How well do you like the Auto Trickler V2 Trickler?

[Kyle Schultz]

I'm considering buying adamjmac's automatic trickler. Currently I throw a light charge and use an Omega II trickler to trickle up to the desired amount. Biggest complaint I have with the Omega is powder clumping. Often, multiple kernels will inadvertently drop and I over shoot the target weight.

How well does adamjmac's V2 trickler perform? Will it consistently drop extruded powders like Varget or H4350 one kernel at a time? Thanks!

 

[wolfman]

I starting using Adam's trickler last spring. Prior to that, I was using a Parker tuned balance beam with a webcam, and an Autotrickler. I really consider the new system- scale and trickler together- the best investment in loading that I've made so far. If you are loading volume, for long range, where tight tolerances in charge weight are important, I highly recommend the system.

 

[rardoin]

I'm considering buying adamjmac's automatic trickler. Currently I throw a light charge and use an Omega II trickler to trickle up to the desired amount. Biggest complaint I have with the Omega is powder clumping. Often, multiple kernels will inadvertently drop and I over shoot the target weight.

How well does adamjmac's V2 trickler perform? Will it consistently drop extruded powders like Varget or H4350 one kernel at a time? Thanks!

It is the Cat's Pajamas...definitely. As good as the Omega is, the Autotrickler is that much better. It will throw within one grain of the target weight, or within .030gr H4350 95% of the time. On about one out of 25 cases it will throw a charge 3-5 kernels over but I just take a scoop of about .2gr out the pan and it continues to trickle to the target (versus scooping out a few kernels to reach it...which is slower). The AT does not have the clumping issues near as bad as my Omega Dandy but it you add about 1/4 tsp. of graphite powder to your h4350 it helps a bit (learned that one from a powder manufacturer's bulletin...Alliant or IMR, can't recall) I have mine hooked up to a Sartorius and I can load for a match very quickly. Even when charging for OCW/Ladder tests it is still faster than my Dandy.

 

[BenPerfected]

It is the Cat's Pajamas...definitely. As good as the Omega is, the Autotrickler is that much better. It will throw within one grain of the target weight, or within .030gr H4350 95% of the time. On about one out of 25 cases it will throw a charge 3-5 kernels over but I just take a scoop of about .2gr out the pan and it continues to trickle to the target (versus scooping out a few kernels to reach it...which is slower). The AT does not have the clumping issues near as bad as my Omega Dandy but it you add about 1/4 tsp. of graphite powder to your h4350 it helps a bit (learned that one from a powder manufacturer's bulletin...Alliant or IMR, can't recall) I have mine hooked up to a Sartorius and I can load for a match very quickly. Even when charging for OCW/Ladder tests it is still faster than my Dandy.

 

[BenPerfected]

"I just take a scoop of about .2gr out the pan".....what do you scoop with?...I continue to make a mess.
Ben

 

[jlow]

I'm considering buying adamjmac's automatic trickler. Currently I throw a light charge and use an Omega II trickler to trickle up to the desired amount. Biggest complaint I have with the Omega is powder clumping. Often, multiple kernels will inadvertently drop and I over shoot the target weight.

How well does adamjmac's V2 trickler perform? Will it consistently drop extruded powders like Varget or H4350 one kernel at a time? Thanks!

I have the V1 of Adam’s auto trickler. From what you are saying, neither one (nor anything out there) will give you a 100% consistent single kernel drop. The reason for this is not because there is anything wrong with the auto trickler (it is in fact as radoin said – the cat’s pajamas..), the problem is kernel clumping is a characteristic of the powder and an occasional over trickle is impossible to avoid.

 

[smoooth]

BenPerfected, give a metal measuring spoon a try, like 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, etc. I don't own "the cat's pajamas" but use metal measuring spoons with a digital scale. I like the thin oval type personally.
Good luck!

 

[rardoin]

"I just take a scoop of about .2gr out the pan".....what do you scoop with?...I continue to make a mess.
Ben

Ben, I use a Lee Precision powder scoop. I had a kit that includes about 12 different measures for 'thrown' charges. The smallest scoop holds about 3 gr of H4350/Varget and I use it to pull out enough to trip the trickler back on. I never spill powder...EVER!....kinda...well...maybe every now and then.

 

[Judd]

I got V1 and never used it, got busy at work and then the V2 came out so I ordered the upgrade. So I can't tell you the difference but being on vacation last week I got it up and working. Which was very easy with the detailed instructions provided with the kit. I've loaded about 60 shells and I'm not quite as proficient as I am with the Chargemaster/Trickle combo I was using before but I can already see LOTS of promise. It's a piece of art working and I'm glad I've bought it. I'm challenged a little by space and it was nice to put the Chargemaster in the closet and gain that much room on my bench.

I ordered the Lee scoops off Amazon that someone mentioned above. I don't have them but using the wife's measuring spoons wasn't quite working since 32.6g of Varget is between a 1/2 and a full teaspoon. I think that will make me much more efficient. It is very accurate and I would say out of the 60 charges I threw 1 or 2 was off my target weight by .001gms.

