drop_point
Silver $$ Contributor
My long awaited FX-120i that I really never thought I needed arrived today. The first thing I wanted to do with it was check my Chargemaster. I plugged both in and let them warm up in preparation of calibration.
First, I calibrated the FX-120i per instructions. Then I decided to check the calibration weights with my Chargemaster. The first weight was off by 0.010 grams! The second was off by 0.019 grams! Holy moly! Both weights were under according to the FX-120i. I was curious, depending on which I calibrated the “50 grams” with, would it change my reading? Sure enough, working in grains I saw a 0.3 gr variation over ten throws of Varget depending on which way I calibrated. I was absolutely amazed!
I decided to take some brass shavings out of my trimmer to bring both check weights up to within 0.001 grams. I simply I screwed the little handle and stuffed shavings into the little hole and replaced the handle. It took some trial and error. I re-calibrated and decided to check an additional ten throws. Following calibration, I saw nearly a 0.04 gr consistency checked on the FX-120i despite the Chargemaster having a 0.1 gr resolution. I was actually quite impressed with the Chargemaster with my newly improved check weights.
The real surprise, though, was that loading 50 charges, there were two random charges that read right on the Chargemaster that were over 0.2 gr off according to the FX-120i. It’s as though the dispenser would hit a number and stay there despite more or less powder actually being in the pan. I don’t know why it would stick on those numbers, but it really made me question the machine.
Overall, the Chargemaster works quite well for what it is, it perhaps explains the reason for some of the occasional 600 yard and beyond flyers I get from time to time. Two out of fifty isn’t bad, but it is confidence shaking. It does indeed increase my excitement to receive the Super Trickler I have on order. It’s makes me wish I’d picked up the FX-120i years ago.
First, I calibrated the FX-120i per instructions. Then I decided to check the calibration weights with my Chargemaster. The first weight was off by 0.010 grams! The second was off by 0.019 grams! Holy moly! Both weights were under according to the FX-120i. I was curious, depending on which I calibrated the “50 grams” with, would it change my reading? Sure enough, working in grains I saw a 0.3 gr variation over ten throws of Varget depending on which way I calibrated. I was absolutely amazed!
I decided to take some brass shavings out of my trimmer to bring both check weights up to within 0.001 grams. I simply I screwed the little handle and stuffed shavings into the little hole and replaced the handle. It took some trial and error. I re-calibrated and decided to check an additional ten throws. Following calibration, I saw nearly a 0.04 gr consistency checked on the FX-120i despite the Chargemaster having a 0.1 gr resolution. I was actually quite impressed with the Chargemaster with my newly improved check weights.
The real surprise, though, was that loading 50 charges, there were two random charges that read right on the Chargemaster that were over 0.2 gr off according to the FX-120i. It’s as though the dispenser would hit a number and stay there despite more or less powder actually being in the pan. I don’t know why it would stick on those numbers, but it really made me question the machine.
Overall, the Chargemaster works quite well for what it is, it perhaps explains the reason for some of the occasional 600 yard and beyond flyers I get from time to time. Two out of fifty isn’t bad, but it is confidence shaking. It does indeed increase my excitement to receive the Super Trickler I have on order. It’s makes me wish I’d picked up the FX-120i years ago.
