LabRadar not picking up

[jski]

I have a LabRadar chronometer that I use for my handgun reloads. My wife has recently taken a liking to my .22 Hornet and I now reload for it.

My reloads for her use 30 gr and 36 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade bullets. My problem is that neither of the bullets is picked up by my LabRadar. I simply get an “error” message. According to Hodgdon reload data both are moving at 3000+ FPS.

So the question is: Are the bullets moving too fast or are they too small or both ?

 

[MikeInOr]

That sounds like a question for the company. Any answers here will most likely just be speculation. I would be interest in what the company tells you if you get a reply from them.

 

[LV21]

I have a LabRadar chronometer that I use for my handgun reloads. My wife has recently taken a liking to my .22 Hornet and I now reload for it.

My reloads for her use 30 gr and 36 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade bullets. My problem is that neither of the bullets is picked up by my LabRadar. I simply get an “error” message. According to Hodgdon reload data both are moving at 3000+ FPS.

So the question is: Are the bullets moving too fast or are they to small or both ?

LabRadar has trouble picking up .22, that is well known. I assume that is where your problem is. My .223 BT bullets have the same problem, I can not reliably clock them.

 

[stringnut]

Pretty well documented that Labrador has issues with tiny bullets. This is one reason I don’t have one. Are these boat tails? Would further reduce the area it has to detect.

Also may not have enough blast to trigger. Look at the air gun trigger attachment.

And , as has been suggested, call the company.

 

[MEHavey]

1. How are you collimating the LABRADAR (pointing it) on set-up?
2. Where do you have the actual muzzle in relation to the side of the unit upon firing?
(and of course)... you do have it set to the rifle velocity band....

 

[Kaldor]

I have a LabRadar chronometer that I use for my handgun reloads. My wife has recently taken a liking to my .22 Hornet and I now reload for it.

My reloads for her use 30 gr and 36 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade bullets. My problem is that neither of the bullets is picked up by my LabRadar. I simply get an “error” message. According to Hodgdon reload data both are moving at 3000+ FPS.

So the question is: Are the bullets moving too fast or are they too small or both ?

I think the top limit for the Labradar is 4000 fps.
The smallest fastest bullets we have shot over it are a 53 gr bullet at 3600 fps from a 22-250. Ive never tried anything smaller/faster than that. They do have a boat tail.
Make sure you are obviously in rifle mode and make sure you are pointing at the target.
Experiment with the different modes of picking up the bullet. I cant remember all the modes, but one may work better than another.
I do set my chrono about 6" in front of the muzzle and 6" to the right. This is mostly because most of my rifles have brakes, and I have blown the chrono over before.
You may need to use an external trigger. There are a bunch of them out there, but if the Hornet doesnt have enough bark at the muzzle to trigger the chrono, this may solve it.

 

[higgite]

Is it safe to assume that triggering the unit isn't the problem since it does give an error message?

 

[Kaldor]

Is it safe to assume that triggering the unit isn't the problem since it does give an error message?

Its really hard to say. Ive seen some issues with 223 bullets, but never consistently. I might miss 1 shot in 25 now? Being more diligent in setup might help.

 

[jski]

1. How are you collimating the LABRADAR (pointing it) on set-up?
2. Where do you have the actual muzzle in relation to the side of the unit upon firing?
(and of course)... you do have it set to the rifle velocity band....

I use the groove on the top to line it up pointing at the target.
I set the muzzle distance to 18" and I believe she's within that.

 

[Legionnaire]

Have you played with the trigger sensitivity?

 

[Chuck R.]

Mine picks up .22LR when set up properly with a vibration trigger and set for handgun velocities.

Its really hard to say. Ive seen some issues with 223 bullets, but never consistently. I might miss 1 shot in 25 now? Being more diligent in setup might help.

+100 in my case!


When I first got mine I'd often have missed shots, then I learned how critical the set up is. I now use my custom sighting device:

Place flat edge on front of unit, sight along straight edge.

And way more importantly I made a string with brass insert (for the muzzle) that measures off the exact distance from the muzzle to the side of the unit.

For the quiet stuff I ordered a vibration trigger.

 

[Kaldor]

Mine picks up .22LR when set up properly with a vibration trigger and set for handgun velocities.




+100 in my case!


When I first got mine I'd often have missed shots, then I learned how critical the set up is. I now use my custom sighting device:

Place flat edge on front of unit, sight along straight edge.

