Accurate powder thrower, which one?

[1shot]

I have been using an RCBS Charge-master for several years. It has been re-programed is is very accurate. I do the bulk of my shooting sling/prone at 1K so the system I have works well. I want to return to the High Power discipline and am looking for a powder thrower for my 200-300 loading to speed up the operation. Could some of you out there that throw your charges on a regular basis give me some recommendations on which one will serve my purpose best. I will be throwing charges around 30g. All the powders are small granular type, or very short stick powders.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Lloyd

 

[jonbearman]

keep what you have and get a better digital scale like the gempro and an omega trickler to trickle up.Set your rcbs to dispense about 25.5 and trickle it up to be exact.

 

[swehrman]

I load all of my 200 and 300 yards ammo on a Hornady Lock-n-Load progressive press with the Hornady powder thrower. It works fine in that application. Some of the powders I've used are H4895, Varget, RL-15, and N140.

-- Scott

 

[NWnewguy]

This might get some chuckles, but the most accurate powder mill I have used is the cheap plastic Lee version. It sure made me scratch my head after I had just spent $300 on a pretty well respected one for the Lee to throw more consistent loads. The Lee, I guess because it's plastic doesn't cut powder very often, which seems to make it more consistent.

 

[adamsgt]

Just returned from the benchrest match at Raton. I used my Chargemaster with the inserts made and sold by MDM on this site. Over three days of reloading over three hundred rounds I had two drops that were off. One was a tenth under and the other was a tenth over. I was dispensing 27.5 GN of LT-32. I haven't modified the software to speed up the operation as I'm only loading up to fifteen at a time. However, I intend to do that soon just to see how it works with the inserts. I don't expect there to be any degradation in performance. I think the inserts improve the performance by providing a narrower stream of powder so there is a smaller wall of powder at the mouth of the tube. Also the inserts is not threaded which I think also contributes to smooth operation. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[BoydAllen]

Good report.

 

[1shot]

adamsgt,
If you would be so kind as to tell me more about the inserts you mentioned from MDM? The only insert I'm using is a Mickey D's straw inserted into the dispensing tube with the entire unit balanced slightly to the rear to avoid keeping that stray kernel of powder from falling after the charge weight is met and confirmed.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Lloyd

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

Here: http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3846088.msg36410118#msg36410118

 

[1shot]

Thanks J.P.

 

[MarkS]

1shot,

For 600yds and 1000yds benchrest I drop with the Harrell and trickler on beam scale. For everything else will just dump.

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/new-br-premium-powder-measure

 

[normmatzen]

I think NWnewguy has it right!
I tweaked my Redding micrometer powder measure but it can't throw charges as good as my cheapo LEE!
I actually weigh with a lab balance accurate to 1 mg and use an Omega trickler so I just want a dispenser to get me consistently close.
I just bought a set of LEE scoops and use them if there is one close to my load (not always ) and use them when I can. Less bother and quicker!
Yes, I also use a LEE collet neck die with custom mandrels for appropriate neck tightness.

 

[JamesnTN]

Jerry,

I have the chargemaster and use it nearly every day, I also cut down a ink pen that slips up in the tube of the chargemaster and with the tapered end it got my charges much closer.

Now for a report that is shocking the chargemaster reports consistency to +/- .1 grn that's .2 grns of spread. It may read 27.5 grns but is it actually? I bet 95% of the time its not. I also use a lab grade scale that measures down to .01 grns with accuracy of +/- .01 grn. I use the chargemaster to throw my charges and then dump the charge into my lab scale and adjust accordingly to 1 kernel of powder. I have to add or take away kernals on nearly every charge and yes I have mine also calibrated to speed it up with the settings. That did help as well as how accurate it dispenses, but no matter what the load cell in the rcbs chargemaster just isn't designed for the competitive shooter in mind. +/- .1 grn may be ok in larger cases such as magnums and so forth but when you have .2 grn spreads in sm all cases like the BR and the likes that makes a big difference in ES and accuracy.

Just returned from the benchrest match at Raton. I used my Chargemaster with the inserts made and sold by MDM on this site. Over three days of reloading over three hundred rounds I had two drops that were off. One was a tenth under and the other was a tenth over. I was dispensing 27.5 GN of LT-32. I haven't modified the software to speed up the operation as I'm only loading up to fifteen at a time. However, I intend to do that soon just to see how it works with the inserts. I don't expect there to be any degradation in performance. I think the inserts improve the performance by providing a narrower stream of powder so there is a smaller wall of powder at the mouth of the tube. Also the inserts is not threaded which I think also contributes to smooth operation. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[johara1]

I just set my Harrells measure to load .223 with 8208 xbr and it held a .1 good enough for a gas gun……… jim

 

[Savage99]

I have been weighing and trickling each thrown charge from my Saeco measure.

The powder is H4831sc in the 60 grs area.

I found that using the knocker after the powder cylinder fills and before the charge is thrown to give more consistent charges.

 

[1shot]

I addressed this problem from two different angles. I bought the small brass insert being sold by a member on here that goes by MDM and lives here in Ohio. It eliminated my over throws entirely and my under throws to with-in a kernel of H-4831sc to about 1 in 20 on my Charge Master. I also bought a Redding BR-30 for throwing my fine ball powder like H-110 and they are right on the button. The secret is consistency on how you dispense the powder. If you do it the same way every time, your charge weight will be the same as well. A big thank you to all that responded,
Lloyd

 

[fm1947]

I recently wanted to load some 223 for my AR ,I havea hornady progressive press I used only for pistol I was surprised at the consist antsy of that powder hornady measure