Labradar, what's your thoughts?

[MrBottleneck]

My thoughts are after seeing guys at the range have to set up boards and contraptions to get the Labradar (positioned properly) out to the end of the muzzle etc. I am glad I went with the MagnetoSpeed V3.
No worry about cinderblocks, boards are other things needed to make it suitable to work properly.
Its just a matter of preference I suppose but, I could not justify spending more and have to worry about it always picking up my shots even after I made such contraptions.
Glad I went the direction I went without a doubt.

 

[riverwolf1]

MrBottlekneck,
To each his own, but I don't think you have an accurate picture of what's happening with this unit! First the only thing you have to do is set the unit next to the barrel and shoot. Your reference to blocks, boards etc would only be required if you use a muzzle brake( those are not allowed in short range BR) Second if I were to use this in competition to identify if my tuned load is changing due to weather I can see it in velocity. With your unit its attachment to the barrel can and probaly will have an effect on group size due to harmonics in the barrel. If your not competing and just like to chrono your loads with your magneto speed that's great, but for competition guys in short and long range competition this is a Cadillac!

 

[JoeZA]

A few guys on our range have one and spend huge amounts of time setting it up and even then often complain about shots not being picked up (no muzzle breaks used, all prone shooting). I'm glad I stuck with my Magnetospeed.

 

[jimbires]

the reason I purchased a labradar over a magneto speed is ; nothing attached to the bbl to affect accuracy . no straps to come loose , I've seen pictures when this happens the bayonet gets shot . most of what I shoot have brakes , I think the hot gases from the muzzle brake will cut on the bayonet .

 

[Judd]

My muzzle brakes have never hurt my Labradar. But I set mine up like the book says. Only problems I've had is getting it set up correctly with a suppressor...swapping the settings to doppler appears to have fixed that.

 

[memilanuk]

I've been loving mine. Unfortunately, I've never been able to get the acoustic trigger to work - probably because the layout of our firing line is such that I can't really put it up near the muzzle. It works pretty well in Doppler trigger mode. Definitely a bit finicky in that it usually takes me a few (2-5) shots to get it lined up to where it will actively pick up shots... but once I do, it gets *every* shot, which is more than I can say for any optical chrono I've ever tried (even with IR screens) in the dreary overcast that hangs around here during 3-4 months of winter. My MS V2 is a little faster/easier to set up, but I've had my fair share of having to screw around with the settings on it to get it to register shots on extra thick barrels, having to play with the shims to get it to fit different barrel profiles during one range session... getting a strap twisted and inadvertently bouncing a bullet off the bayonet Still a handy little device, but I really like the LR being able to just sit there and quietly record away while I'm doing load development. Take it home, plug in the SD card, open the CSV file(s), and move the sheet to another existing spreadsheet file that has all my historical data in it... very sweet.

 

[coford]

I have three different Chronographs and all three have positives and negatives.

Labradar
Pro: Gives accurate information (when it works)
Has a large amount of data storage
Does not have to be shot "over" or "thru"

Con: Can be difficult to aim properly so that it triggers correctly
Can be sensitive in relation to muzzle positon
Is not always dependable (It will miss some shots)
You have to leave your shooting position to reset to another series or review shots
The menu is less than user friendly
Battery life is very short
Cost is fairly high

Magnetospeed
Pro: Quick to set up
Gives accurate information
Very reliable
Has very good battery life
The menu is user friendly
Remote control allows you to reset to another series or review shots without leaving your position

Con: The bayonet can be damaged if you use the wrong spacer
The point of impact and group size will change when it is attached to the rifle (sometimes to the good and sometimes to the bad)
Accuracy development should be done independently from velocity development
Fairly pricy

Pro Chrono
Pro: Easy setup
Simple to operate
Low price
Great battery life

Con: You have to shoot thru the screens and over the machine - I've seen more than one of these shot
Accuracy is good but not as good as Labradar and Magnetospeed
Can be unreliable in bright sunlight and low light
Mine does not have remote control (one is available for the digital model)

The bottom line is that none of them are perfect.

The Labradar could be greatly improved by adding remote control, a better battery system, an improved menu system, and an easy to use aiming device.

Magnetospeed could be better if it didn't have to attach to the barrel so it didn't affect group size and placement

Pro Chrono could be better with remote control and improved software

Just my opinions and observations.