And way more importantly I made a string with brass insert (for the muzzle) that measures off the exact distance from the muzzle to the side of the unit.

For the quiet stuff I ordered a vibration trigger.

Thats a good idea. I thought about 3d printing a little peep sight that goes on top. But I just put a black Sharpie mark in the little groove on top which seems to help my eye get the chrono on target better.

One other thing that could be an issue is if the chrono is not plumb. My tripod has a little bubble level built into it, and I just set it plumb by default at this point.

Ive used mine to chrono cross bows as well! Just use bow and doppler and it will read the bolt all the way to 50 yards in 10 yard intervals. Interesting data if you want to know if a 50 yard shot is actually capable on taking a deer ethically.

 

[MEHavey]

LABRADAR doesn't need to be plumb, but it does need to facing the target square-on.
Building on Chuck_R's suggestion, get THIS Combo Square: Lay it in the top groove and sight along it to the 6-oclock on the target.

Let us know...

 

[mcb]

Silly question, is it in rifle mode? If its in handgun or archer mode it will not pick up the higher velocity rifle bullets.

 

[Varminterror]

I have a LabRadar chronometer that I use for my handgun reloads. My wife has recently taken a liking to my .22 Hornet and I now reload for it.

My reloads for her use 30 gr and 36 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade bullets. My problem is that neither of the bullets is picked up by my LabRadar. I simply get an “error” message. According to Hodgdon reload data both are moving at 3000+ FPS.

So the question is: Are the bullets moving too fast or are they too small or both ?

It's not either and neither.

LabRadar max speed is 3900fps, and has no trouble picking up bullets only traveling 3000. Equally, there's no issue picking up 22cal bullets, especially flat based bullets. I've used mine for 204 Ruger pushing 20cal 32grn V-max's right up to 3900fps. Aiming the unit tends to be the issue for most folks. I have a reticle module on top of mine, as well as a red dot mount, although I don't use the red dot.

 

[MEHavey]

Aiming the unit tends to be the issue for most folks.

Roger that...
99.99% solution for the most difficult of challenges:

Ro

 

[peels]

Silly question, is it in rifle mode? If its in handgun or archer mode it will not pick up the higher velocity rifle bullets.

Yeah, make sure it is switched to rifle mode.

As for aiming, I taped a hollow lollipop stick into the aiming groove. That in combination mounting the unit on a ball head, makes aiming easy.

 

[lordpaxman]

LabRadar. I simply get an “error” message.

It would have been helpful to know what message you are getting. Is it:

“Acquisition error - could not track the projectile”

If so, it’s an aiming issue, and the most common one for this device. The beam area is quite small and you need to make sure the unit is aimed at the target And the bullet enters the beams path.
The unit does not have to be level. The V notch at the top of the unit is next to useless. Others have mentioned various sighting aids, I use a Bic pen shell and tape it to the top V notch. The Bic pen is easy to store in the case.

 

[thump_rrr]

LabRadar has trouble picking up .22, that is well known. I assume that is where your problem is. My .223 BT bullets have the same problem, I can not reliably clock them.

Mine has no issues picking up .223 bullets both flat base and boat tail.
Mine will not pick up 22LR subsonic however.
Pay close attention to several things.
Distance between the muzzle and the Labradar.
Their recommended distance is 8”
There is a setting in the menu for this.
Position of the muzzle
Braked rifles should be positioned behind the Labradar.
Non braked rifles in the same plane.

The width of the “cone” is about 4’ at 100M if memory serves me correctly.
Make sure it is well aimed.
Try varying the tilt from completely horizontal to facing slightly upwards or downwards.
Also make sure that the Labradar is stable and doesn’t shake.

You can also try getting it to read a larger bullet first. To where the signal strength is good or best before shooting the smaller bullets.

Please let us know if anything works

 

[alfsauve]

Speaking of small. I tested my LR with my .177 air gun. Granted it's a low speed projectile, but working against the LR: A Hollow base bullet. Small indoor "range." Solid, reinforced concrete wall 7yds downrange. And no blast to trigger. Had to use vibratory/inertia trigger but no problem in getting V1 consistently.

 

[jski]

Silly question, is it in rifle mode? If its in handgun or archer mode it will not pick up the higher velocity rifle bullets.

Yes.