Do I want to buy a Lyman Gen 6?

[AnselHazen]

I figure I'm in the market for a good scale. I have an RCBS Powder Pro that seems to be getting squirrely. Wanting to be re-zeroed a lot. I don't have much in the way of any kind of electronics running near the bench. And it was a used purchase at a gun show so oh well, it has at least let me begin to learn.

Looking around I can't really justify spending a buck and a quarter on what looks like the PACT replacement for the Powder Pro when I see some vendors with the Gen 6 online at just under two bills.

Kinda want to hear that it's a good unit though, I'm finding reviews where people love it and then see some where it gets trashed.

 

[WelshShooter]

If you find reviews for a product are hit or miss then your experience will be hit or miss too!

I used to use the RCBS uniflow along with a trickler for handloads which was a real pain in the ass in terms of productivity. When I used fine ball powders I never needed to trickle because the uniflow just dispensed it accurately everytime. However, when using stick powders like Vihtavuori the powder dispenser would jam and not always give consistent throws. Hence my purchase of the Gen6 powder thrower.

I used the Gen6 for load development in my 6,5x47 Lapua with all charges measured and weighed by the Gen6. If you measure velocity with a chronograph then you will know that Extreme Spread is critical for long range loads. The below image shows the progressive increase in powder mass versus the average velocity (blue) and the extreme spread (red). You can see that on two occassions the extreme spread drops to 14fps which is pretty accurate. The second picture shows the groups of the last four powder masses and you can see that the results speak for themselves.

TL;DR I had good experience with this powder dispenser.

 

[wbstx11]

I have the Lyman Gen 6 also, and here's my experience. I find it very accurate and easy to use, but I handle it carefully. The instructions warn not to turn upside down and shake when emptying - you can damage it. So one has to be careful emptying/cleaning after using the electronic dispenser function. For volume runs (like 500 45acp) I like the auto-repeat function - it's a breeze. For ladder work I use it as a scale only and "dip & trickle, although it's easy to use the dispense function. Stick powders like Varget work fine. I think I see where some people experience problems: it needs to be on a solid base and out of air movement - it is very sensitive. I suspect that if you put it on the same loading bench with your press you'll have problems. I set it on a separate desk, and just putting my elbow weight on the desk can make the numbers fluctuate. Once you calibrate it (every use) don't move it. I highly recommend the Gen 6. When I've had problems - it was me causing it.

 

[AnselHazen]

I see weighing powder as pretty much the slowest aspect of my process at this point. To be able to set a scale that will just drop a preset charge over and over seems like a real time saver. Good to know about the sensitivity, I was considering making a dedicated area just to charge cases. I want to be sure I create a system that avoids any sort of double charging so in my mind I picture taking a case from one tray, filling it and moving it to another tray. I'll need a bit more room than I have where my current scale is to do that so I figured the bench area would expand for this.

Two positive comments right off the bat I think I'm pulling the wallet out.

 

[daboone]

I hate to admit it but I am very pleased with the Gen6. I would never have bought it, it was, a gift from my SIL. It sit by the CO-AX and is fast and accurate. Like any piece of electronic equipment I wouldn't think of shaking it.

 

[fotheringill]

I returned mine to Sinclair's and got an RCBS Chargemaster instead.

I have a perfectly flat area (using a level, etc., followed instructions scrupulously and had the following issues:

1. PITA to clean.
2. Inaccurate at best. 50 loads, i.e. 7 spot on, 30 or so under and 13 or so over. A trickler became my new best friend.
3. Press pad poor and would not accept entries. Hard to turn on and off even after multiple tries.

Maybe I got a bad one, but frankly, once was enough for me.

 

[AnselHazen]

3 to 1.

FotheringGill, yours was a Gen 6? There's a Gen 5 out there too that sells for more, why I can't tell.

 

[WelshShooter]

3 to 1.

FotheringGill, yours was a Gen 6? There's a Gen 5 out there too that sells for more, why I can't tell.

