LabRadar question

Is the LabRadar a real instrument or just a fun toy?

I borrowed one and then that was enough to convince me to buy one.

They are pricy but you get what you pay for. I love mine.

Bill

SonOfSwede wrote:Is the LabRadar a real instrument or just a fun toy?

Yes.

Great piece of equipment. Can be a bit frustrating at first but once you get it figured out its a great tool for a reloader.

Buy once, cry once. It's a pleasure to chrono indoors when working up loads. Use the points off your credit card...

I use mine for rifle and pistol. It works well. A couple of things to note: (1) You have to aim it properly, position it laterally and behind the muzzle as instructed, and set the lateral distance in the software settings. I wish it came with an aiming device, rather than using the small notch in the housing (as/per the instructions). I place a small tube in the aiming notch and sight it in via the tube (aim a little high). That works but it is a bit clumsy. (2) Make sure you familiarize yourself with the software. I switch back and forth from rifle and pistol, so it's important to set the 5 "data point" distances properly. Remember that this device does not actually measure MV...it measures velocity via radar at 5 points downrange and then fits a smooth polynomial curve through those points. It then interpolates to get the MV. So you want 5 (or at least 4) data points, especially the point closest to the unit, or you need to reposition the unit and/or make software changes. (3) I bought the square base that is sold with the unit. If you buy the base, but want to mount it on a full-size tripod (which I use for pistol testing next to the Ransom Rest), buy the Sunpak TraveLite Pro tripod because the small plate that attaches to the Labradar itself, for their square mounting base, also clamps onto the Sunpak tripod. (4) Forget about using AA batteries. A day at the range will gobble them up in no time. Buy a decent USB battery power pack on Amazon. You won't regret that. (5) Firmware updates are done by downloading a file to a stick drive on your computer, and then plugging that into the Labradar. I've done one and it's pretty straightforward.

Bought mine back when they were 400. Never regretted it and very much enjoy the ease of use. Doesn’t matter the weather, indoor or outdoors, it just works. No going down range to set anything up. Just a quick set up right at your bench.

I love mine and as others have said, it is a real precision instrument if you learn how to use it correctly. 

It has it's issues though, mostly around enclosed shooting where there maybe a lot of echos or shooting through tunnels like I have to do on the rifle range at my home club, or when using with rim fire, which may require the added rim fire / archery adapter, which I have. So I do keep a conventional one too.

The Bluetooth phone app for it sucks but even that can't really detract from how great it is.

Bluetooth is intermittent. Not a big deal to change settings, though. Get a USB battery bank. I tape a straw in the notch to aim to target. Mini tripod base works pretty good. I'm pretty happy with it and have been using it often.

I have a real love/hate relationship with my LabRadar unit.  When it is up and running properly it is a masterpiece of data collection.  The problems come in when setting it up correctly (aiming) and adjusting the triggering signal.  Once you have those two issues figured out it is a marvel of ease and information gathering.

Rick H.