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Post by ballistic on Dec 8, 2023 15:19:31 GMT -5
I recently purchased the new Garmin unit and what a game changer. I didn’t like the small supplied tripod so I replaced it w a larger flexible tripod. The new Garmin is so small and light I thought a 10 mph would tip it over. It’s common to sometimes bump into chrony units -at least for me. The labradar (for me) had a learning curve that I didn’t like. If you bumped the unit it would give an error. If you didn’t press the check button - the next shot wouldn’t record. Arming was another issue - timeouts happened and again no speed. If someone else had a similar unit on the same frequency - my unit would show thier speeds. I ultimately had to make a cheat card and tape it to the unit. Even with that I had missed shots. I eventually went to the triggering option on this unit and it helped a lot. Overall I was pretty happy with the labradar but it just wasn’t as user friendly as it could have been. And it was big. The Garmin. Turn it on and follow the simple steps. I chose rifle -then the velocity. The next step tells you where to place the unit from the rifle. Very simple to use - no directions needed. You can do the same for a bow -and it tells you where to place the unit. I bumped the unit several times setting it up on the flexible tripod because I turned it on and armed it before I had it on the tripod. It gave me movement errors and then reset itself immediately. I shot 2 rifles and my muzzy and moved the Garmin purposely to a different spot -each time I swapped out the weapons. Not a shot was missed. It gave me all the shots info including the extreme speeds and standard deviation. No timeouts on arming like the labradar. The speeds were very consistent and almost exactly the same as the labradar. I do have one gripe about it. And that’s the APP called Shot View. If you read the user agreement (please do this) you will know why I don’t like this. I will not be using the app -ever …. Garmin on flexible tripod. Good stability. How small this is next to my phone This is an RCBS die case -with unit and supplied tripod in it. It closes but isn’t waterproof. Verdict. I sold my labradar. It was a great unit but didn’t evolve. For those that are looking for a labradar -I’ve seen them used for $300 and under. When compared to a magneto of equal $$$ spent - I would still go with a used labradar. JMO
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Dec 8, 2023 16:00:34 GMT -5
Glad to hear you’re liking it bud. I got mine a few days ago, first real try of it tomorrow. Really excited. Gonna start with the little tripod but planning to 3D print a pic rail mount for it soon.
Happy shooting
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Post by hillbill on Dec 8, 2023 16:13:10 GMT -5
Thinking hard about one myself just because of the size Need a new lathe much worse but?
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Dec 8, 2023 16:18:01 GMT -5
Both ;-)
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Post by yoderjac on Dec 8, 2023 16:23:55 GMT -5
If I had not already purchased a labRadar and gone through the learning curve, I'd probably buy a Garmin. Everyone whom I've seen use one likes it better than the LabRadar and thinks it is easier to use.
There is only one thing that concerns me about it. The LabRadar reports down range velocity. From time to time, it seems to get a bad muzzle velocity reading. I'm not sure why. However, if I look at the down range velocities, and compare to the shot string, it is easy to identify these and eliminate them.
I don't know if the Garmin reports down range velocities. I think I saw a video that said it does not. If it does not have the occasional bad muzzle velocity measurements, it may not need to report down range velocity. However, if it does have occasional bad reading, I think it would be hard to identify them other than just assuming they are bad cause they are outliers.
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Post by Kyle on Dec 8, 2023 16:30:06 GMT -5
Will the Garmin track and give readings down range?
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Dec 8, 2023 16:30:58 GMT -5
Pretty sure no it is short range only.
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Dec 8, 2023 16:32:02 GMT -5
I wanted the Lab for that reason, and calculating actual BC. But not worth all the other drawbacks so I went Garmin instead.
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Post by buckeye68 on Dec 8, 2023 16:48:39 GMT -5
Will the Garmin track and give readings down range? No, it will not and that’s why I’m keeping my LabRadar even tho I have the Garmin. The Garmin is just to easy to use and convenient. I’ve had the LabRadar for a few years and it’s not costing me to keep it for down range information when needed.
