April, 2015

So April is here and nearly gone, and there's a lot going on.

Today is Patriots' Day; a civic holiday in Massachusetts celebrating what was the start of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775 and the anniversary of the battles at Lexington and Concord.

However, this is not a Federal holiday, and because we don't get the day off, many people overlook this famous date.

Two hundred and forty years ago citizen soldiers from 13 colonies fought against the oppressive Kingdom of Great Britain and formed what would become the most powerful nation in the world.

A nation founded on certain inalienable rights which were endowed by our Creator.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Perhaps today more so than at any other time in our history is a good day to be reminded of our history and the principles on which this country was founded, starting with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights.

Here are a few other things going on this month:

t-shirts are back in the store

• T-Shirts
  Finally, t-shirts are back online!

  It's been almost 2 years since we moved and had to discontinue what was probably our most popular product, but now they're back, better than ever.

• Giveaways
  TNVC has been graciously giving away prizes this Spring.

  This month we announce the winner of last month's ATPIAL-C laser, as well as announce perhaps the largest single item giveaway we've ever done.

  Check out the right column for the Ultra Hog Crusher package valued at over $8000!

  All you need to do is click the link provided, and you will be entered.

  Only one entry per email address is counted, so each entry has to have a subscription via their own email.

  I know that this is not the last giveaway either, so make sure you enter, and tell your friends who are not already subscribed to the newsletter, as this is the only way to enter and win.


LabRadar tested with a subsonic .22LR round at 80yds

• LabRadar
  This month we bring you a first look at a tool that I believe will change the way we chrono our ammo forever.

  The LabRadar, a personal doppler radar, that we've mentioned in the past and discussed from SHOT Show, has finally shipped product!

  These first few units have gone out and we were lucky to get one in hand for a first look, below. We will continue to update this as we get more time with the unit.

• New Newsletter Layout - next month we'll be rolling out an updated look for the newsletter to make it compatible with more mail clients as well as to reflect changes coming with the update of the main site.

• NRA Annual Meeting - this month was the NRA Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN and though we were not able to attend this year, 70,000 of you did.

  Check out the site for a video from the leadership forum and elsewhere on the site are threads with images and discussions.

  Next year's meeting is in Louisville, KY, May 20-22, 2016, then Atlanta in 2017, and Dallas in 2018.

• Hollis v. Holder
  Coming up in a few days is our very own NoloContendere's NFA case: #35 Order Setting Hearing.

  Oral argument on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment, filed January 16, 2015, is SET for Thursday, April 23, 2015, at 1:30 p.m. at the Federal Building in Dallas.

  These arguments are generally open to the public. From those not there, know that the rest of us are behind you Nolo!

  For those of you that have no idea what's going on, you've got some reading to do: NFA cases: Hollis v. Holder; Watson v. Holder.

• Canton Trade Days
  The next Canton Trade Days is (April 30-May 3, 2015)

  Check out the Trade Days thread and we hope to see you there.

LabRadar set up for testing, right out of the box

This month we take a look at a product that I've been waiting a long time to get my hands on.

This personal doppler radar is able to replace a chrono for all your projectile velocity measuring needs (archery, firearms, airguns), and is easier to use, safer as you don't shoot through it, and works under all conditions.

This first article will give an overview of its operation, features, and results, but is by no means an in-depth evaluation of the product as we have simply not had much time with it.

Unit is serial number #48, and has versions 1.0 of all firmware.

Overview

LabRadar uses doppler radar technology to obtain the velocity of projectiles. It contains a transmitter and receiver to gather the data.

It can be triggered by the sounds of your shot, or by detecting the object moving downrange. This second mode is for airguns and bows that have no report, and in fact was necessary to trigger the unit when tested with our suppressed .22LR rifle.

Since doppler radar signals travel at the speed of light, it is very accurate under virtually all conditions.

The unit is positioned along side the shooter, to the side of the muzzle or bow, and aimed downrange with the display facing the user.

Upon firing the shot, the unit will continually track the projectile and report numerous velocities along its path. The data is immediately shown on the LCD display, and is also stored. While it shows up to 5 velocities per shot at various ranges on the display, it gathers and stores more (discussed later with example data provided).

The box contains LabRadar, Micro USB cable, User Guide, and Warranty Card (1yr). There are a number of accessories available for it such as various stands, a custom carry bag, and an external trigger. We're testing the base unit, as it comes.

Additionally, there are indicators in photos for bluetooth and other features that may be reserved for future use, or at least well ahead of the basic functions that I've had a chance to play with.

Specifications

Operation

Button Definition

Configuration Menu Definitions

When the Display/Parameters button is pressed, the following menu options are available:

Using the LabRadar

Turn on the LabRadar by pressing the power button (7). You will see a blue light (13) to indicate the unit is on. The series information will appear.

