RCBS Chargemaster 1500 issue

[MovedWest]

My lovely wife opted to get me the RCBS Chargemaster combo scale/dispenser for my birthday last week. It's nice and seems to keep the powder flowing well, but I've noticed something odd with my charge weights.

The load I'm metering is 19.6gr of 2400. This is dispensed and weighed with the little breeze shield in place over the top of the platen and scale pan. When I open the breeze shield, the weight jumps to anywhere between 19.8 and 20.4gr.

This brings two questions to my mind:

1. Which weight is right? And...
2. Is the weight of the charge for the load I've worked up accurate since I weighed all the charges in open air when I developed them?

I've got 50 rounds that I'm waiting to crimp until I hear some feedback from you guys. No sense making those rounds any harder to pull...

-MW

 

[MCMXI]

RCBS recently replaced my CM 1500 due to a bad keypad. I bought another when my failed unit was in transit back to RCBS. I've noticed that both of these new units work very well without using the clear plastic cover. I had exactly the same situation that you describe with the weight changing considerably with the cover open or closed. I found that the scale was accurate with the cover open and I assume that the discrepency is due to static. Now I calibrate and weigh all charges with the cover open. The single biggest improvement I've noticed for all three CMs is using a steel washer (approx. 500gr) on the platen as ballast. Since the washer has quite a lot of mass, it makes the scale much less sensitive to air movement. Also, the scale doesn't drift during extended reloading sessions.

 

[nm3]

I've had a similar experience with my Chargemaster. I wipe the pan and platen with a used dryer sheet. I also turn my unit on a half hour or so prior to using. I calibrate and weigh my charges with the breeze cover in place. If you have a manual scale, double check the load to see if it verifies the powder weight

 

[MCMXI]

This brings two questions to my mind:

1. Which weight is right? And...
2. Is the weight of the charge for the load I've worked up accurate since I weighed all the charges in open air when I developed them?

I forgot to mention, I have a Lyman check weight set that is very accurate (confirmed on Mettler $10,000 lab scale) so that's how I know that the correct weight is being displayed with the cover open.

I wiped all three units down with anti-static Swiffer sheets but the replacement unit and the one I bought recently seem to have more of a static issue. I could try spraying the cover with an anti-static office cleaning solution, but right now, I actually find it more convenient to dispense powder with the cover open. The scale is very stable with the washer on the platen.

 

[kelbro]

Sounds like a static problem. I only use my breeze shield for storage to protect the platen, otherwise, it's open.

 

[MovedWest]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to pull those rounds. They should be safe, but 50 rounds is a lot of components to send down range when you know it's not as accurate as it can be.

Funny you should mention the washer. I had problems with my scale in auto mode last night because I have a plastic powder tray. I figured out that if I taped a Kennedy half dollar to the bottom my problem went away.

I think I'm going to leave the the breeze shield off and use fabric softener sheets to give my scale and related equip a wipe down before my next reloading session. Amazing how dryer sheets come in handy in a few places in reloading...

-MW

 

[Heavies]

I too had that same problem when I first got my chargemaster. What I did was take the shield off and washed it with dishsoap. I left a thin film on the plastic and wiped dry with a paper towel. I have had, to date, no other problems.

I maybe a dumbazz, but I tried to meter bulseye through this scale. It metered and wieghed great but getting the extra powder out when I was done was a royal PITA.
Just thought I'd throw that in there. Heavier powders no problem whatsoever.

 

[MCMXI]

Heavies, this is what I've found ...

Powders that meter well

Reloder 15
Reloder 19
Reloder 22
IMR 4895
Varget
W231
Trail Boss

Powders that don't meter well

H110 (won't meter at all)

 

[ForneyRider]

I did H110 last night, all came out perfect at 17gr.

IMR 4350 worked great too. Varget and Alliant powders are bouncy.

 

[MCMXI]

I did H110 last night, all came out perfect at 17gr.

My CM started out ok, but after 20 or so rounds, the powder was so densely packed in the hopper that I wasn't getting any powder coming out of the dispensing tube. It's not a problem for me though since my Redding 10X is VERY, VERY accurate with H110 and quite a bit faster than the CM1500. I have to throw double charges for .454 Casull loads but again, not a problem.

IMR 4350 worked great too. Varget and Alliant powders are bouncy.

This just goes to show that it's "different strokes for different folks". I have ZERO issues with Varget or any Alliant powders ... or any powder listed above with the exception of H110.