CHARGEMASTER ? OR?--Want to upgrade

[dusterdave173]

I am using a Redding and trickle up for my 223 loading--I use a cheap Hornady electronic scale and check with a 5-10 RCBS beam. 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 don't want to spend the $800 for the top unit--I only load 223--paper punching for fun and prairie dog loads---what would be my best choice? The Supreme?
THANKS!

 

[ebb]

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.

 

[Sandstorm]

AutoTrickler gets my vote.

 

[rijndael]

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​

 

[jepp2]

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

Great comparison. I use my 1500 to drop my charges 3 gr under my goal and let my A&D and V3 autotrickler finish the charge. Depending on which powder I am using, sometimes mine is worse than that.

I don't want to spend the $800 for the top unit

What kind of accuracy are you willing to accept? If +/- 0.1 gr is adequate the A&D system is overkill.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I am using a Redding and trickle up for my 223 loading--I use a cheap Hornady electronic scale and check with a 5-10 RCBS beam. 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 don't want to spend the $800 for the top unit--I only load 223--paper punching for fun and prairie dog loads---what would be my best choice? The Supreme?
THANKS!

It really depends on how much consistency you want or expect out of your reloaded cartridges. From what you say, it sounds like a Chargemaster 1500 will do just fine for you (based on my experience with my Chargemaster).

Like rigndael's comparison, I did one like it and shared it some time ago and here it is to help give you some idea of what you can expect:

 

[DiRTY DOG]

The Chargemaster 1500 is an old fashioned dinosaur dispenser from yesteryear. It does ok, I used one for ten plus years, but I upgraded.

The newer Chargemaster Supreme is superior. It's much faster, that alone is worth the upgrade. And it's supposed to be more accurate. Same price!

These comparisons should compare the newer RCBS Chargemaster Supreme to the FX-120i etc. And/or compare the RCBS Matchmaster to get the product costs more even. But the Chargemaster Supreme does very well.

 

[Straightshooter1]

The Chargemaster 1500 is an old fashioned dinosaur dispenser from yesteryear. It does ok, I used one for ten plus years, but I upgraded.

The newer Chargemaster Supreme is superior. It's much faster, that alone is worth the upgrade. And it's supposed to be more accurate. Same price!

These comparisons should compare the newer RCBS Chargemaster Supreme to the FX-120i etc. And/or compare the RCBS Matchmaster to get the product costs more even. But the Chargemaster Supreme does very well.

It's my understanding that the Chargemaster Supreme has the same load cell as the Chargemaster 1500 with a .1 accuracy. So, no real change in "accuracy", though the consistency of the throws seems be a bit better. But, the Supreme definitely does have a lot of great improvements . . . a big one being its speed.

 

[Timon]

I use an older Lyman Gen 6 electronic dispenser to drop the initial charge, then I weight it on the A&D FX120i for accuracy. It’s kind of slow doing it this way, but very accurate. I can add, or remove, a kernel of powder at a time and get about as accurate a weight as one can get from the A&D scale. I have one of the Supertrickler’s on order, be here in about two weeks I guess. I’ve pretty much decided to just sell it and stay with what I’m doing. Both the new Supertrickler and the AutoTrickler use the FX120i scale and are only as accurate as the scale. So I’m accomplishing the same thing they are, just a whole lot slower. I’m old and slow anyway, so speed is not really a huge thing for me.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I use an older Lyman Gen 6 electronic dispenser to drop the initial charge, then I weight it on the A&D FX120i for accuracy. It’s kind of slow doing it this way, but very accurate. I can add, or remove, a kernel of powder at a time and get about as accurate a weight as one can get from the A&D scale. I have one of the Supertrickler’s on order, be here in about two weeks I guess. I’ve pretty much decided to just sell it and stay with what I’m doing. Both the new Supertrickler and the AutoTrickler use the FX120i scale and are only as accurate as the scale. So I’m accomplishing the same thing they are, just a whole lot slower. I’m old and slow anyway, so speed is not really a huge thing for me.

I'm in the same boat as I've thought about the Supertrickler, but just can't justify the expense since I'm old and retired with a lot of time on my hands. So I just do manual throws just short of my target weight and then a quick trickle up, which doesn't really take a lot of time IMHO (only doing ~100 cartridges at a time). With the accuracy and speed of my 120i, I get very accurate and consistent powder charge weights.

 

[M-61]

Which one is the hot lick?

Not familiar with the term.
However I’ve used the RCBS charge master for about 7 years. No modifications other than the straw (or bushing) at the dispensing end.
I follow the RCBS instructions to the letter. Meaning I do not leave it plugged in. Warmup would only be if you moved it from one temperature to another.
There’s plenty of folks that do it quite differently.
However I have never had any problems at all.
So my statement is regarding only my results with my unit.

 

[Gargoyle]

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.

 

[Timon]

I'm in the same boat as I've thought about the Supertrickler, but just can't justify the expense since I'm old and retired with a lot of time on my hands. So I just do manual throws just short of my target weight and then a quick trickle up, which doesn't really take a lot of time IMHO (only doing ~100 cartridges at a time). With the accuracy and speed of my 120i, I get very accurate and consistent powder charge weights.

I agree completely. The speed of the new Supertrickler is fantastic and it is a really cool machine, but a whole lot more than I will ever use, or need. I’m real lucky if I load 50 at a time, sometimes it’s only 25. I’m good with slow. Happy Shooting, from one old guy to another!!

 

[JimSC]

I have been using my chargemaster 1500 for 12 + years now and I am satisfied with it's performance. Like others have posted Ihave checked mine against my A&D 120 and have had good results. Some powders are better than others, sometimes it seems to need a few throws before it settles out but overall it does a good job. If mine dies before I do I will probably go with whatever Autothrow model is current at that time but until then I see no reason to replace it

 

[skeeljc]

I just bought a RCBS Chargemaster Link. Very impressive for the price. The bluetooth APP works well and is easy to use. Mine drops N133 with a total variance of 0.05 grain on my A&D scale. If I want better I use a Dandy 2-speed trickler.

 

[dusterdave173]

Thanks for the help guys
I also use a lot of N133 so that is good to know
I am thinking that if I get one it will be better than I am doing now and I am fast approaching the line where it is ME not my barrel, not my trigger, not my ( fill in the blank) but was thinking if I sell off a few items , old scopes etc I could get one and that may be the best bang to up my game.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I have been using the ChargeMaster Lite for my Short Range Group and Score Rifles for a couple of years. It is very user friendly when loading at the range. The wind guard really works.

The problem I have had is I have two that are bad. One, the motor quite working, the other, which I purchased used off of the classifieds on this sight, will not hold zero. Of course, the seller insisted it was fine when sipped. Lesson learned.

I consider a piece of equipment like this to be a throw away item, as long as I do get a reasonable amount of service out of it. Mine gets a lot of use. It is an electronic/mechanical piece of equipment. Sooner or later, it will give out. With the cost of shipping things nowdays, sending it off and getting it “fixed” is akin to pouring perfume on a pig.

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.

 

[wheelgun7360]

I use a Chargemaster LITE and it functions as intended! Completely satisfied with it!! They were on sale a few places last week!!

 

[BartsBullets]

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​

Quiz question…did you check the weight of from the chargemaster throws on your FX120i?

Often what my chargemaster gives as a weight, isn’t what the FX120i says it weighs. In other words My Chargemaster is often a fibber.

Bart

 

[rijndael]

Quiz question…did you check the weight of from the chargemaster throws on your FX120i?

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.