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How Accurate is Magnetospeed V3

MMH

I am thinking about getting a Magnetospeed V3. How accurate is it, how easy is it to set up & how reliable is it?

I have been using a Master Chrony for many years and it has always been a pain to set up & use. Furthermore, I never was confident in the numbers I was seeing. In addition, when the weather conditions were good (not too sunny, cloudy, etc.) I still would get no readings in 1 in 5 shots. Time for a change...
 
MMH said:
I am thinking about getting a Magnetospeed V3. How accurate is it, how easy is it to set up & how reliable is it?

I have been using a Master Chrony for many years and it has always been a pain to set up & use. Furthermore, I never was confident in the numbers I was seeing. In addition, when the weather conditions were good (not too sunny, cloudy, etc.) I still would get no readings in 1 in 5 shots. Time for a change...
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I believe it is quite accurate. It is very easy to setup and totally eliminates the weather conditions. It can affect POI, so realistically it is not a good idea to have it mounted for load testing (ladder tests, group tests). For determining muzzle velocity, I feel it is a great tool. The trend seems to be to the Labradar units.
 
We have no way to calibrate our chronographs. About all that we have to go on to make uncertainty or accuracy statements on is the manufactures stated specifications.
 
chkunz said:
We have no way to calibrate our chronographs. About all that we have to go on to make uncertainty or accuracy statements on is the manufactures stated specifications.
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You can tell WHICH one is lying when you put 3 Together. I set up an Oehler-35 , CED Millennium , and Labradar, they all gave the same results
 
I tested my V3 side-by-side with my Labradar and at worst, there was a 3-5fps difference.

I used the V3 with my bolt and gas guns, suppressed and unsuppressed, with no issues, although you do need to ensure the V3 bayonet is properly placed and adjusted. No concerns with weather either since it uses magnets which are not affected by, for example, sunlight.
 
Ran the comparison test with a Pro-chrony I had. Using my 243 loads, the PC said they were at 3050,2998,3100, 3042 and 3077. Running the V3 at the same time. The same loads over the V3 showed 3202, 3197, 3199, 3204 and 3205.
Using a ballistics app and plugging in the numbers, the V3's figures were accurate out to 800 yards for drop and windage.
The Pro-Chrony went down the road.
 
The only thing I don't like about my Magneto Sporter is the strap it uses to attach to the barrel. If it comes loose you will get no reading and it does come loose. I was able to check my Magneto against 2 other makes and the difference was 8-13 fps between all.
 
I found the chart I did at the time. This was from a gas gun, not a bolt:


260-Chrono-April-2017-LR-and-M3-192288.jpg
 
Is Labradar that much better than a Magentospeed? It is significantly more expensive. I especially like the fact that nothing has to mount on the barrel.
 
How much and what kind of shooting do you do? I had the V3 and it worked fine for me for a year. I upgraded to the Labradar when I started shooting 2-3 times a week and doing a lot of load development. The Labradar really needs an external battery pack and you need a good solid base, if you tip it over (or drop it), you risk the internals. For most people, the V3 is a great tool. Just my 2 cents and YMMV.
 
Defender 3 said:
How much and what kind of shooting do you do? I had the V3 and it worked fine for me for a year. I upgraded to the Labradar when I started shooting 2-3 times a week and doing a lot of load development. The Labradar really needs an external battery pack and you need a good solid base, if you tip it over (or drop it), you risk the internals. For most people, the V3 is a great tool. Just my 2 cents and YMMV.
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I am getting into load development more and more seriously. Really beginning to pay attention to OCW via speed, but also refine my reloading to minimize extreme spread. As nothing mounts to the barrel, I see no reason why I cannot set this up when shooting a 20 round string in F-class & start getting statistically significant data. Downside of course is having hard data to support the notion that my scores are the result of shooter error and not bad ammo.
 
Defender 3 said:
How much and what kind of shooting do you do? I had the V3 and it worked fine for me for a year. I upgraded to the Labradar when I started shooting 2-3 times a week and doing a lot of load development. The Labradar really needs an external battery pack and you need a good solid base, if you tip it over (or drop it), you risk the internals. For most people, the V3 is a great tool. Just my 2 cents and YMMV.
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I saw that they had an external USB port battery. I'll tell you what I have been doing for other devices for a couple of years now that can be powered via USB - I bought a Milwaukee M12 power Source (all of $30). And, I already have about a dozen different M12 batteries for my tools ranging from 22 Wh to 72 Wh. Done...
 
MMH said:
I am getting into load development more and more seriously. Really beginning to pay attention to OCW via speed, but also refine my reloading to minimize extreme spread. As nothing mounts to the barrel, I see no reason why I cannot set this up when shooting a 20 round string in F-class & start getting statistically significant data. Downside of course is having hard data to support the notion that my scores are the result of shooter error and not bad ammo.
Click to expand...

The Labradar would work well for you and support saving the 20-round strings easily. FWIW - I ordered mine direct and got the external battery pack for free as part of a special offer at the time. I ordered the whole package: case, radar, base and external battery pack. I've used it on 100y ranges under cover, prone at 100 and while on the open 1000y range at Quantico with no issues (other than me forgetting to set a new string or arming the radar). I think if you buy one, you'll never look back. Oh, you'll also make new friends who want you to chrono their loads. ;)
 
While shooting with friends the lab radar had problems with sub-sonic, suppressed and rounds over 4000 fps.
With that being said it is valuable tool and I will buy one. My V3 does everything, just don't leave it in the truck over night when it's below zero. The liquid crystal will self destruct.
 
The only thing I don't like about my Magneto Sporter is the strap it uses to attach to the barrel. If it comes loose you will get no reading and it does come loose.
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What I do to prevent loosening of the strap is to place the second rubber spacer on top of the barrel under the strap. Tighten the strap well, and this should hold the magnetospeed in place.
 
My 2 cents: Go with a Lab Radar from the start. I had a Magnetospeed Sporter and recently upgraded to a Lab Radar. With the lab radar you can set it up and shoot. No worries about POI shifts. I could never get my Sporter to work well on my 6BR with a big barrel.
$380 for a V3 and around $618 for the Lab Radar, Base and external battery.
Buy once, Cry once!
 
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