Charge Master or manual powder throw?

[tmwinds]

Instructions if you want to speed up your charge master 1500. Also note the straw modification.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I know it’s not necessary but only measuring in tenths doesn’t seem to be as near of a accurate way to measure loads after you have used a scale that reads in hundreths.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I do load at matches (short range group and score), and I use a ChargeMaster Lite.

In fact, I never load at home. I always load at the range.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Chargemaster Lite for me, ill never stand over a beam scale again

 

[Kracken McGraw]

ill never stand over a beam scale again

Me Neither!
Currently using a Uniflow powder measure and scales that read in hundreths, easy to trickle to .02 accuracy.

 

[SeabeeKen]

I apologize if this has been hashed out before but I'm curious if I'm too old fashion in using a manual powder throw and then topping charge off with a trickler. I want = or < .1 grain accuracy. I see quite a few Charge Masters listed for sale and I wonder if it's because they are inherently slower than my process or if reloaders are upgrading. I see they take roughly 20-30 seconds to dispense a charge and I'm curious if the $300-$400 cost is worth the convenience with no appreciable gain in speed. Thanks!

It isnt so much speed with me. I prefer a scale with a resolution of .02 and my rcbs chargemaster light resolution is .1 which means it could be off by .2 gr. I went back to thrower and trickler with my electronic scale.

 

[PhilC]

Jager your previous post about Chargemaster accuracy dispelled all my concerns. I can't shoot well enough to notice the affect one tenth grain variation would create let alone hundredths of a grain.

I set my Chargemaster up, calibrate, put in auto mode, set charge amount and press on. If any charge is over/under I dump in hopper and let it rethrow.

 

[6bra1k]

i'll jump on the train for plus or minus .1, the charge master lite is a great tool

 

[Gary O'Neal]

Jager, I know 296 is a ball powder, but what about Accurate 5744? Is it ball or stick?

 

[Jager]

Jager, I know 296 is a ball powder, but what about Accurate 5744? Is it ball or stick?

Accurate 5744 is an extruded powder.

 

[wkdickinson]

I have been using a Chargemaster 1500 for about the last 4 years and I have never been very confident in it. After many studies I am convinced it is way better than just throwing charges, but still is lacking. I used to think I could throw consistent charges to +/- .1, but I can't and I doubt anyone else can either.

I think the key is the resolution of the scale and it's constancy. A CM1500 resolves to .1, which means you could be +.1 or -.1, depending on how the rounding algorithm works (which is where I don't get "warm & fuzees"). If you use one of the laboratory quality scales like the A&D 120, they resolve to .02. The rest of the stuff you buy to go with them is just for convenience and/or to speed up your loading process.

But it kind of all goes back to what level of accuracy you need for you chosen shooting discipline. I made NRA Master with an RCBS Uniflow.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

Everyone likes to reference the .1
Vs .02 gr accuracy, but I haven’t seen a lot of data where it makes a difference on target.

Would it be only seen at 1,000 with smaller cartridges or would you see it at 600 with 308?

I’ve been very happy with my two chargemasters, I can load 100 rds in a half hour or less. I shoot mostly 600 ans in and can’t say I feel my powder charge is holding me back. If I could draw a
Direct correlation to the need for a
More accurate powder dispenser I’d consider the autotrickler.