Labradar

[wglanden]

I've watched pretty much all the videos on YouTube, and enlisted some help from shooting friends.
-How do you align the labradar to the target?
(I had pretty decent alignment from the prone position but didn't have as much luck on the bench.)
-What offset and sensitivity is best. I tried from 6"-18" offset and 1-5 sensitivity and still had to have a friend align it for me.
(I try and shoot right next to unit, I saw one video online where the guy had it mounted on a tripod and the thing was at least 2ft away and he wasn't having a problem reading)

 

[Delaware_Ken]

Get up with Carole Valentine. She has one and I'm sure she will help you out.

 

[wglanden]

Get up with Carole Valentine. She has one and I'm sure she will help you out.

Thanks ken,
I will. Dave helped me on Sunday. He did it no problem but I don't know how he did it

 

[ngb1787]

There is a video on youtube for labradar, great info on setup and use.

 

[jeffreybehr]

I've had one for maybe six months and LOVE it. I ordered it the day my screens and tripod were blown over TWICE.

Altho I've been using computers since 1982, I found it, initially, a little quirky to use, in that not all the 'required' function buttons are on the front panel; some routines such as getting to the screen wherein one can delete one shot's data requires too many buttons for me to remember. Also, it 'needs' an external battery (USB-type), as the internal six AA-cells last only an hour or two. Having an almost-infinite amount of battery power allows you to set the 'time-outs' long enough that the unit will NOT turn itself off.

Other good things:
1. It remembers all data without your telling it to.
2. It converts the basic velocity to that at the muzzle.
3. An SD card--I use a 32GB SDHC version--has about-infinite capacity.
4. Buy the case; it's worth the $40, and it also holds the USB battery and cable.

Overall, it's a fine unit and I'd never go back to an optical-screen chrono. FWIW, I've never used one of the clamp-on-the-barrel magnetic (I think) chrono.

 

[Jeff A]

I've had one for maybe six months and LOVE it. I ordered it the day my screens and tripod were blown over TWICE.

Altho I've been using computers since 1982, I found it, initially, a little quirky to use, in that not all the 'required' function buttons are on the front panel; some routines such as getting to the screen wherein one can delete one shot's data requires too many buttons for me to remember. Also, it 'needs' an external battery (USB-type), as the internal six AA-cells last only an hour or two. Having an almost-infinite amount of battery power allows you to set the 'time-outs' long enough that the unit will NOT turn itself off.

Other good things:
1. It remembers all data without your telling it to.
2. It converts the basic velocity to that at the muzzle.
3. An SD card--I use a 32GB SDHC version--has about-infinite capacity.
4. Buy the case; it's worth the $40, and it also holds the USB battery and cable.

Overall, it's a fine unit and I'd never go back to an optical-screen chrono. FWIW, I've never used one of the clamp-on-the-barrel magnetic (I think) chrono.

I agree with this 100%. I have had my LabRadar for over 13 months and have recorded 172 Strings to date. I had to make and print my own Menu Card as going to the manual at the range is a pain in the butt! The only lingering challenge for me is to figure out an aiming device for my old, tired eyes. I have tried taping various size tubes to the groove on top of the unit but this does not work well for me. I need to make some kind of sight with an aperture rear and a post front that would attach and remove easily. Getting a good "Aim" on the unit would be a real plus.

 

[wglanden]

I agree with this 100%. I have had my LabRadar for over 13 months and have recorded 172 Strings to date. I had to make and print my own Menu Card as going to the manual at the range is a pain in the butt! The only lingering challenge for me is to figure out an aiming device for my old, tired eyes. I have tried taping various size tubes to the groove on top of the unit but this does not work well for me. I need to make some kind of sight with an aperture rear and a post front that would attach and remove easily. Getting a good "Aim" on the unit would be a real plus.

I guess that's what I need to do also, trying to look down that "v" to line up target is really cumbersome. Believe if I get something to look through parallel to face of labradar and then aligned to target I wouldn't have any problems.

 

[newbieshooter]

credit: http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/aiming-your-labradar.3918470/#post-36914276 - see Post #10.

which references this page:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...-Scope-Mount&p=3711445&viewfull=1#post3711445





Couple this bracket with a cheap $20 scope or red-dot.

I just use the notch on the top with an empty pen case on it. It gets me aligned well enough.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

I keep trying to resist the urge to post on these threads because I know that some people have had real issues getting a Labradar to work, but really, it's not that sensitive to aiming. I spend all of 3 seconds setting mine up. It points in the general direction of the target (as in, generally "that way-ish"). If the "shot quality" indicator shows I'm a little off, I poke it with a pointy stick to adjust it a smidge.

If your Labradar(s) are not working like that, I really think you need to be calling the manufacturer because something is not right. There is absolutely no need for scopes, add-on brackets, and semi-mystical aiming rituals.

 

[jeffreybehr]

I keep trying to resist the urge to post on these threads because I know that some people have had real issues getting a Labradar to work, but really, it's not that sensitive to aiming. I spend all of 3 seconds setting mine up. It points in the general direction of the target (as in, generally "that way-ish"). If the "shot quality" indicator shows I'm a little off, I poke it with a pointy stick to adjust it a smidge.

If your Labradar(s) are not working like that, I really think you need to be calling the manufacturer because something is not right. There is absolutely no need for scopes, add-on brackets, and semi-mystical aiming rituals.

I agree heartily; all I do is point the groove in the general direction of the target, but I imagine trying to measure velocities 75 or 100 or more yards from the unit would require more-critical aiming.