If you want to create a new series, press the series button (2) and confirm that you want to start a new series by pressing the enter button. If you want to continue recording shots in the existing series, skip the new series creation and continue to the next step.

To start recording shots, press the arm button (8) twice and the light will change from blue to orange. The radar is now armed and you are ready to shoot.

When you are finished shooting, you can press and hold the arm button (8) to return to the series information. The light will change from orange to blue. You can also wait for the arm time that you set to expire.

Aligning the Radar

To properly align the radar, look through the sighting notch at the top of the unit and aim the radar at your target.

The LabRadar should not be in front of your muzzle. It is acceptable to place your muzzle in front of the LabRadar. Ideally it should be in a position where you can see the screen from your shooting position.

Display Details

Individual Shot Review

Individual Shot Review - In this view, you can look at the individual shot and it's results. As you can see in the image at the right, Shot 0001 of Series 0001 shows velocities in fps for the preset ranges of 0, 10, 25, and 50 yds (75 and 100 showed no results).

The range at which the LabRadar can detect a bullet varies with the size of the bullet. For a .22, it says 40-60yds is about the the maximum. This goes up to 80-100yds for a 30 caliber bullet, and 100-130yds for a 9mm.

As you can see in my results it lost it after 50yds which is exactly as expected. While the range is certainly a limitation, it is much more information than a traditional chronograph could provide.

Range is affected by projectile's diameter, tail design, shape, position in the air, and sub projectiles (sabots, wads, etc.).

Series Stats

Series Stats - In this view, you can see the series statistics.

These include:

• average velocity
• highest velocity
• lowest velocity
• extreme spread (lowest subtracted from highest)
• standard deviation (how spread out are the values, lower means most are very close to average)
• number of shots in the series

Data Results

So as we've mentioned above, we did our initial testing using a .22LR suppressed rifle. Figured this would be the toughest challenge for the unit, so why not jump in.

Suppressed CZ 455 in .22LR used in testing

Ammunition used was Remington Target Standard Velocity .22 Long Rifle Round Nose 40gr bullet with a published speed of 1150fps. I have found these to be subsonic out of this rifle most of the time, and accurate.

Initial attempts to trigger with sound failed, even at the most sensitive level, so I had to resort to using the doppler trigger mode. This worked reliably, and I believe the data is good though it would require a traditional chrono to verify.

The data shown above in the screenshots represents a 5 shot series. As shown, we had velocities at various ranges, and the LabRadar picked up the tiny bullet at 50 yds which is impressive considering the size.

However, it records much more detail than what it shows in the display. This is saved to the SD card, and is available for download and further evaluation.

I have published a zip file of the folder written for this series here for those of you that want to dig in and see what it provides.

Briefly looking at the data, it saves it by series, so there is a folder for SR0001. Within that folder is a SR0001 Report.csv file, which has summary info for the series. It looks like this:

sep=;
Device ID;LBR-0000048;;

Series No;0001;;
Total number of shots;0005;;

Units velocity;fps;;
Units distances;yd;;
Units kinetic energy;ft-lbf;;
Units weight;grain (gr);;

Stats - Average;1087.83;fps;
Stats - Highest;1122.30;fps;
Stats - Lowest;1067.52;fps;
Stats - Ext. Spread;54.78;fps;
Stats - Std. Dev;21.01;fps;

Shot ID;V0;V10;V25;V50;V75;V100;Ke0;Ke10;Ke25;Ke50;Ke75;Ke100;PF10;Proj. Weight;Date;Time
0001;1081;1066;1043;1007;0;0;103;100;96;90;0;0;42.64;40.00;04-19-2015;12:05:08;
0002;1122;1105;1080;1047;0;0;111;108;103;97;0;0;44.20;40.00;04-19-2015;12:05:33;
0003;1077;1063;1042;1008;0;0;103;100;96;90;0;0;42.52;40.00;04-19-2015;12:06:41;
0004;1068;1054;1033;996;0;0;101;98;94;88;0;0;42.16;40.00;04-19-2015;12:06:50;
0005;1091;1075;1052;1017;989;0;105;102;98;91;86;0;43.00;40.00;04-19-2015;12:07:04;

Also in that folder is another folder TRK which has a file for each individual shot (i.e. Shot0001 Track.csv):

sep=;
Device ID;LBR-0000048;;
Series No;0001
Shot No;0001

Time (s);Vel (fps);Dist (yd);SNR
0.000000;1081.10;0.00;-
0.019021;1069.75;6.79;32.18
0.021021;1070.32;7.50;31.28
0.023021;1068.25;8.22;41.61
0.025021;1067.04;8.93;40.20
0.027021;1066.37;9.64;38.84
0.029021;1065.15;10.35;38.22
...
0.429021;995.65;142.70;9.58
0.439021;992.90;146.01;12.27
0.447021;984.97;148.65;10.45
0.455021;1011.60;151.31;10.37

So as you can see there are a lot more data points than what the LabRadar display shows. In the example above I deleted most of the data to save space, but it will take a more detailed analysis to see how it's gathering data and doing calculations, and what data it considers valid.

