Another Labradar Review

[kombayotch]

You will only get the high velocity BC, which is not the same as average BC over the velocity range of a long range bullet flight. Average BC is what you plug into your ballistics calculator.

If you really wanted to, you could set it up at long range. You would have to be creative because you need to hit the arm button before it captures, and that times out after a while. You would need a wireless camera and a model airplane joystick with a servo set up to hit the trigger button. You would have to send the bullet through the path of the radar and you would get less of a range of the reading because of the downwards angle of the trajectory at that distance (which also means you're losing some of the horizontal component of the velocity). You would want the LR behind something, and you would need to have the shot pass right beside it for it to capture.

 

[Gunneegoogoo]

You will only get the high velocity BC, which is not the same as average BC over the velocity range of a long range bullet flight.

You would have to be creative because you need to hit the arm button before it captures, and that times out after a while. You would need a wireless camera and a model airplane joystick with a servo set up to hit the trigger button. You would have to send the bullet through the path of the radar and you would get less of a range of the reading because of the downwards angle of the trajectory at that distance. You would want the LR behind something, and you would need to have the shot pass right beside it for it to capture.

That wound be an expensive "miss"....!!!

 

[kombayotch]

You would want it behind a nice piece of AR500.

 

[Dmay]

And it may not "trigger" being so far away from the rifle when it fires....?.....

 

[Gunneegoogoo]

You would want it behind a nice piece of AR500.

I happen to know where there's a 4x8 sheet of that, and a plasma table......

-J.

 

[kombayotch]

And it may not "trigger" being so far away from the rifle when it fires....?.....

It would need to be set on doppler trigger + handgun like I was using to capture the 22LR shots.

 

[Gunneegoogoo]

So it can be triggered by either the muzzle pop or a doppler sensor??

-J.

 

[kombayotch]

Yes, but only up to a certain velocity (handgun velocities).

Would have to consider if the downward angle the bullet is traveling in would corrupt the data though. Would it be able to detect it if the base wasn't square to the LR? Don't know. If it could, you would need to do some trig. to get the velocity in the direction of travel and not just the horizontal component. Would be best to bounce this off of Bryan...

 

[JayCarver]

So I've been doing a bit of research on these and it appears there were multiple people having trouble with the Labradar picking up readings from 223 55gr FMJ projectiles. They are contributing this to the concave/cupped base of the FMJ bullets not being a nice flat surface for the radar to reflect on. For most long range/precision rifle shooters this is a non-issue however I shoot a bit of action rifle and actually chrony quite a bit of these projectiles. Since the hand guards on my AR go almost to the end of the barrel the Magnospeed has been a pain in butt to set up so I was excited about the Labradar until I read its pretty much useless with the FMJ's.

Is anyone that owns the Labradar in a position that can test it with these projectiles?

 

[DG Photography]

So I've been doing a bit of research on these and it appears there were multiple people having trouble with the Labradar picking up readings from 223 55gr FMJ projectiles. They are contributing this to the concave/cupped base of the FMJ bullets not being a nice flat surface for the radar to reflect on. For most long range/precision rifle shooters this is a non-issue however I shoot a bit of action rifle and actually chrony quite a bit of these projectiles. Since the hand guards on my AR go almost to the end of the barrel the Magnospeed has been a pain in butt to set up so I was excited about the Labradar until I read its pretty much useless with the FMJ's.

Is anyone that owns the Labradar in a position that can test it with these projectiles?

Let me know what ammo I would need to test next time I am out testing (possibly this Saturday) we can bring a rifle out to test with.

 

[DG Photography]

Infinition makes commercial Doppler units that will track out to 6km depending on projectile of course. Big $$$$$ you would need deep pockets

 

[Roddy]

Pretty cool! I must admit, I quickly looked at the title, and thought it was a review of a hunting dog.

Haha, me too. That's a lot nicer than my shot up $100 unit.

 

[silverfoxdj]

Don't think I want to invest that much money in a Chrono ..

 

[JayCarver]

Let me know what ammo I would need to test next time I am out testing (possibly this Saturday) we can bring a rifle out to test with.

Most of the bulk 223 55gr stuff will be like this with possibly the exception of Hornady as some of there's may be flat based. I haven't bought factory ammo in almost a decade so I don't have any to pull and confirm.

I might actually have some norinco I could pull to check, if you have any of that. The federal/american eagle 55gr stuff probably has a cupped base also.

 

[FirearmsEnthusiast]

Very interested in the LabRadar system.

One of the big attractions would be to avoid the hassle of setup, alignment and takedown of a conventional chrono unit, especially on an active / busy firing line a the range.

Does anyone have any experience with running this unit with multiple shooters on the line? Any potential for interference or is there a pretty well-defined zone where it is scanning for the projectile?

 

[todbartell]

I've been using the LabRadar since springtime. Even tracked a .177 BB gun out to 20 yards

love this unit, I'd buy one if it cost 2x as much

 

[chalkriver]

Thanks for the help in getting ours Tod , I picked up our clubs new Labradar and went out to a local spot today to try it and am very impressed with it .The info was easily accessed and saved on my PC later ( Temp -10 C ) .
I shot a couple different calibres ( 243,308,338LM ) and renamed the files later .It was giving me the velocity every meter or so .
The manual mentioned max effective range for tracking is 308cal -80-100 yards ,
5.56mm -40-60 yards , 9mm 100 -130 yards

 

[scott_r]

Very cool piece of equipment, I hate the chronograph I use with the shades....its nothing but a headache.

 

[Dmay]

So I've been doing a bit of research on these and it appears there were multiple people having trouble with the Labradar picking up readings from 223 55gr FMJ projectiles. They are contributing this to the concave/cupped base of the FMJ bullets not being a nice flat surface for the radar to reflect on. For most long range/precision rifle shooters this is a non-issue however I shoot a bit of action rifle and actually chrony quite a bit of these projectiles. Since the hand guards on my AR go almost to the end of the barrel the Magnospeed has been a pain in butt to set up so I was excited about the Labradar until I read its pretty much useless with the FMJ's.

Is anyone that owns the Labradar in a position that can test it with these projectiles?

I don't know offhand what bullet they use.....but was shooting some American Eagle FMJ on the weekend, and it read every shot.

 

[Dmay]

Targus laptop case at Staples for $35 that fits the Labradar nicely. This one has pockets for the USB battery, a note pad, etc... and the manual fits nicely inside of it.
http://www.targus.com/ca/product_details.asp?sku=TCT034CA

Thank you for that. As mentioned, I ordered the case, but didn't receive it. But had to run to the city on the weekend so followed your advice. Staples was out of stock on this model, but found another Targus model that fits well, and also has room for the manual and stuff.


Of course, guess what arrived in the mail yesterday......d'oh.