Is a Labradar worth it?

One thing I hate about load development is setting up my Chrono at the gun range. We shoot through a barrel to keep the neighbors happy, so the set up is annoying to say the least.
The Labradar will make it easier, but not positive that the barrel we shoot through will be in the way and prohibit use of downrange data.
What other advantages are the downrange data useful for?

I've used the downrange data to kind of reverse engineer my muzzle velocity to confirm it was accurate. If you can see the target through the barrel inline with the labradar then it should still track the bullet downrange. Love my Labradar! Even if you can't get downrange data it is easier to set up than a chronograph that goes down range and isn't light sensitive. It beats a magneto speed in my opinion because it's not potentially effecting your zero so you can use it all the time

How wide and how long is your barrel? Like a 55 gallon drum?

The LabRadar will first pick up the bullet at about 10 yds out, so it should work fine, even if you have to set it off to the side of the barrel. The only issue I could imagine, is if the barrel mutes the blast enough to keep the unit from triggering.

As for the down range data, I use it to calculate the B.C. of bullets. You can use the near and far velocity and JBM's Ballistic Calculator. You do need to collect relatively precise environmental data (station pressure and temp particularly) for it to be accurate, and you need at least 75 yds of separation between readings. I've confirmed the calculated B.C.s by shooting at distance for a few bullets, and they match up with the real world results pretty well. This is particularly useful for Nosler bullets, which in my experience have significantly inflated B.C. values in the literature. Hornady generally reports very accurate B.C.s, and if anything they tend to come in just a smidge higher than reported.

In short, for the setup convenience, the accuracy, and the data, I don't think the LabRadar can be beat. I certainly will never go without one.

For "me", yes!

I am going to be the odd man out, I have both LR and Magnetospeed, the magneto travels with me to the range always. IMO, easier to set up, less messing around, gives me what I want, a reading at the muzzle. I guess I do not care what speed my bullet is running at when it gets to 100 yards.
If you feel a magneto may disrupt load development, by all means buy a LR, they work well. I myself just work around it, I chrono loads up front, finalize the load, then take a final reading.

so you like wasting ammo to get info that maybe close to what you shot on the target ?
as oppose to actual data of the rounds on the target.
not sure I get that approach.
your time and money, never mine.

milo-2 said:

I am going to be the odd man out, I have both LR and Magnetospeed, the magneto travels with me to the range always. IMO, easier to set up, less messing around, gives me what I want, a reading at the muzzle. I guess I do not care what speed my bullet is running at when it gets to 100 yards.
If you feel a magneto may disrupt load development, by all means buy a LR, they work well. I myself just work around it, I chrono loads up front, finalize the load, then take a final reading.

Click to expand...

rsmithsr said:

so you like wasting ammo to get info that maybe close to what you shot on the target ?
as oppose to actual data of the rounds on the target.
not sure I get that approach.
your time and money, never mine.

Click to expand...

Please explain how I am wasting ammo. I rarely shoot anything at 100 yards. Last night I trued my dopes of a 131gr Ace Blackjack 25 cal bullet to 2000 yards in around 20 shots and had fun doing it.
So honestly, I am lost as to why I need to know my speed at 100 yards

I love my labradar.. been running it every weekend for just about 2 years.. still has yet to let me down

If the drum blocks the sound from setting off the LabRadar, there is a "trigger" you can buy.


Mine doesn't work with my suppressor attached. Not enough bang! I haven't purchased the linked product yet but it's on my short list of to-do's. Nevermind... Purchased one.

I bought an external battery pack that I plug into mine. They do burn through batteries fairly quickly.

martinakl said:

If the drum blocks the sound from setting off the LabRadar, there is a "trigger" you can buy.

Labradar Trigger Gen 2

This is the gen two trigger for the LabRadar chronograph. It will work on anything from a 22LR to a big bore rifles. The trigger works great with suppressors and crowded ranges. The new, removable …

jklprecision.com

Mine doesn't work with my suppressor attached. Not enough bang! I haven't purchased the linked product yet but it's on my short list of to-do's. Nevermind... Purchased one.

I bought an external battery pack that I plug into mine. They do burn through batteries fairly quickly.

Click to expand...

well that may settle it If I have to take my suppressor off. I was looking at the Magnetospeed but one of the guys at the range said he had to take his suppressor off in order to run that.
It does sound odd though, since I heard that air gun guys are using the Labradar for their guns.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Some good info, thanks. I was on the fence about the Labradar or the Magnetospeed.. I ordered the Labradar.

When u do use you labradar it does go through a **** ton of battery power.. I got there battery pack when i ordered mine.. well worth the investment

I love my labradar, it does a good job and I don't believe is anything out there that can match the performance. Easy to set up and versatile.
Mine is setup for MV, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 99 yds. Without a sweat, I catch bullets at 50yds, 75 and 99 I have to actually orient it lol
It's expensive but I doubt you will regret the investment.

That being said I hate the developer with so much passion, for over 2 years he has done nothing than sit back and count revenue, the app has bugs and there are is much more that can be improved on data manipulation and presentation, app design and features, there are literally dozen of major and little things that can add or improve on. Not to mention that the radar itself can be improved, upgraded for better performance and at least get rid of that garbage battery slot, its useless.

Some folks seem to be having issues.

Bruce