Speed up your Charge Master and improve its consistancy....see how.

[AtOne]

I finally got around to making a video of my Charge Master Modification.

I've been running this for the last year and half loading for matches along with a few friends and it really does speed up your powder drops and reduces your over charges.

Here it is in action, This is 10 charges with 45.0 gns.of H1000

I double checked the weight each time so you can see there is no shift from the thrown weight, although I did overthrow a tenth on one.

Double checking did slow down the overall time it took but figured you'd appreciate seeing it, just watch the clock for when I hit dispense and you hear the beep for the final weight to see how quickly it dispenses.

Here's the video on how to set it up and how it works.

 

[dcali]

How far in does the straw go in your example? (How big a gap is there for the powder to enter the tube?)

 

[AtOne]

When you first put a new straw in slide it all the way in until it bottoms out to the back.
Cut the straw so that it will dispense over the pan.
Put in your powder of choice and start testing by moving the straw out after each charge until its dispensing most of your charge within 8 seconds for weights around 40-50 grains....less time for less powder more for higher charges.

The gap for h1000 is larger than it is for Tac or CFE223, Start with a smaller gap and move it out.
You'll know right away if it needs to be larger as it will dispense really slow and if the gap is too large you'll over throw every time.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

check your PM's please.

Rich

 

[mikecr]

Your focus seems on speed instead of accuracy.
But a thrower wins that race..

 

[dcali]

For what it's worth, I got better results from just reprogramming (not quite as aggressively as the video) than reprogramming and using a straw to close off the tube opening. Also got better results without a jagged edge.

 

[Mark Johnson]

Your focus seems on speed instead of accuracy.
But a thrower wins that race..

If using the chargemaster, the scale is going to dictate the accuracy. A overthrow is a overthrow, that being said, this mod is fantastic. I did not have the same results as the poster above by just reprogramming, but as soon as I started manipulating the size of the hopper with the straw pushed back, I was able to virtually eliminate overthrows and dispense in 15 sec. or less.

 

[CM21VE]

Thank you for the video and info...

 

[AtOne]

Speed and accuracy can go hand in hand and it is important to me.
For just my match rifle alone I load over 3500 rounds a year for PRS and similar competitions so anything to get me out of the garage and in the house with family is a good thing.

I drop powder and get about 20 cases filled out of a 100 and then start seating bullets while its still dispensing, can usually get caught up with fully loaded rounds around the 100 mark if you have the straw set in the sweet spot.

Everyone's results may vary a little depending on how much they adjust the straw depth as a little goes a long way in either making it too slow or having over charges.

Also depending possibly on the charge weight, powder or a combo of both , my loads are 52 grains and below and everything has worked great with straw depth changes.
I have a good friend that has tried Retumbo around the 100 grain mark and it didn't work well for him, so I'll see if I can find out whether it was the amount of powder dispensed or the powder itself that was the culprit or maybe a combo of both.

If its not for you then drive on with the method that works great for you, Mine wasn't where I thought it should be or could be so made it right for the way I load...

 

[mikecr]

If using the chargemaster, the scale is going to dictate the accuracy. A overthrow is a overthrow

This is not true at all. If you really believe the scale alone dictates accuracy, and you don't take actions to produce most accurate measurement with it, then your measurements are not accurate. This applies to every scale in existence.

The biggest reason stock CMs overcharge is the factory programmed default to lock onto desired charge instead of actual. So to get a reading separate of this, the pan must be disturbed so that the scale can resettle to it's best measure of actual (independent of program).

Sample & re-sample rates w/resp to scale loading rates are also significant to the outcome.
A well timed(modified) & operated CM is capable of locking onto the nearest kernel of desired. That is all the accuracy ever needed from it, and it doesn't come from the fastest speed. You get it with the most accurate speed for a given powder.

A 'racing charge system' (as timed with a watch, instead of verified with a more accurate scale) is really mutating the CM to no more than a slow thrower. By the time you tweak the straw to produce it's most accurate charges, as verified with a better scale, it will be no more faster, nor more accurate than stock.
A straw and/or faster is not most accurate.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I dit the same with mine but it's a bit rough when you start loading 22-27 gr charges. It still works but it will over charge a few. It works great for 308 and up cases though

 

[AtOne]

I dit the same with mine but it's a bit rough when you start loading 22-27 gr charges. It still works but it will over charge a few. It works great for 308 and up cases though

Try moving the straw in some more, should get rid of the over charges.
I use it for Tac, CFE223 and Varget in those load weight areas too.

