RCBS Chargemaster Lite

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Iron Sighted

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Folks, I have been playing with the idea of buying an automatic powder dispenser and scale combo and these units seem to get pretty good reviews. Anyone here using one, if so, how do you like it?

The reviews I've read make it seem better than the Hornady and Lyman units, and it seems comparable to the older Chargemaster 1500, the features it lacks vs. the 1500 are not ones that concern me.

I have $75 in Cabelas gift cards from Christmas and they have free shipping over $99 which has got me thinking about this upgrade from my current beam scale, just hoping to hear some positive feedback here first before I commit to the purchase.
 
I have the full size version, and I have no complaints. My buddy has the Lite and same for him.

Just my opinion, but until you're into the level of precision that requires something very, very precise the Chargemaster is a no brainer.
 
no experience with the lite but I have the full version. its 6 years old now I think. did it the same reason you did.. less time at the bench... I love my reloading but sometimes when im getting 2-300 rounds ready its nice having it be bang on every time and not dicking around with a balance beam... I used to check every 5th with my 505 but its also been a waist of time lol. I even use it for my long range pills in the 7-08 and have no problem placing hits out to 1000 yards. there worth every penny in my mind.
 
nowarningshot said:
For full on precision. I set my CM 1500 to drop .3gr lite. Trickle on a Gem Pro. Still much faster, and more precision than a powder measure/beam.
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This - I done some "tests" with ChargeMaster 1500 and I was honestly surprised with my results.

If you have the money, go with CM 1500 instead of "lite" version. I'm overly suspicious how they were able to drop the price so much and I wonder if they give up any weighing sensitivity in the process.
 
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Got both. Prefer the Lite. Load cell in the lite version can't weigh as heavy a mass, only about half the total capacity as the older 1500 version. Not an issue at all for what we are doing in this context. The CM lite might possibly be slightly more accurate(mine is, but a test of one of each doesn't mean much of anything). I check charge weights from time to time on my Ohaus Discovery Balance DV114C. It measures to 0.002gr. I did NOT buy this Ohaus Balance, it was surplussed out as the model was being discontinued and the powers that be decided that getting a new balance with superior resolution was necessary. So, when I used to check nearly every charge thrown by the CM1500 with it, the CM1500 weighed within the +0.05/-0.07 range (0.12 total error range), close to the 0.1 resolution claimed for this scale. The CM Lite measures at +0.02/-0.05 (0.07 total range), somewhat better than the 0.1 resolution claimed.
 
If you want to get really good accuracy with measurements down to the kernel (Varget, H4895 and H4350 are each around 0.02gr) the the cheapest automated unit I can think of will be the A&DFX120i with the Automatic Powder Trickler from Autotrickler.com. Warning, if you think the Chargemaster units are expensive, then be sitting down when you look up the prices on this stuff. If you think this is overkill, and can live with charge weights in the 0.1gr resolution range then go with the Chargemaster Lite. Yes, it screws up from time to time with kernels getting bunched up in the drop tube then falling out together and the weight jumps by 0.3 gr, but that is why you have two eyes. Look at the measured weight. First beep tells you it stopped at the requested weight, which is displayed, but wait for half a second or so and it will re-measure and tell you the final weight. It is easy to dump it back into the powder reservoir if it isn't right. I find that static electricity seems to play a part with this as well and dumping everything out and cleaning the reservoir and outer plastic with a used dryer sheet can help.
 
The other day I was doing about 50 .223 rem w/BLC2. Used the chargemaster for the first 10, decided it was too slow, setup the BR30 and had the rest plus about 15 weight checks done in pretty much the same time as it would have taken for the next 10-15 on the chargemaster. Charge was throwing maybe .1 light on the odd one, which I could tell by the action on the handle, it would grate a bit, cutting powder. Just tossed those back in and threw another one in there. There were no heavy throws in there on any that I checked, even when setting up. If you are using short grain or ball powders, powder thrower is the fastest.
 
