PRODUCT REVIEW: PACT Electronic Powder Measure

[esheato]

PACT Electronic Powder Measure

I have purchased other PACT products before (MKIV Timer/Chrono and DPPS scale) and have enjoyed their durability and reliability. Their products are also very user friendly. The logical next step was to upgrade to the PACT Electronic Powder Measure (PEPM).

I ordered up the PEPM and it arrived in less than a week, packed within 2 boxes and surrounded with foam peanuts. A good sign as with any electronics. PACT is running a summer sale and they're costing $150 right now.

PACT offers two powder scales. The BBK and the DPPS. The BBK is the lower end model, while the DPPS is slightly higher priced has the infrared data port required to utilize the PEPM. I bought the DPPS about a year ago with plans to eventually purchase the PEPM. The units (PEPM and DPPS) mated together perfectly and had no trouble "talking" to each other.

The directions were easy to understand and within 15 minutes I was measuring powder. Also within the manual came a certificate for a free software/hardware upgrade if PACT ever improves upon the machine.

The unit comes with a rubberized keypad on the front of it which allows you to key in the amount of powder desired, and it automatically trickles it for you.

The unit has three distinct speeds to the motors. I'm calling these fast, medium and slow. There are two tubes for the powder to trickle out of. One tube is fast, and the other tube is for medium and slow.

For the record, this is the new and improved system with faster dispense times. Although it is fast, occasionally it will overthrow the desired amount of powder. The manual does state that the machine is continuously "learning" about the characteristics of the powder and fine-tuning itself. The first throw after calibration is nearly always over the desired amount, but the subsequent throws are dead on the money. The machine is accurate to +/- .1 grain.

Speaking of calibration, whenever you turn it on or change powders you have to calibrate the machine. Once both the scale is warmed up, you hit the CALIBRATE button on the machine and it takes about 2 minutes for it to throw approximately 150 grains of powder. This entire time the machine is "learning" about the powder and adjusting how much and when to make it to a desired weight. Pretty painless.

I did some testing and threw some random amounts down and it overshot the desired amount on the first throw. The manual addresses this also, but it should be a standard measure of safety for every handloader. Powder settles over time. The last time I used the machine was yesterday. The powder had settled and it threw heavy. Not a problem, dump the powder back into the reservoir and dispense it again. 50.00 grains dead even.

As far as time goes, I timed 25, 50, 75 grains and it's accuracy. But you must consider this is VARGET, an extruded rifle powder, and it would be more consistent with a ball type powder.

EDIT: Ehh, I can't find a stopwatch...I'll get back to this...give me a few hours. This is work in progress..hahah.

Ed

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks good, if you always load Varget and don't mind leaving powder in the hopper.
How long to empty the unit for storage or powder change?
(Some of the gunzine articles indicate it is pretty slow but kind of slide over the point so as not to offend an advertiser.)

 

[esheato]

Changing the powder is a piece of cake. The powder reservoir has a lid on it just like the RCBS powder measure. You just pop the top and tip it over and dump the powder into the original container. Although, you have to dump it to the left as the trickler tubes still have powder in them and it will spill if you tilt it to the right.

Other than that, I can't find any faults with it. It seems to work well. I'd say it was worth the $150 I paid for it.

Ed

 

[kernal_panic]

i've got a pact bbk i am pretty happy with. i got it off ebay.

 

[Gary H]

Anyone Use the new RCBS Unit??? Is it made by PACT?

I've got one, prior to the upgrade in drop speed. Number one complaint .. darn thing is easy to knock over. I noticed that RCBS has a new model where the drop and scale lock together.

 

[dodgestdshift]

I have the older RCBS version. Yes, it is slightly faster than a beam scale , but it is slower than a volumetric measure. Note you can speed things up by using a volumetric measure to "get close" then use it as a trickler. What I like about it is you don't have to bend and watch the scale like a hawk which will quickly tire you out. You can sit back, relax and push a button for each case. Much easier and less tiring. When loading small runs (aprox 20 or less) I use the beam scale. When loading 50 to 100 or so I use the dispenser and the electronic scale. When doing large jobs (I don't have a progressive), I use the volumetric measure and the dispenser electronic scale combination. All told I am happy with it.