I picked up a RCBS Chargemaster 1500 from an estate sale a while ago. I finally got it off the shelf to try out. I normally use either Lee Spoons or a RCBS Uniflow or a Lyman #55 Powder measure for my loading.

The Chargemaster is definitely slower than the spoons or powder measures. But according to the scale it is dropping the exact powder weight each and every time. Do not need to check and recheck the powder measures with a scale, when using the Chargemaster.

I am making up a bunch of .38 Special 148 grain HBWC's for my S&W Model 52-1. 50 will be thrown with Lee Spoons and 50 with the Chargemaster. I will shoot them on the range next Friday against each other to check their accuracy.

Any pro's or con's from board members on the Chargemaster?

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I've never seen a need for such a gadget. I've used four Redding powder measures for a long time; the newest is at least thirty-five years old. For pistol or rifle cartridges they work very well and are plenty fast and accurate.

I've never owned or used Herrel's powder measurers. Of those listed, the Lyman #55 is the most consistent. I have the chargemaster's predecessor. The RCBS digital scale has a listed + or - of .1 grain, this makes the window actually from-.15 to +.15 making the window .3 grains (about the same as Lee Dippers). Depending on the powder the Lyman runs closer to .075 grain +/- making the window .15 grains! Measuring these requires a scale that is better than 1/10 grain +/-.

My best powder drop is a Redding BR 30. I find the consistency to be closer to .05 grain +/-, making the window .1 grain, which is three times smaller than the two systems you are comparing! The first mentioned Herrel's powder drops (depending on the model) are believed to be in the .025 grain +/-, making their window .05 grain +/-! (I don't know a single shooter that can actually use this kind of consistency to their physical advantage! However, knowing your ammo is the best there can be, has a definite psychological advantage!)

Ivan

If I want to drop exact powder charges, I tare the case on the scale. Whatever I drop from my RCBS Uniflow powder measure I can add or subtract some powder to. The Chargmaster would be nice to have, but my way is 'cheap' and only takes time to adjust the load if it's slightly off. I'm getting pretty good at it.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I only had to pay $100.00 for the Chargemaster, RCBS Power Case Prep Station, and 4 pounds of Bullseye.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I bought a used Chargemaster about 2 years ago after using a RCBS 505 balance since 1995. I personally love my Chargemaster. It has made reloading way more convenient for me. It is also faster when reloading rifle cartridges. Look up and perform the upgrades. They're free and will help with both the speed and accuracy.

I use a Hornady powder measure for pistol reloading. I can get it consistent enough once the powder settles in the hopper.

I use an RCBS ChargeMaster for most bottlenecked cartridges. It seems more consistent than my powder measure for larger powder charges. Especially for stick powders. However, I’ll use the powder measure and trickle onto my 5-0-5 if I’m going for best accuracy.

Electronic scales are only as good as your calibration weights, if that.The first ChargeMaster was garbage for consistency and went back to RCBS. I’ve used the second one for almost 20 years. I did buy certified weights for calibration because the 2 that came with the device were slightly different from each other.

/broken record/
There is no substitute for using check weights, regardless of what scale you are using.
/rant off/

I use a Lyman DPS and like it. It changed the way I load. I don't have a need for a progressive, but load cartridges on a Lee turret. I can push for a 45 gr load, size deprime, prime and fill the case then push for a new powder drop. I seat the bullet start over and the powder is ready before I am. It doesn't work if you have a primed case fill it, grab another case and want to pour powder right away.

If however you really want to load 50 on a loading block, you can prime a lubed case, wipe it down and load powder then prep the next case while it is dispensing powder.

Benchrest shooters believe the consistency of the powder charge within a grain is not even in the top ten when it comes to accuracy.

__________________
Front sight and squeeze

Yes, that's been proven many times: no accuracy difference with charges that vary a bit. Maybe some of you used to read Precision Shooting magazine. The variance of thrown charges was often mentioned as being insignificant.

....are worth a lot more than that.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I seem to recall you saying you only load handgun. For me, the RCBS Little Dandy is the truth, the light and the way. But I have all except 2 of the rotors.

