Sorry, I did not, but a couple of videos on YouTube about it made me decide not to bother with the test comparison.
Do I really need a Labradar?
- Thread starter Wildstreak
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+1 - I have a Magneto Speed and this is the process I use. Find my load and chrono it. Then shoot at distance and adjust for the actual drops and / or just make a manual range card for the distances I shot. I am considering the newer model Doppler Chronographs, my needs just have not justified this yet. Good luck.
Need? Probably not.
Does it make life easier? Absolutely yes. Does it have a couple of quirks? Yes.
All that said I replaced an old Shooting Chrony Beta Master after having for at least 20 years. With the addition of the list trigger and external battery pack, I never miss a shot unless it's user error like forgetting to arm it or something. The amount of data that can be gotten from the LR can't be beaten. Notes for each string, notes for eac individual shot, environmental conditions, etc…..
I'm not aware of any other product that is as robust in regards to the amount of data that can be gotten from the LR. At least not at a <$700 price point.
Does it make life easier? Absolutely yes. Does it have a couple of quirks? Yes.
All that said I replaced an old Shooting Chrony Beta Master after having for at least 20 years. With the addition of the list trigger and external battery pack, I never miss a shot unless it's user error like forgetting to arm it or something. The amount of data that can be gotten from the LR can't be beaten. Notes for each string, notes for eac individual shot, environmental conditions, etc…..
I'm not aware of any other product that is as robust in regards to the amount of data that can be gotten from the LR. At least not at a <$700 price point.
Been thru many of the common chronos. Ones that attach to the gun barrel, probably it's just me but they feel awkward/funny {balance) and seem to change the impact point. Plus I can't use them with my handguns. Chrony style (light sensors), like my Oehler 3P, take way too long to set up and align to target, very bulky to take to the range, especially when taking it out to the field. If at a public range, I disturb other shooters when I have to ask them to stop shooting while I set up. Of course to be nice I let the other shooters try it out, but that extends the time I spend at the range while everybody gets a chance to shoot over it. And that time is further extended trying to explain to everyone how to get the proper sight alignment to avoid blowing away one of the sensors, which has unfortunately happend a few times. Then the chrony styles are all dependent on decent lighting, again, maybe just me but it seems the indicated speeds vary as to whether it's bright sunlight or cloudy. Adding artificial light bars for consistent lighting is just one more thing to carry and set up. Now my Labradar, I take it out of the bag, set it on the bench, align to target and start shooting. Less than a couple minutes between arriving at the bench and first round down range. Works every time regardless of light, bright sun or heavy clouds. Can use my pistols or rifles, no difference.
I guess it should be clear that for me, until something else comes along, the Labradar is my choice. Unfortunately I've spent far more trying other chrono's than I spent for my Labradar.
I guess it should be clear that for me, until something else comes along, the Labradar is my choice. Unfortunately I've spent far more trying other chrono's than I spent for my Labradar.
It comes down to the difference between needs and wants. Do you need a labradar? Nope? I'm not much into chronographs or magneto speeds. I have a chronograph but it's a pain in the butt to set up and only tells me the speed of the bullet at the muzzle not what it's doing down range, which is what I want to know. It is nice, a guy out at the range had one and we checked the velocity of my 30-06, came out to 2930 which is what the loading data said it should be. There was also a variance of plus or minus 20 FPS. Is this significant? probably but the rifle shoots sub MOA so does it really matter? The labradar also has limitations in that it only records data out to 100 yards. Coming back to needs and wants. Would I buy a labradar, maybe...if I somehow won the lottery and had money to burn. Do I want one, would be nice. Do I need, which is the important part of this dissertation, a labradar? No I don't need one. $600 + buys a lot of primers, powders and bullets which I do need in order to continue to hunt and shoot. I enjoy shooting little tiny holes into little tiny groups. It brings me pleasure but I don't see a labradar possibly causing frustration as I search for the solution to varying muzzle speeds. So no, I will not buy a labradar which would probably take a lot of the joy of shooting and turn it into frustration. Besides that like the chronograph, how much will you use it after the novelty wears off? On the other hand if it could track that bullet to 600 or 1000 yards now you would have my attention and YES I would not only want one but need one. I would love to watch what different bullets and loads do as they fly through the air with the greatest of ease, or maybe not so much ease. Might tell me why that particular bullet did not mushroom after it hit that Elk I shot way out there at 900 yards, because it had dropped down to 1400 FPS instead of 1700 FPS. All nice to know, but am I going to haul a labradar with me on a hunt? Things to think about but in the end I think I would rather buy primers, powder and bullets.
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
Of course, you do! Buy one now and don't look back. You'll be glad that you did.
del2les
Well-Known Member
Need? No........ A LOT of LR/ELR shooters over the many decades have done very well before these ever existed, and many do well today with more simple chronos.
Had a Labradar and loved it. My problem with it was setup. I shoot at a range that has enclosed wooden box plywood platforms sort of like library cubicles that are all connected and when a guy shooting a SBR 5 stations down shoots, it vibrates the entire shooting platform. Now multiply that when there's 5 of them plus guys shooting 308, 7RemMag, 284 etc.... It's a small range 10 station range but it's the only outside range within 2 hours. So, I sold it and reluctantly went back to my v3 magnetospeed which does change POI but works very well.
Don't you consider those " wasted shots" Rick? I would like to achieve all at the same time, and that's what's holding me back. Labs too expensive, Caldwell too poor of quality, and magnetospeed on the barrel. So I true my speeds using my ballistic program...works well enough for now!
cohunt
Well-Known Member
I heard that Caldwell was developing a radar chronograph -- was supposed to have better/more features than the lr and projected price point was also lower--- we will see ( velociradar-$300 ish)
blackburbot
Well-Known Member
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- Feb 21, 2011
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Ask yourself why you need one? Are you addicted to seeing velocity, es,sd every time you shoot? What are you doing with that info? Or is it a nice to have?
Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
Depends on your perspective of wasted shots since those are required anyway to develop the load recipe. Shots performed with the MS is very minimal. I get the Information I need with just a few shots since I am most interested in average velocity followed by ES and SD. It works for me and my HUNTING applications.
littlebighorn
Well-Known Member
I had a Chrony Beta Master and it was fine until I used my friend's Labradar. After that I just had to have one and fortunate for me I found a lightly used one for $300. It works great and I won't look back. I didn't HAVE to have it but it's great.
