Matchmaster owners

[Prose]

I have a matchmaster available to me NIB for $600. Already own 1500 and lite. Does the RCBS matchmaster have drift issues like the chargemaster/lite/link?

I've been somewhat hesitant to trust the accuracy and precision of my chargemaster and chargemaster lite because of drift (especially the lite).

Is the matchmaster any better? If all powder tricklers were on a continuum would the RCBS matchmaster be closer to an autotrickler than it it to an RCBS supreme or link? Is it still limited by the scale technology?

PS. I know about warm up time, line conditioners, lighting, straws, leveling feet ect. Assuming perfect conditions, do you have problems "holding zero" with your matchmaster or do you have to recalibrate multiple times per session? Is it fast enough in match mode?

 

[Rsadams]

I have a matchmaster available to me NIB for $600. Already own 1500 and lite. Does the RCBS matchmaster have drift issues like the chargemaster/lite/link?

I've been somewhat hesitant to trust the accuracy and precision of my chargemaster and chargemaster lite because of drift (especially the lite).

Is the matchmaster any better? If all powder tricklers were on a continuum would the RCBS matchmaster be closer to an autotrickler than it it to an RCBS supreme or link? Is it still limited by the scale technology?

PS. I know about warm up time, line conditioners, lighting, straws, leveling feet ect. Assuming perfect conditions, do you have problems "holding zero" with your matchmaster or do you have to recalibrate multiple times per session? Is it fast enough in match mode?

I don't have the matchmaker it's a bit much for me.... But I do have a charge master link and a rcbs digital scale and both will drift over time... Temp. changes really screw with it , living in central Texas if you calibrate when it's cool in the house it's fine but as it warms up you have to re calibrate.... The one thing I have found to be extremely helpful is to wipe down the entire scale or chargemaster with a dryer sheet before starting... Static charge just plays hell with a digital scale... I reload barefoot because of the carpet and static and that helped alot... From what I have been told by rcbs the scale on the matchmaster is capable of weighing down less that a tenth... Just not 100 percent sure if a fx120 and auto trickler setup wouldn't be better since you're going to spend over a thousand anyway... It's a tough call but I would bet money that it will drift...

 

[Tommie]

I haven’t noted drift in my usual batches of 100-200. Regarding speed in match mode, the time it takes to dispense a 30 to 40 grain charge gives me enough time to seat a bullet and place the loaded round in a loading block. Overall that powder dispenser is accurate and consistent enough that I no longer spot check with a beam scale.
Hope this helps.

 

[nakneker]

I have two Charge Master lites. One is too slow. They are on battery power, there is no HVAC vent in the room, floor is epoxied concrete, I live in dry Arizona, they do a good job but I calibrate them every 100 rounds. They definitely drift from time to time. I’ve been wanting to try a MatchMaster simply out of curiosity. The charge master series has gotten rid of a lot of beam scales since their introduction, it would be hard to go back to a beam scale for me personally but it will put a frown on your face when your LabRadar tells you your SD and ES just went down the toilet. That’s a downer. I hope more guys chime in, I’m still using the Lites but I am going a different direction in the near future.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Ive used the Lite and Lyman Gen 6 and no problems with drift. The Lyman leaked powder and I found it hard to keep seals in it as it was hard on them. The Lite worked well but accuracy was .1 which meant it could vary .1 above and below. I have gone back to beam scales. Ihave a 10-10, M1000, and a Lee safety scale.
The Lee seems like a cheap POS but that sucker is accurate to 1/20 of a grain and I check my charges on it

 

[Nowhere Man]

I recently purchased a Matchmaster for myself. In the slowest mode it's accurate to within +/- .02 grn. I used my fx120 to verify. It has a tendency to overthrow on a rate that's higher than what I would want. I've learned to set it .02grn light and I will drop the needed kernels to reach my load. My most recent test showed accurate 38 powder drops of 32 grns in 30 minutes.

 

[Prose]

I recently purchased a Matchmaster for myself. In the slowest mode it's accurate to within +/- .02 grn. I used my fx120 to verify. It has a tendency to overthrow on a rate that's higher than what I would want. I've learned to set it .02grn light and I will drop the needed kernels to reach my load. My most recent test showed accurate 38 powder drops of 32 grns in 30 minutes.

So it kind of works, but also kind of doesn't...

