Magnetospeed or doppler?

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stagpanther

New member
My chrono master seems to have given up the ghost, besides which I'm simply sick and tired of all the friggin with the riggin to get it to work--so I'm seeking a replacement. I'm kinda thinking one of these two choices. I know they are based on different technologies. Pros/cons that you have experienced with either system?
 
I haven’t used the Doppler yet, but I’m eager to sell my magnetospeed one of these days to try it. There are limitations on what firearms you can use the magnetospeed on and even with it you have to make sure it is aligned just right. It works extremely well, but the Doppler just seems a lot easier to use and gives you more data. If you can spring for it it’d be an easy decision for me.


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I don't have either. I do know Hornady figured out the polymer tip on their "Max" series of bullets was melting using Doppler. That's why we now have the "ELD" series.
 
I have the LabRadar Doppler. It was a pain in the @$$ to set up and get it to detect and capture data for .50 BMG rounds. (Which according to the literature should be easy due to the larger size). Can’t imagine trying to get it to work on .223 rounds.
The manual is poor at best. The power connector likes to fall out frequently.
There are some YouTube videos that are better than the company’s info.
Did I mention it was a pain in the @$$ to set up?
I do like the idea of getting muzzle and down range data.

But I would buy it again given the alternatives.
 
I tested several samples of the MagnetoSpeed and the LabRadar. Never had a single fault with the MS, but several with the LR. One of the guys over whose LR I shot has been without his for 6 weeks out of the past year due to failures. Yes, they fix them...but. Eats batteries too.

The LR is of course a little easier to set up, but for the most part, you need the range to yourself, or at least several lanes in between you and the next guy over or the faults start to increase. Getting a 2500 in your string of 3000s is a PITA.

The down side to the MS is that it is "usually" mounted to the gun. Not a big deal to me as I have rails on most of my guns and I made a rest and have some cantilever pic rails to use on the traditional stocked guns. I have never mounted mine to a barrel yet. On light barrels, it does slightly change the POI, so while group size is consistent, you might see that change in POI. I have fired about 2K rounds over my MS now, never a fault and the data is better than I got with a traditional chrono. Still on the first battery too.

I put a good 300 rounds down range with each in several conditions and for me, the MS was the clear choice. YMMV.
 
Very interesting comments--thanks guys. I read an article somewhere--I think it was on Sinclair's site but I can't remember--where there was a third device they favored over either the MS or doppler--I can't for the life of me remember what it was though. :o
 
I have a Magnetospeed V3. The first one I got had some problems with intermittent readouts, but MS tested it and replaced the bayonet and the readout unit on their dime and it has worked 100% since then. I have only used it on 9mm and .45 ACP pistols, so can’t speak to rifle applications.

I stumbled across an interesting chrono that I hadn’t seen before, but have no personal experience with it. Just passing it along as an item of interest since someone mentioned a 3rd option. It will only work with supersonic rounds, though.
http://www.steinertsensingsystems.com/product-details/superchrono-acoustic-shooting-chronograph/
 
thanks higite--that might be the one I was thinking of--basically 3 different technologies. Doppler seems to be the one that comes closest to allowing accuracy and velocity testing to be done at the same time.
 
The Labradar has more settings to tweak, as mentioned. The Magnetospeed, like anything contacting or changing the weight of a rife muzzle, will make it impossible to reliably tune rifle loads with it in place. A lot of semi-auto pistols will require you to have or mount a rail adapter of some kind to use it.

The Labradar does use juice. Since it will run off a 5V USB adapter, I bought some of the rechargeable USB cell phone emergency recharger batteries to run it from. Amazon has some pretty inexpensive ones.

You can put a pretty big SD card in the Labradar and collect a lot of data before you need to empty it. It's readings are not up to the determination of good BC's as the higher power commercial Doppler radar (which can track a bullet several hundred yards) is. This is because bullets are still overcoming initial yaw near the muzzle. I think this is why the company says it's not for determining BC's, though I haven't asked their reasoning. But I used to have to set up two optical chronographs up to get even approximations of BC's, and this is much easier.

The Magnetospeed seems to be largely free of detection faults where the Labradar isn't particularly better than an optical chronograph in that regard.
 
The only LabRadar I have seen in use was at an IDPA match to verify power factor.
It read every shot fired with my squad's guns.

I would not get full use from a Magnetospeed, much of my chronographing is for autopistols without rails. I did once see a picture of a Magnetospeed on a separate stand that looked like it could align with a gun on a rest.

But this afternoon I will be out with my CE Prochrono photocell unit.
It has the drawbacks of down range chrographs, you have to have a clear range to set it up and you have to fiddle with it to get it aligned with gun and target.
It has the main advantage that it is on hand and paid for.
 
