Let's talk radar chronographs

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bchannell

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Nov 1, 2020
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I'm in the market for a radar chrono. I ordered the Garmin and it works like magic, so I'm liking it pretty well. I'm still in my return window on it and am jonesing for the FX True Ballistics Chrono, as my analytical mind wants all the info I can get. But, here's the deal.

The FX doesn't have a ballistic model for pellets, (I'm guessing it will someday), so you're not going to get any kind of real data that will enable you to simply run a ballistics model and shoot the drop table and hit like you would if it had the appropriate bc model? Correct?
So, if it doesn't give me that info, then the only real gain I would have is velocity at different ranges, which is nice, but doesn't really tell me much to go on. I'd be more accurate by simply shooting a couple or three distances and calculating bc, and it would be as close as the $900 chrono.

From that premise, I have to say the Garmin looks better to me. It seems accurate compared to my old CE ProChrono light chrono, and never gives me any headaches. I know muzzle velocity and extreme spread, for tuning, and the FX wouldn't give me any more useful data?

What's the consensus?
 
bchannell said:
.. my analytical mind wants all the info I can get.…
Click to expand...
The Labradar provides the most data for <$1000.

Velocity at different distances is the valuable data that a radar chronograph can give you. The other “info” is just some after the fact calculations.

The BC values can come from your phone or computer using a number of different, free BC calculator apps.

buymylabradar.com

Labradar V1 - SUPER SALE

THIS PRODUCT CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED TO U.S. CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND CUSTOMERS. EU AND UK CUSTOMERS MUST PURCHASE FROM LOCAL DEALERS Product UPC: 664309100078 Product includes: 1 Labradar Unit (w/Bluetooth) 1 User Manual 1 Quick Setup Guide 1 Warranty Card 1 Mirco-USB Cable for data...
buymylabradar.com

For best use, the Labradar will require some additional accessories. Battery, tripod, audio or inertial trigger.
 
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Scotchmo said:
The Labradar provides the most data for <$1000.

Velocity at different distances is the valuable data that a radar chronograph can give you. The other “info” is just some after the fact calculations.

The BC values can come from your phone or computer using a number of different, free BC calculator apps.

buymylabradar.com

Labradar V1 - SUPER SALE

THIS PRODUCT CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED TO U.S. CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND CUSTOMERS. EU AND UK CUSTOMERS MUST PURCHASE FROM LOCAL DEALERS Product UPC: 664309100078 Product includes: 1 Labradar Unit (w/Bluetooth) 1 User Manual 1 Quick Setup Guide 1 Warranty Card 1 Mirco-USB Cable for data...
buymylabradar.com

For best use, the Labradar will require some additional accessories. Battery, tripod, audio or inertial trigger.
Click to expand...
The LabRadars are going for $200 and lower now! I kinda wanted to try out a Garmin, but hard not to consider a LabRadar at that price… until I ask myself why is everyone selling them?
 
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For those or you running the v1 FX pocket unit, you know how they hog batteries! I made an adapter today from an old iPhone USB charger and plastic tubing as battery fillers. This will let me plug it into the wall or a battery bank, or std batteries. If anyone is into it, I will make a quick vid in how to do it. Have fun!
Gerry
 
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Justaguy said:
Labradar is great for the $350 price tag. You will need the microphone for aiguns. It is big and bulky. Must be aligned 'almost perfectly' to work properly. It is not as small and convienent as the newer Garmin type but it is a has more features. It is a great lower cost alternative to the Garmin.
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So there is no way to trigger the thing without the add on airgun specific microphone? I thought I read somewhere the Gen 2 trigger worked with airguns but maybe I miss-read that.
 
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MACTEN said:
So there is no way to trigger the thing without the add on airgun specific microphone? I thought I read somewhere the Gen 2 trigger worked with airguns but maybe I miss-read that.
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My .25 DRS didn't work very well without the microphone. Other people may have had different results.
 
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My quiet guns I have to clip the microphone within inches of the muzzle. Another way is you can DIY your own trigger do a search on google. The simple ones are Shake triggers which are very easy to make yourself. However your gun has to have enough recoil to set them off and you can false trigger while chambering or moving the gun.
 
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I'm old fashioned. I do not see the value of a high end radar chronograph. They are too expensive and add NO more value or accuracy over the garden variety sun screen type that you can buy from China at $70 or less. Please consider your usage. You only need a crono for tuning purposes. Once that is done, you put it away and do not use it until you do more tuning. Then there is is the accuracy thing. The old fashioned sun screen type with a clock over a known distance will always be more consistent than a radar model. When it comes to accuracy, there is no comparison. If the clock is accurate, so is the speed displayed. Then is accuracy really important and the answer is no, it isn't. What you really need is consistency, because the displayed number is relative to accuracy and repeatability at the end of the day. Don't waste your money.
 
