Magneto or Labradar?

[Klem]

Any issues with LabRadar while shooting with muzzle brakes?

What is the distance limit in LabRadar "pinging" .264" bullet?

No issues with an LMD brake. The radar sits about 6" to the side and maybe a couple of inches to the rear so doesn't get the full blast.

The limit of pinging as I understand it depends on the size of the surface area it hits and how square it is to the radar. So flat base bullets are better than boat tails, and larger calibres are better than smaller calibres. It also depends on how well you've pointed the radar to the target. If it is slightly off you won't get the further readings. It detects in a vertical oval shape so it is less forgiving horizontally than it is vertically. I saw on a review someone using a pen on the top groove to help aim it at the target. I use this and found it works better than just eyeballing it.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11735[/ATTACH]



For 6.5 these are my last two recorded strings. You can see it detects the flat-base 120NBT better than the boat-tail 130 Hybrids.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11733[/ATTACH]

• Distances are in yards.
  
• The target is at 100yds so I've set the radar to detect at 98yds and not exactly 100. If you set the detection range exactly at the target it has difficulties detecting the bullet against the reflected surface area of the target.
  

Frankly, muzzle velocities are all I've been keeping. I don't have much use for down-range velocities out to 100.

[bj139]

Klem,
It looks like your mount may be a board with a 1/4" bolt through the bottom. Is this right?

[Klem]

Klem,
It looks like your mount may be a board with a 1/4" bolt through the bottom. Is this right?

Yes, no expense spared after forking out hundreds for the radar. A plank of hardwood that was lying around and a screw from my screw-jar that fit. 10"x5"x1"thick. It's the standard thread size for camera tripods, 1/4"-20UNF.

If the rifle range is flat then the tops of the benches will be square to the targets. You just need to pan the radar left and right to aim at a particular target.

I played around with a small tripod when I first got it but a flat stand is way quicker for bench shooting and it puts the microphone exactly at the same level as the barrel (the detection microphones are in the middle on either side of the radar). You can push it closer to the forward edge of the bench without it falling off, which was my fear when using a tripod. I've since added a non-slip rubber surface to the bottom because it would move every time I pushed a button.

[brian y]

I had the Magneto and struggled with it, I found a Labradar with the case and base at a good price barely used and have been very happy with it. I bought the battery bank and i have another as back up. I have not needed the backup battery the one they sell lasts a long time and we only use it for about 4 hours at a time.

[bj139]

I think I'll save my money for a Labradar. Too many barrels, not enough Labradar.

[Sticks]

I think I'll save my money for a Labradar. Too many barrels, not enough Labradar.

Heh heh heh...Good one.

Looking like my Amazon Rewards are going to fund this operation. All I care about is MV. I'll have to learn what else this thingy does.

[bj139]

Heh heh heh...Good one.

Looking like my Amazon Rewards are going to fund this operation. All I care about is MV. I'll have to learn what else this thingy does.

Good idea. I have almost enough Discovercard dollars to pay for this. I only need to add two ? cheap barrels worth of money.
Where is the best price? Midway had it on sale last year for $499. Haven't seen that price since.

[Sticks]

Everywhere I have looked, $559 plus shipping. Captive market. You want it, you will pay.

Maybe a sale for Memorial day. Price may go up again too. I remember seeing it pretty much everywhere for sub $500 as well up through January when several other members were looking into it.

[Sticks]

I really need to stop spending money.

My Labradar and battery pack showed up yesterday. I have an extra tripod ball head at home that will be the mount.

Next on deck is the LR-2 camera system....

Do I sell the Magnetospeed V3 kit?

[Kswhitetails]

I’m buying my radar next week. Where should I get it? Direct, from a small US vendor? I want to support someone I care about, Midway? Brownell? MWSS? Heh. Got all the way here and fretting over this small part...

[mdewitt71]

I’m buying my radar next week. Where should I get it? Direct, from a small US vendor? I want to support someone I care about, Midway? Brownell? MWSS? Heh. Got all the way here and fretting over this small part...

I bought mine direct from Richard.... of course he is only a couple hours from me.
Great guy and quick to answer any questions you might have.

[Sticks]

I used up my Amazon reward points. Shop in TX. Had to go directly to them to get the Bullet Proof Warranty though. Hope to do the test run with it this weekend along with the Target Vision LR-2 system. By god I am going to get a legitimate ladder test done.

[bj139]

Anybody calculate BCs with their Labradar data?

[NugginFutz]

Saw it done last weekend. Shot the American Gunner ammo in front of one, and the BC was within a whisker of that which Hornady advertised. (.225 vs .226).

Really thinking hard about these units.

[Klem]

bj,

Here is one done for the 120NBT

The manufacturer claims .458
The radar with JBM's online calculator gives .425

The radar starts to lose track of bullets after 50m. The good news is it doesn't look like it matters as you can calculate a BC from as close as 10m.



BTW, I didn't fire 32 rounds just to get a new BC. I was shooting groups and steel and had the radar on next to me on the bench. After I saw your post I pulled the file and calculated the BC's. That's the beauty of the LR. You do your normal shooting and it sits next to you recording velocities whether you want them or not.

(the environmental factors came from a Kestrel).

[bj139]

Klem,
That is a really impressive feature of the Labradar.
I would believe the calculated, real world data rather than the manufacturer's number for BC.
I will have to get a LR soon.

[Sticks]

Finally got to use my Labradar yesterday.

I like it. Little bit of a learning curve. I got spoiled on my magnetospeed and having the readout right there at my hands to reset the series.

Lost three velocity checks on some OCW testing of RDF and ELD. 4 button presses from the correct screen to start a new series. Damn it.

Not fond of the data results either. Two .csv files for each test, burried in it's own folder and sub folder. Would be nice if it made a single file with all the basic data - Series #, # of shots, Min, Max, Avg, Ext Sp, SD.

Ill find a work around.

The good outweighs the bad here. Magnetospeed still up for sale.

[bj139]

I just ordered a Labradar from Brownells.
With the current sale and a Brownells coupon code it was around $485.

[NugginFutz]

I just ordered a Labradar from Brownells.
With the current sale and a Brownells coupon code it was around $485.

Helluva Deal. Applied Ballistics is selling them for $559 after a $50 "summer discount", while at their home page, Labradar is selling them for $509.

[The Profit Joseph Sith]

Alright, i think your guys parted this fools money... Ive heard the processors are WAY better for the MS and it is undeniably more accurate readings. But that doesnt help me for pistol loads. I only want one chrono. Been struggling deciding between LR, MS, and ohler 35P. They all have big advantages and some fairly big draw backs for me at least...
I wish i saw this post earlier.