CHARGEMASTER ? OR?--Want to upgrade

[Kracken McGraw]

Why not just buy the Fx120i and keep everything else the same?

 

[BartsBullets]

That is what the chart shows. A Chargemaster dispensed charge, set to 43 gains, measured on the CM (reading after the beep) and then measured on the FX120i. That's why the Chargemaster listed charge isn't always 43.0 grains, it varied to 43.2.

Gotcha! Thanks.

 

[Homerange]

Ive been using a chargemaster 1500 since about a year after they came out. No Mc Donalds straw no messing with the speeds just as it came from the box. No complaints. Some times when charging through a mass quantity of 223s I wish it were faster, but by the time i have seated the bullet, put the finished round in the box, and grabbed another case I only have to wait a few seconds till it beeps and the next charge is ready.

Mirrors how I use mine however when received new I spun up a bush for the dispensing tube based on the research done here prior to sourcing it.
The smaller dia bush helps control dispensing better and reduces overthrows just like the McD straw mod but we don't have that diameter straw here in NZ.
100% happy with it although for the few different loads we do the load memory feature is not really necessary and today I would look hard at the Lite instead as it wasn't available when we got our CM 1500.
It's RCBS and just works.

 

[Tommie]

Ultimatereloader.com did a comparison of the affordable auto dumps. If I recall correctly the Hornady was most consistent.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Here's a quick Chargemaster test against my FX120i, which is the basis for the AutoTrickler.

I set the CM to dispense 43 grains.

Chargemaster Dispensed		FX120i Weight	Difference
43.0​		43.00​	0.00​
43.0​		43.00​	0.00​
43.0​		43.10​	0.10​
43.0​		43.08​	0.08​
43.0​		43.02​	0.02​
43.0​		43.02​	0.02​
43.2​		43.16​	-0.04​
43.2​		43.20​	0.00​
43.0​		42.96​	-0.04​
43.0​		42.98​	-0.02​
43.0​		43.00​	0.00​
43.0​		43.10​	0.10​
43.0​		43.08​	0.08​
43.0​		43.06​	0.06​
43.2​		43.18​	-0.02​
43.2​		43.14​	-0.06​
43.0​		42.96​	-0.04​
43.0​		42.96​	-0.04​
43.2​		43.18​	-0.02​
43.0​		42.96​	-0.04​

That’s really not that bad.
I did the same with my ChargeMaster Lite a while back, using 100 charges, against my Denver Electronics Scale, and it was well within the accuracy of .1 grn that they say you can expect.

The only thing I did different was I only checked charges that the CM Lite dispensed at the exact setting. Any that were off one way or another were dumped and another used.

I posted it in a thread, so the results are on this site somewhere.

 

[R.Morehouse]

www.blockstockblade.com/blocks .....This Man is a true American craftsman, I use his ammo blocks. He makes a range case for the Chargemaster that has been well thought out......For loading SR-BR at the range I would have one.................Buy American

Regards
Rick

 

[big5ifty]

I have been watching videos about the Chargemaster and that looks like the way I might want to go--Which one is the hot lick? I

Chargemaster Lite.

 

[DawidB]

The .1gr will matter only when you are:

- Weighing your bullets to exact weight
- H20 capacity checking your brass after fire forming
- Concentricity checking your runout to .0001"
- Neck turning
- Micrometer seating your ogives to .00005.
- Annealing brass every firing
- Weighing your primers
- Analysis of your primer composition consistency
- Matching batch lot #s for all components
- Elimination of all outside stressors in life
- Abstinence of alcohol, drugs, same sex relationships

Then it "MIGHT" matter.

100% , also, having mastered all conditions like wind, temp changes

 

[Chocdawg]

If you’re gunning points on the firing line in MR or LR (Prone, F-TR, F-Open) or PRS - buy once, cry once and go for AutoTrickler V4 or similar.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Why is it that almost everyone that mentions the A&D FX120i can not mention it without the V4 Auto Trickler?
Dave said clearly he did not want to spend $800.00. We all know that a A&D set up is over $1000.00
I also know the $800.00 Dave mentioned is the top of the line Charge Master.
I bought a A&D back when they were $500 with the $150. rebate. It's never been out of the box, one day I'll eventually use it.
Since then I bought a FA Intellidropper that I use and shoot accurately enough to shoot the head on a baby impsc target at 400 yards very consistently with a 53vmax. The use of the FA Intellidropper is certainly not holding me back and I would use it to load for prairie dogs every day of the week.
I've seen enough reviews from actual shooters dropping charges and checking them on the A&D to feel confident that I can't shoot the difference.
I would also by a Charge Master if I wanted one because I do have experience with them also.
Bottom line Dave, buy the Charge Master model that you want and feel confident that it is and was a good choice.

Don Dunlap

 

[nmkid]

I really wish they made one that did nothing but throw reasonably accurate charges. All of the “features”that drive up cost, such as the round count, are useless to me.

Amen!!

 

[Liven The Dream]

I have a few years under my Belt. Had a few great Beam Scales, had some Gem Pros that worked great for awhile.
Have a FX120i and V-3 Complete Unit. Never looking Back
Yes I have one Beam Scale in Reserve .
I load a lot for Matches. If just Hunting the beam Scale would be fine.

 

[Larryh128]

I went with the new Lyman and it's very good as checked against an accurate Ohaus beam scale. Also comes with a screw in plastic piece on drop tube which makes it more accurate.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

If I were you, sticking with the $800 budget, I’d get the fx120i scale, and the ingenuity precision dispenser. That being about 800 bucks. Then get a Lee perfect powder measure for $20. Throw about 2 gr low and let the ingenuity trickle up. I did this for awhile and it worked great. Put a funnel where the auto throw would be and go nuts. I personally like speed and efficiency. Once you start putting powder in cases every 8 seconds you will never want to go back to the chargemaster. I probably can’t shoot good enough to need something better than the chargemaster but my time is valuable.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I went with the new Lyman and it's very good as checked against an accurate Ohaus beam scale. Also comes with a screw in plastic piece on drop tube which makes it more accurate.

Do you have a link to this Lyman?

 

[FNSafari]

Why not just buy the Fx120i and keep everything else the same?

why do an upgrade half arsed?

 

[CT10ring]

I use a Chargemaster lite, and think it's a fine scale. I checked it early days against a good beam scale and another "good" scale every 10-15 rds. It was right on, always. I was surprised. I'm a PD shooter, so take that into consideration. Gargoyle's earlier post is relevant. At some point, it's a combination of X variables for accuracy. Define accuracy- ha!

 

[smby]

If I were you, sticking with the $800 budget, I’d get the fx120i scale, and the ingenuity precision dispenser. That being about 800 bucks. Then get a Lee perfect powder measure for $20. Throw about 2 gr low and let the ingenuity trickle up. I did this for awhile and it worked great. Put a funnel where the auto throw would be and go nuts. I personally like speed and efficiency. Once you start putting powder in cases every 8 seconds you will never want to go back to the chargemaster. I probably can’t shoot good enough to need something better than the chargemaster but my time is valuable.

Do you manually use the ingenuity precision dispenser?

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Do you manually use the ingenuity precision dispenser?

No it’s all automated. Bluetooth.

 

[Jester560]

I

Do you have a link to this Lyman?

Have the Lyman Gen 6 as well. I've had it for over 3 years and it throws great charges.

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