Turn Your FX-120i into a Prometheus

[XTR]

I just put my system to it's first real test loading over 400 rounds in the last few days.

My first impression was that it was faster, but not that much faster than when I used my tuned up chargemaster to throw charges then trickled and tweeserd them up to ±.002 on my Fx120i....

Now after running it for the last couple of days I can say it's about 50% faster. I could do about two cases a minute before, now I'm getting about three. My process now is a throw to the pan with a Harrells throw and let the scale trickle up

....BUT...

OMFG is this easier. The system almost never misses. I'm OK with an overshoot of .002. That's one kernel. I can't see that on the chrono or on the target, for my purposes as long as it hits on or .002 over I load it. I think it overshoots .004 about 1 in 25 or so. I don't have to be totally engrossed in the effort to drop one kernel.

This tool has made my mass reloading efforts easier, by a lot.

Great job Adam.

Oh, I used a needle and put a tiny drop of Kroil on the outside of both of my bearings. Mine was binding up a little, ran like a top after that.

 

[spclark]

Now after running it for the last couple of days I can say it's about 50% faster. I could do about two cases a minute before, now I'm getting about three. My process now is a throw to the pan with a Harrells throw and let the scale trickle up

....BUT...

OMFG is this easier. The system almost never misses. I'm OK with an overshoot of .002. That's one kernel. I can't see that on the chrono or on the target, for my purposes as long as it hits on or [no more than] .002 over I load it. I think it overshoots .004 about 1 in 25 or so....

Great job Adam.

Pretty much parallels what I'm doing. Two 'equalized' pans, both hands running 'em back'n'forth from measure (also Harrell's) to scale to case funnel. I've approached speeds of close to four per minute (308 for Palma) but I have to be really careful moving the funnel, carrying the pans, not get confused which is the thrown charge or the finished one. Takes too much concentration to maintain that pace so I've settled on a little slower gets the job done with less angst.

I tried a drop tube direct to a pan on the scale. Yes it worked, but getting the pan out from under it proved tricky enough I reverted to throwing into a pan, or sometimes into a block of 50 primed cases then each gets dumped, weighed, topped off in succession then moved to another loading block. That's almost as fast as the two pan method & only requires one scale pan.

Again, Great job Adam!

Can't wait to learn what your fertile imagination's come up with next.

 

[wolfman]

This my experience as well Wade- not only faster, but much easier to be quick and accurate. It really does take much of the effort out of higher volume loading.

 

[jlow]

It's the "Giraud trimmer" equivalent of powder weighting.... I brought both last year and so am in 7th Heaven....

 

[XTR]

In the past I'd sit down with 100 cases, Chargemaster, trickler, tweezers, and a cup of coffee. (cause I was a submariner and the only time I don't have coffee is when I have something else, or I'm asleep)

I'd get the 100 cases powdered in an hour or so, and my coffee would be cold and untouched because I never got to it.

Now I finish my coffee before I load 50, and do it faster.

 

[adamjmac]

Here's a video to show how to set up the trickler to run consistently. This 4 minute video will probably save me an email a day. See here:

 

[memilanuk]

Hmmm... I see an opportunity for a product enhancement... adjustable leveling screws for the base

Two on one side (towards the scale), and one on the other. Kinda like a speed screw adjustment for front rests, before co-ax tops were a thing

Dial that sucker right in, and have a jam nut to lock it in place.

 

[spclark]

Hmmm... I see an opportunity for a product enhancement... adjustable leveling screws for the base

Yep, me too.

I slide a bit of cardboard under my trickler on the side away from the scale. Been thinking about drillin' & tappin' three holes for levelers, just too much other $#it to do that's kept me from doing it just yet.

'Nother's be a quick-release cable disconnect: I like to clear powder granules from the tube & hopper when I finish a batch. Unplugging the connector as supplied gives me the heebies... wtf I break it just starting a batch of 400-500 cases for a Big Match?

Easier to disconnect would be welcome, or a longer cable (upgrade) to facilitate less troublesome up-ending of the trickler when necessary.

 

[rardoin]

Yep, me too.
Easier to disconnect would be welcome, or a longer cable (upgrade) to facilitate less troublesome up-ending of the trickler when necessary.

I don't disconnect mine for fear of damaging the connector as it was not designed for high cycles of disconnect/reconnect (it appears). I carefully invert the hopper to clear but, as you note, the cable length makes that a cautious operation also. I second the recommendation for a longer cable...by about 8" if the signal allows.

 

[stevenc23]

'Nother's be a quick-release cable disconnect: I like to clear powder granules from the tube & hopper when I finish a batch. Unplugging the connector as supplied gives me the heebies... wtf I break it just starting a batch of 400-500 cases for a Big Match?

Easier to disconnect would be welcome, or a longer cable (upgrade) to facilitate less troublesome up-ending of the trickler when necessary.

Easy disconnect AND longer cable would be great

 

[Switchbarrel]

OMFG is this easier. The system almost never misses. I'm OK with an overshoot of .002. That's one kernel. I can't see that on the chrono or on the target, for my purposes as long as it hits on or .002 over I load it. I think it overshoots .004 about 1 in 25 or so. I don't have to be totally engrossed in the effort to drop one kernel.

I know I can't shoot the difference of one kernel of powder either but, I still set up two loading blocks. One with the dead on charges and another for the one kernel over charges. They each end up in separate 50 round Ammo boxs. That way, all the charges in each box are the same.

No more of a hassle & it makes me feel better knowing I tried to remove one more variable...

-Rick

 

[muleystalker]

A leveler and a magnetic quick detach cable, like on an Apple laptop charger, would make powder changes easier, I to am leary of repeated unplugging of the cable.

 

[adamjmac]

FYI - the new product will be announced Thursday afternoon/evening.

 

[rardoin]

FYI - the new product will be announced Thursday afternoon/evening.

Darn...are you related to "THE Donald"?

 

[Jdne5b]

FYI - the new product will be announced Thursday afternoon/evening.

Make sure to give all your prior customers a 1 hr headstart via email.

 

[Alexander-M]

Make sure to give all your prior customers a 1 hr headstart via email.

Yes! That would be fair.

 

[Richard Coody]

Yes! That would be fair.

Well i just ordered mine. Anyone want to purchase a chargemaster cheap?

Going on ebay this weekend.

 

[1lnbrdg]

i doesn't see it yet . . . . .

 

[Jdne5b]

i doesn't see it yet . . . . .

It's not Thursday afternoon/evening yet. Even in Canada 'eh.

 

[1lnbrdg]

It's not Thursday afternoon/evening yet. Even in Canada 'eh.

Oh, forgot, they aren't on GB time, sun never sets on and what such . . . .