In 2015, my working relationship with the chronographs used to measure bullet velocities improved significantly. This was the year I had an opportunity to test drive the original Labradar chronograph. Its overall design, controls and use of Doppler radar instead of optical sensors provided immediate relief to several of the problems that attended the devices I had used up to that point.
Optical chronographs have to be placed in front of a gun's muzzle. That means calling a cold range, hoofing it down range to set up the chronograph on a tripod, checking the distance, getting it level and positioned just so, and then installing the sensor screens before heading back to the shooting bench. Not exactly a convenient process, especially on a public range.
Lighting is an issue as well. Forget about using an indoor range, at least for the units I tried. The pulse rate of fluorescent lighting would give the sensors the electronic equivalent of an epileptic seizure. When shooting outside, too much or too little light interferes with the sensors picking up the shots properly. Even if the stars aligned, so the persnickety little beast would work, the tiny little screen downrange was still not easy to read. Each shot reading had to be recorded manually and the math related to the velocity averages, standard deviation and so on worked out separately. All in all, it was a time-consuming mess that did little to enhance the evaluation process.
Last, but certainly not least, there were the challenges that came with placing an expensive electronic device in front of a gun's muzzle and pulling the trigger repeatedly. Thankfully, I only knocked off the screen supports a few times without actually shooting the chronograph itself. When the Labradar (V1) came along, its most revolutionary feature at the time for me was its configuration as a tabletop unit.
Using Doppler radar instead of optical sensors to measure bullet velocity, it could be set up next to the gun instead of out in front of it. Considering radar has no dependence on light in order to work properly, those previous issues are all but eliminated. Although the V1 system did have its limitations, including an $800 suggested retail price at that time, its advantages were simply too numerous to ignore. Once the evaluation was complete, I purchased the system. Although this is not the only chronograph I've used since then, it has been put to work regularly for many years.
Early in 2024, Labradar announced the LX model, which offers several notable updates to the company's previous, decade-old configuration. I was able to lay hands on this new unit, and after few months, here's what I've learned.
The most obvious differences between the V1 and the LX are in their size and weight. The V1 unit, with its stand and external power supply, weighs in at 5 lbs., 11.2 ozs. with a footprint of roughly 12" tall, 12" wide and 8" deep when broken down and stacked for transport. The new LX weighs in at 11.5 ozs. without the provided tripod and 14.8 ozs. with the factory tripod attached. The chronograph itself is 2.5" wide, 3" deep and 3" tall if you include the round polymer sighting tube on top. With the tripod deployed, the unit is between 7" to 8.5" tall depending on if the tripod's adjustable height legs are fully extended.
The LX has an aluminum housing for added durability. The top-mounted aiming tube is intended to aid in aligning the chronograph with the target. The V1 model had a notch in the top for this same purpose. When using the V1, I would set targets out to 7 yards, use the notch to line up the device with a 2" circle or square on the paper and strive to keep shots within that aiming point. Rounds that landed outside of that spot would not get captured by the chronograph.
However, the LX has proven to be a much more forgiving unit. I've set targets at distances between 7 to 100 yards and used various aiming points on those targets without having to shift or adjust the LX to be pointed at a given spot on the paper. As long as the device is within 4" to 20" of the muzzle and both are pointed the in same general direction, then the shots are registered.
The rearward facing display is 1.37" by 1.06" with the forward facing electronics protected by a black polymer cover. Under the display are the device’s seven control buttons, including those for power, scrolling up and down, deleting shots, and so on. The underside of the housing sports a standard 1/4-24 TPI threaded insert for the provided tripod and other mounting systems. Under a protective rubber flap, is a port for an external trigger, along with the USB-C port that can be used for charging the battery, transferring data and for firmware updates.
When activated, it takes a few seconds for the LX to wake up and be ready for use. The button marked with a gear icon opens the Settings menu used to create a new string, to set the mode, bullet velocity range and the trigger level. The velocity range options include Rifle (1,600 to 4,500 f.p.s.), Handgun (600 to 1,600 f.p.s.) and Archery (66 to 600 f.p.s.). The Archery mode can be used with a variety of slower projectiles including arrows, slingshot balls and airgun pellets. The internal storage holds up to 999 shot strings with a maximum of 250 shots per string.
The triggering system uses an acoustic pickup paired with the Doppler radar. It can be set to Minimum (quiet), Medium (the default setting) and Maximum (loud) depending on the gun, ammunition and muzzle device combination in use. If the acoustic trigger does not register a shot sound, then the Doppler remains dormant. This is meant to prevent the chronograph from displaying data for shots fired in adjacent shooting lanes.
The far right control button, marked with a bullseye icon, is used to toggle the radar on at the beginning of a shot string and then back off between strings. When a shot is fired, it takes roughly three seconds to be processed and displayed. Once the results are shown, the LX is ready for the next shot to be fired. If the next shot is fired too soon, it won't be registered.
When in use, the display shows an icon in the top left corner that represents the velocity range (a rifle, pistol or an arrow) with the percentage of battery power remaining shown in the right top corner. Next, is the velocity of the latest shot fired followed by how many shots are in the string, the number of the series, the bullet's power factor (if you program in the bullet weight before taking the shot) and the retained velocity for the distance you've specified. The V1 version of the Labradar can extrapolate the bullet velocity for up to five distances up to 100 yards. The much smaller LX's range is limited to one velocity between 0 to 25 yards.
Although it is not required for use of the LX chronograph, this device is Bluetooth capable and can be paired with a smartphone using an app provided by Labradar. The app provides a settings interface that allows the phone to essentially be used as a remote control for most functions, including toggling the radar, starting a new string, selecting the measurement units used, etc. The LX proved to be straightforward to operate and use without the app. However, the app makes it faster, a bit more intuitive and allows you to remain seated behind your gun, rather than having to reach forward to push buttons in order to make adjustments. The app also provides a handy way to export data by creating a CVS file that can be sent by email or text to another device.
The Labradar LX is a welcome update to this company's chronograph offerings. Its size and features, especially its Bluetooth capability and app, bring it nicely in line with what folks expect from up-to-date electronics. This model is much lighter, it’s easier to setup and it fits neatly into a range bag pocket rather than being another chunk of equipment that has to be packed up alongside the range bag. Although the Labradar LX unit has some competition, its sturdy design and useful features will keep it competitive. The LX is currently available for a suggested retail price of $599.95. For more information, visit mylabradar.com.