 

[wglanden]

I keep trying to resist the urge to post on these threads because I know that some people have had real issues getting a Labradar to work, but really, it's not that sensitive to aiming. I spend all of 3 seconds setting mine up. It points in the general direction of the target (as in, generally "that way-ish"). If the "shot quality" indicator shows I'm a little off, I poke it with a pointy stick to adjust it a smidge.

If your Labradar(s) are not working like that, I really think you need to be calling the manufacturer because something is not right. There is absolutely no need for scopes, add-on brackets, and semi-mystical aiming rituals.

Thanks Jay,
I'll try and email them. I just figured it was something I was doing wrong and needed to set it up properly. I've spoken with at least 2 other users that said set up was a little tricky, but I then saw videos of units being set up pretty far away from rifle and still reading.

 

[Twitchy]

Thanks Jay,
I'll try and email them. I just figured it was something I was doing wrong and needed to set it up properly. I've spoken with at least 2 other users that said set up was a little tricky, but I then saw videos of units being set up pretty far away from rifle and still reading.

I got lucky on my first outing with mine. Another shooter a couple benches away was using his, so I was able to ask setup questions. I think it took 3 shots before I got the settings/aiming right. I ended up setting the offset to 18" (even though the unit was about 6" from my barrel) and setting it to high/mid sensitivity (shooing 308). The other guy did point out my unit was canted/pointed slightly down too. After that I haven't had any issues. I go the range, roughly eyeball the aim and start shooting. I'm still working on working my way through the menu mid strings to start a new string, but reading the manual would probably help with that.

 

[Ray Gross]

I keep trying to resist the urge to post on these threads because I know that some people have had real issues getting a Labradar to work, but really, it's not that sensitive to aiming. I spend all of 3 seconds setting mine up. It points in the general direction of the target (as in, generally "that way-ish"). If the "shot quality" indicator shows I'm a little off, I poke it with a pointy stick to adjust it a smidge.

If your Labradar(s) are not working like that, I really think you need to be calling the manufacturer because something is not right. There is absolutely no need for scopes, add-on brackets, and semi-mystical aiming rituals.

I think this is absolutely right. Now that I've used mine for over a year, I can assemble it and set it next to the rifle without any careful aiming at all and it will work fine. However that was not the case for the first few weeks that I had it.

This article might help get new owners up to speed.

 

[wglanden]

Thanks for all the replies! I did email labradar, message got truncated so had to resend.
I'm going to use the advice you guys gave me and see if it works for me. I'm pretty sure it's how I'm setting it up.
Thanks,
Bryan

 

[memilanuk]

I think the guys over on castboolits.com are in a unique situation where their loads are slow enough or don't make enough muzzle blast to actually trigger the acoustic mic reliably. As a result, they end up using Doppler mode... which most people that have used it seem to concur that its way more fussy about the alignment. My situation is similarly a little different... 99% of the time, the firing lines I'm using are shallow enough that I can't really set up the unit far enough forward for the acoustic trigger to work reliably. Now, I have tried (@ Cascade, the same range that @Jay Christopherson uses) to set up the LabRadar much closer to the muzzle, and it didn't work then either... which may mean I do actually have a defective unit. That said... I've kind of gotten used to having the LabRadar unit right there within easy arms reach for starting new strings, reviewing data, etc.

 

[Ray Gross]

There are two fundamental differences between acoustic mode and Doppler mode.

In acoustic mode, the lab radar calculates the velocity back to your muzzle. Reported V0 is muzzle velocity.

For Doppler mode, V0 is the velocity at the point that the bullet enters the radar cone. The distance of that point from your muzzle, will vary with variations in your set up. Doppler mode also tends to be less accurate than the acoustic mode.

 

[wglanden]

Update,
Used the labradar today (prone) with 0 problems, read a 100% of the time.
Used a square to aim it and it worked like a dream.
Thanks everyone for the info.

 

[Jeff A]

credit: http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/aiming-your-labradar.3918470/#post-36914276 - see Post #10.

which references this page:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...-Scope-Mount&p=3711445&viewfull=1#post3711445

View attachment 1002472


View attachment 1002476
Couple this bracket with a cheap $20 scope or red-dot.

I just use the notch on the top with an empty pen case on it. It gets me aligned well enough.

I bought one these brackets and used it for the first time today. Before I continue, let me say that if you can use your LabRadar and catch every shot, excellent! It didn't always work that way for me and my 73 year old eyes. I have been using the LabRadar for over a year and I have improved my ability to catch all the shots but still miss one or two from time to time.

Today I tested loads in my 204 Ruger which is a pretty tough test. I missed no shots and compared to previous groups in the 204, I increased the distance the unit would track the bullets and markedly improved the Signal to Noise ratio as recorded in thr TRK files so this is a worthwhile addition for me. YRMV!

 

[ngb1787]

I keep trying to resist the urge to post on these threads because I know that some people have had real issues getting a Labradar to work, but really, it's not that sensitive to aiming. I spend all of 3 seconds setting mine up. It points in the general direction of the target (as in, generally "that way-ish"). If the "shot quality" indicator shows I'm a little off, I poke it with a pointy stick to adjust it a smidge.

If your Labradar(s) are not working like that, I really think you need to be calling the manufacturer because something is not right. There is absolutely no need for scopes, add-on brackets, and semi-mystical aiming rituals.

There is a youtube video on setting preferences, once u mirror the setup all issues seem to go away..

 

[Jeff A]

<Snip> If the "shot quality" indicator shows I'm a little off, I poke it with a pointy stick to adjust it a smidge.<Snip>

Where is this "shot quality" indicator?