My experiences with the V3 Autotrickler/Autothrow

[johnnyi]

Is that cover worth the $$$?

for me it was. I can see a lot better if a kernel bounced on the plate.

 

[Sandstorm]

Yep..nice cover and its a lot more support. Makes me feel better anyway.

 

[ridgeway]

Guess it's another thing to add...it never ends, lol

 

[arkcomatt]

Life is too short to try and tell people on the internet what they should or shouldn't care about when you don't have any context...

This past weekend -in competition- I went 3/10 at 1505 yards laying down cold bore to timing out at 90 seconds on the stage.
3 misses were spotted and had good vertical but I blew the wind, 3 more 2 misses were low and 1 was high but had good wind. 1 I couldn't self spot.

Clearly lots of factors could have contributed those misses, shitty form, neck tension, BC not perfect, incorrect zero, a gun that won't hold the plate at 1500 yards, or about a dozen other things I try and control
But if I can eliminate any possible variance from powder without it costing me time in the reloading room, then I will.
If you can beat me at 1500 yards pouring powder straight from the keg into open top cartridges in the loading block, more power to ya. I've never had a guy I'm losing to on Sunday tell me they're using powder scoops because its good enough and so much faster (which we can all agree is a good thing).

I can already measure to .02 consistency with my current process but it takes me about 35 seconds to do it, drop or remove a few grains of powder, and check it afterwards.
Since I'm shooting 3-5k reloaded rounds a year, I'm hoping the autotrickler can get me to the same result but shaving 10-20 seconds off my reloading time.
That would give me 10-20 more hours back for other things in my life each year which I'd appreciate.

If anyone has constructive feedback, my question remains. How are you tuning your end to end powder throwing process with the V3 for optimal speed with the desired accuracy.

Use the app and set the V3 up per the instructions that came with it. Throw 2 grains under target load and set trickler to throw .5gr/sec. I do that and it works great. Will throw a load in the time it takes me to seat a bullet.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

This past weekend I had to load 100 rounds in a hurry. This time I used a mat placed under the FX-120 and the autotrickler. The mat is a little spongy, it's a mat for gunsmithing that I bought from Brownells a few years back. It dampens everything.

I plugged in the scale and let it warm up for 30 minutes. Then I set my target load and away I went. In 100 cases about 60 were dead nuts on, 35 were one kernel short, 2 were two kernels short and 3 were over by a couple of kernels. Dead nuts on or 1 kernel short are great, I throw in the missing kernel with a pair of tweezers. Two kernels short take an extra second to add the second kernel. Removing kernels slows me down a bit more because it's more surgical.

I found the trickler takes longer to reach the target, but it's more precise that when there is no mat under the equipment. I was making minute adjustments to the trickler angle screw.

So, that's my setup for now.

I also found there were fewer random kernels in the scale at the end of the session and only found 2 kernels on the platter.

And yes, the transparent lid was worth it. I think.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

It was a beautiful day yesterday so I decided to load up a ladder test and go to the local private range to shoot it. I set up my FX-120 w/ the V3 accoutrements and after letting it warm up for 30 minutes, proceeded to load 6 different loads. After I loaded the first batch, I placed the powder cup back in the scale and it dispensed the load. I had forgotten to add the .3 gr for the next load. I was going to put the newly dispensed load back in the hopper and get another load, but as I adjusted the target load, the autotrickler came to life and resumed dispensing the powder until it once again reached the target load.

It was kind of fun to increment the load and watch the autothrow come to life to spit out more kernels.

When I finished my last load, I tried dialing back the dispensed load by 2.0gr and I watched as as the autotrickler went on reverse and sucked up the extra kernels to reduce the load.

Well, it should be able to do that. I think I'll email Adam and see if that can be programmed in.

 

[dnellans]

I've now loaded about 500 hundred rounds for match and practice on mine so thought I'd give an update since my initial experience wasn't as glowing as I'd hoped.

Initially I was following the directions for setting it up to get it to make a throw "in about 10 seconds" and I think that is just being too optimistic.
By setting the trickler angle to be more "uphill" which then makes the stepping of dropping the last grain slower, I've been able to largely eliminate any over throws (i'll call it 2/100 go .02 over the target now).