The Gen5 has the memory function built in to remember your powder mass. For me it's a redundant feature as it's not hard to type the load in.

I hate to admit it but I am very pleased with the Gen6.

This was my thought also. After using a beam scale for a couple of years I bought a GemPro 250 scale after reading good reviews and a tolerance of 0.005gr. However, everytime I calibrated it using the provided weight and zero'd with the pan on, it would always show a different value when removing and replacing the pan. I was a bit hesitant with an electronic device but I was pleasantly surprised with the Gen6.

One bit of advice, when using stick powders (i.e. Varget) you may have to screw a small "stopper" into the trickle tube. This restricts the powder movement which is critical in the last 0.5gr where the device slows down. If you don't screw this stopper in then the trickler may struggle to give you repeatable loads. I wouldn't bother with the stoppers if you're using ball powders (i.e. Hodgdon H335).

 

[AnselHazen]

Ok that explains why it cost more. Yeah I can't see caring about remembering x number of grains from the last time I loaded. That's what the spreadsheet is for.

I've noticed remarks about the stick powders. I'll be doing mostly 9mm and .223. Right now on the shelf I have Benchmark, Tac, AR Comp, CFE 223, and Varget for rifle. Power Pistol, Silhouette, Universal, and BE-86 for pistol.

 

[folsoh]

I just bought a Gen 6 this month. So far so good. I just couldn't spend the extra money for the rcbs when they all have a one year warranty and are not repairable after that supposedly.

 

[AnselHazen]

Agree. For $200 or so it's gonna have to last more than a few years to be a feel good purchase.

Update 3/4/16 Had a little time today so I pulled out the chrony and sat down to test a few loads. The Powder Pro gave me all sorts of trouble, I probably reweighed each load 3 or 4 times it was fluctuating so much. That was it, hopped on Gunbroker and hit a buy it now button for the Gen 6 Lyman.

 

[AnselHazen]

So I've had the scale about a month. I really really like it. It's a great feeling to have done your research and feel like you nailed it. The auto repeat feature is just the best thing since sliced bread. This just the way to put some giddy-up in your single stage process.

 

[jdavis123]

I have used the Gen 6 for well over a year and find it to be an accurate and reliable tool. I have a turret press that I use in conjunction with the Gen 6. Once I get started, the Gen 6 set on auto repeat will have a fresh load weighed and ready to load by the time I seat and crimp the previous round. It really speeds up the process. I like to weigh every charge for peace of mind and the Gen 6 takes care of this for me.

 

[AnselHazen]

Exactly what I'm doing. LCT and a Harrells Precision and the Gen 6.

I find that mine wants to throw the charge exactly 1/10gr under the specified weight but that's easily rectified. And on the rare occasion it does throw the specified charge, I just dump that load back into the bottle.

 

[deerswamp]

My son gave me a Gen 6, I like it, some powders it will over throw and some under depending on type, if throwing under I just increase by a tenth or over cut back a tenth, did 2500 45 acp with 7.3 grs. of power pistol, it average 5miss throws for every 50 and usually 1 of them was over 0.1 of a gr.. Took a RCBS beam scale and check the weight and they were from 7.25 to 7.35. I follow the instruction on what not to do, and keeping it away from drafts and electronics.

 

[AnselHazen]

And on the rare occasion it does throw the specified charge, I just dump that load back into the bottle.

Lol and I meant doesn't throw the specified charge.

I find similar to deerswamp, it will completely flub a charge now and then but overall it really speeds up loading.

 

[AnselHazen]

I just loaded up a few trays for tomorrow at the range competition. I have a Harrell's Precision far left for seating, tray of primed and ready brass just in from that. The Gen 6 is front and center. Powder funnel and calipers to the right of the Gen 6 and a tub of RMR hardcast is far right. One case at a time gets pulled out for safety.

I have the Gen 6 set for auto repeat and most often I'm just camming over on the press and the Gen 6 is beeping with the next load in the pan. I can barely keep up.