Compact, reliable and easy to use, it’s no wonder Garmin’s Xero C1 Pro chronograph took “Accessory of the Year” honors.
When Garmin first introduced the Xero C1 Pro chronograph, I was skeptical. It seemed to be too small, too simple and too good to be effective and trustworthy, or even real. Bill Wilson from Wilson Combat, as well as others in the industry whom I trust, simply would not stop raving about it. So now, two years, later I finally decided to make the investment and try it. I wish I’d have bought one two years ago.
There are all sorts of ballistic considerations when it comes to ammunition, but velocity drives everything. If you want to know your bullet’s trajectory and energy, you must know its velocity. Ammunition manufacturers provide velocity data, but to know the exact velocity from your firearm (the only velocity that matters) a chronograph is necessary. For years, chronographs have operated on light sensors that calculate the time it takes a bullet to pass between sensors set a known distance apart. These were effective tools, but they could be sensitive to ambient and artificial light, and to be accurate you had to place them perfectly level with the bullet’s flight path.
There was also an inherent flaw with these types of light-operated chronographs, and it was that you had to place them about 10 to 15 feet downrange. This created several problems. The first was that on a public range, you could not access the unit unless the range was cold. The other problem was that as easy as it might seem to shoot through an opening the size of a softball at about 10 to 15 feet, sometimes a bullet would hit these chronographs, rendering them useless. I’ve seen that happen more than once, and embarrassingly, I’ve done it myself.
The primary advantage of the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph is that you do not have to put it downrange. This is possible because instead of using light sensors the bullet must pass over, the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph uses Doppler radar technology. You just set it up near the muzzle of your firearm and shoot. I’ve now tested hundreds of rounds using the Garmin, and it has never failed to record a velocity. My work with light-meter chronographs over the years has typically shown a failure-to-record rate that is sometimes as high as one in 20 shots. Here is a detailed look at the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph, what you can expect from it and why you should probably consider adding one to your range bag.
Size
The Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph is incredibly compact. It measures 3 inches wide, 2.4 inches tall and is only 1.35 wide inches at its thickest point. The unit is just as light as it is small, weighing only 4.9 ounces. You can easily tuck it in your range bag or even stick it in your pocket.
Data
Garmin designed the Xero C1 Pro chronograph to function with any firearm, bow or air rifle capable of producing velocities between 100 and 5,000 fps. When you shoot, the screen shows the shot count, velocity, standard deviation, average velocity and extreme spread. A session summary includes a minimum and maximum velocity, and a shot list screen shows the velocity and deviation average for every shot in a string. If you have a smartphone connected, once you complete the session, the unit sends the data to your phone.
Smartphone Compatibility
The Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and, after the initial connection, it’s automatic. On your phone you can name your session and see all the ballistic data to include the kinetic energy and the power factor for every shot. You can also add specific information for individual shots to indicate a cold or clean bore, and even exclude specific shots and add notes. The Xero can save data to the cloud, and you can export individual sessions in the CSV or Excel formats.
Accessories
The unit comes with a short, 3-inch tripod with folding legs and a charging cord for the internal battery, which is good for about 200 shots or 6 hours. Online, you can order the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph in a package with various accessories to include a screen protector. I found a compact and neat Cordura case from Skinner Sights that’s made in Montana, and it will protect the chronograph and tripod. It only costs $24 and is available in black, green, brown and orange. Magpul has a Daka case that fits well, too.
Interface
If there is anything to complain about with the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph, it’s the user interface. It’s not complicated, but with only four control buttons, a bit of button poking and screen scrolling is necessary to access all the functions. On the other hand, the unit will do all the chronograph things you need it to do, and the slightly clunky interface is an acceptable trade-off for the unit’s compactness and accuracy.
Cost
Conventional chronographs will cost between $100 and $400, but they come with all the downsides associated with light-screen chronographs. The Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph retails for $599. That puts the cost of entry at a point many shooters will scoff at. However, based on my experience with the Xero, buyer’s remorse is nonexistent.
As you can imagine with the work I do frequently testing ammunition and firearms, a chronograph is an integral part of my kit—I use it almost every day. The Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph has simplified my life by flawlessly providing accurate data, and it’s so compact I can take it and use it anywhere. In fact, I just returned from safari in Africa, and I took the Garmin with me to verify my velocity data when I arrived in country.
Granted, it is a bit more expensive than most of the light-screen chronographs used by hobbyists. However, if this thing lasts like others have told me it will, it is undeniably one of the best accessories we’ve seen for shooters in a long time. So, I’ll go ahead and concur with the editors and say this product richly deserved the 2025 Golden Bullseye Award for Accessory of the Year.
