First day at the range with the new LabRadar (LR)

(See pictures first)










One thing that will change in the near future will be a bracket that hangs from the lower windowsill onto which the LR will mount on. The tripod is too shaky when using the buttons on the unit.

Prior to going to the range, I got all my pre-sets programmed in the LR. I set it initially for mounting 6” from the barrel. In setting it up however, it looked like a better position would be 18” away as it would then be in front of a window. These things do give readings thru that thin paneling unit I use to keep the cold air out. We tried it last week with Herman’s unit. So anyway I changed the setting in the LR for 18” offset. I then loaded up 73 gr. of N-120 with a 300 gr. XTP which usually chronograph’s at around 2960 or so. Well, I got a reading on this first shot but it was 2633 fps?? Hmmm? My first thought was “cold clean barrel?” Still it is never that slow, so….I loaded up a second it it was 2623s fps?? Now my thought was that maybe the 18” offset was causing the problem?.............I knew from running the police radar that the further the angle of the patrol car to the target traffic, the slower the speed…………..so I now move the LR over 6” from the barrel, change the barrel offset in the LR and go to load up a third shot. As…I am seating the bullet, I feel the collar on my ramrod clink on the muzzle brake??? Hmmm? Then it struck me, last week I was shooting FoxGrape’s rifle and had to adjust the collar for his barrel……So, I loosen the collar and go to again seat the bullet and I feel the rod go down probably a ¼ to ½”! In effect, those first two shot were being fired with a sizable gap between the powder and bullet! Again, loaded the bullet firmly seated on the powder and the LR 6” from the barrel and “wham!’ 2966 FPS! Still, not 100% certain the velocity was due to the LR distance or the bullet not being seated so I continued firing a few more shots and getting used to working the various features. I managed two three shot groups with the XTP’s, one at .188” and the other at .273”.

Next up I fired some groups with my 6 BRX match rifle just to see if it corroborated my chronograph readings, and it did! Still thinking about that 18” offset, I moved the LR out that distance and fired another group with the ML This is not conclusive, but shot #1 was 2953 #2 was 2934 and #3 at 2932, If they had stayed up in the 2950’s, I would have felt more comfortable but the lower shots have me still thinking about the offset?

Does anyone who has one of these units have any input concerning the speed at various offsets?

This first outing was more for familiarization then anything else. The more I work with it, my results should improve, hopefully!

And lastly, my wife wanted to get rid of the pumpkin we had on our front porch. It was still not rotted and very firm so decided to bring it to the range for S—ts and giggles. The pumpkin was set on top of the 100 yard berm and I hit it with the above load…for what its worth!