Autotrickler question

[galt11]

So I've been doing a bunch of research before buying an Autotrickler, but am curious what some real world results are, in terms of the repeatability and accuracy of the system. I've seen some videos where every throw is right on the target amount and others where it varies a good amount, relative to the accuracy promised. I would guess the type of powder used may come into play. I'm mainly going to be using Varget, VV 140, and Reloader 15. If you've got one of these systems, please pass along your experiences. Thanks

Adam

 

[Sandstorm]

For me its the best thing since sliced bread, being a Competition shooter.
Once you get it adjusted up and running smooth, I find its right on the money 99%
of the time.. I can load 100 round's for a Match in an hour..give or take a bit depending on
how fast i feel like going...( I use Varget and H4831sc, RL15 alot )
Lets put it this way...you have to pry it from my cold dead fingers...

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

My experience has also been good. I have only used it with stick powders so far, RL33, H4831, and Hodgdon H4350 are the main ones. Probably about every 10 charges I will drop in another grain or take out one manually. I had the V2 first, then got the V3 upgrade. If I had the money back in my hand, I would buy it again.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

The AT V3 with any of the associated scales is a great setup; probably more from a time perspective than anything. My AT is based on the FX-120i

Regarding over-throws, it happens but is adjustable via a slider switch on the back of the unit. You can basically control the speed of the trickler portion. You get more accuracy at the result of less speed. Same/Same so far as I'm concerned. You can also adjust the angle of the trickler unit/arm, which seems to make the most difference. That said, I've gotten pretty good at tapping the cup against the trickler in such a way as to only knock out one kernel.

Accuracy wise, mine varies a little bit, but not nearly as much as a strain gauge based scale. We're talking drifting off .02-.04gr during a loading session, and it's easy to catch because you know what the scale should show with the cup removed.

The scale is generally accurate to .02gr, meaning you can detect a spilled kernel on the tray ~70% of the time. It really depends on the type of powder you're throwing.

Lastly, you need to keep in mind the environment in which you're using the scale. In my situation I've got a ton of IT gear sitting in the same room, which I'm confident is the cause of my issues. You need to ensure you've got clean power going to the unit, minimal drafts or air currents, stable temp/humidity, and no flouro lighting.

I'm thinking about buying a 2nd one just to speed things up even more.

 

[PatMiles]

I've had mine for a couple of years and have been nothing but happy with it. For the most part it is spot on, once in a while I'll have to add a kernel... once in a while.

 

[Ccrider]

I don’t have the auto throw but can see how it would save me time, rather than using a Harrell’s. I just wanted to learn to throw with the Harrell’s consistently first. I bought my Fx120i and AutoTrickler a couple of years ago and like most, would buy again without any hesitation.

 

[Ranger188]

To get it dialed in you can adjust the speed that the autotrickler drops a kernel.
To fast and it will over throw. You can adjust it down as slow as you want.
I mean molasses slow. You can watch a single kernel fall every couple seconds
or slower, but that will slow the process down. It's a fine line to balance it out.
Better to have it slow and right on or a kernel short than over.

 

[Twoboxer]

The scale is the key . . . sensitive, consistent and repeatable.

Say you set a target of XX.4. The system will keep trickling until it reaches XX.38 or higher. Given that, it is IMPOSSIBLE to eliminate all overthrows when, eg, the scale reaches XX.36 and the system tries for one more kernel.

An overthrow can occur due to the weight of a single kernel, or because more than one kernel drops.

The good part is that you can scoop out some powder and the system tries again. That takes little effort, very little time, and no concentration from the operator. A different mix of kernels may produce the desired target weight . . . or it may not. Alternatively you can take the time to add or remove a kernel that looks to be about the right size to hit the target.

Personally, I prefer the former method lol. Spent enough time over the years with my tweezers

 

[Shinbone]

I am a very happy V3 user. It works great and saves me a huge amount of time. I'd go crazy if I have to go back to weighing charges by hand.

 

[galt11]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I read the info on the site about how even a kernel of powder makes so little difference downrange, but I guess seeing a couple of the videos where the person mustn't have calibrated it very well or was running it too fast made me a bit wary. I remember having a green autopowder setup and the accuracy was horrible and I could get a faster, more accurate charge using a tablespoon and hand trickler. That got sold very quickly.