For practice ammo this is totally fine, I'll take 50/50 % at -.02, spot on, and then just one or two over by never more than .02
For match ammo I just have single grains on a paper towel next to it and can drop one more in and 100% will be exactly as desired. If nothing else it makes me feel like I'm making the best ammo I can, which helps the mental game!

To get near zero over throws the trickler takes more like 20 seconds, but that time is entirely overlapped (its running while i'm doing other steps) with me seating the bullet and then wiping it down with microfiber cloth and putting it in the case.

Since I never have to do anything with the charge (practice ammo) I have timed a few iterations of charging and seating 100 and I can a batch in 50-55 minutes now. That is effectively 1/2 the time it used to take me since the charge never requires messing around with to remove/add more than 1 kernel. The slowest part of the process is now actually me wiping down the loaded round with a microfiber cloth to put it in the case.

By the time I hit 1000 loaded next month it will have saved me 10 hours alone on the bench, that is a full waking day back in my life for other things. $900 seems cheap when you look at things that way, especially over the time savings in the next few years.

 

[Phillip Crowe]

I made a part on the lathe to reduce the opening size of the trickler tube. Threaded it, then drilled an approx. .200" hole through. It slows down the powder flow, greatly reducing the overthrows. The vast majority of my charges now are dead on or .02 under. Because of the smaller opening size and no internal threads, the powder kernels come out basically single file once it's at it's slowest speed. It does take longer to complete a charge though, maybe 20 seconds.

 

[rardoin]

I've tried the reducer bushings but the best results I have obtained are by taking a little time and playing with the angle of the trickler feed tube (the newest version of the trickler base makes this incredibly easy). I find I can get the best compromise of speed and less overthrows by doing so. I get about one overthrow in 25 or so cases with H4350 or N160 now.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I've tried the reducer bushings but the best results I have obtained are by taking a little time and playing with the angle of the trickler feed tube (the newest version of the trickler base makes this incredibly easy). I find I can get the best compromise of speed and less overthrows by doing so. I get about one overthrow in 25 or so cases with H4350 or N160 now.

Too bad you can only hit the LIKE button once else I would have given you several more. That is exactly correct. You can really fine tune it down to an RCH to get virtually no overthrows. No need to mess with the tube opening.

 

[Al Lu]

Mr. Crowe: any chance to post a picture of your reducer bushing? Thank you.

 

[flatlander]

Denys - I found your use of the mat under the unit interesting. I believe I've probably got either the same mat (with Sinclair logo on it), or one very similar. I've also got an oversized mouse pad which is at least twice as thick as the gunsmithing mat, and 19"x13.5" in size - it's actually from Berger, and lists all the bullets they make. Not sure whether the extra thickness would be a good or bad thing, but it's sure to absorb nearly all the vibration from the trickler, and since I have no better use for it, I'm thinking of using it when I finally receive the V3 upgrade. You have an opinion on whether something that thick would be worth trying? If nothing else, I can test the unit with both mats and see for myself how they compare.

 

[JimSC]

for those looking for vibration dampening use a bit of imagination - industrial cork and rubber anti vibration mounts would work or make your own pad, anti vibration pads for drums are available at any music shop, stone pastry boards are about $25

if you have a place in town that does stone countertops ask them what they would charge for a piece of cutoff from their bone pile. Most will see you a cutoff pretty cheap

if you decide to go with stone the more mass the piece has the better. In other words the thicker and heavier the better

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Denys - I found your use of the mat under the unit interesting. I believe I've probably got either the same mat (with Sinclair logo on it), or one very similar. I've also got an oversized mouse pad which is at least twice as thick as the gunsmithing mat, and 19"x13.5" in size - it's actually from Berger, and lists all the bullets they make. Not sure whether the extra thickness would be a good or bad thing, but it's sure to absorb nearly all the vibration from the trickler, and since I have no better use for it, I'm thinking of using it when I finally receive the V3 upgrade. You have an opinion on whether something that thick would be worth trying? If nothing else, I can test the unit with both mats and see for myself how they compare.

Hey Dennis, do I have an opinion on something? Are you kidding me?

At first, I was a little leery of the thin mat I used because I thought it would not provide enough support for the autotrickler, but in fact, the AT is heavy enough to be very stable on that mat and yet still not transmit any vibration to the balance when it's dispensing. The mat does a great job of isolating the devices, so to speak.

