My Labradar reads the wind now

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Minuteman
    • Apr 12, 2001
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    Base of the Rockies
    www.snipershide.com
    #1
    Since the last fall, it tipped over in the wind last summer 1ft off the ground. My Labradar needs to go back for repair.

    27747878_1694496307240552_7366679050547294319_o.jpg


    The unit is too damn fragile for the front range, but dang I still try. Today I used it with some load development work I was doing with my 300NM and 260REM.

    The winds were back up to 18-25MPH, totally messed with the unit readings. I used a different tripod, legs spread wide, and lucky for me I had a back up in the car, the Super Chrono from Steinart was sitting there so why not. I actually needed it.

    Before the Labradar would not add a new track so I was deleting and repeating, but after a few shakes, it was adding new tracks again. I did a factory reset on it, went through every screen, changed the batteries, it was looking pretty good so why not. Ugh,

    With the suppressor covers on my cans, the MagnetoSpeed can get a bit funky lining it up, and I was too lazy to remove the suppressors and/or their covers.

    So as the winds crept up, the unit was picking up the wind and giving me a false reading, between 1200fps and 1900fps is our wind. The SuperChrono was a worthwhile backup, but dang I missed my MagnetoSpeed today. The Labradar was all over the place and by the 7th load test, it was unusable, super bad. It would switch off, pick up the wind, do everything but it's damn job. I so want to like it better than the MagnetoSpeed, nope, not today.

    One more time for repair, if this thing breaks again I am officially off the Labradar bandwagon. Annoyed me so much I did not finish and went home.

    Gonna be Two Box and MagnetoSpeed for the win moving forward. I dig the ease of use, but guys, we have wind and stuff.

    On a brighter note, the Red Crayons in 300NORMA worked the best, 230s at 3000fps with an SD of 9fps and 136gr Scenars out of my 20" Tikka with Bartlein barrel at 2855fps with an SD of 7fps ... I'll take those. Pink Crayons for the Tikka, next to sort out the 185s for my 308.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: BallisticPrimate, bjay, snarkscarbine and 1 other person
    #5
    Where'd you get those gay pride bullets, Frank? :ROFLMAO:

    Seriously though, I bet those help keep things separated easily during load development. Are you coloring them yourself, or how are you doing that/where are you getting them?
     
    #16
    Not sure what Franks method is, but I’ve magic marked bullets before and had them come out just as colorful as those.

    My uncle showed me this trick long time ago. The Marks A Lot Markers work the best.... the ones that come in a metal pen body and will get you high as a kite using them..... ahhhh memories.

    You can get sharpies to look like that, you just have to go over them a few times.
     
    #18
    Is the gay pride coloring so you can do a ladder test and not have to mark them on the board individually each time? You just know that green = 34.5 grains, pink = 40.0 grains, etc?
     
    Last edited:
    #22
    whatsupdoc said:
    Yet he remains silent.
    Click to expand...

    Chill guys, even in today's societal climate, coming out is still a stressful event. Give Frank some time! :ROFLMAO:

    On a more serious note, having never seen this done before, I think it's genius. I'll definitely have to remember it when I head out to set my next rifle up and do load development. Sharpie markers or whatever the trick may be, it seems like a quick and easy way to organize things!
     
    #30
    I was going to buy the Labradar because of the postings about how cool it was. I had my finger on the purchase button and then stopped and decided to watch a video on the Magneto Speed and decided to go that direction.

    Apparently it was a wise decision.
     
    #32
    Am I reading this correctly? You've got a broken Labradar that you had to beat on to get working at all, and you are unhappy with it because it is giving you unreliable readings?
     
    #33
    vh20 said:
    Am I reading this correctly? You've got a broken Labradar that you had to beat on to get working at all, and you are unhappy with it because it is giving you unreliable readings?
    Click to expand...

    You r missing the backstory. It tipped over 11 inches off the ground on a tripod a while back and broke. His issue is it’s too fragile for filed use.
     