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Post by smokelessk on Dec 8, 2023 17:00:39 GMT -5
Sounds like a very useful, but simple to use tool. My only chrony is a bit old school. The flip open with sky screens. I don't ever use it because of the major inconvenience of setting it all up. The Garmin is a device I would actually use, and regularly.
What's up with the app though? Is it a pay to use deal or some other negative?
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Dec 8, 2023 17:07:48 GMT -5
I’ve always used a Caldwell chrony, similar light gate style. One of my issues with those is accuracy. They are a pain in the butt to set up and align perfectly, and if you’re off by a little it will read low because the bullet travelling further than the perpendicular distance between the sensors because of the angle. Might be fine for permanent fixed setups but for me shooting from the top of my hill and having targets arranged over my field it just isn’t workable.
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ronc
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by ronc on Dec 8, 2023 17:39:43 GMT -5
Does it work on the bench beside the gun, or does it need to be ahead of the muzzle? I've not used a LabRadar, I've got a Oehler 35 that I've used for years but a small unit that sets beside the gun would be a big advantage to me.
Does it work only on battery power, or can it be used while charging connected to the charger? I'm assuming it has a rechargeable battery.
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mitch
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by mitch on Dec 8, 2023 17:45:09 GMT -5
Does it work on the bench beside the gun, or does it need to be ahead of the muzzle? I've not used a LabRadar, I've got a Oehler 35 that I've used for years but a small unit that sets beside the gun would be a big advantage to me. Does it work only on battery power, or can it be used while charging connected to the charger? I'm assuming it has a rechargeable battery. The Garmin can be placed on the bench next to the gun. I’ve read reviews saying it is actually pretty darn forgiving about placement, though the instructions with the unit recommend something like 15” behind muzzle and within 5” of bore.
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Post by ballistic on Dec 8, 2023 17:46:20 GMT -5
[quote author=" smokelessk" source="/post/69595/thread"What's up with the app though? Is it a pay to use deal or some other negative?[/quote] The app tracks your gps location and the frequency that you are using it. Not for me ! None of anyone’s business. IMO
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Post by buckeye68 on Dec 8, 2023 17:46:47 GMT -5
What's up with the app though? Is it a pay to use deal or some other negative? The app is free and in life you know nothing is free. Free equals steal all your data off your phone and sell it to make money.
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Post by buckeye68 on Dec 8, 2023 17:49:05 GMT -5
Does it work only on battery power, or can it be used while charging connected to the charger? I'm assuming it has a rechargeable battery. It has a rechargeable battery inside the unit. 6 hour battery life.
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Post by buckeye68 on Dec 8, 2023 17:49:34 GMT -5
Good post!
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Post by smokelessk on Dec 8, 2023 18:58:29 GMT -5
What's up with the app though? Is it a pay to use deal or some other negative? The app is free and in life you know nothing is free. Free equals steal all your data off your phone and sell it to make money. Ain't that the truth! Like the "free" app that gives you cash back on every gallon of gas you buy. "No strings attached!" They say.... Explain that to me? But, obviously they get people to download it.
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Post by smokelessk on Dec 8, 2023 19:00:24 GMT -5
[quote author=" smokelessk" source="/post/69595/thread"What's up with the app though? Is it a pay to use deal or some other negative? The app tracks your gps location and the frequency that you are using it. Not for me ! None of anyone’s business. IMO[/quote] Probably reports unauthorized use of a bump stock too.... High rate of fire+no tax stamp??? =ATF a knocking!!
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Post by yoderjac on Dec 8, 2023 19:36:51 GMT -5
What's up with the app though? Is it a pay to use deal or some other negative? The app is free and in life you know nothing is free. Free equals steal all your data off your phone and sell it to make money. It is easy enough to deny permission to the location data in your phone to an app, but using an app has bigger concerns for me. It is fine to offer an app as a convenience option, but I don't want to buy a device that requires an app. There needs to be some direct way to use it without the app. Technology changes quickly. N years down the road, the company has different products and abandons updating the app and now it won't run with the updated OS on my phone. I now have a brick instead of a tool. That is one thing I like about the LabRadar is that I can use it without an app. I can record locally on an SD card and access the data from the card.
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