Magneto Speed V3 Fix and Review

[Painless300]

I just bought a new Magneto Speed V3. Once I got the Plastic Spacers and V-Block combination correct (1/4" Spacer + 3/8" Spacer + Thick Rubber V Block for #3 Bartlein) I tried to use the provided machine screws, I found three sizes in the pack the longest was to long and the middle size was to short.

Simple Fix: Went to Home Depot and bought a small pack of #6 lock washers. Used 2 washers per MID SIZED screw and that locked to the bayonet tight.

Not sure if anyone else has seen this issue but when using the longest screw the spacers were loose which maybe ok because you lock it down with the strap and thumb screw but I guess I am a little to anal for a $400 piece of equipment that your essentially shooting 3000 FPS within literally mm's above to be anything but locked down.

Anyone else had this issue?

 

[californiasushi]

I had the same issue. I just used the spacer/v-blocks without screwing them down and have had no issues after chronying six different barrels. I don't know if that's recommended but I haven't had any problems so far. Knock on wood!

 

[Painless300]

Well I'm glad to hear someone else has experienced this problem. Maybe just had the wrong screws in just a few unit.

 

[Painless300]

Well I finally got the V3 on the range today.
shot 3 initial shots without the bayonet attached to verify zero and foul the clean barrel. No I've chroned this round several times with my cheapo chronograph and usually averaged 2765 with an ES in the 50's which has always bothered me since I take great care and time with my reloads.

I then strapped on the V3 the set up was extremely easy and the display is very simple.
Fired my first five shot group and they grouped sub 1/4" as usual, what was unbelievable is that my group was 3" high at 100 yds!
I confirmed this with 2 more strings then pulled the V3 off, shot one more string and my POA went right back to normal.

The good news about the V3 is it was much more consistent with my ES at 10-14.

Bottom line is I will continue to use the V3 just can't expect the same POA.
This may be exasterbated by the #3 Bartlein I'm shooting, a heavier contour barrel may not be as drastically effected.

 

[TimeWillTell]

Thanks for the write up! Is the bayonet long enough to be mounted right behind a fat bastard muzzle brake? Is there a minimum close distance from the muzzle to avoid the metal of the barrel/muzzle brake from messing things up? Thanks.

 

[Painless300]

I have a Vias Brake on mine and I basically just place the brake in the middle of the curve on the Bayonet. I m sure your break will will just fine.

 

[MCSO1357]

Same issue with the screws, not worked up about it. I just strap it all onto the barrel and shoot away with no problems. I haven't seen any POI changes in my shooting with it on.

 

[scotharr]

just take a hack saw to the long ones to adjust....and let the manufacturer know so they can fix

 

[Painless300]

Same issue with the screws, not worked up about it. I just strap it all onto the barrel and shoot away with no problems. I haven't seen any POI changes in my shooting with it on.

What Contour Barrel do you have, Im wondering if the heavier contours are not affected as much?

 

[david8989]

I don't see any POI changes with my savage 12 LRP and my V2. Then again that is one hell of a stick of iron on that thing. 1.25" at the muzzle I believe. Lol!

 

[Painless300]

I am really have to torque down on the strap to keep it from sliding back. I am shooting a light weight 300wm so its got a good bit of recoil. I think the next time on the range I will try to use the rubber pc made for a silencer and see if that will keep it from moving with out have to tighten it down so tight and maybe that will keep my POI the same.

 

[david8989]

I am really have to torque down on the strap to keep it from sliding back. I am shooting a light weight 300wm so its got a good bit of recoil. I think the next time on the range I will try to use the rubber pc made for a silencer and see if that will keep it from moving with out have to tighten it down so tight and maybe that will keep my POI the same.

Does your barrel have a pretty steep taper at the muzzle? We had the same issue with my friends hunting barrel, so I took an extra piece of rubber and tucked it in the front edge of the shims so the taper wasn't so bad and it never moved again. You may give that a shot and see if it works for ya, but as always, YMMV.

 

[Painless300]

Does your barrel have a pretty steep taper at the muzzle? We had the same issue with my friends hunting barrel, so I took an extra piece of rubber and tucked it in the front edge of the shims so the taper wasn't so bad and it never moved again. You may give that a shot and see if it works for ya, but as always, YMMV.

Its a 26" #3 Bartlein so it's not a real steep taper. I'll try the rubber and see if that helps.

 

[Painless300]

I sent an e-mail to Magneto Speed yesterday and got a response by lunch today. Fast customer service and some great suggestions.
This is what I wrote:

Guys,
I want to first say you have an awesome product, the set up is very easy, the menu on the controller is very simple and user friendly and I love that its compact enough to fit in my range box.

