Prometheus Gen II Anyone have one?

[Gunner75]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sqNcs-uWzY&feature=share

My Gen II unit should arrive shortly. I simply do not have the time to reload as I like so I have looked into a couple different products to speed up my process as well as increase consistency.

I have two RCBS Chargemasters that I have got along with very well. Why two? I load several rounds per month and I don't have to swap powder back and forth. They have served me well and I will retain these or at least one of the units.

Anyone have input on the Prometheus Gen II?

Thanks,
Gunner75

 

[BoydAllen]

A friend has one. What powders will you be loading?

 

[Gunner75]

H4350, Varget, H1000 and similar

 

[40X Guy]

I am pretty sure member Brian427cobra has a Prometheus. He will chime in if he see this. Do a search under his user name and he has pics etc. of his setup.

Frank

 

[butchlambert]

The one I used a few years ago was the most accurate powder thrower that I have ever used. It is not fast and we had to use it inside.

 

[Bob3700]

My shooting partner has a Gen II unit. It is very fast and incredibly accurate.

It is a balance beam scale with an auto powder trickler. By the time you can take the pan of powder, pour it into a case, then seat the bullet, it has weighed out another charge. Accuracy, +/- .02 Gr no sweat. You can load a round every 15 sec.

Impressive unit, but the price is pretty steep. You do get what you pay for though!

As it is a 110V unit, it is designed for indoor use.

I do believe that the Sartorius GD 503 scale with an Omega trickler will do a similar job for less but you are now manually trickling powder, the Gen II is all automatic. That unit would be less than half price of the Gen II.

Enjoy.

Bob

 

[BoydAllen]

Or you could throw a light charge in the pan, and finish with one of these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUPxA3JYrI8
Comments?

 

[Bob3700]

No doubt the Omega is the best trickler.

Certainly you can use a balance beam scale, it just depends on the level of accuracy you are after on the finished weight.

If I was loading ammo for a service rifle shooting at 600 yds, I would certainly use that method.

Change the game to a bench gun , F-class, or Prone shooting at 1K , and I would want a higher degree of resolution than a typical balance beam scale can provide. That is just my thoughts.

Bob

 

[BoydAllen]

The Prometheus uses a very finely made balance beam scale, and Scott Parker is reputed to be able to tune more ordinary scales so that they "see" the addition of a single grain of extruded powder. I have tuned my 10-10 (probably not as well as Scott would) , and in a few days intend to do a test, weighing changes that the Auto Trickler finishes to see what my scale will produce, with the very consistent runup to balance that it provides. It should be interesting.

 

[Scott Harris]

I think Bob covered this above, but you could get a Sartorius GD503 with an Omega trickler for quite a bit less I think. You will measure to the same accuracy level: but faster. I can weigh charges about 1 every 15 seconds and that looks about 5+ seconds faster than the Prom. II I saw on youtube.

 

[Bob3700]

Scott,

You are correct in the fact that you may be able to weight a bit faster than the PII but it does it automatically. While you are seating a bullet, the powder is being weighed out to .002 gr accuracy.

So, I am with you in that the GD503 with trickler is just as accurate at less than half the cost. You just do a bit more manual labor to get there.

That Omega trickler is really the berries.

Bob

 

[RDavies]

OK, so how much are these things and what is the wait time?

 

[Bob3700]

Don't quote me to the dollar but the PII is around $2500 and you need to call the fellow who makes em and put yourself on his order list. he makes them to order.

The GD503 is $1000 and the trickler is $60. Both are available for a phone call.

Start saving your lunch money NOW!

Bob

 

[Erik Cortina]

Don't quote me to the dollar but the PII is around $2500 and you need to call the fellow who makes em and put yourself on his order list. he makes them to order.

The GD503 is $1000 and the trickler is $60. Both are available for a phone call.

Start saving your lunch money NOW!

BobK

The PII is $3,000.00, and he will not even quote you a delivery time. All I know is it takes a long time and you don't actually buy the PII, you lease it.

So, the G503 with trickler is 1/3 the price and you actually own it.

 

[Mudcat]

The one I used a few years ago was the most accurate powder thrower that I have ever used. It is not fast and we had to use it inside.

Maybe you were using a Gen I? If it was a GII, he must not have had it set properly if it wasnt fast. You SHOULD be able to get a weighed charge in 10 secs or less, give or take.

The real key to the Gen II is that its fully automatic after dropping the charge and its repeatable, to the KERNAL of powder every stinking time and it does so while you are seating a bullet on the press that can be mounted right next to the Gen II.

ANd it is ~$3000, not $2500, and while it is steep, what is your time worth?

 

[Gunner75]

Kryptonite! Set up is almost complete, just need to build a riser for my needs and level out. 8)

 

[1066]

Scott,

You are correct in the fact that you may be able to weight a bit faster than the PII but it does it automatically. While you are seating a bullet, the powder is being weighed out to .002 gr accuracy.

So, I am with you in that the GD503 with trickler is just as accurate at less than half the cost. You just do a bit more manual labor to get there.

That Omega trickler is really the berries.

Bob

Or you could go this way - automatic - accurate and only $200 or so.
http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/video-display-for-balance-beam-scale/

 

[Gunner75]

I spent some time with the Prometheus this weekend and put just under 2lbs of powder through it. I ran H4350 and Varget.

I had 42gr's of H4350 running about every 9 seconds. The Varget, I didn't take the time to get so close on the throw and it took a little more time to trickle. Still, about every 11 seconds, it was ready for another case.

It's accurate there is no question about that.

I plan on loading up 150 rounds this week to shoot a Varmint Silhouette match this weekend. I will get a couple photo's up and let you all know just how accurate it is.

Pricey, but pleased.

 

[brian427cobra]

I used to own a Gen1 now I have a Gen2, I went to Brand Coles house to pick it up, I was amazed the he builds 80-85% of the Prometheus himself, while he let his 15k lab scale warm up I got the complete tour, design philosophy, and how he actually makes the scale himself. Now I keep hearing about the GD503 and Omega Trickler, that is a fine set up with great accuracy, but the GD503 is nowhere near as fast per charge, and I beleave the Gen2 to just as accurate, I know your thinking no F-ing way, but let me assure you this handmade by one man balance beam scale is ultra accurate, Brand instructing me how to tune and get the scale up and running, 10 charges of 40.0 grn of Varget had a ES of .006 grn on his lab scale, and each charge was ready in 11 seconds. Now I can't seat a bullet faster than the next charge is ready, to me the Prometheus Gen 2 was worth the very long wait, and it was worth the 31 Ben Franklins I handed Brand Cole.

 

[Mudcat]

Have to agree with Brian. Brand is a genius and his scale works, as its supposed to...and its fast. More than a few friends have come over to the house with ready to go brass and we have loaded 500-1000 rounds in a matter of hours, each of them, accurate to the kernal of powder. Just doesnt get any easier, or faster, with that sort of precision.

Keep in mind that the balance beam scale that is inside the Pro II is super accurate. And his trickling and photoeye setup is spot on. Figure 10x the price of a RCBS or Lyman, but many times better, faster and accurate. I figured it was one less custom gun I would own when I got it. No regrets, thats for sure.