chronograph
- Thread starter piaa1209
- Start date
I’m a believer there’s no clear answer. Lab Radar and Magneto operate differently and as such each have a place.
Lab Radar is more accurate however it’s more particular to orientation, other shooters and weird ranges that have lots of barriers or concrete.
Magnetospeed is technically less accurate however it’s more consistent when on a line where other shooters are closer or a heavily barricaded range. It’s also more compact.
I’ve had both and they’re both great. For me however Magneto is better and provides better results given my conditions. YMMV. Lots of kool-aid in each camp. See if you can borrow each from people you know and then you’ll find what you like. If you don’t like what you buy then you won’t use it as often so any gains are lost. Get the one you like and feel comfortable with and you’ll use it more and by that standard you’ll learn more about your loads.
That’s my 2 cents.
Lab Radar is more accurate however it’s more particular to orientation, other shooters and weird ranges that have lots of barriers or concrete.
Magnetospeed is technically less accurate however it’s more consistent when on a line where other shooters are closer or a heavily barricaded range. It’s also more compact.
I’ve had both and they’re both great. For me however Magneto is better and provides better results given my conditions. YMMV. Lots of kool-aid in each camp. See if you can borrow each from people you know and then you’ll find what you like. If you don’t like what you buy then you won’t use it as often so any gains are lost. Get the one you like and feel comfortable with and you’ll use it more and by that standard you’ll learn more about your loads.
That’s my 2 cents.
My only qualification is that I stayed at a holiday inn express last night....
Litz uses Labradar.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
I'm not a long range steel shooter just a hunter,occasional colony varmint blaster. I have a chronograph but only use it after a good load is found. Since I load test at 100 and 300 yards I have a pretty good idea what velocity is, then I verify. I shoot my 17's at or over 4000 the lab would not work and the only thing I would want on the end of a barrel during load work is a suppressor.
McMillan's ELRHQ
Site $$ Sponsor
We are big fans of the Labradar Here at McMillan's ELRHQ. There are pros and cons to both, a Labradar may be difficult to use at an extremely crowded range where as the Magnetospeed is a very simple to use. Although I've seen more people accidentally shoot their Magnetospeed than i have their labradar...
https://elrhq.com/product/lab-radar/
https://elrhq.com/product/lab-radar/
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
Neither or either I guess, it all depends on how much you want to spend. Do load development first and let the rifle and the target tell you when load development is done. Velocity and ES are what they are. I personally like the Magneto. It is very easy to set up and gives good accurate data.
I wouldn't buy a chronograph. I let the target tell me what it wants. The only time I use one is to get velocity for drops. Matt
mikeeg02
Michael Glantz
I cant say it any better than that.
powderbrake
Gold $$ Contributor
I have 3 chronographs, a screen type, the Magnetospeed, and a Labradar.
I use the Labradar ALL the time when developing loads or setting scope zeros. I do not shoot loads over 3900 fps, nor do I shoot anything under .22 diameter, so it always works for me. I have a tripod to mount the Labradar next to the muzzle at the bench, so the setup is simple and fast. With external battery, and using the iPhone app, I can let it run all day.
The Magnetospeed works great, I haven't used it much since I got my Labradar, but I found that IT DOES AFFECT GROUPS AND LOCATIONS, so I DO NOT use it for load development or sight-in.
I don't use my screen type anymore, but I hang on to it, I don't know why.
I use the Labradar ALL the time when developing loads or setting scope zeros. I do not shoot loads over 3900 fps, nor do I shoot anything under .22 diameter, so it always works for me. I have a tripod to mount the Labradar next to the muzzle at the bench, so the setup is simple and fast. With external battery, and using the iPhone app, I can let it run all day.
The Magnetospeed works great, I haven't used it much since I got my Labradar, but I found that IT DOES AFFECT GROUPS AND LOCATIONS, so I DO NOT use it for load development or sight-in.
I don't use my screen type anymore, but I hang on to it, I don't know why.
Personally I've found no documentation that proves that Lab Radar is any more accurate (however you'd define that) than any other commercial chronograph. I have found several reviews that say that statistically the Lab Radar is no more accurate than any other commercial chronograph. I have used a Lab Radar (wasn't mine, I borrowed it) and the real advantage to me is that you don't have to worry about shooting it or making any setup changes when you switch firearms nor does it effect you point of impact. But I'd let my wallet control which chronograph I bought and ensure that I follow the manufacturer's recommendations in regards to setting it up. I suspect that Bryan Litz likes to use the Lab Radar because he can estimate BC values and it saves a lot of time when he is out testing several rifles and types of ammunition. If I could afford one I would probably buy one but I'm not doing enough precision testing to make it worth the cost. Anybody that doesn't see the value in a reliable chronograph isn't really experimenting with loads, in that case simply use the manuals and experiment until you find the load you prefer. For the rest of us it's nice to be able to estimate pressures since we are working outside the normal range of recommended loads.
Down South
FTR Junkie
Same here nowdays.
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
I've been using my Magnetosope V3 recently, checking the velocity on my match rifle. I did not detect much, if any change in POI at 100 yards with it on or off. Mind you, I was just shooting to confirm elevation on the scope and to get velocity readings so I was concentrating more on pulling the trigger exactly the same way to get proper velocity readings. 
Also I have a heavy Palma contour barrel.
I also did the same for my AR-10, but the barrel is only 20 inches and I didn't notice any change in POI.
I never shoot a match with the Magnetospeed installed, I only use it to get a velocity reading when all is said and done.
Also I have a heavy Palma contour barrel.I also did the same for my AR-10, but the barrel is only 20 inches and I didn't notice any change in POI.
I never shoot a match with the Magnetospeed installed, I only use it to get a velocity reading when all is said and done.
My Magnetospeed didn't affect my POI but it certainly can on other rifles. I love my Magnetospeed.
If you’re going to be using the chrono for multiple rifles, especially on the same range trip then i would get the lab radar. That’s why I got rid of my magnetospeed. Moving it between rifles on the same trip was a bit of a hassle, especially since some guns had really
Long handguards and it couldn’t hang from the barrel so I needed the rail adaptor, and some didn’t have rails so they hung from the barrel. Now with the labradar it’s much simpler. Shooter sets up next to the unit, the next shooter(or same shooter with different rifle) does the same. No need to move stuff and fiddle with adjustments and spacers.
Long handguards and it couldn’t hang from the barrel so I needed the rail adaptor, and some didn’t have rails so they hung from the barrel. Now with the labradar it’s much simpler. Shooter sets up next to the unit, the next shooter(or same shooter with different rifle) does the same. No need to move stuff and fiddle with adjustments and spacers.
I started with s Shoot'n Chrony many years ago. It worked, but I used it infrequently because it was such a hassle to set up.
I bought a Labradar this year and am super happy with it. It is so easy to set up and to switch guns, and works in all light conditions. Plus, it gives speed readings at multiple distances down range. It is so easy to use I pretty much always set it up when at the range.
Here it is with a Montana Rifle Company X3 in 26 Nosler.
I bought a Labradar this year and am super happy with it. It is so easy to set up and to switch guns, and works in all light conditions. Plus, it gives speed readings at multiple distances down range. It is so easy to use I pretty much always set it up when at the range.
Here it is with a Montana Rifle Company X3 in 26 Nosler.
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