My LabRadar has always picked up 204 Ruger straight from the box at least out to 20 yards which is the maximum distance that I record to. 20 yards was chosen mostly for handgun chronographing. My backyard range is not optimum for long range measurements with any chronograph.
I have two 204 Rugers, an a long barrel AR-15 and a Savage 12 FCV bolt action.
I have not tried having the LabRadar measure my 17 Remington.
With optical chronographs, I had to blacken the bullets on 204 Ruger and 17 Remington for the bullets to make enough of a shadow for the sensors to see. Even then, getting a reading was hit and miss. My CED M2 was a bit more reliable since I had the auxiliary lights. I did not look through my records just now. to see if I used the Magnetospeed with 17 Remington.