I have a Labradar, it's easy to set up on a public range and really shines when I am shooting multiple firearms, especially handguns. It does have some velocity limitations on the high end, so if you have any 4000 fps varmint cartridges it won't work. It takes more effort to set up with low report cartridges (32-20 WCF and 22 LR) but it does work. The Magnetospeed is lower in cost, but I didn't like the method of attaching it to the barrel, particularly with handguns. From what I've seen of independent testing, both are very accurate. If cost is no object, buy the Labradar... heck, buy them both. :D
 
I am down to the point where the only time I chrono now is when I develop a new load so I can get a rough estimate for my scope dope however this looks interesting. I have steered away from both the magnetic and the radar for various reasons but once this gets a thoroughly tested by purchasers and reviewed I might just replace my old optical

I stumbled across an interesting chrono that I hadn’t seen before, but have no personal experience with it. Just passing it along as an item of interest since someone mentioned a 3rd option. It will only work with supersonic rounds though.
Click to expand...

http://www.steinertsensingsystems.com/product-details/superchrono-acoustic-shooting-chronograph/



for rifle rounds it looks to be a cost effective alternative that can measure down range speed and not affect barrel harmonics. Looks like they are selling for about $370 on Amazon
 
Well interesting this should come up.

I took my Chonry down to the range, turned it on and NADA, ? Ok, spare battery, darn, I was going to be sure I had one but it had a new one last time I used it.

Borrowed a battery from the Range office , nada, oh oh, this don't look good.

Now I keep mine in a padded box, deployed, never folded up, clean, dry, temp variation low.

So far I have been through it as far as I can go, looks like the display just packed it in. zero abuse, I find that really irritating (and I am a very mild manner guy - sort of.)


As noted by howdawg, I don't use it a lot but am working to confirm a velocity with a good load. grrr.

Manetorspeed has no appeal. But a Chronny that quits for no reason (or a bad reasons) is also very low on appeal totem.
 
Labradar looks like the easiest setup but is pricey at 600 bucks

MagnetoSpeed can be setup behind the firing line but it will change the barrel harmonics and point of impact. It sells for around 350 - 400 for the full kit

Superchrono looked interesting at first glance but as UncleNick pointed out it is limited to supersonic bullets and from the video the setup looks to be just as tedious as the optical units if not more so. The price looks to be about the same as MagnetoSpeed

When all is said and done if 7 year old CE optical died tomorrow I would probably replace it with another CE for less than 100 bucks. It works just fine for my purposes but if I wanted to splurge I would go with the radar unit

Oh and RC20 my old CE was dropped on the concrete a couple years ago and has a rattle in it but if I plug a velocity from a 100 yard zero into a ballistics program I am usually within one MOA at 600 - 800 so as long as it works.....

If the electronics are not displaying this won't help but once I had a issue with it once where one of the optical sensors was dirty and readings were erratic. I cleaned the lenses and it started working normal...might be worth looking at before you buy a new one
 
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Regarding the Steinart SuperChrono acoustic unit - Bryan Litz covered this item in his book "Modern Advancements In Long Range Shooting". In his testing it did not fare well, he noted the short spacing of 8 inches between the sensors was the culprit.
 
At the beginning I was interested in the magnetospeed and than this guy one day shows up with the doppler. It was very easy and easier to set up than the magnetospeed. Best part you can use on handguns or rifles without a problem. The drawback was of course is that it can give you errors if there is someone to your left or right but if you are alone or do not have anyone shoot next you you it will be fine. At my range as a member the range is closed to nonmembers on Mondays and Tuesdays but members can shoot so it is fairly empty, so the doppler would be great.
 
If the electronics are not displaying this won't help but once I had a issue with it once where one of the optical sensors was dirty and readings were erratic. I cleaned the lenses and it started working normal...might be worth looking at before you buy a new one
Click to expand...

I am hoping someone take pity on me and sends me their dead Chorny with a good display, then I should parts to last forever.

I work electronics so its not new, surprised as usually they be a bit weird before just stopping and zero abuse (it could not have better care frankly)

I picked up a cheap phone block so I can test the power to the display.

If its got power then display unit and that makes sense.

It could be the power step down on the eye part as well.

Chewing on it, battery was plugged in, display disconnected but depends on how they wire it for power , battery could power up the two eyes. Powered up all the time could be an issue.

2 to 5 volts on electronics so there is a step down (likely resister) in there someplace.

May shunt 9 volt power directly to the display and another step down there.

My brother says I can get a new display for $35 but need to prove whats bad.
 
That is weird. Got to one of the control chips dying. Happens randomly sometimes.

What does Chrony want for a new one? I believe they'll either fix or replace at a discount. They used to, anyway.
 
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