Reviews & Ratings for Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2 — 17 reviews — Page 1

This here product is a nice product. It measures how fast things move through it real nice like.

Was worried from other reviews that this unit would have errors in the readings. Shot 5,5 shot groups and not one error. Bluetooth works great.

I got decent results with handguns and smaller rifles when I first got this unit, though the included tripod is next to useless. It would occasionally give errors or fail to read, but you could get useable data. Lately though it gave readings from 600 to 1200 fps, for a 338lm that was running around 2,600. Then it gave errors for additional 338 loads. Tested it with a 45 auto, and it gave wildly varying readings about 1/2 the expected velocity. Bottom line, came to Optics Planet to see what a Garmin radar chronograph is priced at…

First, I ordered this unit in December 2022 and didn't receive it until 3/17/2023. when I ordered it there was no indication of any backorder. Why so long???
Second, I have a 2022 Android phone and tried to download the Caldwell application from the play store to be informed that my Android operating system was TOO NEW!?!?!? I then tried to download on an older tablet, same result. Then tried web address bitbrands.com as provided as an alternative in instructions. same result. I called Caldwell customer service talking to Ethan who was no help. Had no resolution for me, mentioned Teck but would not connect me, asked for supervisor but was told not available. I am returning this item because it is not as advertised and is useless without any support to make it work. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT.

First of all, if you decide to get this chrono, buy a new tripod to use with it. The one that comes with it is too light and cheap to use on an outdoor range. If the wind blows just a little bit, your chrono will tip over. Secondly, if you use this chrono indoors you must use the led lights to get any readings, but battery life will only last less than an hour, so you better have an external battery pack to keep your chrono working. Third, the G2 will randomly disconnect from bluetooth every few shots. I have had this happen in an indoor range with no one else around and on private property where no one can say there is electronic interference to cause this problem. The last problem occurred today and was the last straw for this piece of garbage. I went out in cold weather, for Texas, to get MVs for 40 degree weather and set up the G2 in the exact same way and exact location as I have before, the only difference is the 40-50 degree temperature change. I started with 308, NO READING and no error message. I doubled checked the level, the assembly, and ensured that the unit was clean. I shot again and No READING. Switched to 6.5CM exact same. Finally I switched to 338LM and I got a reading... 257fps! I fired several more rounds with velocities from 250fps to 1213fps. During all of this, the Bluetooth disconnected 6 times. I bought this product in March and have never once had a flaw free session with it. On a good day, it only registered 4 out of every 5 shots.

The design has much to be desired. It works on a tripod
but putting it on the ground takes some thought as the tripod mount is not
easily removable and it protrudes 3" out of the bottom.

The thing will not stay together either. I have wrapped both ends with bicycle inner tubes
without it self destructing.

Then the most serious issue is that half or more of my shots produce errors and are not recorded.

Perhaps one star would have been a better review.
I have never owned a crony and have nothing to compare to, but this one could sure use a lot of improvement.

Easy to set up. Tripod is a little flimsy. First couple shots seem to read error. But other than that I really can not complain all that much. Love the WiFi feature to use your cell phone with the free app.

The tripod is junk, it was flopping all over and we could never get it to stay level. The app is not available on player and I hunted all around and could not find it. Finally even finding the manufacturers phone number was not easy, I had to go through opticsplanet and they had to look it up. I called them and they said oh yeah it's not posted you have to go to the Amazon site. I didn't know had apps for things like this. I found in the manual it says if there's light with trees, that it can affect the reading of the bullets. I was only getting readings probably 5% of the time and the rest were either error 2 or error 3. I called support and did not get anywhere in helping solve the problem. I even tried to put a canvas canopy over the G2 and it would not read any better.

First, the Caldwell iPhone app.

It cannot export data as a delimited Excel spreadsheet format. You can send data as SMS text and email. It would be great to manipulate, sort and print the data from inside a spreadsheet.

Secondly, while the chronograph is stored and carried in a very compact manner and comes in a nice nylon case, it takes too long to set up and break down. I bought a larger nylon bag at Amazon for a few bucks, lined it with 1/2" polyethylene foam slabs. This allows me to keep the lower section assembled. That lower section's friction fit of parts is pretty stiff and takes time and effort to assemble and store. I am more than willing to carry the unit in a larger case if it means setup and takedown time is reduced.

Thirdly, I have access to much better tripods and put away the sad little tripod included with the chronograph. My Manfrotto tripod has three important features that make setting up and adjusting the chronograph easier and faster:

1) It's much sturdier and holds the chronograph rock solid in windy conditions

2) It features a large, sturdy aluminum Quick Disconnect plate that screws permanently into the 1/4-20 mounting hole on the lower part of the Chronograph. The small plastic plate on the included tripod is too small to bridge the molded webs of the lower unit where the 1/4-20 hole is. Thus it wiggles on the tripod no matter how tightly the little plate is attached. My larger (4" long) aluminum plate I use bridges much better and really lets ...
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This thing works great. It has registered over 300 rds without skipping a beat. It was easy to set up and connect to my phone. The tripod it comes with is very cheap but it does work. They could do better on this aspect.