A couple of questions on Labradar

quartermaster said:

What are the physical measurements of the unit?
Is it necessary to have the barrel aligned with the center of the unit height wise?
Can the barrel of a center fire rifle be 6-8” in front of the unit and will it still trigger?
What is the height to the center of the unit sitting on the base unit with the large metal base?

Thinking of buying one, but these questions answered will allow me to see if the unit will work for my application.

Any other input that anyone can give me would be helpful and appreciated

thanks in advance
Terry

Click to expand...

I would suggest downloading the manual for the unit. Most of your questions can be answered in the document from the manufacture.

https://mylabradar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UserManual-V1.2-Labradar-EN.pdf

I don't have one but I know with a brake the device needs to be forward of the muzzle.

I bought an external trigger for mine and have not had a shot fail to register since getting it.

The unit is 10” W x 11 1/2” H x 2” T.

I have the older style flat metal plate with rubber feet and a ball head arca style mount. The unit has an arca plate to fit the base attached to the bottom. The H from what it’s sitting on to the center of the unit is 9 3/4”.

These measurements are +/- 1/8”, or so…

You don’t need the barrel exactly aligned with the center height, but I’ve only been a few inches above or below, what matters more is if the unit is “aligned” with the target, and your bullet is on target. If the unit triggers from a gun blast and doesn’t detect a bullet down range, you’ll get a funny error on the screen, can’t recall at this moment, but it’s most likely the radar beam is not aligned with the target.

I’ve put my PRS with a brake about 6” to the right, 6” in front of, next to, and behind the unit, and it’s triggered, and recorded the shot. And I had a piece of 1/8” plywood between the unit and the brake to protect it from the ejecta.

Any tripod can be used as well. The unit has a 1/4 -20 thread, but I use the arca mount primarily.

Some suggestions: Get a USB battery pack, forget loading batteries in the unit. Get an SD card and collect data on it. Get the app to control the unit remotely as it’s much easier to create a new string and arm/disarm the unit.
Good luck.

Lots of ball heads out there:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=mini ball head&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps
Not sure the search will work, but most ball heads have a screw type mount that you could affix to some kind of base. B&H is an experience if you’ve never been there, it’s one of the few reasons I’ll chance a trip to the city. But they do ship.
I use the onboard trigger only. It’s not been an issue for me. There are threads here that discuss a external trigger for quieter firearms. My .22 browning with shorts will still activate the onboard trigger. Good luck.

I have the plate but find it easier to just use a generic camera tripod. I've seen other people make their own plate. All it takes is a piece of metal, a drill and a couple nuts & bolts.

quartermaster said:

Is it necessary to have the barrel aligned with the center of the unit height wise?
Can the barrel of a center fire rifle be 6-8” in front of the unit and will it still trigger?
What is the height to the center of the unit sitting on the base unit with the large metal base?
Terry

Click to expand...

1- NO per the factory tech
2- The Directions cover this
3- 13 inches, but it does not matter.

If you got the $500 clams you will love it.

quartermaster said:

Nicest ballhead that I have seen. Can you post the link here or email it to me. [email protected]
Thank you

Click to expand...

It is a Wilton Powerarm Jr. mounted on 10X10" 3/8" streel plate.

I know a couple ELR shooters which will set up 3 Labradars when developing BC’s for competition rifles. One on top of the rifle on a quad pod, shooting prone through the legs, and one to each side.

It’s incorrect to say the unit has to be in front of a muzzle brake. Here you see one shooter with his LR positioned above his rifle, another shooter positioned beside. Both behind the brakes.

When using a Labradar unit I simply set it on bench beside rifle I'm testing as shown here. This is an old pic when Labradars were first available and I am comparing it with Oehler 35P chrono.

quartermaster said:

If you remember, I’m curious how that comparison went

Click to expand...

If the reliability and accuracy of the Labradar is in question, I would point to the fact that the longest shots in Extreme Long Range competition have all been made by shooters which relied upon LR’s for their velocity and BC information. When a chronograph is sufficiently accurate to deliver rounds on target past 4,000 yards, I can be certain it’s accurate enough for my relatively modest uses out to 2000. I’ve taken velocity and BC data out of my LR into StrelokPro and sent rounds to 1,000yrds from a 100yrd zero, within a click of true waterline. They work.

quartermaster said:

If you remember, I’m curious how that comparison went

Click to expand...

I assume this question was actually directed at my post (#15) comparing a Labradar with Oehler 35P on my shooting bench. The readouts for both units were very close, across a variety of velocity ranges. Mostly within a few FPS of each other. Which gave me satisfactory confidence in the Labradar. I continue to prefer the Oehler for shooting on my personal range because I do a lot of testing with with small-caliber high-velocity loads and bullets beyond the limited range and capabilities of the Labradar. The Labradar is convenient for many uses and circumstances, but I cannot recommend it until it has been upgraded and its serious limitations corrected.

Offfhand said:

The Labradar is convenient for many uses and circumstances, but I cannot recommend it until it has been upgraded and its serious limitations corrected.

Click to expand...

I gotta ask. Can you give me a few or the limitations?