LabRadar LX - Garmin C1 competition

teletech said:
So, here's the new question: With the Garmin unit running $600 and a ton of used LabRadars on Ebay for ~$300, what's the call there?
I'm sort of amused by the velocity distance curve, but I'm not sure if I'd actually use it or not.
Obviously, if the new LabRadar product gives that functionality then it's the best of the three.
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Good question. For me, I could have bought a LabRadar whenever I wanted. It wasn't the cost that stopped me. It was the size and that it would be unwieldy at an indoor range, which is where I shoot 100% of the time. For me and my usage, I wouldn't use the current LabRadar if I was given one for free.

As far as the functionality at different distances, it's amusing but I have had that for years by using the ShootersCalculator.com ballistic trajectory calculator here. Certainly atmospheric conditions will affect the velocity somewhat, but those conditions are transitory, so the numbers you get today won't hold true tomorrow or whenever you're out hunting, if that's what you use that info for.

If/when LabRadar comes out with their Garmin copy, it'll end up being a "beauty contest" to choose which you want. I've got the Garmin and it meets 100% of my needs.
 
Garmin has a lot of success in their background, which makes me think that they have the engineering staff and production staff to make a great product. Labradar has a steep uphill battle, I recon. That being said, I never had a chronograph and never felt the need to have one. I did have a Ransom Rest which told me everything I needed to know about my handgun loads as accuracy was my primary interest.
 
Having used the Xero, Labradar has their work cut out for them.

Just went back to Labradar's website - they dropped the price $125 on the standard unit, and now are throwing in the $50 tripod.

I think it's going to be too little too late. Crazy how many used Labradar units are out there CHEAP.
 
Borderboss said:
But I have Office 365 running on my Samsung phone right now, so pulling up an Excel spreadsheet on it is easy.
I'm sure there's an app that can easily convert the Garmin files on the phone to XLSX.
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Sure opening a .xls is easy on a smartphone. Try reading & navigating a multi-page/multi-column spreadsheet on the tiny screen of one though. ;)

Excel can open .csv files. Just put the data in the format you want, add any supporting data you want & save it as .xls.

For me it's best done on my desktop PC with a keyboard, mouse & its 32" monitor. Yeah, call me old-school. :p

.

rockquarry said:
...I still use a notebook for recording velocities and can also make notes on accuracy, group sizes, range conditions, firearm type, barrel length, etc.
Perhaps there is still a place for a paper notebook and pen even when using the latest equipment.
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There is, if you have both as an option, specifically the digital format choice.

I create a paper sheet formatted with the basics before I head out for testing & add test results as I progress.

The saved digital files & the paper records each have their own purpose for me.

.
 
BC38 said:
HOORAY! The more the competition heats up the more the prices will come down!
I may be able to afford one of these new-style units sooner than I thought! ;)
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IDK, it seems like the tech companies always find ways to add new features and raise the prices. Who'd a thunk decades ago that one would spend over a grand for a telephone?
 
BE Mike said:
IDK, it seems like the tech companies always find ways to add new features and raise the prices. Who'd a thunk decades ago that one would spend over a grand for a telephone?
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I remember a time when a phone that fit into your pocket was the fantasy of fiction. ;)
 
Just tried my new Garmin Xero. Shot a 22 rifle and a 9mm handgun at 50 ft indoor and 50 yd outdoor range.

22 rifle (40gr Blazer):

50ft - 1245fps 12fps SD
50yd - 1239fps 19.5fps SD

9mm Compensated Race gun (147gr RN):
50ft - 923fps 11.4 SD
50yd - 948fps 16.6 SD

Side by Side Side comparison to Competition Electronics Pro Chrono DLX/Xero@ 50yd:

22 cal rifle - 1239fps 19.5 SD/1239fps 12fps SD
9mm racegun -919fps 16fps SD/948fps 16.3fps SD

For the side by side comparison both units were set up to record shot data simultaneously. The DLX was set up 6ft in front of the firearm muzzle and the Xero was set up as directed.


This was a quick and dirty test run. YMMV.

Edit: I forgot to add comments about the Garmin ShotView software and the chronograph itself. Unless I am missing something (please correct me if I am wrong) the software is just a means to store your session data. It does not allow you to set up shot session attributes (load specs) ahead of time. And it does not appear that the shot data is recorded to the mobile device in real time. You can only set them up on the Xero itself and sync the recorded data later. So the software is pretty crappy.

