How to get accurate powder charges

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Cow Town Bill

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A recent thread has got my interest---it has to do with SD, how may shots are needed etc. Associated with this, of course, is how to get a SD of less than 10 and hopefully an accurate load.
Anyway, I've been reloading for years on end with my 1010 scale and trickling with my trusty RCBS trickler. After reading the thread and doing some web searching I've come to the conclusion that I need to upgrade my equipment. I'm thinking about a Gem Pro 250 digital scale and an Omega power trickler. No, I'm not a competition shooter but I do like to get nice little groups out to 300 yards or so which is the limit of my range.
Can fellow reloaders share their experience and wisdom before I place my order?
Thanks everyone.
Bill
 
I wouldn't combine a Gem Pro 250 with a trickler. The scale just doesn't read trickled charges that well, you'd have to lift the pan and re-weigh anyways. It's a good little scale for the cost but make sure you keep both your receipt and the warranty card cause they won't warranty it when it goes wonky (and it will) without both those things...
 
You can buy RCBS Chargemaster lite (cheaper than the original) now in Canada. Got mine from Natchez. I think it should be good enough for the shooting you're doing.
 
Are you looking for accuracy, or consistency? There's a difference.

As with most things, when it comes to precision scales, you get what you pay for. If you're willing to spend, you can look at A&D or Sartorius. That said, I've read good things about the RCBS Chargemaster and the Lyman Powder System.

Have you considered an Auto Trickler?
 
rugbydave said:
I wouldn't combine a Gem Pro 250 with a trickler. The scale just doesn't read trickled charges that well, you'd have to lift the pan and re-weigh anyways. It's a good little scale for the cost but make sure you keep both your receipt and the warranty card cause they won't warranty it when it goes wonky (and it will) without both those things...
Click to expand...

I have been running a Gempro 250 and a trickler for years with no problem. I agree that they are slower than an Acculab, which is near impossible to find of late, when using a trickler. I have not had to lift the pan, just wait a few seconds for the Gempro to read the corrected amount of powder.
We sell a fairly large number of Gempro scales every year and do see a few that need warranty repair, but not a large number of them. Spot on about keeping the receipt and warranty card!! Without it you are screwed.
 
BCBRAD said:
Gem Pro 250 works fine, it is slow to settle trickled powder however.

I am moving to a Fx120i to eliminate some of the quirks of the 250.
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I did this a couple of years ago..after my third GemPro250 s**t the bed.
Like kinky ###, once you've experienced the awesomness of a precision, magnetically damped scale, you're ruined for anything less......
 
Forget about a chargemaster if you want accurate loads.

For the same money you can get a more accurate scale and a set of powder scoops or a rotary powder thrower.

The accuracy of the RCBS scale is the root weakness. Its good enough for 300 yard plinkers but not good for further and it will kill you as a long range competitor since everyone else will have a better scale.

My advice is to get at least a 2 decimal place scale and preferably a three decimal place model.
 
I've been using the Gempro 250 for several years. The only difficulty I've had is when I used it under a ceiling vent when the fan was on. ( poor readings). Other than making sure there are NO doors or windows causing a cross draft it's been a good unit for me.
 
I use a Chargemaster to throw close and then place the pan on my A+D FX120i for final 'trickling in' to desired load.
Pour load into case
Seat bullet while Chargemaster is throwing another charge

Speed of my system averages two .308 cases a minute
 
awndray said:
Are you looking for accuracy, or consistency? There's a difference.

As with most things, when it comes to precision scales, you get what you pay for. If you're willing to spend, you can look at A&D or Sartorius. That said, I've read good things about the RCBS Chargemaster and the Lyman Powder System.

Have you considered an Auto Trickler?
Click to expand...

I have one of the gen 6 Lyman powder dispensers and it's pretty decent. It's rated for +/- .1gr which I find it stays within 95% of the time. I use it for service rifle loads where I'm doing batches of 500 rounds with stick powder. For ball powder I use a volumetric dispenser (also lyman). For precision loads I always weigh by hand on a quality beam balance or digital scale, usually using a volumetric dispenser to get close, then trickle to desired amount.
 
Not sure what you are trying to fix? As stated, scales like the Sartorious and A&D are really nice (and expensive). I would take a good look at autotricklerdotcom and look at some of Adam's stuff if you decide to buy one of the above mentioned scales.

Next you will need the equipment and ability to tune loads and have the reloading know how to use the tools and make accurate ammo.
 
Tomochan said:
I use a Chargemaster to throw close and then place the pan on my A+D FX120i for final 'trickling in' to desired load.
Click to expand...

Why bother with the chargemaster if you need to fix the load anyway?
Might just as well use a powder scoop or a rotary powder thrower.

I had a chargemaster but found I had no use for it after I bought a better scale.

Sure the chargemaster will be a little closer than a powder scoop but if you put the chargemaster cash toward the better scale you are better off in the long run.

Besides the powder scoop or thrower are faster than the chargemaster.

I bought about 50 small stainless condiment cups from the dollar store. (about the size of a shot glass) Since they are steel they do not get static and they stack really well.

I throw the powder charge into all of them and arrange them on one side of my desk.

Now one by one I dump the charge into the 3 decimal place scale and tune it to one kernel.

I then dump the load back into the condiment cup and put it on the other side of the desk.

If at any point I feel uneasy, I can re-weigh any loads.

Once they are all weighed nice and neat... I throw them into cases and stack the empty cups.

This has worked out really well for me because I throw the charges real fast and then spend my efforts tuning instead of waiting and fiddling.
 
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My Gempro 250 crapped out after a year, typical me, I didn't save the receipt etc, so am out of luck. Won't be buying another.
 
Badasmo,

If you have an A&D scale you really should look into the autotrickler that uses your scales power and electronics to finish the charge.
 
BadAsMo said:
Why bother with the chargemaster if you need to fix the load anyway?
Might just as well use a powder scoop or a rotary powder thrower.
Click to expand...

Good question but I had the Chargemaster first before the A+D and decided to keep it - the one big advantage is that it is already throwing the next charge while I am seating the bullet from previous charge; it is like having a second person helping in that regard. I also use a thrower and it is slower as I have to throw, fiddle, seat and rethrow - no second helper.

YMMV
 
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