I do have some questions:
First I purchased the V3 from Midway and on initial set up the screws that were sent with the package were either to long or to short, it was an easy fix, I just bought some #6 washers and they fit right in the holes of the blocks and that took care of the issue.
Second to keep the bayonet from sliding back I really had to crank down on the strap screw and even then it would keep sliding. I am shooting a 300WM with a 26" #3 contour bartlein barrel.
The biggest issue I am seeing is that it has change my point of impact drastically, 3" high at 100 yds.
Any Suggestions?
Thanks
Mark

Response:
Thanks for the positive words and the feedback. I'll try to address all your questions.

1. We are looking into the screw kit issue. It seems that some of the screws are slightly out of specified length from what we ordered. That being said the included ones will still work with all combinations, in the instructions it says to always have them in order from smallest to largest. That's true, except for the case if you are only using the 1/4 and 3/8, then you put the 3/8 on bottom and the longest screws will work. I know that's convoluted, and wouldn't be an issue if the screws were the correct length. All that said, we actually typically don't use the screws when we are using the unit ourselves. The only purpose they serve is to keep the spacers in place when the unit is not on a barrel. Once it is strapped down they stop serving any purpose.

2. The only tip I can give for this is to make sure to back the tightening nut off to the very bottom of the threads before taking the slack out of the strap. In this way you utilize the full amount of travel on the tightening nut. If done properly, even with thin tapered barrels and large recoil weapons the unit should stay in place based on the real world testing we have done.

3. POI change is a very complicated and tricky subject to address. Officially we make no claims that it will not effect your POI and the user should shoot for accuracy and chronograph separately. That said we see both results from shooters in the field. Some will see a large POI change, some will not see any at all. It's a combination of speed, muzzle blast, distance from the sensor deck, bullet shape, etc. A couple things you could try and see if it reduced the POI change would be to slide the bayonet as far forward as you can on the barrel, just make sure it doesn't slip off during shooting. Also try to use all the spacers, it may take it out of the recommended distance and you may have to increase your sensitivity, but I would try it without changing sensitivity first. These may or may not have any effect on your change in POI at all.

Hope that helps and if you have anymore questions please contact me again.

Sincerely,

Ivan Dorflinger

MagnetoSpeed LLC
9206 Rod Rd. STE C
Austin, TX 78736

(512) 284-8161 | [email protected]

 

[nwilling]

I had the same issue with the screws but figured out a combination to make it work. I'll have to try the 3/8 on the bottom trick! I saw no POI shift, I think mainly because after doing a bunch of research, I spaced the deck more like 3/8 to 1/2" from the bore. No problems picking up any of the shots, and no POI shift.

 

[Painless300]

Going back to the range this weekend to try all these suggestions, I'll post my findings.

 

[locotrician]

I have the same issue with the screws, no big deal but I can't get this thing to stay in place on heavier recoiling weapons, I did exactly as described for tightening it down. Other than that I really like the v3.

 

[Shoottothrill]

Well I finally got the V3 on the range today.
shot 3 initial shots without the bayonet attached to verify zero and foul the clean barrel. No I've chroned this round several times with my cheapo chronograph and usually averaged 2765 with an ES in the 50's which has always bothered me since I take great care and time with my reloads.

I then strapped on the V3 the set up was extremely easy and the display is very simple.
Fired my first five shot group and they grouped sub 1/4" as usual, what was unbelievable is that my group was 3" high at 100 yds!
I confirmed this with 2 more strings then pulled the V3 off, shot one more string and my POA went right back to normal.

The good news about the V3 is it was much more consistent with my ES at 10-14.

Bottom line is I will continue to use the V3 just can't expect the same POA.
This may be exasterbated by the #3 Bartlein I'm shooting, a heavier contour barrel may not be as drastically effected.

I see you are happy with your ES being more accurate, but you failed to say what the velocity of your load was on the V3 vs. your old chrono.

 

[Painless300]

Thanks for pointing that out, I was getting some pretty wide swings with the old chrono anywhere from 2660 - 2830 with a few non readings. With the V3 I got very consistent readings 2760 - 2775. I did get a couple in the 2800 range but that was over 80 rounds. The biggest issue I had with the old chrono was in my load development when stepping up my powder load at .3 grs my rise in velocity was not consistent at all.

 

[Painless300]

Got back to the range today and tried the ideas that Ivan at Magneto Speed gave. I added the extra block, slide the bayonet as far forward as possible then used the rubber piece that's supposed to be used on a can. I tightened it down pretty tight then shot three rounds. The bayonet did not move this time and instead of being 3" high it so was only 1" high, I then loosed it just a little and fired three more shots and this time no change in POI!
I shot the rest of the morning and nothing moved and my POI never changed.
Problem solved.