ChargeMaster Accuracy

Ganderite

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 99.7%
355   1   0
It weighs to the tenth of a grain.

I have often wondered if the charges vary from 46.0 to 46.09 - almost a full tenth grain of variation.

I was doing an ammo test of neck tensions and used the Charge Master to throw 5 different tests all with the same powder charge.

I got to thinking that a variation in powder charges could mask any differences relating to neck tension, so decided to make 10 rounds with my GemPro scales, accurate to a hundredth of a grain.

I threw those 10 rounds at 45 gr with the ChargeMAster, then dumped the powder on my GemPro and trickled in the last grain.

I was please to note that the powder charges from the ChargeMaster were very uniform. All about 45.02
 
Is the accuracy the same for all powders ?

One of the shooting sites did a test of different hand operated powder measures and found that depending upon the powder used, they all would be the most accurate.
 
I have a digital scale that measures grains to the 100th (0.01) - also have another one that measures to the 10th (0.1) any variance will make a difference - in my case made some really accurate 223 loads using the first scale. Then decided to run another batch using the second scale. It made a difference in accuracy.
 
I have found the chargemaster very good. Sticks powder is a little harder to control due to well, stick size, however ball powder is easy and repeatably accurate to measure. you can slow the second speed trickling time to help with charge issues. For me i re-throw a charge if it is off by .1 grain ..because the chargmaster will always round up, so you should be within .05 grain of your desired amount when it stops which is quite good.. My chrono speeds are all very tight which tell me its keeping extremely close to the desired amount.
 
Wish my Chargemaster was that accurate. I throw the powder with the Chargemaster but re-weigh everything on my Acculab scale. The Chargemaster throwing Varget at a targeted 46.0 gr will throw anywhere between 45.82 to 46.34 but still read 46.0. Not close enough to just go by the Chargemaster to what I am loading for.
 
We did 300 rounds with new Lapua 6.5 Creedmoor brass, 4 types of bullets and VV N550, CCI400 and some BR4. SD were mostly under 10 as measured by Labradar.

Best regards,

Peter
 
My own chargemaster combo was +/- 0.08gr difference with FX120.
My actual load being 42.7gr of varget, this would mean being between 42.62gr and 42.78gr on chargemaster, and still register as 42.7gr.
Laurencens bushing did not help to get it more accurate, but greatly helped reducing overthrown charges, i highly recommend this upgrade.

I agree with icefire to some extent.
Many more factors will come into play and make bigger differences than fine tuning powder charges.
But... if you are striving for the perfect match ammo, going FX120 should not be overlooked.
It will and it does make a difference. Especially in reducing my vertical when shooting.

Edit : oh and if speed is the thing, an FX120 with auto throw and auto trickle feels greatly quicker than chargemaster combo.
You are seating a bullet and the next charge is ready before you are done, even if going quickly at it.
A very nice quick and accurate setup.
 
Mine was -.08 +.12 which doesn't make much sense, should have been -.08 +.10 for every step.

As for the difference in accuracy, I observed .2 MOA at 300 yards my first time out.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...hallenge/page16?highlight=300+yards+challenge


Looking at your post, your brass and primer probably had also a big play in your accuracy.
Not saying it was bad or the scale didn’t help but I’m not sure 2-5 kernel will affect the load when most of the time, not all the powder is burned at 100%.

If the ES is in the single digit, it shouldn’t affect POI that much.
 
Looking at your post, your brass and primer probably had also a big play in your accuracy.
Not saying it was bad or the scale didn’t help but I’m not sure 2-5 kernel will affect the load when most of the time, not all the powder is burned at 100%.

If the ES is in the single digit, it shouldn’t affect POI that much.

You're definitely correct about primers. I finally ran out of the CCI 400 and made the switch to Federal 205M primers. I ran a new ladder with Varget and got a very promising node at .390 and .397 MOA. I haven't played it with it much but I'll try to tune out as much vertical as I can. I'm aware that the Federal brass isn't ideal but for now it's good enough.

T2.jpg
 

Attachments

  • T2.jpg
    T2.jpg
    44.2 KB · Views: 74
Did you try to sort them by volume/weight?

No I haven't. This .223 was more or less an accidental build. I was putting together a long action build at the time and found 2 deals I couldn't pass up on the EE, the .223 barreled action and the McMillan Gamescout stock. I put the .223 together just for fun, being a 700 SPS I didn't expect anything. I didn't want to bother with a .223 specific powder so I started experimenting with Varget, it's my main powder for .308. I got this kind of accuracy with very little effort, one ladder and that was it. I reckon the rifle has more potential. I'm pretty sure I found the bullet the rifle likes, I'll start experimenting with powders eventually. I already know Varget outperforms CFE 223 in that rifle. That will be a project for next Spring.
 
Back
Top Bottom