 

[Milo 2.0]

This is not true at all. If you really believe the scale alone dictates accuracy, and you don't take actions to produce most accurate measurement with it, then your measurements are not accurate. This applies to every scale in existence.

The biggest reason stock CMs overcharge is the factory programmed default to lock onto desired charge instead of actual. So to get a reading separate of this, the pan must be disturbed so that the scale can resettle to it's best measure of actual (independent of program).

Sample & re-sample rates w/resp to scale loading rates are also significant to the outcome.
A well timed(modified) & operated CM is capable of locking onto the nearest kernel of desired. That is all the accuracy ever needed from it, and it doesn't come from the fastest speed. You get it with the most accurate speed for a given powder.

A 'racing charge system' (as timed with a watch, instead of verified with a more accurate scale) is really mutating the CM to no more than a slow thrower. By the time you tweak the straw to produce it's most accurate charges, as verified with a better scale, it will be no more faster, nor more accurate than stock.
A straw and/or faster is not most accurate.

Not sure I agree here, the CM will use all of it's .1gr on either side of the charge according to my fx120i. Granted the majority are on, but.

 

[mikecr]

In verification with a calibrated Acculab I found a feel for my CMs sampling that allowed me to load it & lock at the nearest kernel.
This is how I came to understand that there is a bit of skill (or understanding) in best scale use.
With the CM you should trickle to desired at the best rate for it. That is, the rate complimenting to it's sensor, electronics, and program.
Where you can drop kernels in sync with this, at just the rate to prevent both under/overcharging from the final/slowest trickle jogs, the CM will resolve one kernel from another. This, even though better than rated for this scale.
Enhance the program with your thinking, and you can improve it's performance just as you would using any separate scale and trickle system.

Those who just buy a CM to push the buttons, or race to load it, will see no better than +/- .1gr from it. If they check it against a more accurate scale, that's what they'll find. Doesn't mean it can't be improved on, just that they haven't.

 

[Mark Johnson]

In verification with a calibrated Acculab I found a feel for my CMs sampling that allowed me to load it & lock at the nearest kernel.
This is how I came to understand that there is a bit of skill (or understanding) in best scale use.
With the CM you should trickle to desired at the best rate for it. That is, the rate complimenting to it's sensor, electronics, and program.
Where you can drop kernels in sync with this, at just the rate to prevent both under/overcharging from the final/slowest trickle jogs, the CM will resolve one kernel from another. This, even though better than rated for this scale.
Enhance the program with your thinking, and you can improve it's performance just as you would using any separate scale and trickle system.

Those who just buy a CM to push the buttons, or race to load it, will see no better than +/- .1gr from it. If they check it against a more accurate scale, that's what they'll find. Doesn't mean it can't be improved on, just that they haven't.

At the end of the day you are using a chargemaster, as you stated, it is going to be accurate to within .1gn. What you are describing is a way you have found to reduce overthrows, but it has slowed you down considerably compared to others. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you run it, or whether or not you use the straw. You're accuracy is going to be the same as anyone elses using the same equipment, you are just going to take longer because you don't believe the countless people posting positive results from the straw mod.

 

[kvd]

Appreciate the helpful ChargeMaster tips AtOne.

Ken

 

[savagedasher]

At the end of the day you are using a chargemaster, as you stated, it is going to be accurate to within .1gn. What you are describing is a way you have found to reduce overthrows, but it has slowed you down considerably compared to others. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you run it, or whether or not you use the straw. You're accuracy is going to be the same as anyone elses using the same equipment, you are just going to take longer because you don't believe the countless people posting positive results from the straw mod.

You mean.01 don't you . Larry

 

[AtOne]

Here's a quick video with 25.1gn. of CFE 223 using the modification.

Some people enjoy making sure everything is perfect with their ammo and I think that's great, I personally shoot over 3500 rounds a year on my match rifle alone so stressing over .1gn isn't something I get worked up about as my load is consistent a few tenths in either direction.
It's not a race for me to load but I do use whatever advantage I can to load consistent ammo.....a Giraud to trim, automatic annealer, Priming on the progressive, Stainless tumbling....they're all good things for me personally.

 

[Milo 2.0]

You mean.01 don't you . Larry

No, it's .1gr, and that's .1gr over, and .1gr under, so realistically .2gr accuracy.

 

[Sheldon N]

Thanks for sharing.

Eric's an excellent shooter and a heck of a nice guy. Granted this tip is best suited to the PRS style events, but it's good info regardless of whether you want this to be your final charge or if you want to throw quick charges that you can finish on a high end scale.