For me, I couldn't trust an electronic scale. I would just have to double check every drop.

__________________
Just Say No - To Social Media

I tend to lean towards scoops. I have used them since I started loading in 1973. I dip them the exact same way each and every time. Back then I checked them with a Redding No.1 scale that had been my Fathers. I have collected several beam scales over the years (the Redding, a Lyman D-7, a RCBS 10-10, a RCBS Model 304 and a Lee scale). I have a couple of small electronic scales also. The RCBS Chargemaster intrigues me in that it is a trickler type. Yes, I collect tricklers too ( have seven different ones). Got to much stuff!!!!

For faster reloading for just punching paper (mostly what I do) the scoops will be used. If my test run with the Chargemaster is much more accurate in my 52, then that will be what I use for that gun and maybe my Gold Cup too.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I've considered the Chargemaster many times the the speed sort of kills it for me. The only real use I would have for one is for rifle loads. I'm a bit of an accuracy nut with rifles so I like every load to be exactly at the weight that provides the best accuracy.

For handgun loads I'm not nearly as critical, good enough is good enough. My powder measure of choice is the RCBS Competition and it's an excellent measure. Most of my shooting now is 4 gun Skeet and I only shoot handguns enough to insure that I'm effective at combat distances out to 30 feet.

Now for a tip based on when I used to do a lot of revolver shooting. Look into picking up some Vihtavouri 3N37 powder. It is the magic powder for 38 and 9mm ammunition. You'll get excellent velocities, the powder has ZERO Position Sensitivity, and it meters nearly as well as H110.

I have one and seldom use it. I did all the software upgrades to make it faster, but it's still too slow for me and frequently misses the selected powder load by as much as .2 grains. I load all of my straight wall pistol cases with a Redding powder drop which is plenty accurate and way faster. For bottle neck bench rest cartridges I use a balance beam scale. If you're not in a hurry, they are pretty nice to have though. I also had a hard time remembering to close the drain door after emptying the powder. Next time I filled it up, it was a big mess. Did that more times than I care to remember.

__________________
What could possibly go wrong?

For pistols and revolvers:
I like to use the chargemaster for load development. Start doing ladder tests with different powders and bullets. You'll find that that chargemaster saves you a bunch of time. Along with knowing what you did is extremely accurate.

For rifles:
Any time I load precision ammo I use the chargemaster. And as usual it really shines with load developement doing ladder testing.

All my pistol loading is with a Little Dandy. I use the Chargemaster for rifle cartridges.

Considering that you're loading for handgun, your own wibbles & wobbles are going to be of astronomically greater effect on your groups than minor variations in powder charge. Possibly not if you're Olympic free pistol team skill level.

Long range rifle or maybe handgun silhouette shooting's a different story. I use a dipper or measure then a scale and a powder dribbler (outstanding invention!) for precision rifle loads.

It is a good practice to run any measured load through a scale, I weigh every 10th charge no matter the source.

__________________
Front sight and squeeze

Please recommend an adjustable powder thrower for fine ball powders like H110 and 748. Those 2 powders all but completely tie up my old Lyman 55.

Thanks

Maybe when I run out of Bullseye. I have about 20 pounds, so it won't be anytime soon.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Look at a Redding 3B. Best on the reasonable market. use a scale to set the charge weight and write down the setting on the cartridge box or loading sheet. Next session simply dial in the setting, check it, and start dumping powder.

I have used Lyman 55s for years but Yendor does bring up a point. Fine ball does mess up most measures. Seems to be ok in the Chargemaster...and I do use the CM with larger rifle loads. It can be very precise but even the bench guys aren't sticklers for precise powder charges. When I load 296 however I actually use dippers yep the yellow ones...one of maybe 10 things Lee has ever made worth more than you pay(IMO). If it isn't cutting edge Magnum loads I use the Dillon meaure...but srill weigh one every 15.

