NEW Powder Dispenser TESTS!
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I have been using my Lyman DPS 1200,,version 1), for a couple of years now, and couldn't be happier. I'm not getting any of this "speed" business? If you are that in a hurry to throw charges from any of these units, do what I do. I have a set of Lee Powder Dippers.,$6.00 most places). I select a dipper about 5 grains or so under the charge I want, dump it into the pan, and let the machine top it off. It's fast, and saves wear and tear on the unit. Most all of these units have the same type of electronic circuitry. The "warm up", while important, is easy to work around. I simply turn on the unit when I wake up if I know I'll be reloading that day. After I have coffee and shower and get dressed, the unit is plenty warm. Even if you decide to reload on a whim, by the time you get everything out, dies set, loading blocks and brass ready to go, the unit will be more than warm enough. Bill T.
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BillT,
Thats a real good idea using a powder dipper.
Also Lyman has an ugrade kit that supposedly increases the speed.
Re Wildcat's report--I'm glad he's having good luck with the PACT. I have to say that drift is common to PACTs also--it just seems to vary with individual units.
I found out mine drifted when I was weighing bullets and the phone rang. I left a bullet in the pan that registered 104.9 grains. I came back 25 minutes later and the bullet, still sitting in the pan, was 105.2.
I then went back through the previous dozen bullets,I was measuring 50 for a test so I'd written down all the individual weights), and, you guessed it--they were all off 0.3 grains.
I now warm up the machine for 30 minutes minimum and I calibrate the machine with check weights every dozen charges or so. Yep, it's time consuming, but I've noticed that it helps.
Thats a real good idea using a powder dipper.
Also Lyman has an ugrade kit that supposedly increases the speed.
Re Wildcat's report--I'm glad he's having good luck with the PACT. I have to say that drift is common to PACTs also--it just seems to vary with individual units.
I found out mine drifted when I was weighing bullets and the phone rang. I left a bullet in the pan that registered 104.9 grains. I came back 25 minutes later and the bullet, still sitting in the pan, was 105.2.
I then went back through the previous dozen bullets,I was measuring 50 for a test so I'd written down all the individual weights), and, you guessed it--they were all off 0.3 grains.
I now warm up the machine for 30 minutes minimum and I calibrate the machine with check weights every dozen charges or so. Yep, it's time consuming, but I've noticed that it helps.
Another thing you can use is the shot dipper from an old Lee Shotshell Loader. They have a "false bottom" that can be lowered or raised into detentes to vary shot loads dispensed for the Lee Hand Shotshell Loader. I have one I bought back in 1972 that's been just sitting. I finally found a use for at least part of it. It's the main reason I never sell anything gun related. Bill T.
I'd like to see a similar review of manual powder dispensers to compare the various Redding, RCBS, Lyman and Hornady units, as well as higher end/priced bench rest units like Harrel's.
Great review, thanks.
Great review, thanks.
I purchased a PACK about a year ago. I have to say the unit takes about 2-3 minutes to calibrate itself, then for 30 grains of Varget, 20 seconds per round. The weight is either right on or 1/10 under. Very seldom over. Occasionally the unit will drift if a fan is on and moving air is hitting the scale. But, that's about the only issue. It's very easy to dump the powder when I'm done, it takes maybe a half a minute. I'm pleased with the PACK performance, and would recommend the unit..
I've been using the Hornady dispenser for a couple of months now and I'm pretty happy with it. Like the RCBS, Hornady doesn't publish all the special key sequences to modify default parameters but once you got those, you'll find that you can get pretty darn good results. Like the RCBS, a MacDonalds straw in the tube helps dispensing a bit but even on 'slow' speed there will be a clump that will drop and push your charge to +0.1 of your target value. This will not throw an 'error' beep like +0.2 will (since the tolerance is +/- 0.1 grains) but when it does, the dispenser will halt and require you to intervene by pushing 'ENTER' on the keypad.
I've only used it with H4831SC & RL-17 so I don't know how well spherical or flake powders will dispense. I use two marble floor tiles with silicone feet and the $5 Starret bubble level from Midway for isolation & leveling. I am pleased with the new level of accuracy I've been able to achieve so I'd call it a "good buy".
I've only used it with H4831SC & RL-17 so I don't know how well spherical or flake powders will dispense. I use two marble floor tiles with silicone feet and the $5 Starret bubble level from Midway for isolation & leveling. I am pleased with the new level of accuracy I've been able to achieve so I'd call it a "good buy".
Yes, CAL & UNIT will change trickle speed but MODE (they don't mention it on the web site) changes the amount under your target value that it switches from high speed to low speed - I usually use 0.6 ~ 0.8 to avoid overruns.
All I can say is if you buy a digital you better goet one with a warrenty and make sure the warrenty startswhen you GET the scale not when they sold it to whomever redistobuted it..