Adam

 

[Drewel]

This thing is truly amazing!!! Depending on your scale and how your house is built. If someone is walking around that will confuse the scale when it is dispensing powder.
make sure the ceiling fan and the furnace fan isn’t running ( That sometimes will have influence the reading).
I added a restrictor orifice to the dispenser just like they do on the RCBS dispenser.
I also added a light so I can see you the kernels coming out of the dispenser. Because sometimes you may want to trickle 1 kernel of powder.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Like others above me the system is awesome but not perfect. Depending on the powder it will either fall short or over just a tad, I still find myself using my "bendy" straw to either pick out or add a few kernels to get them spot on. (spot on is really not needed anyway) However in regards to scale drift, I completely solved that when I bought a "line conditioner" for the electrical outlet the scale is plugged into. It seems to have cured the drifting.

 

[galt11]

I have already acquired a line conditioner and surge protector to plug the system into. Additionally, I was going to sit it on a granite "plate" to give it a stable base. I may have to break down and pick up some of the area 419 upgrades too.

 

[powderbrake]

I don't have any upgrades on my V3 thrower/trickler setup, and it works great.

There are 3 things that you need to do.
1) Level the scale
2) Calibrate the scale
3) Calibrate the trickler..... This is the one that most people miss. The manual says to set the trickler so it drops 1/2 grain per second. This is best done using the app on your smartphone. Run the trickler for 10 seconds and see what weight it delivers. Adjust until it delivers 5 gr in 10 seconds.

Now you can adjust the slider on the back of the scale as you are delivering charges. Faster may mean more overthrows, slower may mean more underthrows or slower delivery. You have to decide how much trouble it is to add or subtract some pieces of powder vs your desired speed.

I find that I can reliably drop 30 grains of Varget in 10 seconds or less, accepting all loads that are within .02 of my setpoint, which is the accuracy limit of the scale.
At this rate I get an occasional error, and I add/subtract 1 piece of Varget for each .02 it is off, or I simply dump the load and try again, as it only means 10 seconds.

 

[boltman13]

Being retired and a F-Class and 600 yard Benchrest competitor I am much more concerned with accuracy than speed. Mt AT system allows me to load 50 cases in about 40 minutes and very few over charges and about every 8th charge 0.02 grs under. I just add one kernel of Varget or H4350 and move on. A line conditioner is a must in my opinion. I now seldom ever see drift but when i do I just re zero the scale and cup and move on.

 

[ronemus]

I'm using my Autotrickler with Reloder 33 for .338 Lapua (100+ gr charges), and it gives me +/-0.02 gr almost all the time, with a rare (1 in 50) +0.04 gr. That's amazing considering that a kernel of RL-33 is ~0.05 gr, and there's quite a bit of variation in kernel size. I've been using PACT/RCBS dispensers for decades, and the Autotrickler is vastly better; I'm sorry I waited so long to upgrade.

 

[Alliant Reloading]

I'm using my Autotrickler with Reloder 33 for .338 Lapua (100+ gr charges), and it gives me +/-0.02 gr almost all the time, with a rare (1 in 50) +0.04 gr. That's amazing considering that a kernel of RL-33 is ~0.05 gr, and there's quite a bit of variation in kernel size. I've been using PACT/RCBS dispensers for decades, and the Autotrickler is vastly better; I'm sorry I waited so long to upgrade.

I have the v2 with the Area 419 upgrade, and my results are similar to ronemus.
Reloder(R) 33 is our toughest to measure also, but we get it done. We keep some screened granules in a small pan handy so we can take out an 0.05 or 6 kernel and pop in a smaller one.
I highly recommend the 419 upgrade, it makes the unit much more robust.
I also have the unit mounted on an isolated granite slab lab type stand.
Air flow is our biggest foe. We all know to stay away from the charging scale when in operation. We also reoriented the HVAC outlets in that area.
Good luck,
Paul

 

[ronemus]

I have mine on a cheap surface plate (2" granite slab) on top of soft foam rubber for vibration isolation. I only removed one windscreen panel (right side) from the FX-120i, and have a large cardboard box with the front and bottom removed over the whole setup - the box only touches the bench; that makes it pretty insensitive to drafts. I use a Tripp-Lite Isobar power strip to filter the power. All together that makes the system very stable.

 

[Corvette_Brett]

Mine is supposed to be here tomorrow. I'll let you know. My chargemaster has done a great job but it's slow. 30-35 seconds per charge

 

[1kbrxDave]

if you have the $ cry once and never look back.
it is money well spent ,works great.