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Welcome everyone to the TFB Armorer’s Bench! As mentioned in the little blurb, this series will focus on a lot of home armorer and gunsmith activities. In this article sponsored by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal, I decided to give a Caldwell product a chance for some limelight. Here we are taking a closer look at the Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit. That is a mouth full. Recently I reloaded some .30 Carbine and this felt like the next natural step in the evolution of that process. I will elaborate further in next week’s “using” article but this was my first time working with a chronograph. Let’s dive into this closer look at the Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit!
TFB Armorer’s Bench: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit
Welcome to our recurring series of Armorer’s Bench which is made possible and brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal who are our sponsors. Here, we at TFB hope to inform, entertain, and even inspire any would-be gunsmith or armorer out there. Ideally, with the information I provide and with the help of our sponsors, you can have some useful knowledge pertaining to the conservation and improvement of firearms technology while at the same time sharing experiences and teaching each other new tips and tricks along the way in the comments. Digging deep into what it is to be an armorer or gunsmith has significance but what is important is what those people do to show they’ve earned that title. I am happy to share my experiences and knowledge and hope it is informative!
Make your personal safety a priority:
- Practice proper gun safety. Always make sure before the firearm hits your bench that it is unloaded and safe to be handled.
- Wear the proper safety equipment. The main one would be safety glasses (decent ones) since parts are often under spring tension and you may work with high RPM tools. Other honorable mentions would be latex gloves or a respirator when working with potentially harmful solvents and oils. Also hearing protection when working with loud machinery or test-firing firearms.
- Modifications, alterations, and customizations will void your firearm’s warranty 9.5 times out of 10. Please take that into consideration before attempting any at-home gunsmithing.
- If you are unsure about proper safety practices, disassembly procedures, or warranty standards, stop, put down the tools, and consult a competent gunsmith.
Brief Overview: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit
The Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit is basically the standard Ballistic Precision Chronograph all set up and ready to rock without shelling out the extra money for the G2 model. The packaging is simple and straightforward. The advertising and descriptions are understandable and simple. A heavy selling point seems to be the app for Caldwell’s chronographs but this chronograph is not Bluetooth and the cord necessary for connecting to a phone is a bit old-fashioned in the form of an aux cord albeit a very long and handy one. Nonetheless, the app seems to give out more information aside from the general feet per second and meters per second.
Note: I did not use the app. I downloaded it but my phone does not have an aux connection nor do I have an adapter. I plan to look into the app in a future article.
Everything seemed to be backed well and the instructions were short and sweet. Most people out there disregard the manual and with a device as sensitive as this one, I always make sure to read through it no matter how boring it may be. The troubleshooting and tips sections were fantastic and helped me be mindful while setting it up and using it.
Specifications and Highlights: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit
The Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit is the all-in-one sort of version of the Ballistic Precision Chronograph. It comes packed neatly in a nylon carrying case along with a small tripod and sunshades that have built-in LED lights. The amount of light does matter and if it is too dark, the chronograph will not function correctly. The LED shades are powered by a separate cord system and battery pack. The batteries (I believe) are three AA batteries and I did not have any on hand at the cabin nor did I deem it necessary for the amount of light I had at the time. The chronograph itself can be powered by the cord it comes with (two different outlet styles) or by a 9-Volt battery which I packed ahead of time.
- Tripod Height Adjustable From 15″-42″
- Includes 1/4-20 Dovetail Plate
- Custom Carry Case Is Constructed Of Durable Ballistic Fabric With Heavy Duty Dual Zipper Design
- Ideal For Firearms, Archery, Air Gun And Paintball
- Meters Per Second (Mps) Or Feet Per Second (Fps) Readings
- Measures From 5 To 9,999 Fps
- Operates On A 9-volt Battery (Not Included)
Caldwell® Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit contains everything you need to capture reliable velocity data in one convenient kit. Includes Chronograph, IR LED Light Kit, Tripod and Custom Carry Case that conveniently holds all items.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 Chrono can also deliver the shot string velocity data through the 15′ foot audio jack cable (included) to an smartphone or 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 ¼-20 threaded insert on bottom of housing for tripod mounting, operates on a 9 Volt battery (not included).
Closing Thoughts: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit
The Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit was a very easy-to-use product but it was also slightly intimidating. The construction is a lot of plastic so it feels fragile and if someone was a bad enough shot or a clumsy or a thoughtless person they could easily make it turn into a thousand pieces. The sun shades seem to work just fine and the LED capability is a nice touch. Spoiler but the range session went really well. I enjoyed this product but there are drawbacks and also many things that can affect the results and also make a potential session into an annoying one. More on that next week! Until then, take care!
As always, thank you for reading TFB! Be safe out there, have fun while shooting, and we will see you next time for the TFB Armorer’s Bench brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal! Also, let us know what you think in the comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
Caldwell Pro Range Glasses, Clear
The Caldwell® Pro Range Glasses feature a stylish wrap-around design and are a great choice for all shooters. They feature an adjustable nose piece and temples for all day comfort. The scratch resistant lens meets ANSI Z87.1 standards and offers 99.9% UV protection.
Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit
Caldwell® Ballistic Precision Chronograph Premium Kit contains everything you need to capture reliable velocity data in one convenient kit. Includes Chronograph, IR LED Light Kit, Tripod and Custom Carry Case that conveniently holds all items.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 Chrono can also deliver the shot string velocity data through the 15′ foot audio jack cable (included) to an smartphone or 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 ¼-20 threaded insert on bottom of housing for tripod mounting, operates on a 9 Volt battery (not included).
Ballistic Precision Chronograph
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 ¼-20 threaded insert on bottom of housing for tripod mounting, operates on a 9 Volt battery (not included).
Ballistic Precision G2 Chronograph with 220V adapter
The Caldwell® G2 literally flips conventional chronograph technology upside down. By inverting the system the G2 is capable of measuring in adverse light conditions making the measurements more accurate than conventional chronographs, even indoors. The light sensors were spaced 18″ apart for more accuracy and the sunscreens have self-contained LED lights when a little extra light is needed. Collapsible and compact, the system is quick and easily deployed from its heavy duty storage case. 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%) and measures from 5 to 9,999 FPS. 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.
Wheeler Universal Bench Block
Made of non-marring urethane, the Universal Pistol Bench Block is perfect for use on M1911 pistols as well as other firearms such as 10/22s.
STAINLESS STEEL TUMBLING MEDIA
The Magnetic Stainless Steel Tumbling Pins are designed to clean brass cases giving a “like new” look. Unlike other media like corn cob or walnut, stainless steel doesn’t create dust and also cleans the inside of cases, primer pockets, and flash holes. Stainless steel also doesn’t damage brass and lasts for multiple uses.
Tipton POWER SWABS – PISTOL CLEANING KIT, 500 COUNT
Tipton’s new Power Swabs are an essential part of your cleaning kit. They’re disposable, fast, and easy to use, plus they provide no-mess cleaning with all your favorite solvents and oils. They also fit lands and grooves better than a patch for maximum cleaning.
