NEW doppler chronograph coming to market!

[Fuj]

Of course this is just speculation but with the unit mounted on the rifle or the rest I doubt it would need aiming. If I end up buying one I will probably end up using a velcro mount on some of my bolt rifles, my sled bipod or my rest. On the gas guns I would use a M Lok mount

While I'm thinking about it.....With the unit mounted further back on
the stock, I see a possible obstruction of the doppler beam to that side.

 

[F Class John]

Of course this is just speculation but with the unit mounted on the rifle or the rest I doubt it would need aiming. If I end up buying one I will probably end up using a velcro mount on some of my bolt rifles, my sled bipod or my rest. On the gas guns I would use a M Lok mount

I can tell you that Velcro wouldn’t work. It needs a solid mount if placing on the gun. He provides a litany of choices for mounting off a pic rail so you shouldn’t have any problems of running on a gun is what you wanted to. I have actually been testing a custom little mount on my T-Rex front rest which for an F Class gun is a little more practical. FWIW the key is to keep it as close to centerline of bore so mounting on a gun is actually the most ideal way to go if you’re able.

John....I went back and viewed the video again, and for aiming the unit,
it does not look any better then the simple notch on the Lab. Have you
any input on aiming yet ??

Aiming is super easy honestly and infinitely easier if you use one of his on-the-gun mounts. The way his slots work, it makes it easy to find a way to hang it that works for your situation. Here’s an example of two ways I hung it just using the tripod mount on my front rest.




I will say in general the overall use of the unit has been really good. Keep in mind I have a beta unit in my hands so it’s possible litttle things could change but I doubt he does much to change the outside design but that’s just a guess. I am not affiliated with the company in any way other than testing so any changes inside or out are out of my purview.

While I'm thinking about it.....With the unit mounted further back on
the stock, I see a possible obstruction of the doppler beam to that side.

I'm not a scientist or engineer but I know he's said it's been extensively tested mounted as far back as the action (scope rail) with no degregation of signal. My F Class gun is pretty limited on pic rail choices but in my limited testing (with more to come) I've picked up shots from the side of my gun when mounted off the side of my scope rail. Ultimately I think the beauty so far (from how I've played with it so far) is that it's being designed in a way that I think everyone will find a way to mount it on or off the gun that works for them.

 

[JimSC]

with it's small size of roughly 3.5 x 2.5 x 1 It seems you could make a small bench plate or use a mini tripod with flexible legs and place it directly in front of the bipod or rest also. A pic rail adapter for mounting to the the scope rail would be a interesting concept also

anyway I am looking forward to the testing video's John

 

[Papa Charlie]

It will be interesting to see how well one can read the screen in full sun. Not that we have that much sun up here in the PNW but when we do it is pretty intense. I can read he LabRadar easily as it is back lit. Of course you indicated that you could read it off a tablet. But if you are using a Shotmarker, then you would have to bounce from one screen to another to view.
Dont know if that is really an issue, just thinking out loud.

 

[JimSC]

Of course you indicated that you could read it off a tablet. But if you are using a Shotmarker, then you would have to bounce from one screen to another to view.
Dont know if that is really an issue, just thinking out loud.

I use my phone for ProChrono and my tablet for my Shotmarker when I need to use both at the same time. I would not even consider using the LCD screen and controls on either the Labradar or this unit. I guess I am spoiled from being able to read and control my ProChrono so easily.

 

[RegionRat]

If the production version follows with their manual, they have a rectangular beam shape that is something like 10 deg x 20 deg, so the aiming won’t be picky or difficult In terms of picking up a signal. That said, if you want repeatable data, I would try and be as consistent as possible with both the offset and the line.

If he weren’t so far away, I would run a 204R up there to John so we could test the smallest, fastest targets. I tend to like the heavier 20 cal bullets, so I don’t often break 4000 fps unless I test something lighter. So far, LR has been no trouble with these tiny screamers or the 17 cal stuff.

 

[F Class John]

If the production version follows with their manual, they have a rectangular beam shape that is something like 10 deg x 20 deg, so the aiming won’t be picky or difficult In terms of picking up a signal. That said, if you want repeatable data, I would try and be as consistent as possible with both the offset and the line.

If he weren’t so far away, I would run a 204R up there to John so we could test the smallest, fastest targets. I tend to like the heavier 20 cal bullets, so I don’t often break 4000 fps unless I test something lighter. So far, LR has been no trouble with these tiny screamers or the 17 cal stuff.

You're welcome anytime. I'm ignorant to high velocity varmint type ammos but let me hit up some of my shooting buddies and see if I can get a screamer to test on it.

 

[drpro]

So it sounds like this new chrono will have trouble with the .17 Incinerator rounds that are running upwards mach 5.5

 

[RegionRat]

So it sounds like this new chrono will have trouble with the .17 Incinerator rounds that are running upwards mach 5.5

Both units limit out at roughly just over 4000 fps so this issue isn’t a differentiator between the two as far as we know. It will take some users testing with 17 and 20 cals near or at those speeds to see if this new unit does what it says.

It would be great if someone with a fast 17 or 20 lives near John and can test a string or two just to fill in that risk. Being small and handy is worth something, but if it doesn’t at least match the LR performance the price increase will be harder to swallow.