I'm impressed and looking forward to the full automation some of the guys are working on.

 

[BenPerfected]

BenPerfected, give a metal measuring spoon a try, like 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, etc. I don't own "the cat's pajamas" but use metal measuring spoons with a digital scale. I like the thin oval type personally.
Good luck!

Thanks, you and Amazon are my friends

 

[/VH]

Kyle,

I like my V2 very well and have been loading H4350. It is not only much faster but also much easier than the Chargemaster transferred to the Sartorious and then Omega trickled procedure that I was using.

Ben,

I find it easy to dip a few granules out of the scale pan with the same Lee dipper that I use to load the pan. In fact, by using the dipper with the open end facing me and a fairly steady hand and with my spectacles on, I learned that it's possible to dip out as few as one or two granules at a time with just a little patience, if I want to; all while the pan sits on the scale. I've actually been thinking about posting my tweezers for sale in the classifieds.

+1 for Adam's V2

 

[memilanuk]

"I just take a scoop of about .2gr out the pan".....what do you scoop with?...I continue to make a mess.
Ben

Extra fine needle point tweezers, for 1-3 kernels at a time, maybe two trips, for occasional over throws.

Any more than that, just tip the pan enough to dump a little bit (technical term) back into the powder thrower. Put the pan back on the scale and let the AutoTrickler do its thing. Otherwise, when using the Omega, I just pick up the pan and pinch up the kernels with my fingers. 0.2-0.3 gn is easy to 'feel' with a little practice.

 

[SheepDog]

These scale and powder combinations fascinate me. I don't trust them to have repeatable charges because most electronic scales will have differences of +/- 1 grain.
Maybe I am just kidding myself but I adjust my powder measure to throw the charge weight I want and then throw ten charges and weigh that. I adjust the measure to throw to throw ten charges that equals ten times what I want to use. Then I measure a single throw again. I understand that there are errors in the measure as well as the scale but I have weighed individual charges for each cartridge and get higher extreme spreads and standard deviations doing that than when I use the thrown charges. I typically use double base powders that meter well so that might be part of the equation too.
I don't really have proof other than my results but it seems to work for me. (I also don't shoot for half inch groups at 600 yards either)

 

[rardoin]

These scale and powder combinations fascinate me. I don't trust them to have repeatable charges because most electronic scales will have differences of +/- 1 grain.

The scales that work with the autotrickler are MUCH more precise and accurate in producing a given desired charge weight than thrown charges. Mine can weigh repeatably a fraction of a kernel of powder (not that I cut kernels..) and nails a 50.0000gram calibration weight 9/10 times over a couple of months. It did cost about 4 times my Harrel's Precision thrower but the A&D is more than adequate at half the price. I am shooting for X-rings at 600 though.

 

[SheepDog]

rardoin,
I would be interested in the repeatability of you scale to weigh a 40 grain bullet over a six hour time frame. That is closer to actual powder charges than a 50 gram test weight.

 

[rardoin]

rardoin,
I would be interested in the repeatability of you scale to weigh a 40 grain bullet over a six hour time frame. That is closer to actual powder charges than a 50 gram test weight.

Gladly... It can weigh a single kernel of H4350 ...repeatably...over 2 days. I have done so with a kernel spilled onto the positioning tray two days prior when I had left the scale on. Weighed 0.029gr and when I pulled it the weight was 0.000, put the kernel back on and back to the weight of the kernel dead nuts accurate as Marisa Tomei's torque wrench. I am not talking about a Dillon 0.1gr accuracy scale or even a Gempro 250. I used analytical balances, in a former life, that were crucial in precision weighing of laboratory substances such as conjugated antibodies in very minute quantities so i am accustomed to limitations of such equipment...also why I dropped the money I did on a Sartorius as I had relied on various models of their balances over a 15 year span.

 

[SheepDog]

OK, I understand. I have a less expensive lab beam balance scale in my chemistry lab.
That tool is much more accurate than any reloading scale.

 

[Michael C]

I just finished shooting a series of matches with ammo loaded on my new A&D and auto trickler,at the BSWN. I was holding great waterline and during a team match I only lost two points at 1000 to wind per my coach (his fault according to him) with 9x's. I feel my ammunition is improved over the chargmaster I was using. Mike

 

[ab_bentley]

A&d fx120i and the auto trickler...they have ruined me.

 

[Twoboxer]

Having used both the "Adam" and the Omega, the Autotrickler handles (eg) IMR4350 better, as well as N570 which is tougher. But to stop there leaves out a big benefit.

With the Omega, the Operator must watch trickling closely, and its performance is dependent on you (and the powder). With the Autotrickler, your "enforced attention" during trickling is virtually reduced to zero. So while the Autotrickler does its work, you are free to (eg) seat a bullet.