Chargemaster or manual dispenser?

[DngBat7]

Rcbs is having a rebate for 100 off 300. So now may be a good time to buy a chargemaster. Since I am new to reloading, before I do. Which do the experienced reloadeds in the forum prefer? Chargemaster or a precision manual dispenser with a good scale.

Thanks

 

[ClassCat]

Rcbs is having a rebate for 100 off 300. So now may be a good time to buy a chargemaster. Since I am new to reloading, before I do. Which do the experienced reloadeds in the forum prefer? Chargemaster or a precision manual dispenser with a good scale.

Thanks

Which Discipline ? The long range guys say the FX is a Must, but we 100-200 yard benchrest shooters use the RCBS and powder drops.

 

[ericbc7]

If you are seriously concerned about precision powder drops you should look at the fx120 auto trickler. A bit costly but very nice (way cheaper than Prometheus)

 

[Tesoro]

I use a redding BR drop, a tuned ohaus balance beam and a 2 speed vibro tricker. I can load as fast or faster depending on powder than a chargemaster but with better verified consistency. Whether the consistency makes a diff ( .02/3 gr to .1gr) is debatable but its simpler and will last forever.

 

[Jimmy James]

Weighing as opposed to dropping is a must for any kind of accuracy IMO. I recently dropped powder using a Dillon powder bar, Redding BR measure, Lee Auto Drum and checked all against my RCBS Chargemaster dropper/weigher. The Dillon was the least consistent followed by the Redding and the Lee being the most consistent. I dont have figures or statistics but suffice it to say I dont use anything but the RCBS set up for accuracy and consistent ES at this point. An A&D EJ123 is in my future.

I recently persuaded my club to purchase a Labradar Chronograph to replace an aging Oehler. I was showing an older very experienced XTC service rifle shooter how to use it. He shot some of his tried and true competition loads that are thrown rather than weighed. ES of over 100fps. He wasn't to concerned about it. He said in his sport it didnt make a difference(?) In my experiment with throwing vs weighing powder charges for an AR off the bench at 100yds. The difference was a sub 1" group vs a 4" group.

 

[jimmymac]

Classcat got it right. It depends on what you you do. For many (me included), a Chargemaster is fine. Others will tell you that you are wasting your time because the Chargemaster is crude for their application and you need a much more expensive scale. I shoot short range, so I never find myself in a situation where I must obsess over ES numbers.

Recent load testing with my PPC shooting some new 65 grain bullets. 5 shot groups at 100 yards. Four different seating depths. Barrel had about 1500 rounds through it at the time of testing. All rounds loaded using my Chargemaster.

 

[LHSmith]

Thumbs up w/ those 5 shot groups

 

[jimmymac]

Thumbs up w/ those 5 shot groups

Thanks. Good bullets make me a better shooter.

I ended up settling on the seating depth shown on the lower left. I've only been at this a year now, so I sometimes have a hard time interpreting the data that I see on the target. I know you have a good bit of experience. What seating depth would you have picked?

Sorry for the thread hi-jack Dan S.

 

[DngBat7]

Thanks. Good bullets make me a better shooter.

I ended up settling on the seating depth shown on the lower left. I've only been at this a year now, so I sometimes have a hard time interpreting the data that I see on the target. I know you have a good bit of experience. What seating depth would you have picked?

Sorry for the thread hi-jack Dan S.

No problem! I’m impressed with your target

 

[rkittine]

When I started shooting short range BR in addition to Long Range, the short range guys kind of laughed at me for all the equipment I have and what I do to load for Long Range. I like the ChargeMaster and have it and all the other gagets. Then I want the short range guys load and tune on the bench. So I bought a Harrods powder measure and have practiced my drop rythum and procedure and have been surprised at how accurate you can get.

Bob

 

[DngBat7]

When I started shooting short range BR in addition to Long Range, the short range guys kind of laughed at me for all the equipment I have and what I do to load for Long Range. I like the ChargeMaster and have it and all the other gagets. Then I want the short range guys load and tune on the bench. So I bought a Harrods powder measure and have practiced my drop rythum and procedure and have been surprised at how accurate you can get.

Bob

More accurate than the rcbs?

 

[jimmymac]

More accurate than the rcbs?

IMO...No

 

[ClassCat]

IMO...No

Looking at that target, Lower right the 1.694 go up and down 2-3 tenths of a grain and get that vertical out of there. Is it a 3 and 2 ? Is it on the jam ?
NICE HOLE !

 

[dickn52]

Depends. I use my chargemaster lite for pistol small loads. I use a manual for my rifle or larger loads.

 

[DngBat7]

IMO...No

Ok. So last question is, how is the scale on the rcbs? Is it trustworthy? And on the bigger charge master, Can another scale fit under therre down the road?

 

[Twitchy]

I use a Chargemaster then confirm/use tweezers to get it to .02 with a Gempro 250. Seems to work pretty good for F-Class. Several of my competitors use the more expensive versions but it doesn't seem to make that much/if any difference other than the amount of time spent to weigh/confirm each charge.

Guys that are shooting competitive MR/LR BR groups may see a difference.

Edit-I'm trying to find it, but there is a fairly recent video (reloading youtube channel) that compared several scales (cheap to very expensive) and the results. Looking for it now.

Found it.

 

[Petros284]

I use a Chargemaster then confirm/use tweezers to get it to .02 with a Gempro 250. Seems to work pretty good for F-Class. Several of my competitors use the more expensive versions but it doesn't seem to make that much/if any difference other than the amount of time spent to weigh/confirm each charge.

Guys that are shooting competitive MR/LR BR groups may see a difference.

Edit-I'm trying to find it, but there is a fairly recent video (reloading youtube channel) that compared several scales (cheap to very expensive) and the results. Looking for it now.

I utilize a similar technique to what Twitchy does. I use the Chargemaster to dispense and verify on an Acculab scale and use tweezers to add or take away kernels of powder. I have found that the Chargemaster does usually weigh within .2 grains. It does take time and is tedious, but has worked very well for me. I plan on the fx120 in the near future though to hopefully speed up the process.

 

[ClassCat]

Twitchy and Petros,, Have you Re-programed your RCBS ? You can slow them down to trickle the last 1/2 grain. A lot more accurate

 

[DngBat7]

I use a Chargemaster then confirm/use tweezers to get it to .02 with a Gempro 250. Seems to work pretty good for F-Class. Several of my competitors use the more expensive versions but it doesn't seem to make that much/if any difference other than the amount of time spent to weigh/confirm each charge.

Guys that are shooting competitive MR/LR BR groups may see a difference.

Edit-I'm trying to find it, but there is a fairly recent video (reloading youtube channel) that compared several scales (cheap to very expensive) and the results. Looking for it now.

Found it.

I will check them out. Thank you

 

[Twitchy]

Twitchy and Petros,, Have you Re-programed your RCBS ? You can slow them down to trickle the last 1/2 grain. A lot more accurate

I have two CM, one of which is sped up, the other is factory stock. With the CM (and varget) it usually gets to within .04-.1.