Have a lead on one but can find no reviews.
RCBS Charge Master Pro. Thoughts?
- Thread starter Jacks Grampa
- Start date
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
Do you mean the older model Chargemaster, or one of the newer versions?
More or less, they are all okay. None of them are perfect, nor are they fast by today's standards.
They all use a tube to trickle, so powder kernels can clump and fall to create overthrows, and since they are using a strain based force gage scale, they are all subject to those issues with static, drift, etc.
Not sure why you can't find reviews, unless that "Pro" is throwing things off. There are almost too many reviews of these.
More or less, they are all okay. None of them are perfect, nor are they fast by today's standards.
They all use a tube to trickle, so powder kernels can clump and fall to create overthrows, and since they are using a strain based force gage scale, they are all subject to those issues with static, drift, etc.
Not sure why you can't find reviews, unless that "Pro" is throwing things off. There are almost too many reviews of these.
Autotrickler
I use one for rifle cartridges. I think it's awesome, and honestly never had the first problem with it. Others say it's a little slow, and I guess it is. But relaxing making deer bullets it's a good speed...
Rcbs has a good deal on the match master for those that qualify for a veterans/military discount.
I'd vote autotrickler if you are getting up in that range.
I'd vote autotrickler if you are getting up in that range.
Thanks all. It sold before I decided on it.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
The match master is a good setup
RCBS will give you the info. too SPEED UP the 1500. Tommy Mc.
I'll take precision over speed all day long and twice on weekends.
Take the money you would spend on automated powder dispenser and put that toward a high quality lab grade analytical balance that reads in increments of 0.002 grains. Use an old school thrower to get close and a trickler to get closer. After that, use tweezers. You loads can be deviate less than a half kernel of Varget... for real.
Get one with internal calibration and you can forget about all auto trickler systems.
The error on 2 decimal place scales is worth at least plus or minus 2 grains of Varget. Round that up to 1/10 of a grain. Get a good 3 decimal place scale and you will be just that much better off for long shots.
Take the money you would spend on automated powder dispenser and put that toward a high quality lab grade analytical balance that reads in increments of 0.002 grains. Use an old school thrower to get close and a trickler to get closer. After that, use tweezers. You loads can be deviate less than a half kernel of Varget... for real.
Get one with internal calibration and you can forget about all auto trickler systems.
The error on 2 decimal place scales is worth at least plus or minus 2 grains of Varget. Round that up to 1/10 of a grain. Get a good 3 decimal place scale and you will be just that much better off for long shots.
All rifle loads used for target or hunting DESERVE super accurate grain weights and there is NO MACHINE on the market that combines a charge thrower with a scale that gives you a DIALED-IN accuracy time after time. You only get approximations. That's why, when using the RCBS, HORNADY, or any of the others, you need to under-throw a charge, then use a POWDER TRICKLER to get you the rest of the way. So what kind of secondary scale to use for the final weight..... a jeweler friend suggested one that he uses. I tried it years ago, and never looked back.
Time consuming..... YES. But humping up and down hills is too. Going for a head shot at 200 yards, and having the confidence to do that, year after year is also worth it.
Auto trickler does this.
Autotrickler covers all of that
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
The conversion looks daunting... did you really mean 0.002 grains?
That converts to 0.002 grain = 0.000129 gram
I built and ran laboratories and will admit it has been a while since I had to trade off and select analytic balances or pay for them, but will you suggest a model that would be appropriate for amateur reloading?
Folks balking at the cost of an A&D FX120i won't like the sound of the price of a scale that goes a magnitude higher in resolution, but I am admitting I am not studying that market like I used to.
drop_point
Silver $$ Contributor
I've been very interested in the match master because it is $300-400 less than the A&D and Auto Trickler combo if you can get the discount. I really haven't gotten to see a good review of it, though.
Vibra HT220 is what I've been using for many years. They probably have a new model by now.
Internal calibration is worthwhile, but it does cost a little more.
Vibra as the name suggests uses a tuning fork system to sense weight as opposed to c load cell which is the lowest form of load sensing and magnetic force reconstruction which is better than load cell but vulnerable to voltage fluctuations and radio signals.
Vibra tuning fork works well in dusty environments and unstabilized voltage supply.
If you go shopping for others, just make sure whatever you are considering does measure in grains. Dont assume all models measure in all units.
If cost is your main concern you can try amazon. There are lots of analytical balances posted there for surprisingly low prices.
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