Chargemaster 1500 accuracy

[kelbro]

My Chargemaster is probably close to 15 yrs old. I am running the modified settings published here many years ago that were provided by the RCBS rep.

I usually have very good SD/ES with my Chargemaster thrown loads.

Had some time today to perform a test.

30.0 gr Varget setting. 100 throws. Not a single overthrow.

Chargemaster and FX120i both warmed up for around 12 hrs.

I was a little surprised at the accuracy but it explains the good results that I have experienced.

Low 29.93
High 30.07
AVG 30.01
SD 0.0434
ES 0.14



There was only one 29.93 and only one 30.07. If I throw those out:

SD 0.04
ES 0.12

 

[SteveOak]

Would you mind sharing your settings? My 1500 is nothing like that.

 

[kelbro]

Would you mind sharing your settings? My 1500 is nothing like that.

I also have the drinking straw in the output.

Here you go.

 

[L.Sherm]

I have a 1500.but its not accurate enough for me, I use it to throw but use another scale to trickle final weight .01 decimal.
.1 makes big difference in my small stuff in how it shoots.
Even my 20PPCAI AND 20BRA shoots different with .1 difference.
But to answer your question your results to mirror what I have found on mine.

 

[Big Mc]

Would you mind sharing your settings? My 1500 is nothing like that.

you can get them from RCBS just ask. Tommy Mc

 

[Oso]

Didn’t Eric Cortina do a comparison of Chargemaster vs premium dispenser and then shoot loads from both. I can’t find the video. As I recall the Chargemaster was less exact on its throws, but on target there was no meaningful difference between two groups of ammo. It was surprising.

+-0.1 grain variation didn’t make much difference. Shooter skills, wind calls, and other environmental factors had greater effect.

 

[Straightshooter1]

A few years ago, this is the test I ran comparing what my CM 1500 indicated, but adjusting the over and under throws, vs using that same charge weighed on my FX-120i (since I also had a GemPro 250 I did the same):

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I think F class John did a Video comparison

 

[kelbro]

Looking back through some of my records, .1gr variation in several of my loads was roughly 10-12fps.

12fps was about 4" @ 1000yds with my 308 loads using 185 Juggernauts.

 

[L.Sherm]

Here's s great example of what I'm talking about testing powder load with my 20VT shooting 39BK couple days ago.
All the same seating depth.
Once again believe the target.

 

[sgav8r]

You’ve got the FX-120i. You’re half way there!

I think if you drop the extra $490, and order yourself an ATV4 you’ll never mess with that Chargemaster again. Not that the CM isn’t a capable machine. Clearly you’re having pretty good results with it. However, with the ATV4 your ES is going to be better than even what your SD’s are with the CM, and in a fraction of the time. I know those CM 1500 throws with the “straw mod” have got to be 30sec or more at times!

 

[kelbro]

You’ve got the FX-120i. You’re half way there!

I think if you drop the extra $490, and order yourself an ATV4 you’ll never mess with that Chargemaster again. Not that the CM isn’t a capable machine. Clearly you’re having pretty good results with it. However, with the ATV4 your ES is going to be better than even what your SD’s are with the CM, and in a fraction of the time. I know those CM 1500 throws with the “straw mod” have got to be 30sec or more at times!

Yes, this load of 30gr takes an average of 22 seconds. If I throw .1 light with the CM and then move the pan to the 120i and trickle up, I'm running 35-40 seconds per round.

 

[CharlieNC]

I tuned the parameters and intalled a narrow diameter dispensing tip insert on my CM. For fclass I literally dispensed several thousand rounds and checked every one on a second digital, and found around 80% were within +/- 0.05gr. The key is fine tuning the dispensing via slowing that stage plus the fine tip. It appears the internal scale resolution is better than the 0.1 of the display.

 

[jimmymac]

Here's s great example of what I'm talking about testing powder load with my 20VT shooting 39BK couple days ago.
All the same seating depth.
Once again believe the target.

Distance?

 

[L.Sherm]

Distance?

110 yards, if I was gonna shoot that bullet all the time I probably would shoot the 19.65- 19.67 powder charge

 

[marchboom]

Not to hijack this thread but what tip is the most accurate for the CM 1500 dispensing tube? I currently use the McDonalds straw.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Not to hijack this thread but what tip is the most accurate for the CM 1500 dispensing tube? I currently use the McDonalds straw.

I also liked using a straw and the straw worked really well when I can adjust the part of it that's back were the powder enters the tube. So I have a straw that is cut where I an completely cut off the powder flow with it pushed all the way in. When I make adjustments to the opening, depending of the power I'm throwing, allowing powder into the straw, it really helped with speed and consistency.

 

[kelbro]

Not to hijack this thread but what tip is the most accurate for the CM 1500 dispensing tube? I currently use the McDonalds straw.

That works well for me.

 

[CharlieNC]

I also liked using a straw and the straw worked really well when I can adjust the part of it that's back were the powder enters the tube. So I have a straw that is cut where I an completely cut off the powder flow with it pushed all the way in. When I make adjustments to the opening, depending of the power I'm throwing, allowing powder into the straw, it really helped with speed and consistency.

View attachment 1732212 View attachment 1732213

Years ago I ordered a small brass insert from ebay, which worked better than the straw for me. Maximum benefit comes from the smallest exit diameter on the dispenser tube. Even better, I pulled the tapered end off of a bic ink pen; it worked even better but due to the small diameter took too long to dispense a charge Precision tricklers essentialy dispense a very fine single kernel stream vs various size clumps.

 

[Homerange]

Not to hijack this thread but what tip is the most accurate for the CM 1500 dispensing tube? I currently use the McDonalds straw.

Depends some on the powder type you use....it's a compromise.
The reverse scroll on the stock tube does control fine powder types but with extruded powders some clumping occurs in the tube and overthrows can occur.

I immediately made a bush (have lathe) with ~7mm through hole with a generous taper on the hopper end.
Never changed the stock CM dispense settings and it's worked fine for the extruded powders we mostly use but I was careful to level the CM as per instructions and carefully manage any bench vibration near the end of the dispense cycle.
YMMV.