Bulletseeker Mach 4 Doppler Chronograph (LabRadar Killer?)

[dgeesaman]

amazing how this turned into a "Lab Radar" thread..

Considering the Bulletseeker does less at 50% more cost, how could it not?

Said differently, this product should not have a reason to exist if LabRadar received a few more updates. The fact that I spent $1100 on a Bulletseeker instead of a LabRadar speaks to the issue.

But it might be worth mentioning that my Bulletseeker has some issues with turning off for no reason, giving bad velocity numbers when the battery gets below 30%, and has plenty of its own Bluetooth and app issues.

 

[USMCDOC]

Considering the Bulletseeker does less at 50% more cost, how could it not?

Said differently, this product should not have a reason to exist if LabRadar received a few more updates. The fact that I spent $1100 on a Bulletseeker instead of a LabRadar speaks to the issue.

But it might be worth mentioning that my Bulletseeker has some issues with turning off for no reason, giving bad velocity numbers when the battery gets below 30%, and has plenty of its own Bluetooth and app issues.

Good to see the thread back on track

 

[Conaso]

What will kill all the of the current crop of Dopler radar products is one that functions decently in the $2-300 range. Most shooters can even tolerate a few issues. Look at Labradar - $500+, still has issues, and no improvements/upgrades. Not for the average shooter. But if you can afford a $700 Warner Sizing Die and another $700 Seating Die, $900 for a Prazipress is not an issue.

I wonder if a Prazipress will work with my Lee dies?

 

[dgeesaman]

What will kill all the of the current crop of Dopler radar products is one that functions decently in the $2-300 range. Most shooters can even tolerate a few issues. Look at Labradar - $500+, still has issues, and no improvements/upgrades. Not for the average shooter. But if you can afford a $700 Warner Sizing Die and another $700 Seating Die, $900 for a Prazipress is not an issue.

I wonder if a Prazipress will work with my Lee dies?

Yeah but if you do buy a Prazipress and Warner dies, you'll need a Labradar to register the .1 fps ES reduction.

 

[dgeesaman]

Good to see the thread back on track

I should mention one other valuable thing: the bulletseeker is small and light. It with my micro tripod always goes in my regular range bag where a Labradar becomes it own thing requiring its own tripod and that's one more trip between the shooting bench and vehicle.

 

[ISS]

Since I got my first chronograph back in 1978 I have fired an estimated 100,000+ rounds. Mostly on various Oehlers. Even went to Ken's school close to thirty years ago. In all that time I have shot ONE, count it ONE screen. Of all things, with a Ruger #1 in 22 Hornet! Double rifles, even slugs from a 12 gauge. Nopey!
My 35P still works perfectly, and one screen using 5/5/5 foot spacing for the three screens.

ISS

 

[pertnear]

I bought my Caldwell chrono used for a cheap price. The original metal rods were missing so I use bamboo skewer sticks to hold up the defusers . I made a heavy black mark half way up each stick. When I'm set-up & shooting scoped rifles, the marks are a great gauge relative to the horizontal cross-hair & target of about where the bullet is going to pass through the "window". On high power scopes you may have to swivel the rifle a little left or right to see the marks but it's still a good safety measure. I guess if you have metal rods a wrap of tape would do the same thing.

Just FWIW...

 

[skyrep]

Received my BS4 this past week and went out Sunday and spent three hours doing load development on my LR.308. Had to put a small picatinny rail at the 9oclock position to hold the BS4. First shot – nothing. I was not going to admit this, but it was my fault it did not pickup the first shot (I put it on backwards). Did not miss a shot after shooting 90 rounds of load development.

NOTE: Ensure you set the setting in the switch off after (sec) to enough time. The factory setting is set at 300 seconds. I switched mine to 3,600. Will probably set up to 10,800 (3 hours). After 3 hours on it being on, battery was still over 50% charged.

The only thing I had a problem was the quick discount would come off after maybe a dozen shots (Maybe from Recoil). I do not like the quick discount mount that came with it. Looking at finding something better.

Then I hooked up my magneto speed V3 to it and test velocity test on some extra ammo I had on hand.
The BS4 was anywhere from 10-15 fps slower than the MSV3.

Really like the APP (had it on my iPad). Recommend installing app on something bigger than a cell phone (easier to read and keying in the information). I was smart enough to set all my strings (13 in total) ahead of time with the relevant information (i.e., Load information). Nice thing is after shooting, you can go and review everything.
Recharging the MS4 took less than 1 hour. Next time out I will take a battery pack and see if the MS4 will function with the battery pack attached to it.

 

[RegionRat]

Thanks for the field report of your first outing.
If I can ask a favor... in the last paragraph where you say MS4, did you typo that meaning BS4 or are you jumping to the Magneto Speed?

I'm pretty sure you mean the BS4 but since you were also side by side testing against the MS3... can you say which one you meant.

 

[skyrep]

Thanks for the field report of your first outing.
If I can ask a favor... in the last paragraph where you say MS4, did you typo that meaning BS4 or are you jumping to the Magneto Speed?

I'm pretty sure you mean the BS4 but since you were also side by side testing against the MS3... can you say which one you meant.

I did mean the BS4 (Bullet Seeker). Surprisingly the BS4 Battery was fully charged when i got it. Next will be shooting with the suppressor on.

 

[makurtz]

Just got mine in Friday. They re-branded it "Speedtracker Mach4". Something to do with too many red-flags when exporting, lol. Also they have a new, updated app called "SpeedtrackerM4". Mine wouldn't even connect with the old app. I fabbed a piece of of picatinny rail mount for my Rodzilla. We'll see how it works out...

 

[JimSC]

The BS4 was anywhere from 10-15 fps slower than the MSV3.

to me that only makes sense, the Magnetospeed will pick up the speed at the barrel, all of the doppler units pick up the bullet a few yards from the muzzle. I am aware that the LR people claim that their software has a algorithm that extrapolates the FPS back to the muzzles but in my experiment with the LR that was not true. The LR's numbers were closer to what my ProChrono was giving me at 12 feet from the muzzzle than what the MS sporters number were, about 10 - 15 FPS same as your observations

Anyway it is a moot point and if I were doing a drop chart I would just add 10 FPS to the BS4 numbers. I do load workups with an optical set 12 feet from the muzzle but when doing my drop charts I rely on my MS sporter for an accurate FPS

 

[Mcfly]

Question. How does it trigger? Is the beam just on so it picks up the bullet? Wondering if you can set it to the side of the gun like a labradar and still pick up shots?

Thanks
Bart

I just got one of these. Haven’t tested yet. Still working on my set up attached to my front rest.

I became weary of the finicky app on lab radar. And their support is very slow. I think they have a disconnect between the manufacturers of the actual unit and the app developer. On at least 2 occasions I’ve been given erroneous information from their support responders. I lost confidence in them after that.

I sent the bullet seeker support an email and got a response inside of 12 hours. Here below is the answer to the question of triggering.

We're sending radar transmissions all the time. That's the trigger - no sound, no recoil, nothing but radar - just as it should be.

We always recommend a lateral distance of max. 15 cm / 5.5 inch and 60 /23 inch cm set back to the barrel muzzle. Not always, but mostly closer is better.

It depends on the radar shadow through the barrel, muzzle brakes, silencer, etc.

If you need further assist please send me pictures.

best regards
John
SUPPORT SPEEDTRACKER

 

[JimSC]

I sent the bullet seeker support an email and got a response inside of 12 hours. Here below is the answer to the question of triggering.

For over $1000 for their product they should have had the Swedish Bikini team deliver the answer as a singing telegram