LabRadar: the future of ballistic chronographs

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LabRadar: the future of ballistic chronographs

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Manufactured in Canada, the LabRadar is a cutting-edge ballistic chronograph based on a Doppler radar technology – a real breakthrough in its segment, and possibly the ultimate for shooters

LabRadar: il futuro dei cronografi balistici

Infinition, Inc. is a Canadian company – headquartered in Trois-Riviéres – that has been manufacturing doppler radar technologies for military users as well ballistic instrumentation radar systems and highly sophisticated software for the capture and processing of a ballistic event ever since 1996.

Early on this year, the company introduced a commercial product dedicated to civilian shooters and professional operators alike that may become the ultimate and final word in ballistic chronographs technology: the LabRadar.

The box set of the LabRadar chronograph

The box set of the LabRadar chronograph

What tells the LabRadar apart from any other ballistic chronograph available on the international market is its core technology: while standard ballistic chronographs are based on optical technologies – with some recent developments using a magnetic system as an alternative – the LabRadar is based on a continuous wave Doppler radar which can easily overcome many of the limitations of standard chronographs.

So to speak, the LabRadar can be used indoors or outdoors, in basically any environmental light or weather conditions. Consisting basically of a 11.4" x 10.1" x 2.1" (28,9 x 25,6 x 5,3 cm) squared structure, the LabRadar is relatively compact, extremely lightweight, and most important of all extremely accurate, with a 0,1% error margin. 

Thanks to its core radar technology, the LabRadar is capable to measure a bullet velocity at the muzzle and all through its flight trajectory up to a maximum distance that depends from the type of firearm, bullet, and caliber.

External view of the LabRadar chronograph box

External view of the LabRadar chronograph box

For a correct measurement, the barrel muzzle should be placed slightly over the plane of the LabRadar chronograph

For a correct measurement, the barrel muzzle should be placed slightly over the plane of the LabRadar chronograph

The LabRadar can be used with rifles and carbines, shotguns (albeit only with slug loads so far), handguns, airguns, paintball markers and even bows and crossbows; reading data is returned in feet per second, yards per second, miles per hour, meters per second or kilometers per hour.

Unlike classic ballistic chronographs, the LabRadar doesn't require the projectile to be shot through the small, confined "tunnel" of a device that can be easily damaged; it is easily set up and doesn't require the shooter to stop the entire firing line to install the equipment and to take it down later; and its accuracy is not dependant on light conditions or on being exactly parallel to photo electric sensors, and false readings are highly unlikely.

Featuring a 1/4x20 mounting hole thread at the bottom, the LabRadar will match most photography tripods – although the manufacturing company also offers a dedicated, massive metal base.

After programming the device through the front panel – which is easy to master, with a learning curve that's akin to that of a new smartphone – the shooter will only need to position the LabRadar behind the muzzle of his or her gun, pointed towards the target, and will be ready to go.

The LabRadar chronograph can work on a USB cable or 6 AAA batteries

The LabRadar chronograph can work on a USB cable or 6 AAA batteries

Data are registered on a SD card, allowing them to be transferred to a PC

Data are registered on a SD card, allowing them to be transferred to a PC

Just like a vehicle speed trap, the LabRadar chronograph will compute the muzzle and in-flight velocity of a bullet by capturing its sound through a Doppler radar technology; its advanced software technologies make the LabRadar accurate with subsonic, transonic and supersonic projectiles alike.

The LabRadar can record virtually unlimited number of shots and shot series and archive them on a 32GB SDHC card, as well as returning them on the front display.

The chronograph mounted on a tripod: just push a button and the LabRadar is ready to registre a new shot series

The chronograph mounted on a tripod: just push a button and the LabRadar is ready to registre a new shot series

The LabRadar chronograph is accurate and works in very dim light, as proved by this photo, taken at dawn

The LabRadar chronograph is accurate and works in very dim light, as proved by this photo, taken at dawn

A USB port allows the LabRadar to be connected to a personal computer or a handheld device for data retrieval. The maximum range of the LabRadar may vary, depending from the type and caliber of bullet, as follows:

  • 4,5mm/.177 pellets or BB — 27,4 metres (30 yards)
  • .22 Long Rifle / .223 Remington — 54,8 meters (60 yards)
  • .270 — 64 meters (70 yards)
  • .308 — 73 to 91 meters (80 to 100 yards)
  • 9 mm, .40 Smith & Wesson, .45 ACP, .500 Smith & Wesson — 118,8 meters (130 yards)
  • 12 gauge, Slug loads — 82,29 meters (90 yards)
  • Arrows or Paintball — 45,7 meters (50 yards)

Three setting options are available, velocity-wise, to optimize the use of the LabRadar: rifle (1000-3900 fps / 204-1188 mps), handgun (250-1700 fps / 76-518 mps) and archery (65-700 fps / 20-213 mps).

All chronograph's functions are managed through the buttons at side of the screen

All chronograph's functions are managed through the buttons at side of the screen

Orange light: the chronograph is ready to register a shot series

Orange light: the chronograph is ready to register a shot series

By using various menus it is possible to set things like firearm type or measurement units

By using various menus it is possible to set things like firearm type or measurement units

More generally speaking, the LabRadar can measure the velocity of any projectile traveling at a velocity range of 65-3900 feet per second (19-1188 meters per second), and at any temperature among 14 °F and 104 °F (-10 to 40 °C).

Powered by six AA commercial batteries or through an USB-connected, rechargeable external power bank, the LabRadar can be set on a Standard Power Mode or on a Low Power Mode, which offers the same accuracy levels but decreases the tracking range by about 30 percent.

VIDEO / LabRadar Doppler Radar Chronograph

VIDEO / LabRadar chronograph operation

Due to restrictions imposed by many governments concerning the general availability of Doppler radar technologies, the power mode is also the only one available on LabRadar samples sold outside of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Despite this limitation, the LabRadar is still the most revolutionary, and one of the most accurate, of all ballistic chronographs currently available worldwide. In the United States, the LabRadar is sold at an MSRP of $559.95; international distribution has recently kicked off as well. Each LabRadar is covered by a 1-year warranty.

Click here to see videos on the LabRadar ballistic chronograph and its operation

for more information:
mylabradar.com

Carry bag and bench rest base are optional, available separately

Carry bag and bench rest base are optional, available separately

The LabRadar chronograph mounted on the optional bench rest base

The LabRadar chronograph mounted on the optional bench rest base

The LabRadar chronograph is handy and reliable in all light conditions

The LabRadar chronograph is handy and reliable in all light conditions