Talk me into or out of a LabRadar

Pogue

Pogue

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Pricey and a bit hard to find right now but are they worth it?

Load development for PR possible without it? (Without wasting components)

@Timfoilhat i remember you buying one. Thoughts having used it for awhile?
 
I was wanting a LabRadar after seeing one in action. The owner told me that between the triggers and rechargeable battery pack, tripod, carrying case, etc., that he had around $850 in his.
I tried a $125 Competiton Electronics ProChronoDLX Deluxe. Easy to set up, works from my iPhone via Bluetooth and allows me to send the data to my computer. I just use my old Service Rifle tripod, it sets up in 5 minutes or less, and is lightweight. It comes in a carrying case.
A fellow borrowed mine at the range. Came back after hitting it on the corner with his scoped AR15. I called and they sent me a new housing for $10. The electronics snapped in and it works perfectly.
I lost interest in the LabRadar.
 
The Labrador is great for situations such as a crowded range because you can set it up without crossing the firing line. If crossing the firing line isn't a big deal or your range isn't crowded, then it's not a huge advantage over a regular chronograph.

I have not seen a significant velocity discrepancy between the Labrador and CE's traditional style chronograph.
 
You can load develop for accuracy without a chrono and use ballistic calculator to create a come up/dope card but... one of my shooting clubs had an old Oehler that needed to be repaired and for a little more than the frt and repair bill we got a Labradar at cost thru a member who worked at a gun shop. Best money we ever spent. We just one with the plate and carry case. Has worked great for 5 yrs until somebody dropped it and the mother board inside broke loose but to it's credit, the thing still worked. We got it fixed for $100 wiith frt both ways. I comes in very handy and some of my buds wont shoot on the bench without it. $10 bucks or so for a USB battery pack off Amazon or thats what they were 5 yrs ago and mine still works just fine.
 
Pogue said:
Pricey and a bit hard to find right now but are they worth it?

Load development for PR possible without it? (Without wasting components)

@Timfoilhat i remember you buying one. Thoughts having used it for awhile?
Click to expand...
The recent replies are spot on.

My range is a little harder to use a conventional chronograph because of set up time ahead of the firing line making that impractical. The labradar sits on the accessory tripod right on the bench. I connect to it with Bluetooth and an old android phone. The app is a little bit of a pain to set up to use, but once it's working it's brilliant.
It gobbles batteries. Get a rechargeable battery bank and use that.
It's been useful at my club's indoor pistol range since it sits tabletop. Used it to develop some 9mm and .38 spl loads that clone factory defensive stuff. That means cheaper practice with loads that shoot like my carry loads.
I've also worked up a load for my M1A that's shoots better than GMM.

I really like it.

Down side is cost. It's expensive. Especially for something that gets used very little these days. I made loads up for stuff and have no need to alter them which means it's kind of just sitting around these days. At least until primers are easily had.

Another down side to me is the controls are not terribly intuitive. I have to re-learn how to use it every 6 months or so when I take on a new project. The convenience of set up overcomes this negative, but still it kind of sucks to have to relearn how to make it go.
 
THey now make a model with and one w/o Blue Tooth capability. Ours has BT and Ive used the app once. For guys that insist on using it prone with 32" bbl guns, the BT version would come in handy. Of course the BT model is moe money.
 
I have had a Labradar since they came out and had no trouble. Only use at my personal range and as stated before have to refresh on instructions once a year. Had Little Cronys to start with and what a relief not having them now. Then progressed to Magnetospeed I think it was called which was okay. My radar is the heat once you get used to it. Do not know how it would act around a bunch of shooting.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
THey now make a model with and one w/o Blue Tooth capability. Ours has BT and Ive used the app once. For guys that insist on using it prone with 32" bbl guns, the BT version would come in handy. Of course the BT model is moe money.
Click to expand...

From my reading a while back, the only reason they made the non Bluetooth model was due to supply chain/chip shortages. IIRC that model cannot have Bluetooth added later if the owner decides they want it.
 
