LAB OR MAGNETOSPEED PROS AND CONS

[South Paw Sammy]

This has probably been brought up several times but figured I’d ask since I have finally decided to get one or the other.
I would like to get y’all’s pros and cons on each.
Thank y’all.
Sam

 

[Poor Shot 65]

Search results for query: labradar or magnetospeed

you will see a few posts

 

[Eric73]

I have a Labradar and love it. The Magneto is a great unit too but I like not having to attach anything to the barrel.

 

[rijndael]

I have a mount for my magneto to get it off the barrel.

 

[Just Say Moe]

I have a mount for my magneto to get it off the barrel.

Pictures?

 

[rijndael]

Wiser Precision Chrono Mount

 

[zipollini]

Pictures?

Product not found!

www.davidtubb.com

 

[JimSC]

The question is what use do you plan and how often will you use it? I have a optical as well as a magentospeed and use both maybe three times a year.

I use the optical when developing a load for a bullet/powder/primer combo the optical never gets used again until I swap barrels or for some odd reason I have to change a component and redevelop the load. There has been 2000 rounds sent down my main rifles barrel since I needed to use a chrono with it. I swap a barrel maybe once a year and like to play with various bullets and powders on my practice rifles though so the optical does come in handy.


I carry the magnetospeed sporter in my range bag for a occasional spot check if the temperature changes drastically.

I bought a Labradar back when they first came out but sent it back to Brownells after a month of use. For me it proved to be way too finicky. It dropped too many shots, would not work with my rimfires, had some production and design issues etc. Kind of like buying a car the first year of a new model, nice concept but way rough around the edges for me to consider practical

If they come out with a Labradar II I may consider one if they make a lot of changes

 

[Ned Ludd]

I bought one of the original MagnetoSpeed units when they first became available. It works very well, but having the bayonet attached to the barrel can change both the shape/size of the groups, as well as alter the point of impact. The first of those effects is largely due to the bayonet changing barrel harmonics. The second is due to muzzle blast from the sensor deck. The extent and severity of both issues seems to be dependent on the specific setup; some notice greater effects than others. Regardless, I found the notion of doing load development with the MagnetoSpeed attached to the barrel counterproductive, and would load 10 rounds each for my test loads. I then fired 5 rounds for velocity, removed the MagnetoSpeed from the barrel, and fired the remaining 5 rounds for grouping. I used this approach for several years and it certainly works, but you have to load twice the number of rounds.

A couple years ago, I purchased a LabRadar, and have been using it ever since. The LabRadar unit can sometimes be a little finicky with regard to dropping shots, or picking up errant velocities after being triggered by the muzzle report from nearby shooters' rifles. To some extent, these effects can be lessened by adjusting the LabRadar sensitivity settings, but they may not disappear entirely. About a year ago, I purchased an external kinetic trigger for the LabRadar (link below), which was the real solution to the LabRadar's issues observed when using its internal microphone trigger. Since that time, it has performed flawlessly.

Labradar Trigger Gen 2

This is the gen two trigger for the LabRadar chronograph. It will work on anything from a 22LR to a big bore rifles. The trigger works great with suppressors and crowded ranges. The new, removable …

jklprecision.com

The bottom line is that either unit can serve you well. Both have their subtle issues, but both can provide solid velocity data. The LabRadar is certainly a bit more costly. Having said that, I have both units, but I use the LabRadar.

 

[jr600yd]

I can use the LabRadar with pistols.

 

[Shinbone]

I can use the LabRadar with pistols.

and for archery, too.

 

[One Eye Pete]

I have both a MagnetoSpeed and a Labradar. I bought the magnetospeed first but I never liked having to attach it to the barrel. The weight of it has to act like a tuner and change the barrel harmonics. Even before David Tubb came out with his mount for the magnetospeed I built one that attached to the Sinclair F class bi pod I was using. It worked but it was difficult get the distance from the sensors to the bore just right. Then one day it loosened up just enough so that a bullet barely touched the top of the bayonet but that was all it took to ruin it. I bought another bayonet for it but then the Labradar came along. I took the plunge and tried it. It works great but can be very frustrating if you don't know how to use it. The tricks are simple
1. USE AN EXTERNAL TRIGGER (recoil actuated) The only problem this can create is it can trigger if you close the bolt hard on a bolt action. It isn't that big a problem because it will either give you a failure to track or a really low velocity that is easy to spot and can be erased later when you are done shooting.
2. There is a seller on eBay, sights1968, that sells a picatinny style mount for the top of the labradar. I added this to mine and with an old scope ring I mount a real cheap air rifle scope to it so that I can aim it directly at the target.
With the thing sighted correctly and the external trigger the only time I drop a shot is when I forget to push the button to arm it before shooting a string.
The only other trick is when someone near to where you are shooting is also using a labradar they can interfere and not just from the muzzle blast setting it off. I learned the hard way that even with the external recoil trigger if both units are set to the same frequency they will interfere with one another. You need to go into the setup and change the frequency or you will likely get a failure to track.
Both magnetospeed and labradar units give accurate velocity readings. The labradar definitely has some faults but it doesent effect barrel harmonics and once you get it sorted out it is the easiest and quickest to set up and at the end of the day you can take out the memory card put it into your computer and download the data to Excel.

 

[piie]

This is just from my personal experience with both - and granted - it is very specific to my rifles...

