Best Powder Charge/Scale Combo... Your thoughts?

[Sky Dog]

I've been using a Redding scale and Ideal powder measure that belonged to my Grandfather. Both components are about 75+ years old. The scales are fine, but the Ideal is beginning to drift. Both have worked well, but I think it's time to upgrade. I'm looking at the RCBS Chargemaster and the Hornaday Lock and Load. Judging by the reviews, both have problems. Looking for fast-accurate-cheap.

 

[Reloadron]

Over the years I have accumulated a collection of assorted scales and powder throws. A few years back I was given a RCBS Charge Master as a gift and now use it frequently. Overall I have been very pleased with it, especially for my .308 Winchester loading but have used it for .38 Special also. From heavy rifle to light handgun charges I find it is accurate in the charges and very repeatable. While I have not tweaked the software there are tweaks out there for the unit. Overall I have been real pleased with it. Since I have not used any of the other similar units I really can't compare.

Ron

 

[Blue68f100]

I got the RCBS ChargeMaster earlier this year. I fine it dispense very accurate but I notice a little drift while checking the charge against my GemPro. Re-zeroing every so often takes care of the minor drift. I have played with the software tweaks and found it better to add the insert to reduce the opening more beneficial. I used a piece of 0.060" wall brass tubing, but the straw mods work just fine. The nice thing about brass is no static to deal with.

 

[Doublehelix]

I have the Chargemaster as well, and have the brass reducing insert that I bought on eBay, which makes quite a difference. I saw a couple of head-to-head reviews on YouTube between the Chargemaster and the Hornady model, and let's just say I chose the Chargemaster. I will let you go check out the videos and see if you come to the same conclusion. I say this because it was not me doing the actual testing, and everything you see on the internet (including this post!) you need to take with a grain of salt. If I did the comparison testing myself, I would more strongly recommend one or the other.

One thing to consider is the RCBS rebate that is going on until the end of the year. $75 rebate on $300 purchase, which is pretty nice. You can get the Loadmaster for under $300, so you might need to add some small RCBS item to get it over $300 (like a trickle charger or a bullet puller or something...). Also, it looks like Midway and Natchez are advertising that the RCBS rebate is get $75 back on a purchase of $275, which is pretty amazing, but I am not sure if this is a Black Friday deal or what... If you can get the Chargemaster for $200 (after rebate), that is a pretty compelling argument to consider the RCBS model over the Hornady in my opinion!

 

[Chuck R.]

It really depends on what I'm loading for and what distance I'll be shooting. Right now for the precision stuff I'm using:

1. RCBS 10-10; 1970's vintage that's been cleaned up, shows movement with 1 kernel of IMR4320. I made a leveling platform for it to sit on
2. Harrell's Premium Culver, the Harrell's is very accurate once you have your stroke down, I throw a .1 under and trickle up. I've got 2 of the Harrell's, great measures and graet folks to deal with.
3. Dandy 2 speed Electric trickler (awesome piece of kit, will drop one kernel at a time on demand)
4. USB camera and a laptop to display the scale pointer at 2X, no more stiff neck or bending over also at 2X or greater can see the slightest movement in the pointer.

Withe the above I can load to the individual kernal with the extruded powders faster than I could with my RCBS electronic scale and manual trickler.

Chuck

 

[Doublehelix]

4. USB camera and a laptop to display the scale pointer at 2X, no more stiff neck or bending over also at 2X or greater can see the slightest movement in the pointer.

I have seen you post this before, and I think it is a brilliant idea for those of us with "older" eyes.

Thanks!

 

[Chuck R.]

I have seen you post this before, and I think it is a brilliant idea for those of us with "older" eyes.

Thanks!

Wish I could take credit for the idea! One of those things I found while searching for "how to tune a balance beam scale". There's some pretty ingenious folks making videos these days.....

Chuck

 

[thomas15]

One thing to consider is the RCBS rebate that is going on until the end of the year. $75 rebate on $300 purchase, which is pretty nice. You can get the Loadmaster for under $300, so you might need to add some small RCBS item to get it over $300 (like a trickle charger or a bullet puller or something...).

For no real reason other than because I wanted to get one, I decided to look into automatic powder measures. Read all of the reviews and asked a few friends and decided on the Charge Master.

At the time, Cabelas had them for exactly $300.00 Picked one up in the Hamburg, PA store and received the $75.00 rebate bringing the cost to $225.00

I really like this device, BTW.

 

[entropy]

Lee Dippers and a 5-0-5. I dislike chargers.

 

[lauderdale]

Id jump on that charge master!

 

[Rule3]

I am waiting for one that opens the bottle of powder. pours it in the measure, dispenses the powder directly into the brass, a nice female voice says proceed and gives me a green light for go.

Forgot to add, needs to be Bluetooth enabled.

 

[1066]

Wish I could take credit for the idea! One of those things I found while searching for "how to tune a balance beam scale". There's some pretty ingenious folks making videos these days.....

Chuck

Could it have been one of my videos Chuck? I have 20+ scale videos up on YouTube.

Here's another way of using the webcam idea with a cheap android tablet. I see these tablets are available for around $25 now and the cameras about $5

Webcam with tablet

Webcam idea Originally posted 2010

Smartphone idea Posted 2014

 

[kingmt]

I have a Smart Reloader & I've been happy with it for years.

 

[Sky Dog]

Anybody have any long term problems with the RCBS?

 

[Reloadron]

Anybody have any long term problems with the RCBS?

I guess it would depend on how we look at "Long Term". I have plenty of RCBS products and seldom if ever a problem with the RCBS products and also their customer service. That said in all fairness others like Lee, Lyman and Hornady all have good products and customer service. All will frequently replace small parts free of charge including shipping and that includes parts broken by the end user and no fault of the part.

Ron

 

[Blue68f100]

Most issues with electronics show up early. This would put in their 2yr(?) warranty period. I run most all of my digital scales and CM 24/7. I never turn them off. If one is off it's due to a power hick-up.

 

[Chuck R.]

Could it have been one of my videos Chuck? I have 20+ scale videos up on YouTube.

Here's another way of using the webcam idea with a cheap android tablet. I see these tablets are available for around $25 now and the cameras about $5

Webcam with tablet

Webcam idea Originally posted 2010

Smartphone idea Posted 2014

Yup, you're "THAT" guy!!!!

Here's a pic of my setup to play homage!

Chuck

 

[1066]

That looks a good combination with the Omega Chuck.

 

[Reloadron]

Somewhere around here I have both halves of a backup camera from a truck I had. I wonder how well that would work. The problem I see is they are pretty wide angle. Using one would eliminate the laptop or tablet and they are wireless. If I could find the thing I would give it a try. Last I saw of it the two halves weren't even together.

Ron

 

[Sky Dog]

I have been using RCBS for 30 years. The only problem I ever had was a broken .308 pocket swager stem. They replaced it
no charge. My concerns are electronics longevity. Reloading mechanics is one thing, but digital instrumentation is another.
Most of the complaints have been bad reviews. But in all fairness, Hornady has just as many.

 

[Chuck R.]

That looks a good combination with the Omega Chuck.

The trickler is AWESOME....never thought I'd spend that much on one, but now after having used it for a while I'm wondering how I got along for so long without it. Really speeds things up, and the tweezers (over- trickle remedy) have been regulated to moving check weights to and fro.......

Chuck