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Why would I use a Labradar??

6.5 forever said:
Is somebody way over thinking about this? I am 5 years into using my Labrador. It has never failed to work and the only variable I have seen is when my lot of powder changed. And that is exactly what it is supposed to do, let me know there is a change. Just like all the other changes from day to day.......
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Yep looks like a serious case of overthinking- I’ve used it since it first came out - only thing I added was the remote trigger when I started messing around with big boomers, and the external battery pack of course because aa’s suck
 
rijndael said:
Not all of us shoot matches where we get sighters.
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So a Lab Radar helps how? Once your data is established and trajectories are known, any variation in speed, or in some cases distance is down to skill and experience.Long strings can be measured during informal shoots, but this only adds to the basic data.
 
My Labradar is just another piece of range equipment. It always works great including the APP. It is very easy to set up and use. The APP allows me to change strings and arm/disarm from the seated position at the bench. The chronograph data is just another piece of the puzzle.
 
JEFFPPC said:
Some read, write, and type. Some shoot, compete, and win. First groups is pretty big. Second group not so much. If this opinion upsets you, guess what group your in.
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I am in the middle. I ask questions and type and then do my work, especially with a new tool. I am not a know it all and do something without asking or learning first.
I know which group I am in and which you are in. I hope my opinion didn't offend anyone.
 
NZ_Fclass said:
So a Lab Radar helps how? Once your data is established and trajectories are known, any variation in speed, or in some cases distance is down to skill and experience.
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There were zero sighters at the match from last weekend. You laser the target, read the wind, lookup your dope, and send it. Because of that, I'm often logging my velocity data in various conditions, I don't want it to be difficult to do (ie. no screens and elaborate setups).

Overall, I don't want one temp / velocity data point, I want it from a lot of data points, and I want it to be easy to gather.
 
MrBarrel said:
I am in the middle. I ask questions and type and then do my work, especially with a new tool. I am not a know it all and do something without asking or learning first.
I know which group I am in and which you are in. I hope my opinion didn't offend anyone.
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No not offended. But much of what is on here is far from the quest of accurate shooting especially in a competitive arena. Sounds like an article that should be in an Electronics Magazine.
 
JEFFPPC said:
No not offended. But much of what is on here is far from the quest of accurate shooting especially in a competitive arena. Sounds like an article that should be in an Electronics Magazine.
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I posted the question in the general forum not the competition forum and I wanted to find out if different ranges and different environmental conditions will have an affect on the unit. and on a second note, I don't believe LR would advertise in the electronic magazines so my question is best asked in these forums.

Anywho, I was reminded that I should not think about it too much and just go and shoot.
 
First Labradar can never give you your exact correct muzzle velocity, because of all the variables in the whole Labradar system, as described by the manufacturer. First it doesn't measure muzzle velocity but calculates it, from micro waves that bounce back of a bullet, which can be interfered with by dozens of factors at one time making dozens of variables that would affect the outcome of the velocity calculations. Do the temperature and or humidity readings etc cause linear fluctuations in the micro waves or do any spike, up or down. Fact you cannot have exact with one variable, let alone dozens. It would be like winning the 600 million dollar lottery the first time...I've heard of a lot of trouble with LR and a new recoil trigger that might help. Also real units, not hobby grade costing 10 times more will get a close to the same reading for 5 or 6 times than one substantially off. No chronograph is exact but this system has alot of variables incorporated in it.
This might improve in time, but it is what it is... You'll have to decide if it's for you.
 
Ray123 said:
First Labradar can never give you your exact correct muzzle velocity, because of all the variables in the whole Labradar system, as described by the manufacturer. First it doesn't measure muzzle velocity but calculates it, from micro waves that bounce back of a bullet;
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So how close do you want to split hairs ?? Our test with a Magneto Speed
showed only a 2 fps difference, using 2 different rifles and cartridges. I dug
out my ancient Ohler 33 and the results were not enough to argue about.
 
It is a great unit. I do wish they would have asked for help from someone when they wrote their APP. The APP is not very user friendly or intuitave.

The two advantages of the Labradar are: ease of use and the SD card for saving data.
 
Ray123 said:
First Labradar can never give you your exact correct muzzle velocity, because of all the variables in the whole Labradar system, as described by the manufacturer. First it doesn't measure muzzle velocity but calculates it, from micro waves that bounce back of a bullet, which can be interfered with by dozens of factors at one time making dozens of variables that would affect the outcome of the velocity calculations.
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What chronograph does give you true muzzle velocity? Opticals are placed several to many feet downrange, the Magnetospeed sensor is a few inches downrange from the muzzle, and the LR has to wait for the bullet to enter the cone. The big difference I see is that LR back-calculates to get muzzle speed, while the others read and call that the muzzle speed (or ignore the muzzle part completely, and just read speed.)

