LabRadar Ballistic Velocity Doppler Radar Chronograph

[Rick]

It now looks like these are not actually a fantasy. I have been following this since hearing about it at the SHOT Show and the North American exclusive distributors web site went up, about 6 years. When they finally announced last summer that they were taking pre-orders I ordered it. I was told October then December then Feb. In January I received an email that said I was in on the next shipment from the mfg. and I would have it in Feb. Ok great BUT then I received another email this past Monday (2-15-16) that said the Mfg. shorted them a few units and I would get one in late April.

Being somewhat frustrated evidenced by the beating of my head on the nearest wall I called the distributor on the phone. What I learned was that the Midway invoice pre-dated my order and that Midway didn't get their full order, only a portion of it but a significant number (wouldn't tell me how many). They said that the shipment to Midway was being picked up by UPS that morning (Monday). I went to the Midway page for this unit and it said out of stock and no back orders. It had a link to sign up for email notifications when they received the units. it also said again no back orders and that they would be sold on a first come first served basis so I signed up for the email alert.

Figuring two days for UPS to get them from the distributor to Midway that Midway would have them on Wed. Wed morning I brought up the midway page for this unit and it said out of stock. I put on a pot of coffee, checked to make sure my CC & address info with Midway was correct and commenced staring at my email inbox. When an email came in that had Midway in the address bar I didn't even take time to read it, went to the Midway page & refreshed it. It said in stock and I clicked on "Buy It Now".

Ordering it didn't take but about 2 minutes. As soon as I finished ordering I called the distributor to 1> cancel my order with them and 2> order the bench mount because Midway was out of them, That took about 5 minutes, when I hung up I went back to the Midway page and refreshed it. They were out of stock and no back orders. That fast . . . Gone. Good thing I didn't take a few minutes to go sit on the throne or something, I would have missed it again.

Bottom line, UPS tracking says that both the unit from Midway and the mount from LabRadar are on time and scheduled for Friday delivery. So maybe these things aren't a fantasy and I will get one. But then it isn't Friday afternoon yet is it?

Read all about it . . .

LabRadar Ballistic Velocity Doppler Radar Chronograph

 

[Ian]

You old sniper you. Maybe the company will get a clue and with the revenue of their first sales will make production a priority now.

 

[Rick]

Near as I can tell this latest shipment from the Mfg. was the third. The Mfg is a Canadian Doppler radar defense contractor and as well as these will most likely sell I can't see them setting aside gubment contracts for this. More likely they are running a batch of them as they can & shipping, then starting on a new batch.

 

[Ian]

If the company marketing these things had any sense they'd send one to Titoma to duplicate, order about ten containers worth of them, and save 30% of their GP to have lawyers tie up the copyright/patent litigation until version 2.0 comes out next year. Works for the smartphone developers.

 

[Rick]

Several features of this that aren't listed on Midway product page that should prove to be quite interesting such as . . . A lot of people are interested to know what the velocity at impact is such as hunters or those shooting steel targets. This unit not only gives that info but it will read out velocities at 10 yard intervals from the muzzle all the way out to 100 yards. I don't know that this would help me make better ammo but ya gotta admit, would be a pretty cool thing to see. Would be able to see clearly the difference in velocity of different nose shapes (BC) of bullets of the same weight at various distances to 100 yards.

There is no set up such as making sure the sky screens are properly aligned, no down range sky screens (or your chrono) to shoot either through or into. Simply set the unit on the bench (or on a tripod) next to the muzzle & aim at the target, turn it on & set your parameters such as distance, meters or yards etc and shoot. It is unaffected by light conditions, muzzle blast etc. All data collected can be either printed out or downloaded to a computer.

 

[KHornet]

Just the title of this thread is to fancy for this old codger.

 

[Rick]

Na, it's easier than playing a DVD disc. Set it next to the shooter, point at target and turn it on.

And there is one other reason why it's so critically important to have one of these that I didn't mention.

It's because a guy just has to have his toys.

.

 

[Brad]

I may drive back to Arkansas just to see this thing.
I am as antsy as you are Rick.

 

[Rick]

I may drive back to Arkansas just to see this thing.
I am as antsy as you are Rick.

What? Are you saying that you haven't ordered one yet? Geez Brad get with the program. It is the 21st century ya know.

 

[Brad]

I may well consider one. Well, after a review by our resident tech junkie.

 

[Rick]

Kevin has one? I didn't know.

 

[KHornet]

Any thing Doppler reminde me of a weather forecaster!

 

[Winelover]

Any thing Doppler reminde me of a weather forecaster!

Well then we're in trouble........only job, where you can be wrong 50% of the time, and still have one. I hope this unit has a better percentage, than they do. I guess we'll find out this weekend.

 

[Phil]

I have been eyeballing these for a time. I/we will be interested in your report of its performance.

I read some reviewer indicating poor performance with 22 cal and smaller.

 

[Rick]

I don't have the unit yet but UPS tracking says I will have it today. I'm not overly concerned with 22's, I shoot very little 22 and have never shot anything smaller than that. I have downloaded the owners manual and it discusses 22's and from what I gleaned was to pay attention to setting the unit as instructed plus with the 22's the bullet base can have effect on capturing the shot. ie a boat tail vs a flat bottom. It is a radar unit and it bounces a radio signal off the target (bullet) back to the unit so a very tiny target I suppose could have an effect but . . . . We shall see.

 

[KHornet]

Will wait impatiently for report on new toy!

 

[Rick]

Weather and wind cooperating I plan on giving it tryout tomorrow. Forecast looks good.

 

[Rick]

Here's true oddity. When I put in the order with LabRadar I was invoice #1746.

I was supposed to receive it from LabRadar this week but was told that the shipment from the Mfg was short but they did send some to Midway. Ok so I got one from Midway and it arrived this afternoon, at least I didn't have to wait until the April Shipment. I put in batteries and was checking out the various menu screens and operation when I came across the serial number of the unit I received . . . . 1746! Say what?

The only thing I can think of that makes any sense is that Midway got the unit that was originally supposed go to me and merely by chance I got this one from Midway out of however many they got.

Weird, just plain weird.

.

 

[Brad]

Does it work in the dark?
Do you have a concrete pad poured for a permanent stand?
What load will be the first tested? I am thinkng a 180 gr or so bullet from an FA 357?
Can it keep up with Old Double Action?

 

[smokeywolf]

The only thing I can think of that makes any sense is that Midway got the unit that was originally supposed go to me and merely by chance I got this one from Midway out of however many they got.

Kismet?