LABRADAR PROS AND CONS

[MikeMcCasland]

I've used it on pretty much all my guns w/o problem. Getting below half MOA accuracy. Suppressed firearms. With and without chassis. Barrel mounted. No problems. And today will be the first time using the chassis mount.

Getting good accuracy with an MS attached isn't the problem. The problem is all of that load workup done with the MS attached is 100% meaningless, because it's screwing with the harmonics of the barrel.

Even with HV & straight 1.250" contour barrels, I've had it shoot lights out with the MS attached, and then open right back up once removed.

A MS has its place for sure. If you just want to chronograph loads at the end of workup to grab velocities, great, it's perfect. That said, you can't effectively load dev off one unless you're running a chassis mount.

For folks who are shooting longer freebore chambers (a large percentage of this forum), where factory load data is basically meaningless, it's critical to be grabbing velocities off every shot during OCW testing. If you do that with an MS, it means you've got to shoot double the rounds, because you can't trust what the rifle is doing with one attached.

That's the whole reason people spent another $500 on the LR.

 

[garandman]

Even with HV & straight 1.250" contour barrels, I've had it shoot lights out with the MS attached, and then open right back up once removed.

.

I haven't. Same size groups, same point of impact. Mounted to the suppresor, not the chassis. Today will be first time using the chassis mount rod.

If you have , then I see why you got the LR.

I need to put that extra money elsewhere.

 

[Ccrider]

Forgot to mention that the mini usb port on the Labradar is fragile.(this is where/how you connect the external battery.) I have to tinker with it to get the cable connected. Does not seem right enough.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I haven't. Same size groups, same point of impact. Mounted to the suppresor, not the chassis. Today will be first time using the chassis mount rod.

If you have , then I see why you got the LR.

I need to put that extra money elsewhere.

Then why buy the rod?

 

[garandman]

Then why buy the rod?

To double check. Everybuddy kept telling me I should be having problems I wasn't having.

It was prolly a $100 waste of money.

 

[powderbrake]

I went from a screen type chronograph to the Magnetospeed, to the Labradar.
Reasons:
1) Screen type to involved to set up (can only do so when range is "cold")
2) Magnetospeed is very good, but it did effect my groups, this required more shots without it in place.
3) Labradar can be set up while range is hot, easy to align and I mount it on a travel tripod with a ball head.
I do not shoot smaller than 22 cal, and I am under 4000 fps, so the Labradar meets all my needs.

Here is how I use it.
1) Tripod mount. I use a travel tripod, about $60-$70 on Amazon, folds up to about 12'' in length.
2) Use the 6" setting for muzzle distance, and I set it even with the end of the barrel, and 1 to 2 '' from the barrel.
Never a problem with other guns setting it off.
3) Use the Labradar App on my iPhone to control the Labradar, so you don't have to get up to touch the buttons.
It is easier than the buttons on the Labradar, is more intuitive, and quicker.
4) Use a backup battery, about $20 on Amazon.
5) Use a sighting method to align Labradar. See mine below.

I used two brass tubes which I got from my local Hobby shop. http://www.ksmetals.com/ or Amazon. One 1/4 " OD, and a second one 7/32 OD. I glued a short piece of the 1/4 tube to the top of the Labradar, and I slide the 7/32 tube into it. I look through the tube and adjust the ball head on the tripod to center the target in the tube. I store the tube in the Labradar case.



The rubber ring on the end of the tube is to keep me from poking myself in the eye. I also sprayed flat black paint inside the tube to cut down reflections.

The charger, spare battery, cables, and sighting tube all fit nicely in the Labradar case.

I like the Labradar app on the iPhone. Allows you to quickly start a new series, and provides all the pertinent data.

 

[Dud]

Only con is setup and price. With bluetooth and sales that eliminates that. I cant setup screens at my local range so that leaves labradar and magnetospeed. I havent used the latter since labradar came out. The factory bag is fine- lots of padding. Im sure its not waterproof but who needs water resistance on a chronograph- not sure what kind of ranges yall are visiting

It's not the range, it is the fact that a lot of range trips include a lot of gear and it's nice to have a case that you can throw in a trunk or truck bed without worrying about it or treating it differently.

 

[Bill Norris]

WOW Thanks guys. This is a wealth of info for us beginners with the LR. Some great ideas and methods discussed. Keep the convo going please.

 

[nmkid]

I went from a screen type chronograph to the Magnetospeed, to the Labradar.
Reasons:
1) Screen type to involved to set up (can only do so when range is "cold")
2) Magnetospeed is very good, but it did effect my groups, this required more shots without it in place.
3) Labradar can be set up while range is hot, easy to align and I mount it on a travel tripod with a ball head.
I do not shoot smaller than 22 cal, and I am under 4000 fps, so the Labradar meets all my needs.