A mousepad should actually be quite rigid so the tracking ball can turn without slipping, so I should think it will work just fine. The only thing I would look for is to make sure the AT is very steady on the mousepad; you don't want the thing tipping over and spilling its precious cargo.

Let us know how it works out; we are building a "best practices with the AT" here.

I hear one person put racing stripes on his AT to make it dispense faster. No confirmation or pictures as of yet, so that could be just a rumor.

 

[flatlander]

Denys - Hey, at least you're willing to take the time to explain the circumstances that lead to your forming your opinions...that's stuff worth reading, right there. Just looked at the order confirmation I got from One-Zero Innovations; my order for the V3 upgrade wasn't placed until 9/30/19, so probably have no reason to expect it before mid to late November.

The trickler cable on my V2 upgrade has a fault, so I pulled the cable from the auto throw and am using it on the trickler, while manually throwing charges with the auto throw. Still works, but I'm really looking forward to receiving the V3. No real pressure getting anything loaded, as we're pretty much done with matches for the season. But I do have 500 of the new Berger .224" 85.5gr bullets that I'm wanting to test, in both 223 & 22 Grendel, so the ease of doing ladder tests with the V3 & app has me looking forward to getting it set up & running. As long as the mouse pad isn't so soft that the extra thickness creates issues with stability, I should be fine.

 

[PatMiles]

I hear one person put racing stripes on his AT to make it dispense faster. No confirmation or pictures as of yet, so that could be just a rumor.

And I heard one dude drilled his hopper full of holes for less wind resistance.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Several months into it, it has been working really well for me. I did a quick loading for 100 cases last week and it took me about 40 minutes. Nice leisurely pace and I was adding a kernel to the charge about 25% of the time. I think I removed a total of half a dozen kernels total.

I don't see much activity about V3 at this site now. I'm guessing all orders were filled and everything is working well for the users.

So, when is the V4 coming out? I understand it plays music while dispensing powder.

 

[Pres100]

I'll second the good results. Ive had no issues and great results. I tested out some Win 296 which was pretty small flake and was really curious how well it would do, but it was fantastic and the small charges (16gr) literally took about 7 sec per charge and were spot on.
I do have to weak the settings occasionally when I turn the scale off and back on a couple of days later for the same load, but not by much and only takes a few charges to settle.
I would still really like to see a jog function for the trickle for the ones that come in 0.02 low .... it drives me nuts some times trying to manually turn the trickler to get the targeted weight (regardless of the small under charge).

overall, very happy - a pretty solid product so far

 

[308 5R]

for those looking for vibration dampening use a bit of imagination - industrial cork and rubber anti vibration mounts would work or make your own pad, anti vibration pads for drums are available at any music shop, stone pastry boards are about $25

if you have a place in town that does stone countertops ask them what they would charge for a piece of cutoff from their bone pile. Most will see you a cutoff pretty cheap

if you decide to go with stone the more mass the piece has the better. In other words the thicker and heavier the better

Search amazon for one of the import granite surface plates. I found a Grizzly brand 9x12x2 grade B (0.0001”) model for less than 50 bucks that works great for this. Level the plate up on 3 points and leave it there. If you have to move the instrument then you are dealing with a known flat (mine tested out well) and level surface when replacing it. No appreciable vibration/movement from anything due to the steppers running.

ETA: a 9x12 plate is perfect for the size of the scale with enough real estate on the side for the trickler.

Semper Fi
Ryan

 

[RedfootRanch]

for those looking for vibration dampening use a bit of imagination - industrial cork and rubber anti vibration mounts would work or make your own pad, anti vibration pads for drums are available at any music shop, stone pastry boards are about $25

if you have a place in town that does stone countertops ask them what they would charge for a piece of cutoff from their bone pile. Most will see you a cutoff pretty cheap

if you decide to go with stone the more mass the piece has the better. In other words the thicker and heavier the better

I picked up a granite vanity sink cutout from a countertop retailer for $20. I purchased a 4-pack of anti vibration washing machine pads from Amazon for $9 and glued 3 of them to the bottom of the cutout in a 3-legged fashion. This makes for a very stable platform!