Lab radar missing 221 fireball

[PD Gohil]

My labradar does pretty good overall. But today I couldn't seem to get it to pick up 221 FB from a xp100. Could the giant "fireball" be screwing with it? Small bullet?

I got a few readings that's seemed legit, but not anything consistent enough to work with.

Appreciate any advice.

PGohil
WV

 

[DngBat7]

This should solve the problem.

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

 

[PD Gohil]

This should solve the problem.

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

Yeah, I have one. And it just says that it couldn't acquire the projectile. Triggering is not a problem triggering is not a problem

 

[Jager]

The cross section of the projectile dictates how strongly the doppler radar is able to pick up and track the object. From the Labrador FAQ...

"In general LabRadar will typically measure the velocity of a 7.62 mm projectile from muzzle up to 100 yards. After extensive testing of a variety of calibers you can expect to obtain velocities at these distances when in the Standard Power Mode. Low Power setting will have about 30% less tracking*.
.177 Pellet – 30 yards;
.177 BB – 30 yards;
22 LR – 60 yards;
223 – 60 yards;
270 – 70 yards;
308 – 80 to 100 yards;
9mm – 130 yards;
40 S&W – 130 yards;
45 ACP – 130 yards;
500 S&W – 130 yards;
12 gauge Slug – 90 yards;
Paint Ball – 50 yards;
Arrows – 50 yards;
* Since every bullet has a different profile your results may vary. In general, the larger the base (excluding the boat tail) the great the distance the projectile can be acquired."

The two suggestions I'd make are to first use a good pointing device, and second pay attention to the signal strength indicator on the display, as that signal strength will tell you how strongly the radar is "locking on" to the projectile.

Since mounting a very cheap red dot sight to my Labradar - allowing extremely precise aiming of the unit - it has never once failed to track everything put in front of it, from .22 LR to .45-70.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Mine wont read 17 cal at all and 20 cal a few get missed even with the trigger attached. It also misses a few 22 cal at times. Sometimes its just a matter of aiming it more carefully.

 

[PD Gohil]

I'm not interested in downrange velocities. I'm just trying to get the darn thing to read a muzzle velocity. I haven't had any problems with 223, and the back of my mind I'm still blaming the big flash for disrupting the radar

 

[Ned Ludd]

I'm not interested in downrange velocities. I'm just trying to get the darn thing to read a muzzle velocity. I haven't had any problems with 223, and the back of my mind I'm still blaming the big flash for disrupting the radar

The LabRadar does not "read" muzzle velocity. It back-calculates MV from the downrange velocity drop at various distances (factory presets are 11, 22, 33, 44, and 55 yd). Thus, if it fails to acquire sufficient downrange velocity data, no MV will be returned.

I have occasionally had issues with the LabRadar not picking up .224" bullet velocities at the 44 and 55 yd distance settings. However, it usually will pick the bullets up out to 33 yd, and so still provides a value for MV. When this happens, I can usually improve how the unit picks up a bullet by aiming the LabRadar a little more carefully. I glued a 1.25" long x 3/8" diameter steel bushing into the little groove on top of the unit as an aperture to look through, which helps with the aiming process.

 

[Mauser06]

Have you tried moving the unit forward or backward?

The fire ball isn't the issue. I have an 18" 450 Bushmaster bolt gun that I run a high charge in...it has a wicked muzzle blast.



I keep the lab a few inches behind the muzzle and 6-8" away from the barrel.

 

[Dave M.]

My labradar does pretty good overall. But today I couldn't seem to get it to pick up 221 FB from a xp100. Could the giant "fireball" be screwing with it? Small bullet?

I got a few readings that's seemed legit, but not anything consistent enough to work with.

Appreciate any advice.

PGohil
WV

Velocity target??? Labradar stops around 3900fps
Dave

 

[PD Gohil]

Definitely not anywhere near velocity max. I should be around 3,000 ft per second. I was working at 25 yards getting excited in and trying to get some load development done.

 

[chromatica]

Try switching from "Rifle" setting to "Pistol". I find this works for smaller projectiles.

 

[PD Gohil]

Try switching from "Rifle" setting to "Pistol". I find this works for smaller projectiles.

I'm such a fool. I never even thought about that. I'm sure you're correct!!! thank you!

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Try switching from "Rifle" setting to "Pistol". I find this works for smaller projectiles.

This indeed may help because it reduces the distances that it takes the readings from.

 

[Dave M.]

Definitely not anywhere near velocity max. I should be around 3,000 ft per second. I was working at 25 yards getting excited in and trying to get some load development done.

Ok then make sure you have the aiming done correctly and you are controlling the muzzle blast.
dave

 

[0.1 Aggregate]

Try switching from "Rifle" setting to "Pistol". I find this works for smaller projectiles.

It won’t work for the OP, since the “pistol“ range is capped at around 1700 fps. His Fireball is moving too fast.