Here is how I use it.
1) Tripod mount. I use a travel tripod, about $60-$70 on Amazon, folds up to about 12'' in length.
2) Use the 6" setting for muzzle distance, and I set it even with the end of the barrel, and 1 to 2 '' from the barrel.
Never a problem with other guns setting it off.
3) Use the Labradar App on my iPhone to control the Labradar, so you don't have to get up to touch the buttons.
It is easier than the buttons on the Labradar, is more intuitive, and quicker.
4) Use a backup battery, about $20 on Amazon.
5) Use a sighting method to align Labradar. See mine below.

I used two brass tubes which I got from my local Hobby shop. http://www.ksmetals.com/ or Amazon. One 1/4 " OD, and a second one 7/32 OD. I glued a short piece of the 1/4 tube to the top of the Labradar, and I slide the 7/32 tube into it. I look through the tube and adjust the ball head on the tripod to center the target in the tube. I store the tube in the Labradar case.

View attachment 1137052

The rubber ring on the end of the tube is to keep me from poking myself in the eye. I also sprayed flat black paint inside the tube to cut down reflections.

The charger, spare battery, cables, and sighting tube all fit nicely in the Labradar case.

I like the Labradar app on the iPhone. Allows you to quickly start a new series, and provides all the pertinent data.

View attachment 1137054

View attachment 1137055

Where do you set the unit when you have a muzzle brake?

 

[Ccrider]

Where do you set the unit when you have a muzzle brake?

Far enough towards the trigger to avoid the muzzle blast or in front of the muzzle. Either will work.

 

[Jess Mellen]

I only have one con. Alignment of the unit. I use the body of a ball point pen to look through. I watched someone else that mounted a laser pointer to the unit. That was really slick and easy to align.

 

[MikeT124]

I've owned mine for about a year now (they were on sale about this time last year too). The aiming of the LR is rather imprecise and can be problematic and frustrating. I don't always get speeds out to 100 yards (30 Caliber). For me that is the major con. Don't expect to get 100 yard readings with .22 or smaller caliber firearms, 50 may be the best you can hope for.

But a major pro is the ability to dig into the stored data which gives you the tracked speed for every stored increment which sometimes can be in 1 or 2 yard intervals for every shot. You download the data to your computer get into the stored data and load the individual shots into a spreadsheet program (either MS Excel or a compatible) and the data becomes available. Very interesting.

Definitely buy either the plate or the new tripod, the usb battery and the storage bag along with the LR you won't regret it. The storage bag has a facility to velcro the plate to it. I use the plate and have no difficulty using it with the LR on the bench.

One of the other responders mentioned that the LR can be triggered by nearby shots, you can set the sensitivity so that nearby shots will not trigger the LR. This has never been a problem for me.

Mike

 

[Bill Norris]

I've owned mine for about a year now (they were on sale about this time last year too). The aiming of the LR is rather imprecise and can be problematic and frustrating. I don't always get speeds out to 100 yards (30 Caliber). For me that is the major con. Don't expect to get 100 yard readings with .22 or smaller caliber firearms, 50 may be the best you can hope for.

But a major pro is the ability to dig into the stored data which gives you the tracked speed for every stored increment which sometimes can be in 1 or 2 yard intervals for every shot. You download the data to your computer get into the stored data and load the individual shots into a spreadsheet program (either MS Excel or a compatible) and the data becomes available. Very interesting.

Definitely buy either the plate or the new tripod, the usb battery and the storage bag along with the LR you won't regret it. The storage bag has a facility to velcro the plate to it. I use the plate and have no difficulty using it with the LR on the bench.

One of the other responders mentioned that the LR can be triggered by nearby shots, you can set the sensitivity so that nearby shots will not trigger the LR. This has never been a problem for me.

Mike

Yea I figured it might be good to get the case. batt pack. and tripod along with the device.

 

[leclairk]

Just bought mine today. Midway has them for $499 and free shipping. Bought the external battery pack as well. I’m excited to play with it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Get an arkco machine base and save your money on the other options

 

[garandman]

Get an arkco machine base and save your money on the other options

 

[nmkid]

Get an arkco machine base and save your money on the other options

Got the base from him. The LabRadar should be delivered Monday.

 

[mike a]

Saved a few bucks here and there for almost a year. Used mine first time today. Doing a 300 yard OCW. Picked up every shot. All PROs so far. Mike

 

[Boatschool02]

Saved a few bucks here and there for almost a year. Used mine first time today. Doing a 300 yard OCW. Picked up every shot. All PROs so far. Mike

Agreed.
Won't solve anything.
But it can offer a world of insight into powder differences, primer comparisons, neck prep steps, monitoring your load through changing temperatures, and barrel life.
I've logged every shot for the last couple years and find it invaluable.

 

[Big_Daddy]

Forgot to mention that the mini usb port on the Labradar is fragile.(this is where/how you connect the external battery.) I have to tinker with it to get the cable connected. Does not seem right enough.

I use a magnetic mini usb charge cable.
Once you install the male portion of the magnetic system, it stays there forever.
No wear and tear on the mini usb port that way.