Chargemaster

[Grimshaw]

Is the Chargemaster 1500 Combo really worth it to a new reloader. or is it over doing it

 

[jim243]

The answer is BOTH. Yes it is worth it and yes it is over doing it. I have used mine for over 4 years now and it is accurate and reliable. But at over 300 dollars it is the most expensive one out there.

I use mine for reloading rifle and use the scale for setting my powder measures for pistol.

Is it worth it, in my opinion YES.

But that's just me.
Jim

 

[wardor]

Depends on what you are loading.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

i love my chargemaster combo. you can find them on sale for $290. throw in another $10 worth of RCBS stuff like shellholders or whatever and you can do the $50 off $300 RCBS mail-in rebate.

 

[Shmackey]

I use mine only for precision rifle ammo. Anything else goes under a powder drop. And I'd probably even put the precision rifle ammo under the powder drop if Varget and H4895 would meter through it.

 

[wardor]

And if you get it from Midway, you can use their $30 off $300 coupon too. But, its a matter of what you are loading... if primarily pistol or just plinking ammo, you don't NEED it.

 

[emb]

It depends on how much you reload and what you are reloading. I think it is well worth the price, and I don't think it's over the top at all. I currently reload for all of my rifles, revolvers, and pistols that use all types of powders. Some powders meter well and other don't at all.

Previously, I was just using an RCBP electronic scale and powder drop. The chargemaster, or anything like it, simply wasn't around. For example, I usually load 50 rifle rounds at a time. Procedure-drop powder charge, weigh, add or subtract, on to next charge. Depending on the powder used, this was a time consuming and laborious task.

The chargemaster changed that. Even with hard to meter extruded powders, it rarely missed a charge. If it did, it went high a tenth or two, so I removed a couple of granules. In a recent reloading session loading 30.06 with IMR 4350, there were only 2 misses in 50.

I will never go back! I've had it now for 3-4 years and don't even remember what I paid for it and don't care. It really is a time and labor saver.

 

[Sniper66]

I have had my Chargemaster for 3-4 years and think it is money well spent. It is very reliable and accurate. I have never had to recalibrate it when releoading. I used to check it every few loads, then every 10, 20, 30 and finally quit checking because it was always accurate. Best one of it's kind out there,IMO. Tom

 

[X-Rap]

How does the Hornady compare with the Charge Master? I weigh all my loads that use extruded powder, set the measure to drop short and then trickle in the balance. With the volume I load I am looking hard at an electronic and am just trying to find out which is best.

 

[Grimshaw]

I will be using mine for 444 marlin and yes others, have you seen the price of 444 ammo

 

[clone]

I bought a few cheapo scales, with no luck, and finally decided to splurge with my tax check and have been happy ever since. Had a Cabelas discount with the RCBS rebate and ended up at about $250. I use it for both pistol and rifle.

 

[justsoIcanupvotethis]

I am fairly new to reloading myself and I will agree with most everyone here. It is BOTH. It is overkill, its expensive, but I love mine and will never go back to my old powder measure if I can possibly avoid it. I travel as part of my job so I just let my motel points build up to where mine only cost me $60 out of pocket, and that was before the $50 rebate from RCBS. It was well worth the 10 bucks no matter what anyone says.

 

[Jdillon]

It is definitely worth it if you plan on loading precision rifle ammo. I have been reloading for over 35 years and used a beam scale with a trickler most of that time. About 5 years ago made the investment and never looked back. It rarely needs to be calibrated but do check calibration periodically with check weights and always dead on. A good trick when using stick powders is to elevate the front of the unit slightly by putting quarters under the front feet. You can also insert a serrated straw into the powder tube and that works as well. For my progressive and my Harrell powder throws, I use it to set and check charge weights by throwing four or five charges into the pan and averaging the weight. It is sensitive to air movement or so need to locate it in area where it will not be affected i.e. away from registers.

Every so many rounds with stick powders, it will be over by a tenth of a grain or two and can either remove a couple granules or throw the charge back in the hopper and start over. With large capacity magnum cartridges that will usually will have little impact on accuracy at shorter distances. With ball powders it meters very well.

 

[Tim the student]

I have one, and I like it. Not needed for a new reloader though, IMO.

 

[noylj]

It is of most use in working up loads. Trying to get a powder measure to settle down and then load 10-20 rounds wastes a lot of time.
Since the CM dispenses in the time it takes me to put a bullet on a charged case and cycle my 1050s, I save all that wasted time.
However, despite those that are so concerned, I don't think anyone will ever see a difference between loads thrown with a well-settled powder measure, a CM, or using an analytical balance to get charges to ±0.01 grain. Guns just aren't that sensitive if, even if they are, it would only be somewhere beyond 800 yards.
The navy gets good accuracy from their rifles and I doubt the bag weights are accurate of more than 0.5 pounds.
So, you have to decide if you need a CM to feel secure that your loads are good enough or if standard reloading tolerances that have stood the test of time for at least 80 years is good enough for your first loads.
Me. As I said, the CM is a time saver and greatly appreciated.

 

[dragon813gt]

I have one and love it for rifle. I use it for max charges in pistol hunting loads as well. Only thing I don't like is the dispensing tube gets in the way when using it just as a scale. I hate taking the chargemaster apart so I bought a PACT scale to use most of the time.


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[david bachelder]

I have one and love it, as do many others. I use it for rifle and some pistol reloading.

Seems like there is always some sort of use for it. It also serves as a precise electronic scale to calibrate your powder dump.

Works for me.

 

[stubbicatt]

I had one and it worked swell. It preferred extruded powders over spherical. Nowadays I just use a Harrell "Culver type" measure, and it seems to work very well indeed with both types of powders, with the exception of the very stout sticks like 4350.

Although to look at the one in the photo above, it is a one piece unit. Mine was two separate units. One dispensed the powder, the other was a scale that communicated with the powder dispenser. This had to be in the late 90's.

 

[Grimshaw]

Im using for extruded powder of Imr 4198 with a Rcbs 505 balance scale for double checking

 

[Mac45]

It's a great unit, but I think it's overkill for a new reloader.
Get the scale now, (it is a two piece unit), and you can always add the dispenser later.

 

[dragon813gt]

That's a quick way to pay a lot more for the product. If you think you will want one. Buy it complete. Otherwise you will end up spending at least $100 more for the same product. There are also better scales that are cheaper.


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[Grimshaw]

dragon813gt That's a quick way to pay a lot more for the product. If you think you will want one. Buy it complete. Otherwise you will end up spending at least $100 more for the same product. There are also better scales that are cheaper.


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Any suggestions?

 

[quartermaster]

If you are going to stick with reloading, get it. You will eventually anyhow. You might as well reap the benefits now. It is the best IMO of all out there at this point in time

 

[dragon813gt]

For just a scale get a PACT. It's also a good karma purchase. They are made in the US with as many US made components as possible. Both the BBKII and DPPS are quality scales. I have the DPPS as I have no need for a battery option. I've bought almost every battery operated digital scale marketed to reloaders. Everyone failed my tests as far as repeatability goes. Many will argie that their $30 scale is just as good as the higher dollar AC powered scale. They aren't.

If you think you'll want the Chargemaster in the future cry once and buy it now. It will definitely have a home on your reloading bench. I use my PACT DPPS more but that's because I load more pistol than rifle lately. And I don't like accidentally hitting the dispensing tube on the chargmaster when using it strictly as a scale.


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[Steel185]

I used mine all the time and love it. I think its deffinstly on the "need" list, when is up to you money issues. You can get by with an older scale and get this down the road, but you need one eventually.