Oh dang! - Labradar LX - Small form factor

[nakneker]

There’s a lot of guys who will be curious and try one out and maybe compare it to the Garmin. I have to think that the vast majority of guys who bought the Garmin and sold their LRs and Magnetos are probably pretty happy with the Garmin. Stupid easy to use and it doesn't miss a shot, hell, I think you could throw a rock and it would give you the velocity. That’s where this new unit from LR will miss a bunch of sales imo, lots of very happy campers with their new Garmin.

I’m still curious to see what they are introducing though.

 

[F Class John]

Found another pic that appears to show it may be actually designed to shoot while on a gun??? Guess we will see.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Maybe this is the one to rule them all? LOL

My original LabRadars work just fine.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I had no problems with my LR at all. I never even used the JLK inertia trigger because it just wasn't necessary. But the LR, packed into the fat Apache case, was just another large item to drag to the bench. The little Garmin, fitted into a small hard case is just tossed into my range bag. That alone was a major selling feature once I read the initial reports of the unit's reliability.

The Garmin checks all the boxes for me. I doubt that the new LR LX will be enough of an improvement that it will get me to bite. If it was out before the Garmin, I'd probably have one already.

 

[Charlie-NY]

If 90% of the market just bought Garmins, they would probably just drop the product line.
No future sales. Find them sitting on shelves.

You are certainly correct. But, much of the immediate demand has been filled or is filling with Garmin Xero purchases. That certainly will cut into LR LX's potential sales for some period of time.

 

[LuvDog]

Unless it proves to be more accurate than the Garmin or provides more features/data (like down range velocity) then I think it’s going to be a tough sell for them.

I think Garmin will improve their usability and offer more updates with downloads and software changes. Their other products seem to keep up with user requests and also allow for public development. I’ve had their watches for years and I like the store that offers different configurations for data displays. They’ve also had their watch with applied ballistics for a while. So it seems they are committed to shooting sports

Lab Radar better start listening to user feedback otherwise they are doomed, unless they drop the price to 250-300.

 

[Dimner]

Unless it proves to be more accurate than the Garmin or provides more features/data (like down range velocity) then I think it’s going to be a tough sell for them.

I think Garmin will improve their usability and offer more updates with downloads and software changes. Their other products seem to keep up with user requests and also allow for public development. I’ve had their watches for years and I like the store that offers different configurations for data displays. They’ve also had their watch with applied ballistics for a while. So it seems they are committed to shooting sports

Lab Radar better start listening to user feedback otherwise they are doomed, unless they drop the price to 250-300.

Wait.... the Garmin has open source software? If that's the case...that's a huge advantage

 

[Monte F]

That cable is the manual trigger. When you shoot, you squeeze a bulb on the cable to trigger it.

Actually you connect that to a small nuclear reactor to keep it powered up for the day.

 

[46and2]

Actually you connect that to a small nuclear reactor to keep it powered up for the day.

No, no ,on!
Just a 12v.

 

[LuvDog]

Wait.... the Garmin has open source software? If that's the case...that's a huge advantage

I don’t know about This product but if you have a Garmin Fenix watch then you can install custom faces and dials. For example I have some that show specific data in fields for when I’m running / training for marathons.

 

[Terrykuz]

It generally pays not to be an early adopter. Rev 2s are better.

 

[Dos XX]

It generally pays not to be an early adopter. Rev 2s are better.

So we shouldn't have bought the Labradar and instead waited 10 years for the Rev 2?

 

[Dave M.]

Notice the price. If they really wanted to play ball they should have discounted it 20% or so under the Garmin.

Especially considering I don’t see a built in stand like the Garmin. I don’t own a Garmin (YET) but pulling out my LR now has me feeling like a high school kid getting caught by his buddies driving around the neighborhood with an ugly chick in the back of his Honda Spree. I’m considering spray painting my Lab Radar camo, so people don’t see me using it. Shit, I might just dig out my Pro Chrony, at least then I can just tell people I’m a traditionalist. lol.

Dave

 

[SteveUrban]

Will it calculate BC’s??? Garmin won’t.

 

[Henryrifle]

The original LR was a great and convenient innovation. Like many of you I used it at the range for every session except competitions where it's wasn't legal. I did use an inertial trigger, and, as such, all of my rifles have a velcro dot stuck to their stocks. Just another thing I learned to live with. The downrange velocity measurements proved to be a great tool in verifying that I was getting valid data.

I have been using a Garmin for a while now. It is much easier (faster) to deploy and pack away. It works great--no complaints so far--except that it does not provide downrange data and -- and I realize that what I am about to type says something bad about me: Even though it was horribly unreliable, I miss the ability to control the Labradar from my phone (create, start and end sessions). With each successive firmware update I hoped that Labradar would resolve this issue.

Yes, I am saying that I miss a feature that really didn't work!

If the new LR-LX has resolved the reliability issues with bluetooth remote control, includes downrange data, and otherwise works as well as the original; I'll buy one.

Hank

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Will it calculate BC’s??? Garmin won’t.

Doesn't look like it, you probably need the FX for that

 

[marchx]

if Labradar launches a repurchase program for their big orange piece of junk, I'll maybe give it at try..

 

[Ranger188]

I like how everyone is bashing the Labradar now that a better version has come out.
I'm sure most of you thought at the time it was pretty slick.
It's been out for years, someone was bound to come out with a better and smaller
version. Look at most electronics.
Look at phones, a lot of people have to buy the newest, even thought it hasn't changed
from the last years model.
Nobody bashes Apples iPhone 12 just because it didn't do this or that as well as the 15

 

[ballisticdaddy]

I have never been pleased with the battery life, the sometimes working bluetooth nor having to aim it in order to have it pick up shots. The new unit comes with a sight tube so seems like it needs to be aimed just like the original. At a local rimfire match a guy was moving the Garmin from rifle to rifle and it didn't miss one shot, nor pick up another shooters string of fire. LabRadar slept while another company kept working the bugs out.....bye bye LabRadar.

 

[Dimner]

If the garmin does not pick up any down range velocities, it really shouldnt have to be aimed all that well. Maybe I have the magic touch, but I have never had a problem getting the labradar to pickup my shots (once the labradar is triggered) at 0 and 25yds. For further distances, I just have a bic pen tube that I use. A bic pen with the guts removed. Aiming has never been an issue. I guess what I am saying is, if you can handload a cartridge without blowing your self up, I don't see a lab radar being hard to aim.

But the bluetooth, the app, the tiggering system, all were easy technology that has been available and well known for years before labradar came out with their doppler tech. They really have no excuse for not perfecting those features right out of the gate.