My Labradar was aimed well enough to pick up other bullets with no issues when it refused to read the 6mm Hornadys A-Tips.
Their flat base (which is what the Labradar reads on any bullet) is about .15 inch in diameter. Never had it read .17s, and don't know of any boat-tailed .17 caliber bullets--or at least none I tested were BTs. Also had it fail to read anything close to 3900 fps. Neither my ProChronos or Oehler have failed to read any bullet. Which is why I sold my Labradar.
If yours works for your purposes, great! I would definitely buy another IF those problems are solved,
