Radar Guns for Pistol Velocities

I am looking for a radar gun to test bullet velocities for pistols. The lab radar is too expensive for my use. Can you provide recommendations? Thanks

I think you're looking for a chronograph, of which "Shooting Chrony" is a pretty reputable entry-level brand. Try searching for "chronograph" at MidwayUSA. (And I apologize if I'm misreading your question.)

I'm not aware of other "radar" systems than Labrador Labradar. I will say that Labradar is a "buy once, cry once" investment. That and stainless-steel wet tumbling have been two things I've been really happy with spending the money on within the past decade (aside from guns and ammo).

We've been very happy with the basic Caldwell chronograph for several years. Very consistant. So far no bullet holes 

I have no experience with any of the inexpensive sports radar guns, but I doubt they will work with bullets. The ones I've looked at don't go over 300 mph or about 450 fps and I suspect their noise filters would ignore the small signal and high speed of a bullet.

That said, if you give them a try, please share the results, good or bad.

Are any of these chronographs compatible with indoor range use? I don’t have the ability to set a chronograph more than 3ft from a shooting stance.

Orion wrote:Are any of these chronographs compatible with indoor range use? I don’t have the ability to set a chronograph more than 3ft from a shooting stance.

For indoor range use, the best is the Labradar.  A Magnetospeed can work too, but I’ve found velocities below 650 to be problematic in erratic reading.

Duplicate

Yes the older caldwell we have has a optional light kit for indoor use that works perfectly. Folks have also simply added led lights to the std. Unit and that works too. I have not seen the newer G2 unit so can't commnent on it.

Orion wrote:Are any of these chronographs compatible with indoor range use? I don’t have the ability to set a chronograph more than 3ft from a shooting stance.

Pact and others make low light kits. They do require a power source. Mine has different screens to be used when using in low light conditions.

Most chronographs work best if screens are about 10 ft in front of muzzle. Labradar may be the best option for you. Maybe go in with someone else to buy one.

Remember the Labradar interpolates the downrange data to get a MV since the velocity vs time (or distance) deceleration curve is smooth. You must have 4 or 5 good measurements downrange to get a good MV interpolation. Two points is not enough. The Labradar give you the opportunity to select the measurement distances, but I don't feel its particularly accurate indoors at 50'. At 50 yards? Yes...I can get 4 points spread 10 yards apart so I have confidence in my MV values. IIRC, a radar gun, however, does not interpolate "downrange" values back to the gun itself. That's a big source of error. It would be interesting to compare the two side by side.