RCBS Chargemaster....or?

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Question for those of you who use these automatic powder charge units-what's considered the best (=most accurate/consistent for the $) and is the RCBS Chargemaster among the better ones? I've finally been blessed with a rifle that shoots factory ammo beautifully, which has forced reloading to the bottom of my priority list. I'd like to shoot that gun, and one other a bit more so I'm contemplating getting back into it for some volume work. I am relatively obsessed with accuracy when it comes to powder charge, and with winter being my reloading season, dry air/static doesn't help that process much. However, I'm wondering if one of these automatic chargers will give me consistency, and take away the only part of the process I sincerely hate. lol

Thoughts?
 
Check out the AutoTrickler v3, or the v4 which is due out this summer. A little more expensive than the other options and likely a bit of a wait time after ordering, but I love my v3.
 
I have used a Chargemaster for 20 years, or so.

I recently acquired a scales that would measure to the hundredth of a grain. e.g 46.27 gr.

I measured a bunch of Chargemaster loads and found them to be very consistent.

I am very pleased.
 
Yes, the RCBS Chargemaster is great bang for the buck. Literally.
I've used mine for the last few years and am very happy with the consistency.
 
adamg said:
Money no object best: Prometheus
Less money, pretty darn good: Autotrickler
Click to expand...

I need to delete this thread! lol I read this^ and thought "Sweet, maybe I'll grab an Autotrickler V3". All good, just have to add the scale. Then I looked up the scales=did not bother looking at the Prometheus.

Seriously though, thanks for the info guys-what an education. Lots of reading to do, and perhaps some saving. I've never felt any temptation to buy a progressive press, I like single stage. This would be an awesome upgrade, but so (too) would the Chargemaster I think.

Thanks again!
 
Ganderite said:
I have used a Chargemaster for 20 years, or so.

I recently acquired a scales that would measure to the hundredth of a grain. e.g 46.27 gr.

I measured a bunch of Chargemaster loads and found them to be very consistent.

I am very pleased.
Click to expand...

I have not had the same experience, did similar to you. The reason I got the new scale was I didn't think the chargemaster was consistent enough. I always checked a few loads as I was loading and found what I felt was too much variance, up to .4 grain. Now .4 grain isn't a lot when loading a cartridge that takes 80 grains but my little 20 cal with 19 - 21 grains..... makes a big difference. Could even get into too high a pressure for a load at max. Now I find myself using the chargemaster as a powder thrower and trickle up on the better scale. A little ocd? maybe but a couple of loads on the small bore are already at max
 
Another option i have had good service from is the Lyman powder distributor. I've had mine for close to 20 yrs now, it started life as a version 1 and i think I have done a couple "upgrades since then". I have never found it "wanting" in accuracy, I have 3 beam scales that I have checked final loads against and have never found a measurable difference.
The one caveat I will offer is that some powders will measure to a set grainage within 1 tenth every load but some powder requires a bit of "trickling" to reach a set charge. The coursness of the powder kernels will cause this to happen, the worst are the long kernel'd IMR powders. Shorter kernels (4759 or 5744) will measure exact every time.
 
Started using the Autotrickler V3 last Fall. It was the only part of the reloading process I found tedious, but the V3 changed that completely. The few seconds it takes to throw a charge is just right to seat the bullet. Production is fast.
 
If you have 1500CAD cash, sure go for AutoTricker v3 for now or wait for the v4 which is coming soon. Or if you want a budget but still reliable option get the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite not the 1500 combo.

For autotricker's accuracy, it mainly come from the 700USD A&D FX-120i scale. For Chargemaster Lite, you pay for all-in-one solution. In between it has a 1000CAD MatchMaster from RCBS too.
 
I used a Chargemaster for 15 years. Recently got the Autotrickler v3 and it's been great, I would not go back
 
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