 

[B Nettesheim]

I own a chronograph and have used it a couple times about 10 years ago. In my opinion it will not directly make the group of holes in the target any smaller. In your case you will hear the bullet crack and then know you are still supersonic. They always seem to be inaccurate or just not reliable enough to base any decisions off of. Im a big believer in using the Abm app to find a velocity which uses the scope drop method, and at the same time of verification of drops you are also measuring groups at different yadages. To me its just killin 2 birds with one stone. Oh and you can take the price of the chronograph and spend it on bullets, brass, lathe tooling.......

 

[Bob L.]

A few guys on our range have one and spend huge amounts of time setting it up and even then often complain about shots not being picked up (no muzzle breaks used, all prone shooting). I'm glad I stuck with my Magnetospeed.

Interesting. I used my Labradar today. I attached it to the plate mount available from Labradar, set it down next to the muzzle (I shoot F class), eyeballed the direction the unit was pointing while standing over it, and shot 3 strings of 22 shots each. No missed shots. This the norm from my experience.

My other choice was a Magnetospeed. I decided to give the Labradar a try and I'm glad I did, although I probably would have been just as happy with the Mag. Anything to get away from setting up screens.

 

[lawrence97]

I've never had a problem with my Labradar picking up shots and I don't really take any time to aim it. I just set it about an inch behind the muzzle and about 1"-2" to the side. As long as it's parallel to the barrel and not completely facing a different direction it works fine.

When I first got it, I thought I could have it further back near my action and hoped the acoustic sensor would pick up the shot but that did not work. The best option was Doppler mode if trying to us it that far back and even then it might be spotty.

As for the battery life, I've never put batteries into the unit. I just use a couple of USB battery packs that are a notch bigger than a AA battery and they run the labradar for a long time.

 

[rardoin]

I've never had a problem with my Labradar picking up shots and I don't really take any time to aim it. I just set it about an inch behind the muzzle and about 1"-2" to the side. As long as it's parallel to the barrel and not completely facing a different direction it works fine.
As for the battery life, I've never put batteries into the unit. I just use a couple of USB battery packs that are a notch bigger than a AA battery and they run the labradar for a long time.

My experience exactly. But, I have no suppressed rifles at the moment and the smallest caliber I currently shoot is 6mm. Within these parameters it has been near flawless. I don't understand all the 'aiming' issues as I line it up with my target using the V notch (even without my reading glasses ) and I get MV and intervals usually out to 115yds or more. I do occasionally get a missed MV but even then it usually picks up the downrange velocities and I can backplot if I want a very close estimate of that 'missed shot'. I also have a Magnetospeed V3 and it is also an excellent device. I have owned a CED M2 and one prior before that, both optical, that both were so unreliable I wanted to shoot them.

 

[Dogsdown]

Since starting this post a while back I decided to go ahead and get a labradar. I have only used it one time but my first experience was very good. Setting up the menu seemed simple. At the range I mounted the radar to a construction tripod I already had. Set up so center of unit was at barrel height, about 18 inches to the side and 15 inches back from muzzle and aimed it the best I could using a straw setting in the v notch in top of unit. Target was at 500 yards. Two of my friends and myself shot about 50 shots and got readings on every shot except one and we found that the unit had been bumped of target was the reason for the one missed. Guns were 6dasher, 28 nosler, 6.5x47 and a 7mm warbird. Most of the shots were after dark with a light on the target, which is a great benefit of this unit. Have not tried with any subsonic rounds, but so far I really like this thing.

 

[DRNewcomb]

Is it true that the Labradar model they sell in Canada is higher power than the one they sell in the US?

 

[Tim Singleton]

I'm trying to hold out in hopes labradar comes out with a newer smaller unit that is a little more user friendly

 

[dickn52]

Odd. I bought one three weeks ago, used it three times so far. Set it,aimed it and used it on 223, 45 ACP and 22 rimfires. Hasn't failed me yet. Hasn't missed anything. 22RF are 1080FPS rated and averaged 1075 or so. 45 ACP were hand loaded to 900 FPS and clocked at 890 or so. The 223 were handloaded for 3000 FPS and clocked at 2995 or so. I like it and for my use appears to be fairly accurate. Very Nice. I did add the folding aluminium feet that a gent sole here. Better than a clutsy sheet of metal, stays on the unit and I store everything in a Pelican 1550 case with 2 spare batteries, 6 AA's and 2 cords and an SD card storage case.

