Essentially, the radar unit tracks the bullet in flight and is able to calculate velocity based on the bullet flight data with respect to time. Just over a year ago, the LabRadar was introduced and slowly trickled out to the consumer market.Īs the name implies, the LabRadar chronograph uses doppler radar to detect the bullet in flight. This slows down ammunition testing since the operator will have to shoot twice as many groups per recipe. Users of the MagnetoSpeed will often only shoot with the MagnetoSpeed to get chronograph data only, and then detach the unit and shoot again to verify groups. This could cause groups to open up and/or cause point of impact shifts. Since the unit physically attaches to the barrel, it causes accuracy issues by affecting barrel harmonics. This is also the flaw of the MagnetoSpeed. The MagnetoSpeed addresses the setup consistency issue by design: it is clamped to the barrel so it can easily be placed in line with the bore. The sensors simply rely on the disturbance of magnetic fields to detect the bullet as it passes over the sensors. This is superior to optical because there is no need to ‘see’ the bullet. Rather than using optical sensors, the MagnetoSpeed uses eletromagnetic sensors which detect the bullet in flight from the muzzle. Several years back, a product known as the MagnetoSpeed came out on the market. I have never witnessed this first hand, but I have encountered a shot chronograph in the range garbage can a couple times in my life. Most people have heard range stories from a buddy about someone that came to the range, spent several minutes setting up a chronograph, lining up the gun on the bench, realigning the chronograph and rifle to get everything in line perfectly, only to put a round right into the chronograph with the first shot. Combined with carelessness and negligence, mistakenly shooting a chronograph unit does happen from time to time. Due to the effects of the muzzle blast, many optical chronographs call for being placed at around 10 to 15 feet in front of the muzzle. Since the bullet has to pass over the optical chronograph, the chronograph must be placed in front of the muzzle (and below). Not to mention that in order for readings to be comparable from range session to range session, the optical chronograph must be setup the same way every time with regards to cant and angle.Īnother problem with optical chronographs, which is more embarrassing when it manifests itself, is possibility of shooting the chronograph unit. Any offset cant or angle relative to the muzzle and target could lead to incorrect readings. Since the optical chronograph relies on two sensors for the bullet to pass over, the chronograph must be aligned perfectly in line beneath the flight path of the bullet. There is also the inherent inconsistency of optical chronographs. Often times the lighting conditions will be too dim (shaded) and the sensors don’t have enough light to work with. Sometimes the optical sensors will not work in extremely bright sunny days when the sun is high in the sky. Optical chronographs often came with diffusers that are placed over each sensor to help provide enough contrast for the sensors to pick up the bullet. Consumer grade optical chronographs can actually be had for under $100, and when compared to more expensive optical chronographs, essentially read consistently close to one another.īut the most common problem with the optical based chronographs is that they are susceptible to lighting conditions. Optical chronographs are relatively decent, even at the consumer level. It would get a reading when it passes over the front of the unit and a reading after it passes the rear of the unit, and then calculate the time between each bullet sensor detection to give a velocity value.
Optical chronographs relied on sensors that would detect the bullet as it passed over the chronograph unit.
Knowing the muzzle velocity of a given ammunition cartridge in a given gun, will allow a shooter to use a ballistic calculator to generate a ballistic drop chart such that the shooter can have a reference table for dialing in a given distance on his sighting system to take a shot.įor the longest time, consumer chronographs were all optical based. I just recently jumped on the latest craze in ammunition handloading / reloading by acquiring the LabRadar chronograph system.Ĭhronograph units are nothing new for shooters that are reloaders – anyone that makes their own ammunition by (typically) reusing their cartridge brass along with new components (bullets, powder, and primer) – as chronographs are essential tools for verifying the (safe) condition of a given load recipe.Ĭhronograph units are also invaluable for anyone who wants to create a ballistic data card based on a known zero.
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