Thoughts on the LabRadar

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I do not own one but I have used one a fair bit. When my Shooting Chrony Alpha Master finally dies I will be replacing it with a Lab Radar. The Bluetooth interface and the ability to get range and velocity data every 1 msec going down range is pretty cool and useful in some situations. The fact you do not have to attach it to your gun or shoot through the light gates makes it much less likely to suffer lead poisoning and also means you do not have to go down range to setup.
 
The range that I work at there are a few shooters that have come in with them. Their feedback is that they really like them and have happily spent the cash for them. But then these guys are also not casual shooters. Right now at my level this is way too sophisticated for me and what I'm doing.

If you are a heavy shooter and can take advantage of this then by all means this is the way!
 
My usage requirement is a bit non-mainstream. I'm trying to develop 190g sub 300 BO rounds. I have some factory 188g subs but no idea what powder they used. Loading for a bolt action Howa but intend to eventually make it cycle on an AR platform.
I was told explicitly to make sure the rounds are leaving the muzzle cleanly to avoid issues with my can. But I figure if it isn't key holing at 50 yards then it's a clean round.
Also I'd like to work up some 230g 45 Auto subs.
BTW, if anyone is interested my entire approval duration was one day short of 9 months.
 
I love my unit, but so far the Android app is pretty useless. My phone keeps losing the connection with the LR which is only a foot away. I was told by the people at LabRadar that a new and updated app would be out in October of last year. Still no new app. Otherwise the LR unit is great.
 
If you want load velocity info, the LabRadar certainly is one of the top chronographs to consider.

While it works great and is accurate, it is not without flaws. The main complaints from users seems to be the aiming of the unit, missed triggers, and short battery life.

The short battery life issue can be easily solved with a cheap battery pack.

Most people resolve the aiming issue with aiming aids. As simple as a cut to size drinking straw taped to the aiming notch is enough to resolve.

The sound based trigger is probably the most frustrating issue (if yours ever act up). The sound trigger also requires you to place the unit properly based on the type of firearm used (with and without brake, with silencer, 22LR, air gun, etc.) For centerfire rifles, solution is to get an external recoil trigger (or make one yourself)

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/labradar-recoil-trigger-diy.872618/

I have been using my home made recoil triggerfor the past few times for load workup. I can setup the labradar at a single location and not have to worry about shooting rifles with or without brake or different barrel lengths. It has made a good product simple and enjoyable to use.

I highly recommend the labradar and a recoil trigger.
 
Had mine 6 months and never turned on. I knew it would be a waste of time/money, same as the two fn 509's I bought. Now all three can sit in the dark for a few decades!

Bill
 
I give it a strong buy recommendation. You won’t be sorry. I used my CED Bluetooth chrono for a long time and it worked fine, but setting it up and getting the alignment and light correct was a bit of a pain. Then I wanted to try OCW which doesn’t care about velocity but I wanted to track V vs charge weight without re-doing all the shots and it simplified that.
I have the apple app, but it’s antiquated with several bugs and it does drop the Bluetooth connection frequently. They say they’ll update but I’m not sure what’s holding them up, it’s been years. It does work, but use an SD card so you can get your data to a desktop, if that’s your game. Get a battery pack, and I’d recommend a 90 degree USB micro connection for the power input.
I bought mine “on sale” when they drop the price 50$ around Black Friday I think it was. Good luck.
 
I give it a strong buy recommendation. You won’t be sorry. I used my CED Bluetooth chrono for a long time and it worked fine, but setting it up and getting the alignment and light correct was a bit of a pain. Then I wanted to try OCW which doesn’t care about velocity but I wanted to track V vs charge weight without re-doing all the shots and it simplified that.
I have the apple app, but it’s antiquated with several bugs and it does drop the Bluetooth connection frequently. They say they’ll update but I’m not sure what’s holding them up, it’s been years. It does work, but use an SD card so you can get your data to a desktop, if that’s your game. Get a battery pack, and I’d recommend a 90 degree USB micro connection for the power input.
I bought mine “on sale” when they drop the price 50$ around Black Friday I think it was. Good luck.
Great reply, thanks!
I told my wife I wanted one for my birthday, she looked at the price and then back at me with a look that said I had a turd growing out of my forehead. So maybe Black Friday it'll have to be.
 
I gave it a real hard look when I needed an upgrade for PRS, went the more frugal route with the Magnetospeed. It works just fine, but having the Lab Radar that doesn't mount to the gun would be nice, I'd chrono every thing. The Magnetospeed has options where you can mount it to the stock/spigot instead of the barrel, and I'll likely buy one. Money was the only reason I did not go with the Lab Radar. I still may get one someday.
 
Need an extra battery pack for it and another trigger if you play with quiet stuff.

The chronograph I use the most happens to be the cheapest one I own but I don’t mind an inexpensive but reliable chronograph riding around in the truck everywhere I go, while the more expensive stuff stays safe, put up at home.
 
Based on my own personal experience, it is extremely convenient. However, it is also very fragile. Do not expect field grade durability from this equipment. I had mine repaired because the convenience was worth the price. If they
ever release a hardened model or one with a longer warranty, I would definitely upgrade to that one.
 
I have the LabRadar, a Magnetospeed V3 (upgraded from a Sporter), and an old ProChrono Digital. I use the MagnetoSpeed the most out of habit, ONLY use the Prochrono for archery, and of the mix, I’d recommend the LabRadar over the others. I have an aiming reticle and a recoil trigger which makes set up and reading with the LR even easier. I have several external battery packs, so getting power to my LR is never an issue. Cheap upgrades to an expensive unit, and the whole shebang is well worth the cost if you’re truly spending much time shooting over a chronograph each year. I shoot across a chrony weekly most of the year, or at least twice a month, so the price overall ends up relatively moot. I know I’ve fired far more money in ammo across my chronographs than I have spent on the devices themselves.
 
I bought their small base tripod but it did not line up well with the muzzle so I bought a deck planted tripod. It would raise the unit too far off the table. In fact the picture of the unit above looks to me to be way to high above the "ears" of the unit, per the instructions

If anyone wants it, I will let it go fairly cheap.
 
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