The completion Electronics app is lightyears ahead. You can set up all the different loads you want to test in advance and record them on the mobile device as they are being generated. The results are even spoken out by the app on you mobile device as they are being recorded.

The Xero itself is a really nice device - way easier to set up than a conventional chronograph. If the software would allow setting up sessions ahead of time it would only take seconds to start recording data. It is also a bit slow in recording a shot. It takes at least several seconds to record a shot. If you shoot too fast it will miss the shot and you will lose the data for that shot . Several times the Garmin unit lost data during a string if I shot too fast. The DLX unit did not have that problem.

As far as the discrepancy between the velocity data between the two devices for 9mm it is a bit concerning. Since its only handgun data I don't think it's a really big deal for short distance pistols are usually shot at. But if you are a rifle shooter, or a long distance handgun shooter a percentage difference like this would be a really big deal. I wonder which chronograph was right.
 
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As an owner of a lab radar , I can say my new Garmin xero is fantastic. Store it in my range bag, plop it on the bench and instantly know what my latest handloads are doing. No regrets on spending 600 bucks and the he11 with waiting on something that may be released in march . Instant gratification !!
 
BE Mike said:
IDK, it seems like the tech companies always find ways to add new features and raise the prices. Who'd a thunk decades ago that one would spend over a grand for a telephone?
Click to expand...
True, but then again, who'd a thunk a decade ago that you could buy a 65" LED TV for under $500?
The more competition, the better.

FWIW, your $1,000 cell phone is essentially a micro miniaturized computer and the "early adopters" who insist on having the latest and greatest in computer technology ALWAYS pay a hefty premium to be able to say they have the latest whiz-bang model. Even though it will be superseded by the next great thing in mere months. At which point the price on their next-to newest version they just bought will start selling for progressively steeper discounted prices almost immediately. It's basically paying a high premium for bragging rights.

I've never played that game - and I'm a computer engineer! As far as I'm concerned the juice just ain't worth the squeeze. Getting a computer that is one or two generations behind the bleeding edge for half the price has always made more sense to me. Same with phones, because they are just another computer.
 
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I have a new Garmin but have not tried it yet. I also have a Competition Electronics Pro Digital that I have used for years to chronograph many loads. As to your velocity differences between the two I think 6 Ft is too close for the Pro Chrono. I found that I got erratic readings unless I was about 12 FT from it. The shock wave from the sound can trigger it if too close.
 
RGPM1A said:
Just tried my new Garmin Xero. Shot a 22 rifle and a 9mm handgun at 50 ft indoor and 50 yd outdoor range.
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That's a pretty good comparison. I think that if you were to do it over more shooting, the gaps would close. We need to keep everything in context. We're talking about consumer grade electronics that we can afford so a little bit of slop is to be expected. I agree with you about the Garmin software. It is a bit rudimentary. For my use, and I think for most, it will be adequate to gather enough data to bring to a proper ballistics program. But the Xero fits in the water bottle pouch of my shooting bag!
 
PhilT said:
Would you please provide additional information about "Apple Ballistics?"
Thank you
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It's a completely fictional program that I formulated in my demented imagination to illustrate Apple's unending quest to separate us from our hard earned money.
 
cmj8591 said:
It's a completely fictional program that I formulated in my demented imagination to illustrate Apple's unending quest to separate us from our hard earned money.
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Regrettably sad, but does anyone use a chronograph for simple velocity readings these days?
 
rockquarry said:
Regrettably sad, but does anyone use a chronograph for simple velocity readings these days?
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Yep, that's me. I bought the Garmin because I've been wondering for years about some of the velocities of factory ammo I use. The Chrony I have I can't set up in the indoor public ranges I use, and the LabRadar was too big for my tastes. Now my questions have been answered about the ammo I'm using, and I can start handloading again and know what velocities I'm getting.
 
Yep me too. I chronograph lots of factory ammo to check actual velocities in my guns and the difference in lot numbers of the same brands of ammo.
And all of my handloads to check for consistency and how close my estimates are to velocity realized. I have no need for an app. The great thing about the Garmin is that I can shoot right from my covered back porch without having to set up a chronograph outside. Important to old geezers like me who are now handicapped.
 
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