Shooting with DW Silverback, MechTech and the Labradar - Data and commentary

[dred]

Ok ... I'm running a Labradar GBU review thread on a local forum.  GBU is good, bad & ugly - just my way of discussing my findings.  It's a chronograph review thread so it is data rich.  My previous installment reported range trip number one where I played with 22TCM out of a 5" barrel - I tested that first 'cause in my arsenal .22 caliber is the smallest, fastest thing I can try tracking.  Summary - I tracked reliably out to 60 yards - manufacturer only promises 40 yards for .22 - I was impressed.

Up next is my favorite:  10mm.  I run a MechTech Carbine over a double stack 1911 frame (14+1) with a familiar trigger.  I also run a 10mm Dan Wesson Silverback.  I don't generally line the pistol up at 100 yards, but I may do it more often since I shoot a little better than I thought.

I will be reporting 100 yds worth of tracking. The Labradar manufacturer promises 130 yards worth of data at .40 cal.  I lined up at 100 yards because I had the pistol along and I'm a RSO - I didn't think it would be polite to be seen firing into the backstop with no holes in my target at 200 yards.  I'll stretch the unit another day when I'm just playing with carbines.

Today I learned that I'm not spitting 10mm fast enough to collect accurate measurements from the Labradar's rifle mode (note that my 5" 22TCM spits too fast for pistol mode - ergo the comment). Although 180gr flying at more than 3k fps sounds wonderful, I wasn't buying what the Labradar was selling until I switched it to pistol mode and the data reported was more in line with my expectations.

I fired off 3 different rounds out of both platforms.

1.  Generic 40 Short & Weak FMJ (yes I do fire 40 out of my 10mms.  I don't recommend you do what I do.  I do this because the boy scout in me likes to be prepared.  I don't expect end of days, but I like actually knowing that I can make use of any 40 short and weak cartridges I could scrounge in a jacked up situation.  Both of my platforms spit and cycle the low velocity stepchild reliably.  this is a long blurb but I want to mention that I know how my 1911 and my MechTech Carbine headspace and have my extractors tuned well enough to do this reliably.)

MechTech Data


Silverback Data


It is interesting to note that the ke at 100yds from the MechTech exceeded the ke at the muzzle from the Silverback.  If I was a 40 guy I wouldn't mind a 100 yard boost in "effective" range.


IT GOT BETTER ...

2. Underwood 165gr Bonded JHP

MechTech Data


Silverback Data



3. Underwood 180gr Bonded JHP

MechTech Data


Silverback Data


And, adding to the GBU for the Labradar ... shot number 4, Silverback, Underwood 165s shows a "reporting" anomaly.  I have been sharing the Labradar produced summary reports.  Well, I have a complete track out to 108.46 yards (location of the backstop).  1186 fps which is reported at 100 yards was measured at 79.56 yards in the track.  If I'm gonna believe the data ... the bullet had afterburners at the 80 yard mark 'cause the track data shows ?magical? acceleration to the backstop.  Unfortunately, this round was fired at 100 yards from a 5" pistol making any inferences from target impact completely useless.  I was just thrilled to impact paper at 100 yards over iron sights on the Silverback - it was a shoot and see sighting target, so my inference is that there is a fair chance I could pester a man sized target (the paper was smaller than a LTC qualifying silhouette) at 100 yards with that handgun.  Not bragging ... I'm still a lousy shot, but the Silverback is NOT part of the problem.

So, for the Ugly column ... the Labradar can pull data outta dark places.
... for the Good column ... throwing a "0" into the report gave me good reason to investigate the data from that dark place.  That v80 value is shown on the Labradar screen and I could have dropped it as an outlier without disrupting the string at all.

My next range trip will cart the Labradar and the 45ACP & 460Rowland toys.  I can only fire the Rowland from my other MechTech as I have not put together a pistol for the cartridge.  I'm hoping to push the blip of a 1000 ke muzzle energy out to 100 yards or so.  I've got a few 255gr Underwood Hardcasts and some 260gr JHP handloads I really want to measure.  Then I'm going to run barrel length ladders with 45ACP.  I figure on sharing the 460R data as well - I'm not expecting interest in the 45ACP ladders project.

[jeffreybehr]

1. What's a 'GBU'?

2. I've had a LabRADAR for several months, and altho it took many days to remember to do everything necessary to produce a valid reading, I LOVE it.  No more wind-dumped tripod and optical screens or sunlite-induced failures to measure velocity.  I've yet to download a spreadsheet, and after looking at yours, I expect I never will, as they contain WAY more data than probably I'd ever want to look at.   

Good luck and happy shooting.

[dred]

1. What's a 'GBU'?

2. I've had a LabRADAR for several months, and altho it took many days to remember to do everything necessary to produce a valid reading, I LOVE it.  No more wind-dumped tripod and optical screens or sunlite-induced failures to measure velocity.  I've yet to download a spreadsheet, and after looking at yours, I expect I never will, as they contain WAY more data than probably I'd ever want to look at.   

Good luck and happy shooting.

1. GBU is a term I've only heard used by myself in this context.  Good Bad & Ugly review discussions.  As is likely apparent given the explanation.  I discuss the good points, the bad points and I throw in a section I call "ugly" to catch the points that might not clearly be either good or bad.  This was an edit of installment two of my review.

2. I feel you on the data - and, I only showed the summary data.  But, I love data.  I have never stretched my optical more than about 10 yards from my muzzle.  With a velocity measurement 100 yards down range, I can do two things I really appreciate.  First, I know how much energy a bullet maintains at that distance.  Second, If I collect a little bit of weather data - I can also calculate a fairly accurate ballistic coefficient.  BC allows me to accurately predict bullet drop.

FWIW, I'm posting screencaps of spreadsheets.  It's a lot of data, but it's not unmanageable in a spreadsheet.  That said, I am absolutely looking forward to a firmware update which will allow a bluetooth connection to some of the ballistic calculator applications available for my phone.  All we really know is that the Labradar bluetooth is active, but is not used by current firmware.  My best guess is that they are working toward ballistic calculator integration.

[my_old_glock]

1. What's a 'GBU'?

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