Which automatic powder dispenser?
- Thread starter Underthegun
- Start date
notsorichguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
I've only ever used RCBS.
It works, so do the others (I assume). I only bought the RCBS as I knew the name and warranty behind it. Lyman and hornady both make good gear so it really shouldn't matter.
Cheers!
It works, so do the others (I assume). I only bought the RCBS as I knew the name and warranty behind it. Lyman and hornady both make good gear so it really shouldn't matter.
Cheers!
I have been reloading for 25 years and never used an autoloader. I understood that they take a bit to get it right [when u start a session] and then are only semi-accuarate after that requiring you to check the weights manually every 8 - 15 charges... again, I have never used one and am just wondering if my perception is wrong and I have wasted countless hours over the years with a teaspoon and trickler 
My last batch had a variance of 22 FPS over a 9 shot/3 set/session. Of course it's a pretty dedicated no beer, no smoking process that takes more time than maybe it shud.
Jim
My last batch had a variance of 22 FPS over a 9 shot/3 set/session. Of course it's a pretty dedicated no beer, no smoking process that takes more time than maybe it shud.Jim
notsorichguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
I have been reloading for 25 years and never used an autoloader. I understood that they take a bit to get it right [when u start a session] and then are only semi-accuarate after that requiring you to check the weights manually every 8 - 15 charges... again, I have never used one and am just wondering if my perception is wrong and I have wasted countless hours over the years with a teaspoon and trickler
Jim
I loaded for 20 before I got mine. To be honest it is the single thing on my bench that I asked myself "why didn't you buy this sooner!"....
I find that my most accurate groups are also the groups with the lowest ES. I find that I get my lowest ES with charges that are max or near max loads. I use a crony when testing but seldom do when I'm "plinking".
If my charge master started to be as "inaccurate" as you describe, I would contact RCBS and have repaired or replaced under warranty........
There is no need to use check weights every 8-15 charges. Frankly, someone who does that isn't very bright...
When you remove the pan from the machine to dump it, looking at the display will tell you if there has been any loss of accuracy. You've zeroed the machine with an empty pan on it. If the display doesn't show -(weight of empty pan) when the pan is removed, then something is wrong. The pan itself is a check weight, it's pretty intuitive... There can of course be a variation of 0.1gr since that is the resolution of the machine.
The most commonly reason for a shift is static build-up. Wearing one of those anti-static wrist straps used by the electronics industry generally solves the problem. If not, then the machine is probably defective.
FWIW I picked mine (chargemaster) based on dispensing times I found on youtube. All the head to head races had the chargemaster dispensing the fastest. I could not find any reports of any of them being more or less accurate than the others, so it just came down to speed.
I'll agree about the 'why didn't I get this sooner' bit. This thing quickly became invaluable on the bench. Sold my beam scale not long after I got it. It has its own check/calibration weights with it, so I'm not worried at all. And it takes all of about 30 seconds to calibrate it, so that gets done every time I start loading.
I'll agree about the 'why didn't I get this sooner' bit. This thing quickly became invaluable on the bench. Sold my beam scale not long after I got it. It has its own check/calibration weights with it, so I'm not worried at all. And it takes all of about 30 seconds to calibrate it, so that gets done every time I start loading.
I bought my Chargemaster a little over a month ago.
I loaded 320 .223 with XBR just to test drive it and found all the rounds I tested to be within +-1/10 of a grain.
If it over or undercharges the scale will indicate this on the display.
With XBR I found this to be 1 in 50 or so rounds.
There are tricks to get stick powders to trickle a little more accurately.
If you google Chargemaster and McDonalds straw you will find a few threads.
I loaded 320 .223 with XBR just to test drive it and found all the rounds I tested to be within +-1/10 of a grain.
If it over or undercharges the scale will indicate this on the display.
With XBR I found this to be 1 in 50 or so rounds.
There are tricks to get stick powders to trickle a little more accurately.
If you google Chargemaster and McDonalds straw you will find a few threads.
hope this automatic powder dispensers test will help you make up your mind
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Love my chargemaster. Speeds up reloading by a lot. When I'm loading fmj I could use 2 of them just ot keep me from waiting for it to finish.
CreamySmooth
CGN frequent flyer
I was checking You Tubes and it seemed to me in all tests the new Hornady scale was the way to go. Was faster than the others in every test I saw. Other opinions??
Hornady is only offering 1 year warranty, and it is not any more accurate than the Chargemaster. The chargemaster is also programmable almost infinitely, so adjusting the three speeds to suit your loading style is kind of sweet.
I bought one right at the beginning of learning to reload. I'm glad I did. The gentleman who taught me the reloading basics had one of those semi disgusted looks on his face when he saw it. After teaching me to reload he was considering getting one.
I have the Pact brand dispenser. It has two parts. The dispenser and the scale. They communicate by IR. Using this system every load is weighed as it's dispensed onto the scale. It works great.
One tip. Do not have your cell phone near these. Any use messes things up temporarily. Once the phone is off it's back to normal. Any calls, texts etc will screw it up if the smart phone is nearby. Minor inconvenience but it is annoying.
I should add that I bought mine 5 Years ago and they were in stock locally. Otherwise I probably would have gone with the chargemaster.
I have the Pact brand dispenser. It has two parts. The dispenser and the scale. They communicate by IR. Using this system every load is weighed as it's dispensed onto the scale. It works great.
One tip. Do not have your cell phone near these. Any use messes things up temporarily. Once the phone is off it's back to normal. Any calls, texts etc will screw it up if the smart phone is nearby. Minor inconvenience but it is annoying.
I should add that I bought mine 5 Years ago and they were in stock locally. Otherwise I probably would have gone with the chargemaster.
I use the cheap one from my Lee 50th anniversary kit, and it works so dang good. A buddy was arguing that if i want accurate loads, I have to do them all by hand, load em just under and trickle the rest. I did a test the other day with Benchmark powder, and set it to 23 gn, every load came out perfect, not off at all.... I couldnt get more accurate if i did it his way.
notsorichguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
Try that with an IMR powder and get back to us.....
Benchmark is just about the easiest metering powder out there!
