By Jay Pinsky – Editor, The Hunting & Archery Wire
The author uses his Garmin's Xero C1 PRO on everything he shoots including archery, handguns, rimfire rifles, and centerfire rifles.
Occasionally, the universe gives us a mass extinction event. A meteorite ended the dinosaurs, the MP3 ended compact discs, and the Garmin's Xero C1 PRO may render other chronographs obsolete.
Accurate, safe, small, and reliable, Garmin's Xero C1 PRO Chronograph makes ballistic data collection easy, portable, and addictingly fun.
Need to know how fast your bow shoots? No problem. Toss up the Garmin beside your bow and shoot your arrows. It works. Handgun? Check. Rifle? Child's play. Oh, it's raining? Garmin doesn't care. Indoors? Outdoors? Meaningless to the Garmin. Are you a night owl or otherwise lightbulb adverse? Meh, Garmin works with or without the lights on.
Portable? Yeap. It's a bit larger than a square golf ball (pretend). You can carry it, and I have, on hunts, not in my pack but in my pocket. It makes a difference in the field like last year with my 257 Roberts on location in Texas, where it revealed my factory-loaded ammo shot about 75 fps faster than it did in Virginia where I sighted in the rifle. I was after Aoudad so, 75 fps more velocity at expected ranges of 400 + yards absolutely makes a difference. As you may know, ballistics change based on your elevation and other atmospheric conditions, so having the ability to chrono your rifle/handgun/bow/crossbow/air rifle/air gun/slingshot, and just about anything else, where you are hunting or shooting gives you real-time ballistic facts. Which is great, except that it takes away at least one valid excuse in case you miss. (You've been warned.)
In fact, the only downside to Garmin is that Garmin knows what they have, and it's priced accordingly at $599.99. It's worth every penny.
The Xero C1 Pro is small.
So, What Exactly Is the Garmin Xero C1 PRO?
Radar at the Core
At the heart of the Xero C1 PRO is a 24 GHz Doppler radar system, a significant departure from traditional light-based chronographs. According to Rehan Nana of Garmin, "Several unique technologies are used to create the Xero C1 PRO Chronograph. The main is a 24 GHz Doppler radar, which is combined with unique algorithms to track projectiles, but it's much more than that."
Instead of having a bullet pass through sensors, the radar system sends out short pulses of energy that bounce off the back of a projectile. As Nana explains, "The radar's processor measures the change of the reflected pulse of energy, which then converts that change to a velocity of the object moving away from the radar." The result? Accurate, instant velocity readings with far fewer environmental limitations than traditional systems.
Designed for the Real World
The C1 PRO doesn't just perform, it endures. Whether you're at the range or a hunt, the Garmin can be there to give you precise, dependable data. "Garmin's experience in display technology and mechanical design ensures the device can be read in bright sunlight and used in challenging environments while providing accurate data," said Nana.
A Lesson in Listening
Garmin didn't create the C1 PRO in a vacuum. The team studied the successes and shortcomings of other chronographs on the market. "When we looked at other market offerings as we concepted the Xero C1 PRO, we realized a rugged, portable device with an easy-to-use interface and robust mobile app solution to house data would serve customers' needs," Nana noted.
They nailed it. The accompanying app is streamlined and intuitive – even for me. It enables users to analyze session data, compare loads, and track performance over time with minimal heartache
Garmin Xero C1 PRO App - ShotView
The app that pairs with the Garmin Xero C1 PRO Chronograph is called the Garmin ShotView App, and it’s a crucial part of what makes this chronograph such a powerhouse.
Garmin website screenshot of the ShotView app.
- Wireless Sync via Bluetooth
As soon as you connect your C1 PRO to the app via Bluetooth, you can instantly sync velocity data, shot strings, and session history. No cables, no drama.
- Shot Data Logging
Each shot you take is logged with:
- Velocity (in FPS or MPS)
- Standard deviation
- Extreme spread
You can organize data by firearm, load, or projectile type—great for reloaders or precision shooters dialing in custom loads.
- Session Management
You can group shots into individual sessions for different firearms, days, weather conditions, or ranges. This makes tracking long-term performance and environmental impact simple.
- Environmental Context
While the chronograph itself doesn’t include a weather station, the app allows you to manually input or import ambient data (e.g., elevation, temperature, pressure) for more detailed ballistic calculations.
- Export and Share
All your data can be exported as CSV files for spreadsheets, shared with hunting buddies, or used in ballistic software for advanced load development.
- Firearm and Load Profiles
You can build a “library” of your guns and ammo, including barrel length, twist rate, bullet grain, etc., to track specific performance data over time.
Why It’s a Big Deal
The Garmin ShotView App bridges the gap between hardware and insights. Instead of writing numbers down or guessing based on feel, the app gives you a clean, organized, and long-term view of how your gear is performing.
For handloaders, competitive shooters, or long-range hunters, this kind of data is gold. It takes the Xero C1 PRO from a radar device to a full-featured ballistic analysis tool.
Engineered In-House for Agility and Precision
While Garmin didn’t share specific development timelines, Nana highlighted their unique approach to product design: "Each product Garmin creates is unique. As a vertically integrated company, we keep the design, prototyping, and production processes internal to Garmin, which allows us to be nimble with design changes and ensures we provide the very best product for our customers in a timely manner."
That in-house control is evident in the finish and functionality of the C1 PRO; it feels like a polished, purpose-built tool, not a first draft.
Final Word
The Xero C1 PRO Chronograph is a complex technological marvel that the folks at Garmin engineered into a simple, reliable, easy to have with you tool for shooters anywhere. There are other choices in chronographs, for now.
Comparison Table: Xero C1 PRO vs. Popular Chronographs
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Garmin Xero C1 PRO
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MagnetoSpeed V3
|
LabRadar
|
Caldwell G2
|
|
Technology
|
24 GHz Doppler Radar
|
Barrel-Mounted Magnetic Sensor
|
Doppler Radar
|
Optical Sensors
|
|
Works with Arrows
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Yes
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No
|
No
|
No
|
|
Portability
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High (pocket-sized)
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Moderate
|
Low
|
Moderate
|
|
Setup Time
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Under 2 minutes
|
5–10 minutes
|
10+ minutes
|
5–10 minutes
|
|
Tripod Required
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Environmental Limitations
|
Very Low
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
High
|
|
App Integration
|
Yes
|
Partial
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Battery Life
|
6 hours
|
15 hours
|
2 hours
|
12 hours
|
|
Price
|
$599.99
|
$399.99
|
$559.99
|
$269.99
|
