RCBS Chargemaster Questions again

[dreever]

A year ago I asked a similar question and it seemed there weren't a lot of guys happy with the accuracy they were getting from the chargemaster. In fact some were on the fourth go round with RCBS.
My question are they any better one year later?

I understand that there are three generations of software, and other upgrades,like a metal powder pan).
So how can you tell you are getting the latest and greatest? Or specifically who do you order from to make sure you don't end up with old news?
MidSouth has it for $259 verses Sinclair at $309 why the big price discrepancy?
If the extra fifty bucks guarantees the newest model, well then perhaps it's worth it.

But then we go back to the first question: Are they any better one year later?

Danny

 

[rstreich]

Danny,

My first one performed pretty much flawlessly for about a year then started drifting pretty badly. I sent it to RCBS and they sent me a new one. I haven't used the new one much, winter ya' know, but it seems as solid as the first one,before it went a little schizo).

I would guess that all of those that are up for sale from the big vendors are the latest model. They seem to sell pretty well 'cause they're just pretty slick. Although I'd still rather use a measure when I have a big batch of PD rounds to load up, I can't imagine what it'd be like to use anything else for load development. It is just so easy to run through a set of charges. Having read nothing good about any of the competitors' products and having RCBS' great service behind it, I'd buy another ChargeMaster again any day.

 

[Travelor]

Dreever, I am one of the users that is on his 4th ChargeMaster. This latest one is a real keeper. The problems some of the other powder chargers and throwers have is dealing with large granular powders. The ChargeMaster is not affected by the granular size problem as it works strickly off of weight, not volumn.

The way to assure that you have the latest model is to check the manual and be sure it has the option for automatic charging - when the pan is replaced and the scale rezero's, it automatically dispenses the next load. This is a feature you can turn off should you desire, but I find it very useful. I shoot a 308 in F-Class and use 46.0 grains of Varget - it takes approx. 25 seconds to charge and reweigh each load.

The "trick" to using them is to let the charger dispense a load, the wait for it to report the number of charges thrown, THEN LET IT REWEIGH the dispensed charge. This reweighing cycle will report to actual charge thrown as opposed to the charge you requested as shown on the first weight reported.

Mine throws about 95% dead on and the other 5% is between .1 and .3 grains high. I just lift the pan, remove a few granuals of powder and reweigh. This step, when needed, takes about 3-4 seconds and is not a problem once you get used to how much equals a .1 grain.

I am now a very happy camper with mine now.

George

 

[steveyrock]

I just received my chargemaster from Midsouth a couple days ago but didn't get to dispense with it yet even though I did set it up and turned it on. I zeroed the scale to make sure that worked ok. My unit has the automatic feature so I take it I have the latest model.I will put it to work this weekend.

 

[dochoc]

Can report almost identical experience to Travelor with my chargemaster.As stated you must wait for the second weighing cycle.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

I am very happy with mine. I do have it plugged into a AVR,Automatic Voltage Regulator) and it seems to help with the drift issue. I will sometimes leave it on for days at a time, and come back and put the check weight on, dead on 50g.

Mine is the newest version, so I had none of the problems that I have read about. When I get a charge that is over, which does happen, I just dump it back in the powder holder and start weighing a new one, no big deal.