This was the best video on YouTube for me. After completing your group, hold the arm button for 2 seconds for review mode. After that the new string button for a new group. It did take me 3_4 tried to get the hang of it, but it's much easier now. Like said above, get the battery pack, get a decent hard case (the Labradar soft case has a pocket that doesn't completely seal and small items will fall out of it), and a tripod of your choice. If you need some space on the bench, get a tripod tall enough, if not the small Labradar tripod works just fine...but it takes up more space on a shooting bench.

 
I’m happy with mine. Takes some tinkering at first to become familiar with controls enough to remember the procedures while shooting without the manual. I printed some labels and put on mine to help with that. Recent update to app for BT seemed like a pretty good step in the right direction vs the the previous. When I first got it had to send it back in due to it being very hard to trigger. I’m talking gun powder residue on the side of the case to make it work. Spoke with some guys, they found that the mics had too much protective padding around them. Had it back to me in what I felt was a reasonable time period. Given prices of components these days, I feel like some type of chrono is a no brainer if you want to stretch it out any kind of distance.
 
I own a Magnetospeed and my range (@VOD Tactical ) has a Labradar. I’ve used both extensively with great results. However, I got tired of the PIA setup and operation. I bought an $80 Caldwell on sale. It’s within a few FPS, well within margin of error, of both high end options.
 
Another vote for the CE ProChrono. Fast and easy to set up. Fits on a tripod. Load up the app,mount and turn on the unit, let it sync, give the string a name, and you're ready to go. Data bluetooths straight to the phone into an app where it records strings and you can make notes. I hardly look at the front of the unit, all the data is conveniently shown on the app. (Which, by the way, gives you the option of placing a piece of AR500 in front of the unit. ;))
Sometimes, while I'm reloading, I pull out the phone and refer back to the data . Really happy with mine.

Had a Shooting Chrony before. It was a bit archaic 70's programing technology, but it worked for that once in a while load development. Still have that here somewhere. Maybe I'll set that up as a loaner.
 
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I adore mine. I only load pistol, so it's completely overkill, but I plan to use it the rest of my life.

I originally had some other optical chrono (whatever the standard off-the-shelf ones are) and was constantly battling with getting good data from it. If it was too sunny then it wouldn't read. If it was too overcast it wouldn't read. If the planets weren't aligned it wouldn't read. I figure my time is valuable enough to get a chrono that will always give me an accurate reading.
 
Well, as life usually goes, I hesitated long enough for something to change my plans…an unexpected expense to keep the wife & daughter happy has put this purchase on hold, but that’s alright. Still planning to pick one up next time I’m able. Thanks for the responses.
 
I really like mine. I run a trigger on mine thats 3d printed it was like $25. It is much easier to run through the phone app IMO. I load develop for PRS with it and its has been really good for it.
 
Pogue said:
Pricey and a bit hard to find right now but are they worth it?

Load development for PR possible without it? (Without wasting components)

@Timfoilhat i remember you buying one. Thoughts having used it for awhile?
Click to expand...

You should rent one....

Better investment and one of the CFF members could recoop some $$$

John
 
It was either milehighshooting or precision reloading that showed in stock when I made this thread. Both show out of stock now.
 
I like mine although I don't use it all that frequently. I hated setting up typical chronographs so this is an improvement. I've probably had it 3 or 4 years. The app was essentially not functional on release; it works now, but the entire thing is really far overpriced and primed for a competitor to take them down. I guess it's just a tiny market really and traditional chronographs do just fine in the budget sector, so not worth the testing and evaluation.

But the user experience when trying to use it without the app is just awful! The app is better than it was, but still not particularly user friendly.

Ultimately it's worth it if you're chasing extremely low sd, you want to calculate BC (I shoot a lot of subs and this is surprisingly handy for drop compensation at silly ranges you wouldn't normally shoot subs at), or you really value ease of setup. I suppose also if you have to shoot at a range where setting a chrony would be a pain, that might factor in. But if you use a chronograph infrequently you may be better off saving the money. I paid a lot less for mine new several years ago than they are going for now...
 
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