RCBS Chargemaster

[dtucker]

After much thinking and checking out the reviews i am going to purchace a RCBS Chargemaster. Looking to get it through Sinclairs but was wondering if their might be some other place offering a better price. I am going to sit down tonight and look at all the places i know of to compare prices. I have spent a wheel barrel of money at Sinclair through the years and service has been top notch so i am thinking for the little i may save it might not be worth it. What do you think guys. I use a Harrel powder measure and scale but it is nice to be able to use something else. I kind of like to have 2 or 3 things that result in accomplishing the same thing and not get burned out. : I hope it works out to my expectations.

 

[lurcher]

Try Natchez they were cheaper when I got mine

 

[Yellow11]

I purchased mine about eight years ago... and I am still enjoying the love affair .

However, after reading an article by Laurie Holland, in Target Shooter, the other week, I became concerned about possible variations between actual weight against displayed weight

So I borrowed back my original 5-0-5 beam scale and spent two hours weighing 66g loads of RL25 on the Chargemaster and then reweighing with the beam scale.

It proved a fruitless labour, as any variation in displayed weight was so slight that it could not be measured but appears to be in the region of 0.05g.

I sure you will be delighted with your purchase and it is great for weighing bullets!

 

[ronsroom1]

Email sent.................

 

[7stubby]

I bought a Chargemaster 2 years ago and used it all the time. Then I got the bright idea 8 months ago, well why don't I sell that and just get a manual powder thrower and scale. Last week I bought another Chargemaster. This time I won't be selling it. Its the best thing since slice bread. Get one you won't be sorry. Natchez has the cheapest price on them too, but you have to pay shipping which will probably run about 20 bucks or so. Still a very nice deal.

 

[pcrowe]

I have a Chargemaster and really like it, use it a lot. One mod you can make that may help is to insert a McDonald's soda straw (about a .5" pc.) into the end of the dispense tube. As good as it is, there are things you can do to make it a little better- do a search on here.

Phillip

 

[dtucker]

Thanks guys for your comments. Never used anything like those and i might just get spoiled. I have heard about the soda straw and will have to find the info on it after i get it and set it up. I thought i saw something about programming it to speed it up but not sure. I would think it dispenses powder as fast as you can use it anyhow. I guess i will find out soon and look forward to using it.

 

[coyoteklr]

I bought a Chargemaster 2 years ago and used it all the time. Then I got the bright idea 8 months ago, well why don't I sell that and just get a manual powder thrower and scale. Last week I bought another Chargemaster. This time I won't be selling it. Its the best thing since slice bread. Get one you won't be sorry. Natchez has the cheapest price on them too, but you have to pay shipping which will probably run about 20 bucks or so. Still a very nice deal.

i went the opposite route..... i had a 3br and was convinced by others that it wasn't as accurate or as fast as the chargemaster so silly me i got one and found it wasn't as accurate or consistent as the 3br....nor as fast.... so my friend owns it now...
i use my 10-10 to check .... set the thrower and go.... haven't looked back....

 

[okbob51]

So, there you have it. A difference of opinion. :-\

 

[in2deep]

Judging from all my bud's that have them it will be a nice addition to your collection.
Just remember when throwing stick powder like Varget it will often throw too high like normal manual tricklers are prone to dumping several extra kernels but it makes a beeping sound when it goes over and you pour it back in and start that charge over no big deal.
If your quick with a beam scale and trickler you can actually throw a faster charge and more accurate to a kernel or 2 but that's high maintenance and not for everyone.

 

[mikeincool]

I have been cranking out loads on first my dad's rcbs and then mine for over thirty years and last year I finally bought myself a new rcbs chargemaster. Oh My God, Why did I wait so long to make the change. I have been weighing every load for all this time and I love the new setup.
I bought mine at Midway or Natches for much less than Cabela's price.