    #38
    I dropped my rifle. It still works, the scope still works and still holds zero. I think the point is, there's field equipment and there's lab equipment. It's right there in the name.
     
    • Like
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    #39
    Jefe's Dope said:
    I dropped my rifle. It still works, the scope still works and still holds zero. I think the point is, there's field equipment and there's lab equipment. It's right there in the name.
    Click to expand...
    Exactly. I don’t consider my iPhone at all field grade. It shuts off at 14degs F or if laid in the sun on a 70 deg day. This is one reason I have really fell in love with my Kestrel over time. It is most certainly up to field use.
     
    #40
    It's a innovative piece of gear, but it was designed from a perspective that omitted actual field conditions, and it's performance and durability reflect it. Between the menu navigation, mounting/stability, device aiming...either the field testing perspective was ignored by the engineering team, or a $$$ decision was made. They could've hit this out of the park, and literally owned the chrono market... but just missed it by that much,
     
    #41
    Exactly,

    it's annoying because this is the second time,

    The menu navigation definitely sucks, I always turn it off and back on because it's easier than trying to navigate to the screens I want. The too heavy focus on energy is part of the issue. Today a user settable menu would be much nicer.
     
    #42
    If it's windy I just tie down my tripod. Some 550 cord and some tent spikes and it's rock solid.

    Aiming device, I made one out of a small eye drop tube which works well.

    I do the power off thing as well. I can't seem to get myself to remember how to get back to where I want to be.
     
    #43
    Lowlight said:
    Since the last fall, it tipped over in the wind last summer 1ft off the ground. My Labradar needs to go back for repair.

    27747878_1694496307240552_7366679050547294319_o.jpg


    The unit is too damn fragile for the front range, but dang I still try. Today I used it with some load development work I was doing with my 300NM and 260REM.

    The winds were back up to 18-25MPH, totally messed with the unit readings. I used a different tripod, legs spread wide, and lucky for me I had a back up in the car, the Super Chrono from Steinart was sitting there so why not. I actually needed it.

    Before the Labradar would not add a new track so I was deleting and repeating, but after a few shakes, it was adding new tracks again. I did a factory reset on it, went through every screen, changed the batteries, it was looking pretty good so why not. Ugh,

    With the suppressor covers on my cans, the MagnetoSpeed can get a bit funky lining it up, and I was too lazy to remove the suppressors and/or their covers.

    So as the winds crept up, the unit was picking up the wind and giving me a false reading, between 1200fps and 1900fps is our wind. The SuperChrono was a worthwhile backup, but dang I missed my MagnetoSpeed today. The Labradar was all over the place and by the 7th load test, it was unusable, super bad. It would switch off, pick up the wind, do everything but it's damn job. I so want to like it better than the MagnetoSpeed, nope, not today.

    One more time for repair, if this thing breaks again I am officially off the Labradar bandwagon. Annoyed me so much I did not finish and went home.

    Gonna be Two Box and MagnetoSpeed for the win moving forward. I dig the ease of use, but guys, we have wind and stuff.

    On a brighter note, the Red Crayons in 300NORMA worked the best, 230s at 3000fps with an SD of 9fps and 136gr Scenars out of my 20" Tikka with Bartlein barrel at 2855fps with an SD of 7fps ... I'll take those. Pink Crayons for the Tikka, next to sort out the 185s for my 308.
    Click to expand...

    What are those "velocity sheets" I see???
     
    #45
    If you want the advanced features, only a Doppler can provide, it is the only game in town. The logic around here surprises me. Hundreds of positive reviews on the unit. One guy has a problem with his, after dropping it twice, and that is what you run with when considering a purchase? No offense to Lowlight, but it seems more like a user issue, than an equipment issue, IMO.
     