 

[Tommie]

So it kind of works, but also kind of doesn't...

Part of the process is telling the machine the powder type as in ball, flake, small extruded, large extruded etc. if that part is not done accurately I’ve found overthrows can happen.

 

[Doom]

I have a matchmaster available to me NIB for $600. Already own 1500 and lite. Does the RCBS matchmaster have drift issues like the chargemaster/lite/link?

I've been somewhat hesitant to trust the accuracy and precision of my chargemaster and chargemaster lite because of drift (especially the lite).

Is the matchmaster any better? If all powder tricklers were on a continuum would the RCBS matchmaster be closer to an autotrickler than it it to an RCBS supreme or link? Is it still limited by the scale technology?

PS. I know about warm up time, line conditioners, lighting, straws, leveling feet ect. Assuming perfect conditions, do you have problems "holding zero" with your matchmaster or do you have to recalibrate multiple times per session? Is it fast enough in match mode?

I am a little curious as to your references to drift on the RCBS line. In particular the 1500 has an auto zero function that zeros each time the pan is return to the platen. I've used one for 10 years and the only real drift/calibration issue I have seen is with changing temperature. The zero is sensitive to drift due to the electronics which is why each time a weight is to be take the scale should be zeroed. The calibration is independent of zero and should be very stable. How are you determining drift?

 

[Prose]

I am a little curious as to your references to drift on the RCBS line. In particular the 1500 has an auto zero function that zeros each time the pan is return to the platen. I've used one for 10 years and the only real drift/calibration issue I have seen is with changing temperature. The zero is sensitive to drift due to the electronics which is why each time a weight is to be take the scale should be zeroed. The calibration is independent of zero and should be very stable. How are you determining drift?

A couple methods of checking the accuracy and precision of the RCBS scales is by checking the weight of the throw on another scale, or by remeasuring a throw later and seeing that it is different than originally measured at. Both could be called zero drift, or drift or just plain old inaccuracy.

I don't want to do this. If I buy a nicer unit I want it to actually work.

 

[Doom]

A couple methods of checking the accuracy and precision of the RCBS scales is by checking the weight of the throw on another scale, or by remeasuring a throw later and seeing that it is different than originally measured at. Both could be called zero drift, or drift or just plain old inaccuracy.

I don't want to do this. If I buy a nicer unit I want it to actually work.

That is not scale drift. It is mostly dispensing tolerance. It is not correctable by zeroing or recalibration. All of the units mentioned are only as accurate in dispensing as the number of grains dropped on the last trickle which is not very refined. I have watched mine trickle one to probably six grains of 8208xbr. The single tube units like the 1500 can be improved by adding the straw modification and in some cases by reprogramming the speed breakpoints.

The MatchMaster uses a two tube design, one for bulk and one for trickle which is one of the benefits of the Autotrickler. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Prose]

That is not scale drift. It is mostly dispensing tolerance. It is not correctable by zeroing or recalibration. All of the units mentioned are only as accurate in dispensing as the number of grains dropped on the last trickle which is not very refined. I have watched mine trickle one to probably six grains of 8208xbr. The single tube units like the 1500 can be improved by adding the straw modification and in some cases by reprogramming the speed breakpoints.

The MatchMaster uses a two tube design, one for bulk and one for trickle which is one of the benefits of the Autotrickler. Good luck with your decision.

Well, everyone else calls it scale drift. Dispensing tolerance that changes over time sounds a lot like drift. I already know about the straw, as previously mentioned. If "dispensing tolerance" is still an issue there is no purpose in owning one lest I need my "feeler gauges" to level the feet.

 

[Nowhere Man]

So it kind of works, but also kind of doesn't...

It works as well as most.

 

[RegionRat]

No need to swirl over CM failures.

I used to think all the Chargemaster problems were from outside influence that could be mitigated or eliminated with procedure or remedies, but once there were many more of them around I eventually ran into bad units that were not externally correctable.

 

[6Creed73]

I have a CM 1500 lite and a Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper. I don't like the CM because it's way slower than the FA and I no longer use the CM.

I love the FA for what it is, which is convenient. It's perfect for my gas gun plinking rounds for 5.56 and 300blk and really speeds up my loading. But it, nor the CM will ever be as precise as a good lab type scale and trickler...which is what I do for my precision rounds.