Hornady Auto-Charge caution update

[Thomasss]

Use of the clear cover over the powder pan will improve accuracy, and lessen the effects of outside variables.
People that use the Hornady Auto-Charge powder dispenser....Have you see this statement in
the operator's manual?
I commonly use the clear plastic powder tray protector when ever my furnace fans starts blowing near my loading bench. I noticed rapid and extreme variations in my powder drop weight every time I put the cover on, not off. Between putting the cover on and taking it off there was any where from .75 to 3.8 grain variation on the same powder charge. I got out my Lyman beam scale and checked a few loads and found to be overage when ever the plastic cover was on. With the cover on, the scale would show a higher weight and with the same charge and taking cover off, the charge weight would be less and when adjusting the charge, the weight would jump up again as if the cover were back on.
I called Hornady tech services and they said this was a common misunderstanding in setting the calibration. The tech guy said that if one plans to use the cover, you have to have THE COVER ON THE MACHINE WHEN EVER IT IS AUTO CHECKING OR YOU ARE MANUALLY CALLIBRATING THE INTERNAL SCALE.(which also means you can only allow powder dispensing when the cover is on the unit.)
Why didn't they mention that in the operator's manual? The cover sitting on the top of the unit will throw the scale off, depending upon when the charge is thrown or when you might be manually adjusting the charge.

 

[DukeConnor]

interesting. i can't imagine why the cover would change the weight that amount. i will try this on my rcbs

 

[Thomasss]

The tech said it had to do with the way the scale system was mounted on the frame of the unit. It quite surprised me because, I've owned the unit for over a year and never experienced a problem quite like this before.

 

[Varminterror]

So… yeah… I love a lot of Hornady products, but after having THREE of their AutoCharge units die in less than 18mos of service - I recommend everyone run far and fast. My first died just outside of warranty coverage around 14-15mos of use, and I was too naive to realize it was a problem, so I bought another - which died within its 1yr warranty… the replacement then died within 16mos…

Just not a good product from them.

 

[irishlad]

A friend quit reloading and gave me one, he had never used it. Mine works well, but I set it .1 gr below and trickle up on my 5.0.5 beam scale. By the time I do that it has another load ready to go.

 

[thump_rrr]

So… yeah… I love a lot of Hornady products, but after having THREE of their AutoCharge units die in less than 18mos of service - I recommend everyone run far and fast. My first died just outside of warranty coverage around 14-15mos of use, and I was too naive to realize it was a problem, so I bought another - which died within its 1yr warranty… the replacement then died within 16mos…

Just not a good product from them.

I’m like you having many Hornady products but I went with the RCBS Chargemaster combo 10 years ago when I started shooting precision rifle.

I recently upgraded to the AutoTrickler V4 but I’m still holding on to my Chargemaster.

 

[Thomasss]

This is the third one I've owned in 10 years and I don't think I will get another one unless Hornady tries harder to build a better unit.
The first one had a better warranty. Now the tech told me they no longer repair them, they will just replace them if they fall under the 12 month guarantee. For all the monkey-ing around one has to do to set them up and drop an accurate load, I am beginning to wonder if an electronic scale and a hand trickler wouldn't be almost faster, more accurate, and easier.

 

[Varminterror]

the tech told me they no longer repair them, they will just replace them if they fall under the 12 month guarantee.

That was the case for mine, clear back in 2013 - they import the units from a contract manufacturer, and haven’t had repair capacity anywhere. It’s just a replacement program for a product with a high failure rate.

I actually limped along with my last one for about 6mos after the controller started acting up… at which time the digital drive on the dispenser motor failed… two independent failures in one machine in under 2 years…

 

[Reeferman]

I’ve wanted to get a Hornady auto charge for years as I have mostly Hornady products and the electronic bench scale has been a very accurate scale for the last 5 years. However never could do it with the bad reviews. Not sure if the Auto Charge Pro will be any better.