TESTED: NEW RCBS MatchMaster Powder Dispenser

[garandman]

I like it but the drain system seems like an afterthought?? Seriously on the bottom,... WTH! I could see a person picking that thing up to drain it and powder pouring out the tubes all over the bench. Maybe that why it comes with tube plugs,.. again afterthought.

It has an audible alarm when the drain is open and power is on.

A drain *below* the powder tub is a good design.

 

[Shooter13]

RCBS should send me one to test before next February. Then I can load for the SWN without double checking every charge I throw on my Chargemaster.

Buy one then report back to us..........we'll wait.....................waiting.................

 

[Monte F]

Buy one then report back to us..........we'll wait.....................waiting.................

Just hold your breath a little longer. I'll get that review for you as soon as I can afford to buy one.

 

[JimSC]

way I see it the thing is priced like the Auto Throw/A&D combo but gives considerably less performance. That would be a no brainer if I wanted to upgrade but I can throw, finger trickle to my desired charge,then seat the bullet in 30 - 45 seconds. Being retired I have time, it's not a race for me.I would not even pay half what they want and will spend my shooting dollars elsewhere. You can almost buy a beautifully machined SEB mini rest for that price.

 

[JFrank]

@JimSC
I hear the fixed income reality check that’s for damn sure. I’ would like to have the latest up to datest everything but it ain’t gonna happen at my bench.

 

[jimmymac]

Can anyone shoot the difference between .10 and .14 ?

By my math with a Chargemaster being +/- .1 grain, that's a potential .2 swing from charge to charge. Matchmaster at +/- .04 grains is a .08 maximum swing. The devil is in the details.

I hope these units work well. They have the potential of being the cat's meow for the 100/200 group shooting crowd where loading between relays is the norm. IMO, the street price on these will be critical to their success or failure.

 

[garandman]

@JimSC
I hear the fixed income reality check that’s for damn sure. I’ would like to have the latest up to datest everything but it ain’t gonna happen at my bench.

This powder dispenser and the Labradar being two examples from my world.

Are they the best? Arguably, yes. Do I have other gear that does a more than adequate job? Yes.

So will I buy both / either ? Maybe. In time.

 

[garandman]

The other thing is since I shoot a more PRS style than pure benchrest, a variation of 0.1 +/- gr may not matter much in my goal of sub- half moa accuracy. The only probable way to take advantage of the accuracy of 0.04 +/- consistency in a powder dispenser is in a full, one-piece rest. I don't use them, ever. More a F-class, bipod / rear bag guy,


I know that's heresy here, but its my world.

 

[JFrank]

By my math with a Chargemaster being +/- .1 grain, that's a potential .2 swing from charge to charge. Matchmaster at +/- .04 grains is a .08 maximum swing. The devil is in the details.

I hope these units work well. They have the potential of being the cat's meow for the 100/200 group shooting crowd where loading between relays is the norm. IMO, the street price on these will be critical to their success or failure.

Jim
The short range guys should definitely like it, good point’ myself I can do the math but I still can’t shoot the difference.

 

[JFrank]

This powder dispenser and the Labradar being two examples from my world.

Are they the best? Arguably, yes. Do I have other gear that does a more than adequate job? Yes.

So will I buy both / either ? Maybe. In time.

Hey is all good,
If you’re new dispenser or labradar that’s great, if you’re not than be not. That’s great too..

 

[golong]

A drain *below* the powder tub is a good design.

While I agree a drain under the unit is a good thing, a drain that requires you to move the scale and hold the unit off the table is not. Way to big of a sacrifice vs. the side drain of the CM.

 

[garandman]

While I agree a drain under the unit is a good thing, a drain that requires you to move the scale and hold the unit off the table is not. Way to big of a sacrifice vs. the side drain of the CM.

Full disclosure.... I screwed up with the side drain as well.... dumping powder in the hopper w/o closing the drain. You *know* how that went.

I need an idiot proof drain system. The new RCBS drain seems closer to idiot proof.

 

[Twoboxer]

What interested me about the test video is that whether in Match or Standard mode, the scale still very briefly flashed (eg) 50.00gr before switching to a display of the round count.

The scale apparently measures and displays to 0.02gr. Listed precision spec for Match mode is .04gr while Standard mode is 0.1gr.

Whatever those specs are intended to mean . . . why does the scale show the target weight exactly as the final weight in both cases when the actual final weights are different?

 

[golong]

Full disclosure.... I screwed up with the side drain as well.... dumping powder in the hopper w/o closing the drain. You *know* how that went.

I need an idiot proof drain system. The new RCBS drain seems closer to idiot proof.

Been there. I put a big piece of blue tape on the front and top of the hopper that said something like "Close Me." Never happened again after that. Eventually quit using it and sold it after buying the AT kit with Area 419 hardware.

 

[Fotheringill]

Before purchasing anything from any manufacturer, check the warranty.

 

[strat81]

So I was sitting on the couch going through my gear wish list. At the top of that list: "An app for my powder scale."

Now I can share all of my favorite powder charges with my friends on Facebook, post them to my Instagram, and tweet them to all of my followers.

This is going to be the best Christmas EVER!

 

[urbanrifleman]

I cannot load match quality ammo faster than my Chargemaster using my Wilson seater. I have tried.

My velocity spreads are single digits now. I mean if my velocity spreads are less than 5 fps with a Chargemaster is it really going to be less with a fancier dispenser? This is the answer I never get...