 

[PJGunner]

A while back, I was doing the load work up for my ex-son in law's new .300 WSM. He brought the components over and chained me to my reloading bench. When I saw his powder of choice I could have shot him on the spot. I've had a distinct hatred for those log type powder such as 4350 and 4831. As good as they are, load work up was a total PITA. Well, he leaves me with the components and the gun so I start the process. I'm pretty fussy when doing load work ups so each charge gets weighed and trickled, 5 rounds of each test load at a time. As if hat didn't take a lot of time, getting the powder measure to throw a charge of that powder anywhere near what I wanted took even longer. IIRC, it took me almost 7 hours to get those loads done. Then, of to the range to see what they'll do. Not bad but I thought I could get better. As I needed to get more components I went to Sportsman's Warehouse to get what I needed. My wife came along for the ride. As I was getting what I needed, I pointed out the Chargemaster to my wife and said that one of these days I'm gonna get me one of those. She looked at me and said, "Why not today?" I have had her around for 42 years and yes, she's a keeper. I got just as many new test rounds loaded up in about an hour in a half. Each charge thrown was weighed and checking them with my balance beam scale showed they were on the money. I ve had it for about three years now and can go back to using any type of powder I want without having to fight those log shaped kernals of powder.
Paul B.

 

[radshooter]

Try Cabelas ..... It has been on sale in past and often you can use a $25 off coupon..... I LOVE mine...if u get one call rcbs and they will send u instructions to increase how fast u can dispense the powder

 

[Nikkisdad]

Don't forget that there is coupon for $50.00 off the chargemaster.

 

[artbosco]

Don't forget that there is coupon for $50.00 off the chargemaster.

Here's a good source with usually the lowest price: http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=rc98923&src=BA183

And, the $50 Rebate Coupon with proof of $300 RCBS purchases or more: http://www.rcbs.com/pdf/RC201_WebRebateCoupon.pdf

I added a few small items I needed to nudge it over the $300 mark. Great Deal!

 

[WindSurgeon]

I have been a die in the wool powder thrower then trickle to weight guy for competition rifle shooting. I barrowed my freind's chargemaster to try hoping it will speed up my loading process. I tried throwing (or is it called something else with a chargemaster?) some charges of Varget with it and weighing in on my Dillon ballance. The charge was +/- .1 accross 10 test loadings. It seems to take a while for the charge to come up to the weight programed so I am not sure it will save me time, but I will say that it will be nice to simply push a button and wait rather than throw, weigh and trickle a hundred times in a loading session. I will have to gain confidence that it will make consistent competition shooting loads. For standard hunting or range loads, its a no brainer.

 

[Rust]

I've found that it speeds things up to seat a bullet while waiting for the next charge to be thrown, pointing out that my Chargemaster is on one bench while the press is on another so as to not shake the Chargemaster while throwing a charge.

There are some things on my reloading bench I will not give up: the Wilson micrometer case trimmer, the Redding micrometer seating dies, the Sinclair neck thickness measuring tool, and the Chargemaster.

Will also point out that I slowed my Chargemaster down a little which seems to help it throw more consistant charges with the coarsest stick powders.

 

[vnvet]

Just a quick FYI for all using electronic scales.

If you have fluorescent lighting in your room they should be powered with newer electronic ballasts NOT the old magnetic ones or simply use incandescent. I use ballasts with 1.15 power factor, that is, a ballast pushing the T8 lamps at 115% of rated vs .87 which is standard. But won't that burn out my lamps sooner you may ask ? NO. In fact, it is proven that lamp life is greatly increased. As an electrical contractor I deal with this often.

There has been much talked about over the years since digital's like the Chargemaster and such came out w/complaints about drift and accuracy. I've had my Chargemaster going on four years now and it simply works without a glitch. I also make sure my room temperature is even, 65 to 68, and power it up for an hour or so before calibrating and use.

Also, I can't emphasize enough that ALL your valuable electronics should be powered from UPS's to avoid any potential spikes or power outages in the network especially, spikes that can destroy them

Just my 2 hope that helps everyone.

 

[clos]

just sent my charge master back for a replacement. only loaded 300 rds, buddy is on his 2nd chargemaster and his brother is on his 3rd charge master. have read of guys having them for years with no problems at all. wish i was one of them. I am dead in the water waiting for my charge master to be sent to me. if you do get the charge master, I would also suggest you get a thrower, scale and a trickler for backup. I have a scale and a trickler but now thrower,