    #47
    alfack said:
    If you want the advanced features, only a Doppler can provide, it is the only game in town. The logic around here surprises me. Hundreds of positive reviews on the unit. One guy has a problem with his, after dropping it twice, and that is what you run with when considering a purchase? No offense to Lowlight, but it seems more like a user issue, than an equipment issue, IMO.
    Click to expand...

    A user shared his experience that these units are giant wind sails and don't handle tipping over well...

    why wouldn't it be wise to consider the delicate nature of these units before purchasing?
     
    #48
    IMHO the "shortcomings" are easily overcome compared to the benefits received. The "energy" issue is easily overcome with the addition of a decent external battery. The one that is offered with it from the resellers is crap (low milliamps) for what you pay. I purchased a 27,000MA battery on Amazon for under 40 bucks. It's almost the same size as the one offered by LR but WAY more power. I attach it to the LR base plate with velcro and that's where it "lives" even during charging (which it rarely needs). When I go to the field for a range session I just leave the LR on the whole time (sometimes several hours at a time). The battery hardly notices, really, I think I could leave the thing on all day with no issues whatsoever. So, energy/power/battery issues solved. As to tipping over, if the winds up I simply place a small sandbag on the base plate, that, along with the battery has stabilised the entire unit just fine even in very windy conditions. So, tipping issue solved, at least for me. As to the menu issues, I agree it could be better but I use the unit enough to be very familiar with what's required to quickly navigate to the screen I want. I run the unit just to the left of the turrets, about 4" off the side so reaching the buttons without breaking position is easy (not out in front of the rifle like some do which is a PITA if you need to navigate the menu). Eliminates the whole need to have a smartphone app to run it too. My unit has been incredibably reliable & it gets used ALOT by myself as well as shooting buddies. I keep the main unit, base plate & battery in a pelican type padded case I bought at Sam's club for $35, VERY Tough & durable. Stored in the case face down, the protective rubber flaps stay flat & fasten flat as designed. Short of dropping the unit when moving it around from shooter to shooter, I don't really see any fragility issues. All in all, I give it 9 stars out of 10.
     
    #49
    goosed said:
    A user shared his experience that these units are giant wind sails and don't handle tipping over well...

    why wouldn't it be wise to consider the delicate nature of these units before purchasing?
    Click to expand...

    I was ready to pull the trigger on one and I am grateful Frank brought this to everyone's attention, before I made the purchase. I live in Wyoming and I shoot outdoors. An inherently windy and harsh environment. I just don't need anymore fragile gear, messing with my shooting time.

    Even though I HATE the *&^%&$ mounting strap on my V3 Magnetospeed, for my needs it is the better choice. These are both new technologies in our shooting realm. This type of constructive critical feedback will make the next Gens of these product much better.
     
    #50
    I didn't drop it, the wind did it, actually both times but the first time it was on the back of the car, I was changing batteries, so it was even lighter and the wind blew it off the back of the car to the ground, about 2ft on to the dirt.

    The second time I just used it with a student, and moved it out of the way, it was on the ground, on it's tripod and the wind blew it over, how that equals a user issue I have not idea. I am on the range doing normal things, sorry if my range has wind, we average 12MPH and on both days it was 18MPH+.

    In fact this week when I shot it and it was reading the wind too, 18MPHs winds were registering on the unit, which fucks the numbers, when you are going 2855 and the wind reads 1800, your SD look bad.

    I am one of the FIRST people to use this unit, I got it early, and this is my lifetime experience with it as such. Broke twice, the menu system is annoying, the false readings because I use a suppressor is annoying, how that means I am hard on it escape me, but okay, you know better

    My only issue, which prevented me from just automatically defaulting to the MagnetoSpeed is, the suppressors. I cut my barrels back there is no room to mount the MagenetoSpeed without the suppressor, and with the suppressor I have my covers locked down tight so undoing them is annoying and using the Magneto with the cover is not as reliable. I am probably gonna follow the Tubb lead and use an offset tool on the pic rail
     
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