209jones said:
The other day I was doing about 50 .223 rem w/BLC2. Used the chargemaster for the first 10, decided it was too slow, setup the BR30 and had the rest plus about 15 weight checks done in pretty much the same time as it would have taken for the next 10-15 on the chargemaster. Charge was throwing maybe .1 light on the odd one, which I could tell by the action on the handle, it would grate a bit, cutting powder. Just tossed those back in and threw another one in there. There were no heavy throws in there on any that I checked, even when setting up. If you are using short grain or ball powders, powder thrower is the fastest.
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Throwers work great with H110 and BLC2.... but throw in some Varget, or H322 or H4350, and a thrower can vary as much as +/- .4 Which does not work for precision rifles. For that matter if you only want +/-.4 a Dillon Powder thrower will do that.
For Example, 204Ruger Ammo with H322 will group 1-1.2" at 100m with a thrower or Dillon measure. SD will be 30-70fps

Same ammo, same load with a Chargemaster has a SD in the 8-12fps range and groups 3/8" or better.

It all depends on what you are shooting. Plinking ammo, use whatever. Precision rifle ammo, Chargemaster no question.

One rifle really likes a particular load, and I hit it 95% of the time with the Chargemaster... Might hit it 15% of the time with a thrower. And it is a fairly stout charge. So I REALLY need accurate throws :)
 
GreenBob said:
This - I done some "tests" with ChargeMaster 1500 and I was honestly surprised with my results.

If you have the money, go with CM 1500 instead of "lite" version. I'm overly suspicious how they were able to drop the price so much and I wonder if they give up any weighing sensitivity in the process.
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I'm not. The difference in production cost for a 300$ scale that you trust and a 20$ scale that you don't trust is almost meaningless.

I've benchmarked a few electronic scales using our lab Sartorius scale*. A few (seven) really cheap ones that I bought from amazon or ebay (between 10 and 25$ each), a supposedly better scale bought from a CGN vendor of reloading gear for about 50$, a gempro 300, and the scale on my lyman gen6.

At the end of the day, you're not getting your money's worth with the gempro. For multiple times the price of the cheapest scale, all you get is better QC. But you also get that with the lyman gen6, and I would bet on any RCBS chargemaster.

The cheap scales were surprisingly accurate when they work. Just as accurate as the "reloading" scale and the gempro, actually. There was 2 problems with them: 2 models are really, really slow to output the final weight, and 1 of them was totally whacky. But the other 4 out of 7 were just as good and accurate as the gempro or the "reloading" scale for a fraction of the price. Given how it's easy to find out if your scale is out of whack or fine (buy a set of test weight), and that you'd want to test your gempro anyway, I'd say buy a couple of cheap ones and at least one of them will be accurate. So essentially, a gempro is a cheap 20$ scale that has gone through some QC to make sure it's not out of whack.

Anyway, to cut the story short, given those results, I'd be surprised if there was any difference in the accuracy of the regular or lite version of the CM. It's probably the same design as far as the scale is concerned, and the difference is in the other features, like keeping loads in memory or using the scale separately from the charger.


*I don't own the sartorius. It's worth the price of a small car.
 
I have a Chargemaster Lite. Works good very consistent. It does occasionally overshoot but you can throw it back. The only issue I have had is with kernels of powder getting stuck in the scale and causing erratic readings.

I just bought a second unit to speed up the loading.
 
VinnyQC said:
Anyway, to cut the story short, given those results, I'd be surprised if there was any difference in the accuracy of the regular or lite version of the CM. It's probably the same design as far as the scale is concerned, and the difference is in the other features, like keeping loads in memory or using the scale separately from the charger.
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RCBS - CHARGEMASTER POWDER DISPENSER COMBO $389.99 on sale from $411.99
RCBS - CHARGEMASTER LITE 120/240VAC $239.99 on sale from $270.99

I am sure you are right but that is a lot of $$ drop for just memory and some plastic.
 
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GreenBob said:
RCBS - CHARGEMASTER POWDER DISPENSER COMBO $389.99 on sale from $411.99
RCBS - CHARGEMASTER LITE 120/240VAC $239.99 on sale from $270.99

I am sure you are right but that is a lot of $$ drop for just memory and some plastic.
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You are absolutely right. Please design and build one which works at least as well if not better, then market and sell it for less!
 
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