Sometimes It Is Rough Being A Gadget Junkie - Am I Alone?

[Kevin Rohrer]

My reloading bench is filled to overflowing w/ kewl gadgets to make reloading more fun, interesting, and easier. I have so many gadgets, I filled another table and the excess is setting on the floor. Sadly, when I go, my heirs won't appreciate any of it.

Here is an older pic of a portion of my bench as it looked at the time, if Dropbox will cooperate.

 

[Offfhand]

Awesome did you make these yourself?

I made a few of them, but the really nice ones were made by someone else.

 

[Offfhand]

You can always spot a hard core gadget junkie when you check out his cleaning rods..

 

[Blue68f100]

The nice thing about that is that you probably already have the jag setup and ready to go, no hunting for the proper size.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm way behind on cleaning rods. I only have four rifle ones.

 

[Offfhand]

There are a number of good options on the market. I'm on my second year with the LabRadar. It is designed to set next to you with the muzzle of the gun placed past the unit. It uses Doppler radar to track the bullet continuously out to as far as 100 yards, not just one value. This allows you to see the velocity drop as the bullet as it travels down range. It has setting to measure arrows, pellet gun, pistol, and rifle. No worries about shooting the chronograph like other type of units.

The LabRadar is most certainly a gadget junkie's delight, but even so I'm hesitant to advise it to other junkies. Wait until their updated and improved version is, if ever, announced. Current version has too many issues that need correcting, and I expect in the next year or so there will be similar, and better, instruments available at better price. (Watch for MIdway, etc.) Also, LabRadar's base is overpriced and too light and flimsy to be usable. A good gadget guy can make a better one. Attached are photos of a heavy base I made for mine, also Labradar and Oehler 35 working together on my shooting bench.

 

[Load Master]

The LabRadar is most certainly a gadget junkie's delight, but even so I'm hesitant to advise it to other junkies. Wait until their updated and improved version is, if ever, announced. Current version has too many issues that need correcting, and I expect in the next year or so there will be similar, and better,View attachment 766209 View attachment 766210 View attachment 766209 View attachment 766210 instruments available at better price. (Watch for MIdway, etc.) Also, LabRadar's base is overpriced and too light and flimsy to be usable. A good gadget guy can make a better one. Attached are photos of a heavy base I made for mine, also Labradar and Oehler 35 working together on my shooting bench.

Offhand, what is your current firmware update? I've had mine for about two years and one firmware update. What issues are you having?

 

[Toprudder]

Attached are photos of a heavy base I made for mine, also Labradar and Oehler 35 working together on my shooting bench.

Have you found good correlation between the Labradar and Oehler?

 

[TheDomFather]

The LabRadar is most certainly a gadget junkie's delight, but even so I'm hesitant to advise it to other junkies. Wait until their updated and improved version is, if ever, announced. Current version has too many issues that need correcting, and I expect in the next year or so there will be similar, and better,View attachment 766209 View attachment 766210 View attachment 766209 View attachment 766210 instruments available at better price. (Watch for MIdway, etc.) Also, LabRadar's base is overpriced and too light and flimsy to be usable. A good gadget guy can make a better one. Attached are photos of a heavy base I made for mine, also Labradar and Oehler 35 working together on my shooting bench.

Hey bud I was looking at the labradar as my magnetospeed is finicky. Can you give me more detail? Any other suggestions for a good chrono? Also funny that rear bag you have in the picture I just got yesterday!
Thanks,
Dom

 

[Offfhand]

Have you found good correlation between the Labradar and Oehler?

Very close, almost spot on. As was expected, as both have excellent systems.

 

[Load Master]

As far as being finicky, the LabRadar has to be aimed at the target, the muzzle needs to be a set distance in front of the unit (adjustable value) and sometimes the unit's trigger sensitivity has to be adjusted for the gun being used. The LabRadar takes a LOT of data with each round captured. Some is displayed on the screen, but a lot more can be post processed. I use my PC and Excel to process afterword. If you are a data junkie (I am) the LabRadar offers a treasure chest full for each round.

The single biggest difference in the LabRadar compared to other chronographs, it tracks the bullet from muzzle to the target realtime. Not just a single capture like the majority of chronographs.

Bullet size matters. As an example, the LabRadar will only track .223 Rem to about 75 yards max with 50 yards being typical. .308 Win will track the full 100 yards the LabRadar is capable of.

This isn't the best example, but this is some of the post process data for a 9mm Luger Xtreme round nose 147gr bullet.

 

[tcoz]

Hey bud I was looking at the labradar as my magnetospeed is finicky.

What kind of issues have you run into with the MagnetoSpeed? Ive never heard anyone refer to it as finicky before.

 

[Offfhand]

Here is yet another irresistible item for the incurable gadget junkie: a car-mounted barrel vise for quick switching rifle barrels at the range, prairie dog patch or even your driveway. Simply plug the vise into your vehicle's tow socket and screw in a spare barrel wherever you are.