 

[Laurie]

My experience is similar to that of those other respondents who've had little or no trouble - use off a bench with the Labradar on a tripod in front positioned a couple of inches to one side of the muzzle and maybe three inches behind. I never bother with trying to aim at the target - get the rifle set up aimed mid target frame, and position the chronograph looking down on it so that it's at 90-degrees to the barrel alignment.

Our (European export) version is permanently set on the 'low' power too. It'll read a 30-calibre bullet to 55 yards if the alignment is good.

I'm now on series #186, mostly 5-round contents, a few 3 and fewer still 10 or more shots. Apart from when I've forgotten to 'arm' the device and check the amber LED is illuminated, I've lost hardly any shots - probably count them on the fingers of one hand! Battery life - never bothered with them as I've used a USB powerpack from day one.

Problems, none really unless somebody with a really noisy muzzle-brake equipped rifle is on the next bench giving false sound/blast triggers. And yes, ergonomics could be improved. I've shot 223, 6mm BR, three different 6.5s, four different sevens and 308 Win past mine and it works equally well irrespective of calibre.

I used all three main models of the Magnetospeed and like it, especially the V3 which I've retained. It DOES affect barrel harmonics on most, but not all rifles though. See the pic for three groups shot in a session with the same 6.5-284 ammo, two without 'bayo' on, and one with. That's a Stolle Atlas action fully Devcon bedded with a 30-inch heavy profile Benchmark barrel on. Conversely, before I knew better in the early MS days, I did some basic load development on a Savage PTA based F-Class rifle with a 31-inch full F-Class / Heavy Varmint profile fluted barrel in 7mm-08 with relatively mild 162gn Amax loads. Every charge weight gave a tiny group over a 2gn range. Whizzo! thinks I, this rifle is going to be simple to get shooting well even if these particular loads were too slow. Took the MS 'bayo' off though and the rifle wouldn't shoot that bullet well with two or three powders and various other variables changed at any load / speed. (It convinced me that there is something in the idea of barrel tuners though which I'm about to play with in 90gn 223 Rem loads.)

I have a friend though on the GB FTR team whose 308 RPA Quadlock action and telegraph pole barrel aren't apparently affected at all by MS fitment. At a Bisley practice session just before the last FCWC at Raton four years ago, he strapped a V2 on and continued our shoot at either 900 or 1,000 yards - can't remember which now - and only adjusted sights by a click or two!

 

[Cburlette]

We just used an array of 3 LabRadars at the MO state IDPA match to chrono competitors ammo. The results were disappointing to say the least and quite discouraging. Occasionally all three chronographs would register velocities within a few fps of each other, but mostly they were off 20-50 fps from each other. The worst case was nearly 200 fps spread from high to low.

We actually had 4 units, one of which we are pretty sure is having issues, it's one of the oldest units made. Mine is pretty old as well and the last 2 are relatively new.

 

[hoz53]

We just used an array of 3 LabRadars at the MO state IDPA match to chrono competitors ammo. The results were disappointing to say the least and quite discouraging. Occasionally all three chronographs would register velocities within a few fps of each other, but mostly they were off 20-50 fps from each other. The worst case was nearly 200 fps spread from high to low.

We actually had 4 units, one of which we are pretty sure is having issues, it's one of the oldest units made. Mine is pretty old as well and the last 2 are relatively new.

thats interesting i still have my ohler 33- i should compare--

 

[dickn52]

We just used an array of 3 LabRadars at the MO state IDPA match to chrono competitors ammo. The results were disappointing to say the least and quite discouraging. Occasionally all three chronographs would register velocities within a few fps of each other, but mostly they were off 20-50 fps from each other. The worst case was nearly 200 fps spread from high to low.

We actually had 4 units, one of which we are pretty sure is having issues, it's one of the oldest units made. Mine is pretty old as well and the last 2 are relatively new.

Make sure the firmware is up to date.

 

[rardoin]

That is interesting CB. I have made shots with my Magnetospeed V3 attached/recording simultaneously with my Labradar and I never had more than 4-5fps variance. This was done less than a dozen times when the unit was less than '200 shots old'. I will test again next range session as Ron Regan said, "trust.....but verify".