Labradar V1 question

I would definitely grab one at this price . As far as I know, you will need to buy a special microphone to use with airguns because it was designed for firearms originally and does not pick up airgun shot sound properly. But once it's setup properly, it works pretty well from what I heard and read in reviews. So, the short answer is - NO Labradar V1 would work with airguns right out of the box. But for $220 + cost of the mic it's a pretty good deal IMHO.

I bought one recently. It WILL NOT work without the airgun adapter (microphone).

bigHUN said:

One of the sellers responded to my question.
He is telling me that he put it aside years ago because didn't pick up the rimfire properly with lot of fails.

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Probably it was the same issue as with airguns - small 22LR caliber, low sound wave.

Mostly same experience as @Justaguy. For me to get consistently good readings I had to use the microphone when using 177. My PP700SA always worked fine without the mic. 22 cal with a Sumo on it.
Also, you have to buy their microphone. I tried a microphone I already had and it didn't work.

To add, the V1 does not like playing indoors at all.

As far as I know V1 has BT. Manual says (quote):

Couldn't you simply remove the moderator to make the air gun loud enough?
It wouldn't work if you're sighting in as the moderator weight is not on the end, but for just getting FPS, it ought to work I would think. Air guns are LOUD without the moderator!

Mike

Interesting idea, but I think it would still not be loud enough. Otherwise, they wouldn't sell this "special" mic. Plus, some (or many) guns have internal baffles to lower the sound output. And when tuning a gun sending quite a few pellets down the range, I'd prefer to do it with the moderator on.

search for diy labradar trigger.

BlackICE said:

search for diy labradar trigger.

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You are right! There are lots of DIY solutions posted on youtube. Didn't think about it, thank you for the tip ! Problem solved for @bigHUN . BTW, the "official" airgun mic for Labradar is only $35, not a big deal IMHO.

Justaguy said:

I bought one recently. It WILL NOT work without the airgun adapter (microphone).

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Mine works perfect without it, lowest powered pcp I've used it on is my uragan compact 22 tuned to about 22 ft/lbs. I built a recoil trigger before my labradar was delivered. Building your own is way cheaper than labradar's airgun mic.

bigHUN said:

These labradar V1 can have a BT connection to an external app (droid for example) or I would need to remove the micro card all the time if I want to analyze?

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Depending on what you mean by analyze, you always have to pull the card to get the detailed track data. App only shows you basics, I'm not familiar with anything but the original app, works perfedt for me, so don't know what they may have added, but the app just shows shot strings, avg's, simple stuff.... To do any real analysis you need the raw data from every .002 seconds on subsonic rounds/arrows, .001 seconds when shooting supersonic, raw data is only available on the shot tracks stored on the sd card.

I’ve been using my LR for airgun and 22LR. Indeed it can seem finicky to pick up shots and there are days where it seems to collect data perfectly and days where it ignores almost everything.

The iOS app is the same - some days to plays well - other days I can’t use it and just run from its buttons on the device.

I have the microphone, JKL inertial trigger, and USB battery pack. The inertial trigger only works on centerfire and the airgun microphone works for unsuppressed / modestly suppressed air rifles.

I usually run my device in handgun velocity range and with Doppler radar triggering. Under 600fps or so requires the archery setting.

Take care with downrange velocities- they are useful but anything past 60y can be inaccurate.

I have one of the very early V1 LR and so there may well be functional differences. I do think that I have only updated the internal programming once and that was long ago.

That said, as you read above you need the external microphone with suppressed air guns. I use sensitivity 1, microphone to muzzle distance 6", and low Tx power. With the microphone positioned 6" in front of the suppressor and about 2" above or below trajectory it triggers every time. I am using the LR brand mike; maybe other brands work better. My stock NOTOS, a .177 Day Revere with 0db ldc,, and a .22 sumatra with a very quiet ldc from Neil Clague all trigger every time.

The big deal with LR is aiming the damn thing. That aiming notch is a joke. There are a variety of polymer printed peep sights available, but I use a short piece of soda straw taped to the notch. IF I get it aimed, I can track .22 past 50m.

They are very nice bits of gear, but there is a sometimes-frustrating learning curve. I would jump on one at $300. I find the case and the base with a tripod head very useful, but you may prefer a tripod...depends on how your shooting bench is dimensioned. Best of luck.

dgeesaman said:

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I have the microphone, JKL inertial trigger, and USB battery pack. The inertial trigger only works on centerfire …

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My inertial trigger works great with my .30 Skout pellet shooter and my high powered airguns.

I had a labradar that I primarily used for powder burners but used it occasionally for airguns. It worked but it wasn't without its drawbacks like not picking up shots. Sold it in order to by a Garmin Xero. I feel that the Garmin is better in every way. Whether or not the garmin is worth the delta is a tough call compared to a used labradar. For me I'd pay the delta for the garmin after using both.

I have a LabRadar and it works just fine. I move the microphone out in front on a cheap tripod and it's about 6" in front and 1-2" to the side. I was also having trouble getting it to pick up and It was suggested that I turned the power down to the low setting. Those two things gives me a 100% count on my shots. Of course you do have to aim it accurately so the Pellet transverses the Beam. You can also make a recoil trigger and tape it to the rifle that will trigger it as well. The one I made didn't work very well so I use the microphone.

Smitty

Uspsa2011 said:

I had a labradar that I primarily used for powder burners but used it occasionally for airguns. It worked but it wasn't without its drawbacks like not picking up shots. Sold it in order to by a Garmin Xero. I feel that the Garmin is better in every way. Whether or not the garmin is worth the delta is a tough call compared to a used labradar. For me I'd pay the delta for the garmin after using both.

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For what it does (muzzle velocity), the Garmin is great. But the Labradar does so much more. The Garmin is convenient but does no more than a $100 chronograph. There is really nothing that competes with a Labradar.