I started with the Magnetospeed sporter unit - worked fine, but I did have some irks and quirks on my rifles - I have a Steyr classic hunter, and the barrel has the "twist" pattern as well as being tapered to the front. This would cause the barrel mounted part to wiggle loose while shooting ( no matter ho tight I tried to make it...)

The second issue with the magnetospeed on that Steyr caused me endless stress, money and I was on the point of giving up on that rifle... I started getting really bad groups with the rifle during load development - I just could not get the groups to close. Had it worked on, and one of the rectifications done by a gunsmith was to chop off the threaded part of the barrel - as they theorized the threading (which was done by the previous owner) was too aggressive (threading too deep into barrel), and caused excessive heat in that part of the barrel - which was throwing off my groups.

After doing all the modifications and fixing ( had it re-bedded etc) -I was still getting these wild groups, and massive POI shifts.

Then I realized/noticed that the huge swings were between times I had the magnetospeed fitted, vs the times I took it hunting. Ever since I quit using the magnetospeed ( and got the LR in the mean-time) I have managed to get the gun back to a .3 MOA rifle with little effort. So - some guns really don't like having stuff on the barrel, and worst case scenario is when that gun also cannot take one of the external mount options (typically your hunting rifles with traditional stocks).

With the LR, and the external trigger, the unit is very consistent ito measuring almost every single shot I've chased past it. However, some of the irritations I am still experiencing from time to time is :

a) the Bluetooth on my unit is VERY iffy - it really likes to disconnect at the most inconvenient of times during a string.
b) I like using the App to manage the unit - but coupled with a) and my absent mindedness, it has happened on various occasions that I would either forget to arm the unit before firing, or forget to start a new series.

The LR - in my opinion is also more of a hassle to setup - you either need a proper shooting bench with enough space (when using the base or a mini tripod), or a tripod if the bench or circumstances at the range prevents you from other options. This means more bulk in the stuff you have to carry with.

I still prefer the LR though, rarely take my MS out nowadays - but keep it as a backup.

LR also is not ideal for handgun shooting - at least at the ranges I have available - since there is rarely any proper surfaces or space to set it up, and you also have to remember to set the unit to the handgun velocity, and fixing a trigger to a handgun is something I have not found a proper solution yet - meaning you are stuck with the internal microphone.

 

[1shot]

I have the Magneto Speed and it works well. One day it just died, so I contacted the company and it was a couple on months out of warranty. However, I then called Brownells, where I purchased the unit, and for the difference in cost between what I paid for the 1st unit and the cost now, they sent me a brand new unit!
Secondly, I also went with a Wiser Precision Chrono Mount. I had my heart set on one from Tubb, but when I called them to order it, they were out of stock and didn't know when or if they would be getting more of them.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[M5Pilot]

I used my new labradar yesterday for the first time. Read a lot about missed shots and other shooters activating the unit which shows an error. I realized that proper aiming of the unit was critical so I bought a cheap cvlife red dot on Amazon for 28.70 and a short picatinny rail someone makes just for mounting on the labradar. First time using it and didn't miss one shot out of 50 made. No one else was on the range so I didn't get any false errors. I've had the inertia switch ordered for over a month and the seller has even sent a second one but so far both have been lost in the mail.

 

[BDman]

The LR is a great device. An ARKCO base and an inertial trigger make it even better. Mine is not finicky at all about aiming. The only problem I have is that my friends want to slide it over to their bench instead of setting up their MS.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

The LR is a great device. An ARKCO base and an inertial trigger make it even better. Mine is not finicky at all about aiming. The only problem I have is that my friends want to slide it over to their bench instead of setting up their MS.

Same problem I have, show up with one and everybody wants to see how fast their rifle is. Makes a lot of liars wish they hadn't tried it, then claim its faulty?

 

[MikeT124]

A couple of things to be aware of. First off let me say, I own a LabRadar and it's NOT for sale. Now on to the couple of things. First the price is really only for the unit, expect to pay an additional $100 to $150 more to get the unit really ready to run. This means buying a carry case, a stand or platform for it, the LI battery so you don't need to feed it "AA" batteries, and a memory SD card to store the plethora of data it puts out. Second there is definitely a learning curve, but once you are successful with it you will not regret paying the price. Third truthfully I haven't checked their website for several months but I believe that starting last April or May they have not been in stock and still were not as late as September.

Mike

 

[mjl650]

and for archery, too.

I can use the LabRadar with pistols.

Add Air Guns to the list.

 

[Patriot007]

With the JKPrecision trigger. It eliminated missed shots. Keep in mind that you will have to adjust the triggers sensitivity in the set up. Also, I use the labRadar battery packs. They last forever, I have noticed a drop in the SNR reading when the battery pack reaches 50% of it's capacity. I found an old AT&T Samsung Galaxy S7 phone, It seems to work fine with the labRadar and My Sartorius Entris II BCE223i Auto trickler V3 set as well.
I shoot on three different Ranges and I find that the Labradar prefers an open area. On my pistil range at home, I am shooting from an open area into a berm just inside of a tree line. When I first received my LabRadar, I tried it out with my 1911 and the LabRadar rebooted it's self, " Several Times" LOL.
I have to say, that there was a big learning curve involved with the LabRadar, compared to our old Caldwell
chrono. But after several phone calls to Richard over a BuymyLabRadar.com, and acquiring the external triggers, it is working great. Well, it was always working as it should, but I didn't know what I was doing.
As far as the Magneto speed, I have never used one and can not comment on it personally. All I know is,, I don't want anything interfering with my Barrel Harmonics, That would be counter productive, with components being hard to come by.