Which Chargemaster?

[Monday shooter40]

Charge master 1500 or Charge master lite?

 

[klamathsteel]

Never used a 1500. I have a Lite and it's great. Did'nt see a need for the extra bells and whistles of the 1500 because like most i record all my load data in my book. The fewer the buttons the better off i am

 

[wheelgun7360]

Had both & sold the 1500!

 

[NZ_Fclass]

The cheapest. Then use a decent scale to verify the charge.

 

[Homerange]

The cheapest. Then use a decent scale to verify the charge.

LOL, when my CM 1500 arrived it proved my Ohaus balance beam was inconsistent.....and we thought the rifle was shot out ! That was a few years back and recently working up a load with just a powder change to 8208 shot a better group than the rifle has before and ....thrown with a CM 1500 !

The Lite hadn't been released when we got a 1500 and I believe a Lite would serve us just as well.
Saving load data is nice but it's no hardship to run a load book (everyone should) from which to pull your charge weights as they only take a moment to enter.

 

[Big Mc]

Charge master 1500 or Charge master lite?

For my money the 1500 is the way to go. Mine has served me well for some 20 years now. Just my two cents Tommy Mc
I did reprogram it to load faster.

 

[SSL]

For my money the 1500 is the way to go. Mine has served me well for some 20 years now. Just my two cents Tommy Mc
I did reprogram it to load faster.

Seven years with the 1500 so far. Wouldn't be without it. Like @Big Mc I reprogramed the speeds. I also tried the straw trick but didn't have any good luck. When getting down to the last couple of tenths, the little mounds of powder that sat on those straw teeth would sometimes dump and jump the weight. With the final few tenths set to very slow speed the problem went away without the straw. Very accurate and consistent. I haven't used the Lite, but I'm sure it would work great. I record loads in a book, so the Lite would probably have worked for me too. Just wasn't an option at the time.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I bought a 1500 when they first came out. It lasted for many years before giving up the ghost. I sent it out for repair and it has been 100% since. No complaints.
Isn't there a "Supreme" model now?

 

[Dave M.]

Charge master 1500 or Charge master lite?

Neither. Just find a good deal on the A&D Fx120i with the V3 autothrow and autotrickler setup. You will never look back and thank me later.
dave

 

[Liven The Dream]

I will go with Dave M. V-3 setup and don,t look Pack. CE Products Canada get Price. Use the Right Bank Card and you may Save More ??

Over the Years I have used a lot of different Scales and Ticklers . Yes the job got done well .
I finally went FX120i and V-3 and Boy I spent a lot of Money getting here.

 

[boltfluter]

I have been using the Lite for several years and it has been very good. No complaints.

Paul

 

[jackieschmidt]

Since I do 98% of my loading at the range, the Lite has served me well. I also have a 1500, but have not used it for years. I also have a Denver Electronics that is useless at the range, but serves well in my bullet making.

I do wish I could make the ChargeMaster Lite skip the round count feature. It is a worthless feature that just adds time to the cycle.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

LOL, when my CM 1500 arrived it proved my Ohaus balance beam was inconsistent.....and we thought the rifle was shot out ! That was a few years back and recently working up a load with just a powder change to 8208 shot a better group than the rifle has before and ....thrown with a CM 1500 !

The Lite hadn't been released when we got a 1500 and I believe a Lite would serve us just as well.
Saving load data is nice but it's no hardship to run a load book (everyone should) from which to pull your charge weights as they only take a moment to enter.

It is hard to believe an Ohaus is inconsistent. In fact, I have never experienced this problem with a balance beam scale. Almost every electronic scale tends to drift and must be re-zeroed several times during use. Consistency with the Ohaus depends on it's being level, which should be checked in each session.

The electronic scale is subject to many variables, including line voltage variance, and sporadic interference from other electronic equipment in the house. Heat changes are also a major factor. When you zero an electronic scale and then remove the pan, you will see what is called tare. As you use the scale that changes over time. This is drift but the scale does not make up the difference and although it shows the weight you set it for it will be lighter. The Ohaus does not drift unless you have air moving from forced air of some sort. Furnace, fan or other sources. The inside of the Chargemaster contains electronics that emit heat on their own and a motor. As they heat up their values also change which creates drift.

 

[Big Mc]

Seven years with the 1500 so far. Wouldn't be without it. Like @Big Mc I reprogramed the speeds. I also tried the straw trick but didn't have any good luck. When getting down to the last couple of tenths, the little mounds of powder that sat on those straw teeth would sometimes dump and jump the weight. With the final few tenths set to very slow speed the problem went away without the straw. Very accurate and consistent. I haven't used the Lite, but I'm sure it would work great. I record loads in a book, so the Lite would probably have worked for me too. Just wasn't an option at the time.

SSL try a brass fitting from an auto parts store. I think it is 5/16 fuel line. just plug it in ON MORE OVERRUNS. Much better than a straw. Tommy Mc

 

[Tempest]

Consistency with the Ohaus depends on it's being level, which should be checked in each session.

This. I made certain my reloading bench is level L-R and front to back.

 

[Dave Berg]

I've used both quite a lot and can share my opinions.

For small charges, say .223 and smaller, the Lite is very good especially with spherical or small grain powders. When it gets close to the target weight it stops and "twitches" trying to get that last kernel to fall so it's twich and weigh, twitch and weigh. Reduces the probability of getting a heavy charge but it also takes a while. Overall it's slower than the 1500 but for my use the charge weight is close enough to go straight into the case, +/- 0.1 gn. The biggest "con" to the Lite is the big red power button right where you can and will touch it when you reach for the pan if you're right handed. When you touch it, even lightly, the whole thing powers off. I took the machine apart just to get that red button out of there. Horrible example of engineering in my opinion. The Lite is excellent for handgun and small cartridge loads such as the Hornady Hornet, 19 Calhoon, .222 etc.

The 1500 is significantly faster in dispensing especially when you modify the software parameters. Mine did not dispense accurately enough for match loads based on many, many tests with an A&D balance. I set it to dispense 0.2 grains below, dumped that onto the A&D and trickled up. Occasionally it would overshoot the desired weight despite being set 0.2 gn under so I never trusted it by itself. This includes with the McDonalds straw trick and machined inserts in the tube. I had two and neither was +/- 0.1 like RCBS claims.

From their catalog it looks like the 1500 is discontinued and there's a new and improved Lite with bluetooth. They apparently did see the light with the power button and moved it to the left side which should reduce customer complaints by about 90%.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

This. I made certain my reloading bench is level L-R and front to back.

My bench is also level. It has a wood top, and after time, as the wood completely dries out, it will develop high and low spots even though I looks perfectly level. Zero you Ohaus and then slowly move it around the bench and you will see the pointer go up or down when it settles. Put 30gr in the pan and place it on the scale. Then do it ten times with the same load. It should be exactly every time. These things take years of heavy use before they need tuning.

 

[Tempest]

I put glass on top of the bench under the scale.

 

[SSL]

I put glass on top of the bench under the scale.

I have two one-inch thick layers of MDF over one inch plywood as the top of my bench. 20 years and no warp, but my room is also temperature and humidity controlled.

 

[CT10ring]

I've had the Chargemaster Lite for 3 years + and it has been a pleasure to use. I used to verify weights thrown - against a beam scale and a second scale, from time to time, but was so consistent, I stopped that added check. I'm not a competitive or BR shooter. The Chargemaster is a timesaver, too.