Labradar vs ProChono vs MagnetoSpeed vs Shotmarker

[JimSC]

I ran a quick test this morning I set up my .223 and shot 10 rounds of Lapua factory ammo across all four. A friend loaned me his Labradar with an external trigger an set it up for me. The front sensor of the ProChrono was exactly 12 ft in front of the muzzle. Due to my error the first shot was missed by the Magnetospeed so the chart is made of the 2nd to 10th shots. The Shotmarker was at 100 yards so it's speeds are the lowest, the Magnetospeed measures at the muzzle so it's speed is highest. The Labradar and Prochonos numbers are very close together, only .2 FPS difference in the average. While individual shots may be higher or lower, notice the curves on the graph are very similar. I could take either the ProChrono, the Labradar, or the Magnetospeed average and be pretty much dead on the waterline first shot at any distance. In my opinion the MS would be the best for that since it manures at the muzzle.

Anyway not the most scientific of tests but it told me what I needed to know. I was also impressed with the Labradar's external trigger. Had that been included on the one I owned I may have had a different impression, but then maybe not. Seeing as how the LR's and the PC's 10 shot averages were so close I doubt if I will be trading in my PC for one

edited to make the spreadsheet pic a bit larger and easier to read

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Well the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” comes to mind here. That picture explains everything for why you couldn’t get your original Labradar to work properly. You don’t even have it set up correctly. That position might work with an external trigger but I doubt it would work at all otherwise. All that fuss on the other thread about how hard you tried to get the Labradar working and couldn’t figure it out. Right there is proof in the pudding. Good lord...

 

[JimSC]

Well the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” comes to mind here. That picture explains everything for why you couldn’t get your original Labradar to work properly. You don’t even have it set up correctly. That position might work with an external trigger but I doubt it would work at all otherwise. All that fuss on the other thread about how hard you tried to get the Labradar working and couldn’t figure it out. Right there is proof in the pudding. Good lord...

if you had read my post you would know that the Labradar was borrowed from a friend this morning and he was the one who did the setup. He had to purchase the aftermarket triggering system velcroed to my stock and add on the aiming device with a low power scope on top of the LR becasue he had problems with the unit working correctly as it came from the box. Not sure how much extras those cost him but the unit worked flawlessly. Shame that a 600 dollar unit does not come with those straight from the box. They could throw in a decent rechargable power pack for that price also it seems

edit - the graph is what tells the real story though. Two tenths difference in the averages of the the 10 shot groups between the ProChrono and the LR

 

[MattPeetz]

if you had read my post you would know that the Labradar was borrowed from a friend this morning and he was the one who did the setup. He had to purchase the aftermarket triggering system velcroed to my stock and add on the aiming device with a low power scope on top of the LR becasue he had problems with the unit working correctly as it came from the box. Not sure how much extras those cost him but the unit worked flawlessly. Shame that a 600 dollar unit does not come with those straight from the box. They could throw in a decent rechargable power pack for that price also it seems

edit - the graph is what tells the real story though. Two tenths difference in the averages of the the 10 shot groups between the ProChrono and the LR

Why did you have to borrow a lab radar from a friend if you had one?

Oh wait, you couldn’t set it up right

 

[RegionRat]

@JimSC , about how far was it from the rifle centerline to the edge of the LR?

Reason I ask is cause I’m not used to seeing this much difference between MS and LR at this speed range.

 

[Ned Ludd]

@JimSC , about how far was it from the rifle centerline to the edge of the LR?

Reason I ask is cause I’m not used to seeing this much difference between MS and LR at this speed range.

The difference between the MS and LR average velocity values was 15.1 fps. I have both the MS and the LR and I agree, that seems a little large to me as well. I have compared the two directly in the past and found a difference of around 5 fps between the two was more typical. Perhaps even more surprising is that the PC average velocity for 10 shots was only 0.2 fps different than the LR value, because it was positioned ~10-15 ft in front of the rifle. Perhaps that was merely fortuitous, or may represent getting too far down into the noise/weeds with velocity measurements over short distances. Nonetheless, I would typically expect to see the PC velocity values be about 5-10 fps slower than either the MS or LR values, simply due to the distance from the muzzle. In any event, such comparisons are generally a good idea, if for no other reason than they can give one a better "feel" for the vagaries of chronograph measurements.

 

[JimSC]

Why did you have to borrow a lab radar from a friend if you had one?

Oh wait, you couldn’t set it up right

I would have to go into Brownells and look at my order history but I think I bought mine in 2017 or 2018. owned it for a month. Had issues with the bluetooth, the power connector and missed shots so I returned it to Brownells

@JimSC , about how far was it from the rifle centerline to the edge of the LR?

Reason I ask is cause I’m not used to seeing this much difference between MS and LR at this speed range.

Just guessing but I would say about 2 - 3 feet. The benches at my home range are concrete are set up to accommodate both left and right handed shooters with a V or U shape in the middle. It would be difficult if not impossible to set the LR any farther back on the rifle side of the bench because of the cutout in the middle. My friend had no choice but to set the LR on the longer portion of the left. Towards the rear of the bench on that side I had my Samsung tablet connected to the Shot Marker and my Moto phone connected to the ProChrono. Also 3 ammo boxes, my shooting hat, the Magnetospeed box etc on the bench.

You bring up a good point however. At that distance it looks like the LR was picking up the bullet at around 12 feet. With less of a angle it would probably pick up closer to the muzzle.

Just speaking for my self I was pleased with the way the LR performed. Using that external trigger it picked up every shot. That is even more important in these days when I am testing and do no want to waste any more primers and powders than I need to get the data for my testing. One thing we did notice was the LR lost the shots somewhere around the 50 yard marker. I don't know if it was the wind, the angle or the little 55 gn .22 cal bullets. I was wanting to see how the 100 yard data from the LR compared with the Shotmarker data

Next step is to plot the difference in individual shots between the Magnetospeed and the LR and PC and see why the average FPS were virtually identical for the LR and PC but the ES had a difference of 2.2 and the SD of 13 FPS.

Again I do not put much stock into any of these numbers. I use the average to get me on paper at long range but I rely on the group sizes and shapes for any load development. Chronos and numbers are fun toys to play with but I will always believe that persistence, hard work and natural talent is what wins matches.

 

[RegionRat]

Just guessing but I would say about 2 - 3 feet.

If you get out with another LR again, try getting the centerline of the gun closer to the unit.