BTW, Radio waves (at least as far as I know) are attenuated by atmospheric factors, but their speed is unchanged.
 
divingin said:
What chronograph does give you true muzzle velocity? Opticals are placed several to many feet downrange, the Magnetospeed sensor is a few inches downrange from the muzzle, and the LR has to wait for the bullet to enter the cone. The big difference I see is that LR back-calculates to get muzzle speed, while the others read and call that the muzzle speed (or ignore the muzzle part completely, and just read speed.)

BTW, Radio waves (at least as far as I know) are attenuated by atmospheric factors, but their speed is unchanged.
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Need to read the manual for Labradar...the micro waves are definitely influenced by everything the atmosphere has to offer, temperature, humidity, etc. even dust. Temperature is a big one for those who live in hot and cold climates...it won't work, in the cold winter or hot summers. Plus varmint hunter who shoots faster than 3900 fps ...will get no reading its totally useless for 17, 204, 22-250, 220 swift, and many 6mm with light varmint bullets. And true no chronograph is perfect, but Labradar has way more variables that affect the measuring waves, plus the distances are farther down range than a few inches or 10 feet...increasing the distance, varying distance to detect the bullet base, changing to boatails, .17 bullets all affect it's accuracy ...and it is not measured velocity but calculation of variables velocity displayed on the screen, so it has more built in inaccuracies than most other systems.
Its a limited system that works best at normal temperatures, on a bench top setup, flat ground, with standard to moderately high velocity loads in the medium to large calibers, where it's variables are less of a factor...that may work for you, but not for me. I don't shoot at the bench, no level ground to put it on to aim the waves, won't work in cold or hot temperatures, won't measure bullet velocities over 3900 fps! A big deal. A 17 hornet will shoot tiny copper bullets past 4000 fps. I'm working on 5000 fps projects and have gotten to 4900 fps. with the 17 Remington. New bullets and powders if we can get them, are bringing super high velocities now available to the shooter. But Labradar is incapable of reading any of them..very limiting for a high dollar chronograph.
It is, what it is...if it works for your application gteat, but also know its limitations, it's definitely not for everyone, and quite limited....just the facts.
 
Fuj said:
So how close do you want to split hairs ?? Our test with a Magneto Speed
showed only a 2 fps difference, using 2 different rifles and cartridges. I dug
out my ancient Ohler 33 and the results were not enough to argue about.
Click to expand...
It ain't about splitting hairs...Labradar is a limited application chronograph, with lots of variables built in the system...plus heat and cold where it won't work. Or the real big down side...it can't read high velocities at all!...from most 17, 22, 6mm caliber large capacity varmint rifles, even a 17 hornet with 15.5 gr bullets.!...it isn't splitting hairs when Labradar is incapable of reading any these velocities, it says so in the manual. Labradar Can't tell how fast your 204 Ruger, 17 Remington, 22-250, 220 swift is shooting those varmint bullets...even my 6 dasher shoots 50 and 58 grain bullets above the capability of the Labradar chronograph...a modern chronograph should not be so limiting ...
I would like it to be, "everthing"...but, it is not.
 
Labradar works just fine in cold or hot weather, 14 °F to 104 °F is the operating temp range. I have used one at temps colder than 14 °F but never hotter than 90 °F.

The only issue is in dusty or foggy or bad conditions its ability to track past say 40-50 yards
the MV numbers were not affected.

If you are working past 3900 FPS then Labradar is not suitable for your testing but 99% of
shooters are not shooting over 3900 FPS.

Do you think that 99% of the users of Labradar want to pay the additional cost for materials and technology to read speeds of the 1%. I am pretty confident that Labradar was designed with a limiting price-point.

You can always go out and spend $60,000 for a professional crono, it will yawn at your 17 and 204 accuratly clocking velocities during scortching hot days and bitter cold nights in the rain and snow
better than +/- 0.05%


The system is designed to measure velocities from 10
to 10.000 m/s with overall system accuracy typically
better than +/- 0.05%.

ROBUST RADAR SYSTEM
The fixed head Doppler radar systems are designed to
operate in the field under harsh conditions. The rugged
mechanical and electronic system design ensures high
reliability and robust resistance to blast and vibrations
from firing weapons.
 
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