 

[JimSC]

If it will just pick up everything from .22LR to .308's, pick up 99% of the shots, fit in my range bag and hook into my tablet/phone it will satisfy all my needs. Then I just have to convince myself that the convenience over my optical is worth $1000 plus or minus

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

tag

 

[Larry Koch]

I'll wait for the knock off version. 1k is alot for a small electronic box.
Labradar has worked so well. If there is a problem, it's operator error.

 

[kiwijohn]

It's a real shame that none of these devices can measure over 4000 fps. How will we ever be able to verify the 10,000 fps that Eric Cortina was getting from his 'doing the math ' experiment.
I do know that with a magneto speed, by toggling between MPS and FPS if you sequence it 15 times then turn it off and back on 5 times within 15 seconds it will jump a decimal place. But if you start at MPS it will move to the left and you end up maxed out at 400 fps instead of 40,000.

 

[F Class John]

Update for all those anxiously awaiting. If you don't want to watch the video hears the Cliff Notes.

1. I love using it now
2. No, it wasn't perfect at the start but this is a beta unit and I've been testing all kinds of setting with the developer so he can tweak the coding
3. I don't miss lugging my big orange unit around
4. The WiFi interface NEVER disconnects (Could it disconnect because a priority WiFi saved in your phone dominates it? Maybe but I haven't had that happen yet)
5. The developer is working hard to make sure this thing works, period.

 

[RegionRat]

Nice review John.
WRT match grade rimfire ammo and switching between types or brands, you wait till you have shot a few before judgment in order to allow for the differences in lubricant and powder residues. This doesn't always happen, but there is no point getting excited or disappointed right after a big change. You can also see this in centerfire when switching between drastically different powders or copper solids for example. Testing a little for stability is wise.

Also, would love to see samples of those raw data files you mentioned if possible. Thanks for sharing the work.

 

[F Class John]

Nice review John.
WRT match grade rimfire ammo and switching between types or brands, you wait till you have shot a few before judgment in order to allow for the differences in lubricant and powder residues. This doesn't always happen, but there is no point getting excited or disappointed right after a big change. You can also see this in centerfire when switching between drastically different powders or copper solids for example. Testing a little for stability is wise.

Also, would love to see samples of those raw data files you mentioned if possible. Thanks for sharing the work.

Yeah this makes sense and I guess I didn’t think about the wax causing the changes. It totally makes sense with centerfire for me switching between powders and primers and stuff but I couldn’t figure out why centerfire mattered so much. Thanks for the clarification.

As far as the raw data goes, the numbers you are seeing are the actual raw data. What I meant by that comment is that other big orange units allegedly have internal algorithms that smooth out the data and are calculating based on backtracking data from a setpoint where it takes a measurement. It doesn’t make it wrong, it just makes it a different way to report the data to the end-user. In the future I will have some more information regarding this and how it compares

 

[Shinbone]

As far as the raw data goes, the numbers you are seeing are the actual raw data. What I meant by that comment is that other big orange units allegedly have internal algorithms that smooth out the data and are calculating based on backtracking data from a setpoint where it takes a measurement.

John - Great video. Thanks so much for doing this testing. As I understand its operation, the Labradar starts measuring velocity 7-10 yards from the muzzle and continues making measurements until it "looses sight" of the bullet (i.e. S/N drops below a preset value), and then uses that data to calculate the muzzle velocity. Are you saying the AndiScan makes an actual velocty measurement right at the muzzle? And, if so, how close to the muzzle is that measurement made? I am not sure if it really matters, but I am curious.

 

[F Class John]

John - As I understand its operation, the Labradar starts measuring velocity 7-10 yards from the muzzle and continues making measurements until it "looses sight" of the bullet (i.e. S/N drops below a preset value), and then uses that data to calculate the muzzle velocity. Are you saying the AndiScan makes an actual velocty measurement right at the muzzle? And, if so, how close to the muzzle is that measurement made? I am not sure if it really matters, but I am curious.

I can’t really get into the detail of how he is taking his measurement because to be honest I don’t understand all of it. What I can tell you is that by the time it is released his attempt is to have it take an actual measurement as absolutely close to the actual muzzle as possible without having to use any kind of backtracking data calculation but ultimately that can’t happen until the trigger mechanism is on the gun (which it isn’t yet). As I understand it, with the current triggering system it’s still pretty darn close but because of when and how it picks up a shot it can have a little more variance at this point. I’m still very comfortable with the data it is giving me but obviously the tighter it can get by the time this is released the better. That variance should be pretty much removed once the trigger is uniformed.

 

[Shinbone]

Got it. Thanks!

 

[JimSC]

thanks for another excellent video John

when I tested the Labradar vs the Magnetospeed vs the Prochrono I found that the LR was picking up at 12 feet from the muzzle. You can use your Magnetospeed to get the velocity at the muzzle and a optical to get a pretty close guestimate of where the unit is picking up

the reason for needing a few shots to get the groups to settle with a .22 when changing ammo is becasue of the lube various manufacturers use. Some are oily feeling, some waxxy. Both of my old 452's seem to be fine with any flavor SK but when going to Midas + it takes about ten rounds for the groups to settle