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I’ve been using a NateChrony V2. It is fantastic.

Prior to that my primary was an FX radar that I really loved but as it ages it seems to miss more and more readings. The NateChrony has been 100% reliable and easy to use thus far (about 4 months in).

Only downside to the NateChrony is that it threads onto the end of the barrel so it can cause POI shifts depending on the platform. For tuning and data purposes I think it is hard to beat.
 
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steve-l said:
I'm old fashioned. I do not see the value of a high end radar chronograph. They are too expensive and add NO more value or accuracy over the garden variety sun screen type that you can buy from China at $70 or less. Please consider your usage. You only need a crono for tuning purposes. Once that is done, you put it away and do not use it until you do more tuning. Then there is is the accuracy thing. The old fashioned sun screen type with a clock over a known distance will always be more consistent than a radar model. When it comes to accuracy, there is no comparison. If the clock is accurate, so is the speed displayed. Then is accuracy really important and the answer is no, it isn't. What you really need is consistency, because the displayed number is relative to accuracy and repeatability at the end of the day. Don't waste your money.
Click to expand...
We are all entitled to our opinions, but sometimes we need to experience something to truly understand it. Having experienced the added things that can be done with a radar chronograph (at least with the Lab Radar unit I have), I have to respectfully disagree with your statement, as at least part of it is factually incorrect.

They clearly provide data that simply can't be obtained from a conventional chronograph - a full trace of the speed of the projectile vs distance over a fairly long distance. This data allows one to calculate BC for each individual shot, or on averages as well. Whether or not that matters to you is up to you. Personally this is why I bought one (admittedly used at a good price) - specifically to explore this area. And now that I have it, I prefer it over my older Chrony even for just finding out how fast a gun is shooting.

Also, I find a good chronograph useful for more than just tuning - I find them great to use while testing different ammo in my guns, and for an occasional "health check" of my guns to see if everything is unchanged.

As for accuracy, they are about the same as conventional chronographs. Probably not as accurate as an Oehler 35P but likely a bit better than most others, and very consistent too.
 
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AlanMcD said:
We are all entitled to our opinions, but sometimes we need to experience something to truly understand it. Having experienced the added things that can be done with a radar chronograph (at least with the Lab Radar unit I have), I have to respectfully disagree with your statement, as at least part of it is factually incorrect.

They clearly provide data that simply can't be obtained from a conventional chronograph - a full trace of the speed of the projectile vs distance over a fairly long distance. This data allows one to calculate BC for each individual shot, or on averages as well. Whether or not that matters to you is up to you. Personally this is why I bought one (admittedly used at a good price) - specifically to explore this area. And now that I have it, I prefer it over my older Chrony even for just finding out how fast a gun is shooting.

Also, I find a good chronograph useful for more than just tuning - I find them great to use while testing different ammo in my guns, and for an occasional "health check" of my guns to see if everything is unchanged.

As for accuracy, they are about the same as conventional chronographs. Probably not as accurate as an Oehler 35P but likely a bit better than most others, and very consistent too.
Click to expand...
I agree - I use one all the time to help me determine if it was "me or the gun!" Or the ammo. Or the wind. Or the humidity. Or the whatever!!!
 
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AlanMcD said:
We are all entitled to our opinions, but sometimes we need to experience something to truly understand it. Having experienced the added things that can be done with a radar chronograph (at least with the Lab Radar unit I have), I have to respectfully disagree with your statement, as at least part of it is factually incorrect.

They clearly provide data that simply can't be obtained from a conventional chronograph - a full trace of the speed of the projectile vs distance over a fairly long distance. This data allows one to calculate BC for each individual shot, or on averages as well. Whether or not that matters to you is up to you. Personally this is why I bought one (admittedly used at a good price) - specifically to explore this area. And now that I have it, I prefer it over my older Chrony even for just finding out how fast a gun is shooting.

Also, I find a good chronograph useful for more than just tuning - I find them great to use while testing different ammo in my guns, and for an occasional "health check" of my guns to see if everything is unchanged.

As for accuracy, they are about the same as conventional chronographs. Probably not as accurate as an Oehler 35P but likely a bit better than most others, and very consistent too.
Click to expand...
It is your money and you can do as you wish with it, but all the features you mentioned can be done with the conventional crono and even though the radar units advertise BC, it really cannot because the point where the second speed reading obtained is only a best guess of distance, it cannot be relied upon as accurate. BC can only be calculated with two separate cronos at a predetermined distance apart. At the price difference between the two types, I can buy many conventional cronos and still be way under budget.
 
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