how good or not the thing is because we never have been able to use it. I don't think this G2 has the 220v adapter though, but no place on this site to review the one I bought.

Battery doesn't charge

This chronograph only works when it wants to.  sometimes I can get 5 rounds through the screens and get maybe 4 good readings.  Then all the sudden it will read 700 fps lower than the actual velocity of the bullet.  Waste 2 to 3 more bullets and get similar extremely low readings.  Finally turn it off and let it reboot.  Might start working again, might still read low...depends on how it feels.  This is not only not worth the price, it is not worth the hassle!

Unreliable Chronograph

So now Caldwell doesn't post any reviews saying their app doesn't work.

Android app

Regardless how pedantical?y set-up, not many shots are measured.
Getting bluetooth to work is nothing to be expected. Works sometimes, mostly not.
The app is not intuitive, nor professionally designed.

"Nobody knows the troubles I've seen"

Just recently Caldwell have updated their app which is crashing the app across all android devices when you try to click on saved groups which is the only place you can print your reports from.

Saved Groups in the Android app is broken

Works well. The tripod is cheap, and some functions in the app are not accessible/changeable, like altitude, temp, and pressure.  Should also include templates for various projectiles.