So there it is- our first look at the LabRadar Ballistic Velocity Doppler Radar.

It is an easy to use device that will be used in much more of our testing going forward, both on the system itself, as well as every other ammo test that we conduct.

We'll have more info in the future, and want to provide a place for any questions and discussions so I'm creating a thread here. Feel free to post and ask away...

Speed Limit Science

By: Chris Andersen, 3-Gun Nation Pro Shooter

On your daily commute you likely pass dozens of road signs telling you what the maximum safe speed is on that particular stretch of road is. Traffic engineers spent countless hours determining the appropriate speed for that road in an effort to keep you out of trouble.

In 3-Gun, a course of fire leaves you completely to your own devices, giving you every opportunity to go way too fast, or in some cases too slow, and come off track or not perform to your potential.

Imagine driving on a race track, where the only speed limit is the one you set, and the objective is to get around the track as quickly as possible. You set your own speed limits for a particular type of turn based on your own and capabilities and those of your car. The fastest way around the track means not leaving anything on the table, pushing as hard as you can without overdriving your car.

The same rules apply to your shooting. You determine how hard to push from 0-100% each time you address sections of a course of fire. After you master your shooting fundamentals, the science of determining, and then maximizing your personal speed limit is where real speed in action-shooting comes from.

My Approach

3-Gun scoring in most major matches can be a real grey area for determining appropriate speeds. Any two hits on a target or one center hit to neutralize it can mean different things to different people. A lot of shooters will spray bullets at targets in these matches, accepting the fact that they may or may not neutralize the targets with 2 bad hits, or hoping to get lucky with one hit in the center of the target. This can be a recipe for disaster.

My background is in action pistol, where center-hits help your score and I try to default to that mindset for 3-gun, shooting for center-hits just like I would at a pistol match. That means less makeup shots, a lower likelihood of a miss, and that consistency generally keeps me out of trouble. I even shoot pistol matches occasionally for practice, choosing divisions where getting points are most important to ensure I keep my accuracy in check.

That approach works as a great baseline, keeping penalties and makeup shots to a minimum. That also helps me not take long-distance shots for granted. Maxing out your speed from there comes from knowing EXACTLY how much time to spend or how hard to push to get those types of hits with as little waste as possible.

Before you start setting your criteria for what your speed limits should be, make sure that you have a couple of variables dialed in: equipment, ammunition and accuracy.

• Equipment - None if this works if you don’t know your guns. Trust in your gear is paramount to making the right decisions relative to speed. You would never take a trip if you knew your car was unsafe or may not make it. Apply that same type of logic to your gear. If you have never tested your rifle out to long distances for example, you are handicapping yourself when it comes to match performance. Time spent verifying this type of info can also be some of the best training time you will ever spend. So start there.
• Ammunition - I do as much as I can to squeeze maximum accuracy out of my guns when reloading and choosing equipment. If, for instance, I know my rifle is incredibly accurate, that confidence carries over into my shooting performance. That accuracy also increases my margin for error on long distance shots.
• Accuracy - Be certain your equipment is as accurate and reliable as it can be within your budget and time constraints. Then know your equipment capabilities by heart. This will minimize uncertainty, and help you accurately determine how fast you can go.

Setting Target Speed Limits

Being efficient on the clock comes down managing priorities. Knowing exactly how much time to spend on a particular type of target will equate to quantum leaps in speed in competitive shooting.

Think of driving on that racetrack again. You drive at different speeds depending on the type of road you are on, keeping your speedometer in check. Apply that same logic to the type of target you are addressing. I break target priorities into the following three categories, which can apply to all 3 guns in your kit.

