Rather than an detailed extensive product review, I'm offering my brief experience with using 1 machine.
I was at my range & saw another shooter, whom I've gotten to know, as we seem to be at the range at the same time.
We share guns , and experiences. The other day, he broke out his new LabRadar, and began setting it up.
As I've watched several videos on this product & considered purchasing one, went over to check it out.
The design / concept seems great..better than conventional chronos, anyway. I was a bit surprised by finding some info online about the unit:
It's high initial cost, + the need to purchase other items you'd think should be included in the purchase price, driving the cost higher.
(this info from watching the link added below) This has kept me waiting , before ordering a unit.
Website said they are taking orders, waiting for parts to build more units..( ! ) to fill current orders.
I should add that I've owned a chrono for ) 25 yrs. a Pact Chrono brand, bought from Midway back in the 90's (?)
It worked well the first few times I used it..then it quit working. I hadn't done anything to damage the unit, had handled & stored it carefully, etc.. tried a new battery with .. still nothing. Decided I should send it back to the company for testing..& that was as far as I got. I Boxed it up, but never sent it in.
Still sits in it's box in the garage, somewhere..( maybe I should go look for it ?)
Back to my labRadar experience ..Clocking rds shot thru a King Cobra, he was getting consistent reading ranging from about 850-900 fps. from the 38 Spec. load he was shooting. I asked if I could try clocking some of my rds..he said, "sure". I had some 9mm rds I was shooting from my PSA AR-9.. both 115 gr. and 147 g.r loads.
Before firing a shot..unit started having problems..power not working. Unit is powered by (6) AA batteries, or an ( optional) rechargeable battery pack.
Owner had a battery pack..which said it had 95% charge. He had another battery pack, smaller, that said it was @ 100% charge.. it didn't work either.
Got out his owners manual ..I started reading it, after he went to fully charge his larger battery pack in his truck.
I discovered the message being sent was not "low power", but an incompatibly w/ memory card being used. I Removed the card & the unit powered up.
Strange.. the unit worked fine with the memory card in place, when he was using it earlier .. ???
Anyway, I started clocking loads..115gr JHP w/ 4.5 gr Clean Shot.. Shooter's World website says should = about 1090 fps..
got readings of 523 fps.. then 664, 748, 788, 1234, 1244, & 1236 fps didn't seem to be consistent or accurate , IMO
Next, I tried my 147gr.FMJ load.. data from Lyman 49th ed. manual says 4.1 gr of 231 should = about 957 fps
got readings of 1037 and 1060 fps..
I fired more rds than I have results recorded, because some fired rds didn't register....at all.
This non reading of fired rds. happened with both loads..but the 147 gr. load had more unread rds than the 115gr rds I'd fired.
after this , I decided to switch to try reading a few 223 loads I'd brought for an AR-15 (rifle) I'd brought to the range.,
Reading the manual, I discovered the need to 1st change the Labradar to "rifle"setting, & change / enter bullet weight , etc..
My 223 load is a 55gr FMJ loaded with 24.5 gr of A/A 2230.. a very accurate load in my AR's in this caliber.
according to Accurate's online load data 24.5 gr of 2230 should = about 3240fps.
For whatever reason, I got fewer "unread" readings on rds. fired in this caliber, but the accuracy is suspect:
Here's the readings : 2772 fps, 2727, 2676, 2679, 2660, 2726, 2635, 2659, 2665
I am skeptical of these reading, because I hand weigh each powder charge, and reject (re-throw) any charge that is > + or - .1 gr of the desired charge...so I know my powder charge weights are very consistent. I accept I'm not familiar with the setup & use of this unit.
I relied on the owner's knowledge, & experience of the units owner, which I came to understand was limited. Though I did give the supplied owner's manual a quick read, to see if I could determine the cause of unread shots fired, and wide range of velocities that were reported by the machine.
I was ( am still) disappointed with the results, as well as "ease of setup and use" of this unit.
For the cost of the machine, I feel it should work more reliably. Also feel that many "extras" you have to pay for should be included in the purchase price
.I'd like to get another opportunity to try it again, after the owner gets more experience in use of the unit. Maybe I'd get better results.
If you're considering purchasing a LabRadar, I'd suggest you view the link below..
it does a good job of providing + and - aspects of a purchaser's experience..