My Acculab Vicon 303 was a great strain guage scale that was repeatable down to .001. and yes it would consistantly , and easily show the .02 grain difference as you dribbled one kernel of 4350 at a time into the pan. I really liked it until one day we had some static buildup from the wind here in town and I opened the dust cover and touched the pan and it shocked it into submission...I mean a tiny static charge from me to the scale and it was done... showed OL and would never reset.,
I called ACCULAB and of course the 303 was discontinued...they are way behind in production of the new one and I have no Idea when the new one will ship. She told me since the scale was sold in 08 that it was not covered...even though I purchased it Sept of 09. I whined bit and she put me on the list to get a new one
she didnt want the old one back to see if they could fix it or anything...
this is (was ) a 350 dollar scale and now I sit and wait.....hmmmm
My Acculab Vicon 303 was a great strain guage scale that was repeatable down to .001. and yes it would consistantly , and easily show the .02 grain difference as you dribbled one kernel of 4350 at a time into the pan. I really liked it until one day we had some static buildup from the wind here in town and I opened the dust cover and touched the pan and it shocked it into submission...I mean a tiny static charge from me to the scale and it was done... showed OL and would never reset.,
I called ACCULAB and of course the 303 was discontinued...they are way behind in production of the new one and I have no Idea when the new one will ship. She told me since the scale was sold in 08 that it was not covered...even though I purchased it Sept of 09. I whined bit and she put me on the list to get a new one
she didnt want the old one back to see if they could fix it or anything...
this is (was ) a 350 dollar scale and now I sit and wait.....hmmmm
MT,
You may be surprised about the static energy a human body can collect, and discharge into an unsuspecting semiconductor!
After 50 years as a design engineer of analog IC's, static discharge is a real problem.
That said, I cannot believe the scale cannot be fixed. See if the MFG will supply a schematic of the measuring circuit. I'll bet the IC's are standard off the shelf units and can be replaced by a careful, competent technician.
You may be surprised about the static energy a human body can collect, and discharge into an unsuspecting semiconductor!
After 50 years as a design engineer of analog IC's, static discharge is a real problem.
That said, I cannot believe the scale cannot be fixed. See if the MFG will supply a schematic of the measuring circuit. I'll bet the IC's are standard off the shelf units and can be replaced by a careful, competent technician.
This thread was started more than ten years ago, but the subject is still relevant.
Is RCBS still the one to buy?
Is RCBS still the one to buy?
The real problem is not how accurate or consistent these automated dispensers are or are not. The real question is were is the research demonstrating that insanely accurate powder measure at resolutions down to say .4 grains even matter's in real world match shooting. Even in the BR world resolution to .4 grains has never been proven to matter. Most of the key ground breaking records were set before the wide scale roll out of these machines. On top of that improvements in the design, machining and execution of the receivers and barrel internal dimensions are the biggest improvement along with powders that are temp. stable. So until a huge sample size credible research/white paper is written on the matter and has repeated finding by other researchers/engineers it is all smoke and mirrors even if the machines are as accurate as claimed and are consistent as well! If you ask the wrong questions than no matter how right the answer it has no meaning or application to the problem at hand. Making the assumption that greater resolution of powder measure beyond a certain point is always going to be better is not sound science, engineering, or best practice. First one has to establish what resolution of powder measure is required to produce a given outcome. What I propose is easily testable even with technology from 80 years ago. No one wants to do the study and do it correctly though because the outcome if not controlled might not be in their favor so you just avoid doing the research. Nothing that could hurt profit margins is justifiable to board members a corporations job is to make profits for share holders!
You do not think these companies are designing their own circuits, scale/load cell, motors then having them built to specification?? They are at best having a designer design the external plastic shapes but the rest is off the shelf parts built in China or outsourced by China!!! LOL How many electronic circuit designers do you think these companies keep on staff? LOL.....It is not like General Motors were they have thousands of Engineers on staff year round and hundreds of contract engineers, chemist, designers etc......More than likely all the engineering and designing is likely on staff at the factory in China were these are made. I deal with China, Taiwan and Eastern Europe routinely for manufacturing. Fantastic people to deal with if you are not looking for the "cheapest" no questions asked widget you can get away with selling that will not destroy your companies reputation. You have to represent your company well though, ask lots of questions, pin down exactly what you expect and be willing to do your own quality control or hire people in country to do it for you before products ship! Clearly the OEM's in this case have had the circuit boards sanitized to keep the customer in the dark. It is the same juvenile behavior that used to be done to sand off the part numbers of semiconductors to ensure customer could not repair or reverse engineer the product. That sort of stuff never stops a competitor it only stops your customers from being well informed.
Used the RCBS 10-10 since 1971
Started using RCBS Uniflow in 2003 after 1 week of reloading with it quickly sold it measures we’re erratic after double checking on 10/10 scale.
In 2007 bought RCBS Chargemaster and used it ever since ………. Love that Chargemaster and yes my trusty 10-10 scale is still on my bench when in doubt .
Started using RCBS Uniflow in 2003 after 1 week of reloading with it quickly sold it measures we’re erratic after double checking on 10/10 scale.
In 2007 bought RCBS Chargemaster and used it ever since ………. Love that Chargemaster and yes my trusty 10-10 scale is still on my bench when in doubt .
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