• Easy - Think long, straight stretches of road, where the speed limit is high. These are close-range no-brainer targets that may not even require you to have a sight picture. Targets like this get the minimum amount of attention in my walk through, and likely only require a minimal sight picture to get the necessary hits on target, or possibly no sight picture at all (point shooting). You lose speed on targets like these when you spend too much time on them. Beginning shooters in particular tend to wait for that perfect sight alignment and make a good trigger press when none of that is necessary at all to neutralize these targets and move on. You may not even notice a transition happening between targets when you watch a high-level shooter in this situation because their cadence is so quick.
• Intermediate - Think of driving a twisty section of that track, where you can go fairly fast, but you have to mind your surroundings. I map these targets in my walk through and can see them in my mind before I shoot a stage. I make sure I have my positions planned to ensure I can engage them efficiently and take a good sight picture and aim for the center of the target. Never take these targets for granted, as the misses will surely sneak up with you. I pretend the outer scoring zone on these targets does not exist and shoot for the smaller target area created by doing this. That generally gives me just the right balance of speed, and enough accuracy to stay out of trouble.
• Difficult - Picture a treacherous canyon road where one misstep can mean big trouble. SLOW DOWN! These are danger targets. These targets can lose matches or cost you good finishes so it is important to recognize them. Speed is lost on danger targets when you don’t give them enough time or respect. Make-up shots, especially on long range, can cost enormous amounts of time. It is not unusual for a shooter to look back and realize that not giving enough respect to one or two targets in a match made a significant difference in how he or she finished. These targets get hard focus, perfect sight pictures and smooth, fundamentally sound trigger presses. Depending on your trust in your equipment and ability level, you might also be waiting to see the target fall or react to confirm the hit.

The key to speed on each target type is to first learn how to identify which one you are dealing with, and then to spend time on the practice range dialing in the speed limit for each difficulty level. That range time is critical for determining which sight pictures, shooting positions and shooting speed is appropriate for you in a given situation.

Practice Time

Try setting up all three types of targets next time you are at the range, and work on transitioning between them, adjusting your speed to give each one the level of respect that they deserve. Then push harder and test your perceptions. You may surprise yourself and find you are going too slow and spending too much time on certain targets. Then try slowing down. If your hits suddenly get better on difficult targets, that can indicate that you have been going too fast. Set up sample courses of fire and test both approaches on the clock to find which is most effective. That is your shooting speed limit.

You can also apply these principals to your movement into shooting positions, shooting on the move, and gun transitions and manipulation. Push hard, but never harder than you can control.

As you progress, your speed will increase, but your limits should not. They are always a percentage of your ability. Never lose sight of that. Too often people get caught up obsessing over numbers on a timer. Be careful as this can cause you to forget your fundamentals, and limit your improvement.

Testing and pushing these limits in your training help you improve, and slowing down and comparing approaches on the clock will keep you as efficient as possible. Proper management of personal speed limits will insure you achieve the best possible performance level and that means better match finishes!

M855 Plot Thickens: Congressman Proposes Center-Fire Ammo Ban

You didn’t need a crystal ball to see this one coming. On Monday, a week after the BATFE withdrew its plan to ban M855 as "armor-piercing ammunition,” U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) announced that he intends to introduce legislation to “extend the definition of armor-piercing ammunition to include all bullets that can pierce body armor and be used in handguns."

The reason you didn’t need a crystal ball is that gun control supporters have been pushing this idea for years. In the 1980s, after NBC-TV did an attack piece on bullets invented for law enforcement officers to shoot through walls and doors, disingenuously calling them “Cop Killer Bullets,” gun control supporters seized upon the term and proposed legislation to ban any bullet that could penetrate a soft protective vest.

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Second Amendment Enforcement Act of 2015 Introduced

Last week, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and U.S. Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) introduced “The Second Amendment Enforcement Act of 2015” in the U.S. Senate and House respectively. These bills would restore the fundamental individual right for law-abiding D.C. residents to Keep and Bear Arms to defend themselves in accordance with the law. This bill would also conform D.C. law to federal laws in regards to governing firearms commerce, while also allowing D.C. residents to purchase firearms from licensed dealers in VA and MD, without the current hassle of D.C.’s onerous firearm registration system. The D.C. permitting system would also become streamlined, allowing for more law-abiding D.C. residents to legally obtain a permit and carry concealed firearms for self-defense.

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NRA Opposes Confirmation of Obama's U.S. Attorney General Nominee, Loretta Lynch

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he plans to take the confirmation vote on President Obama’s U.S. Attorney General Nominee, Loretta Lynch, to the Senate floor sometime next week. The vote will likely be very close.

As the Nations’ top law enforcement officer, Lynch would almost certainly have an impact on our Second Amendment rights. We know Lynch supports the Obama administration’s position to ban “assault weapons.” And, we know that the general-purpose rifles that gun control supporters call “assault weapons”--such as the AR-15--are the most popular rifles in the United States. We also know that the President’s previous choice for Attorney General--Eric Holder--clearly demonstrated the damage an Obama-appointed, agenda-driven, anti-gun Attorney General can do to our rights and freedoms as Americans.

NRA opposes the confirmation of Obama nominee Loretta Lynch for Attorney General of the United States.

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