Have to add. I have 2 Harrell powder measures and ball powders seem to workok in them

I've had my Chargemaster for close to 20 years. It's real strength is being able to quickly imput a new charge weight and hit dispense. Great when working up a load for either pistol or rifle. I bought a second pan and by adding hot melt glue to the pans, I got them to weigh exactly the same tare weight. When I remove the full pan I immediately add the next empty pan and while I am dumping the powder into the case, the Chargemaster is filling the next pan. I have not done any of the programming tweaks and mine works at a comfortable pace. I have added the short length of plastic straw into the trickle tube but I haven't used it enough yet to see if it really helps to reduce the powder clumping issue in the trickle tube.

I have used the same equipment since 1981. I have RCBS 5-0-5 scale and a RCBS Uniflow powder measure. For pistol, I check with the 5-0-5 scale about every ten rounds. It consistenly throws accurate charges, especially with flake or ball pistol powders. The Uniflow has some inconsistency with the larger rilfe extruded powders like IMR 4350.

I have a Chargemaster Lite. It preceded the Chargemaster Link being sold now. It seems to be the same thing except Link added Bluetooth, and... I bet, additional firmware updates.

Why do I say this? Well, the Lite lies to me. It is prone to overcharging and doesn't alert me to the fact unless it's way over. Almost always, the display counts up to the setpoint and stops. It can be 0.2 or 0.3 grains above the setpoint but still display the exact weight setting. I have checked it against my Creedmoor scale a bunch of times. The Creedmoor which reads to 0.01 grains ratted out the Chargemaster. The Chargemaster is a liar! One would hope they fixed the overcharge function in later versions.

My only use now for the Chargemaster Lite is pre-charging a pan to be finish trickled with a Dandy Trickler. IMNHO, the Chargemaster is a waste of electrons since I can do the same thing with my Redding powder measure and do it much faster.

I've metered lots of 748 through the old Uniflow and never thought it had any trouble. 110, I prefer to weigh every charge since it has such a small range.

__________________
Just Say No - To Social Media

My first adjustable measure was a Uniflow and the fit between drum bore and metering plug was so bad I had to custom machine a brass disc to fit on the plug to take up the slack.

No issues at all with 748 and the first Lyman 55 I bought. I've accumulated a number of them and pretty much leave them set at one position. I have a chart that shows what the Uniflow and primary 55 also throw with different powders.

I used a Redding BR-30 for .223 when I shot competition. I measured hundreds of throws with N-140, using a Redding scale, with and overall average of +.277 grains. Of all the measured throws there were some .00 - .05 but none ever went under the 24 grain target which "I" considered a real positive and to the plus side with a high of .53 of maybe 1 out of 75 throws. The bulk of the throws, 8-10 of 25, would weigh +.19 - .23.

This load was better than I was at 200-300 yards and would shoot cleans. I scale weighed all my 600 and beyond loads.
I bought a new Neil Jones measure some years back now but it has never been on the bench. "Popular" wisdom at the time was the Jones was a touch better than the Harrell's.
All said and done I guess I would put my BR-30 up against any scale system within reasonable price. The Prometheus, form what little I know of it, is another game and costed accordingly.

I mentioned earlier I have used four Reddings for many years. One is a regular model 3, another is a BR-30, and two are Match Grades (one setup for rifle and the other for pistol).

I bought a Harrell years ago when they had only two models (I think). The Harrell offered no advantage over the Reddings and I sold it. Perhaps the later Harrell measures are superior to the Reddings, but at this stage, I'll likely not try them as the Reddings still work very well.

I use a Hornady Lock N Load and a Dillon. Both handle fine powders like H110 without issue. I also have a 55 that I have retired to my loading tool museum. They were fine in their day but they are obsolete and there are better ones out there. I also have a Chargemaster that I use for rifle loading when I'm trying to squeeze the most out of my loads. It has worked well for me. The slowness isn't an issue as I am usually loading under 50 rounds at a time with it.

Dave, Jem, Rock, and everyone else, thank you for your responses.

I bought the Redding. This thing will throw 27.5 Grains time after time, right on the money! I don't know how something so simple can work so well. I should have had one of these years ago.

Attached Images

image.jpg (72.6 KB, 16 views)

Great choice, Yendor357! I have one too and it gets lots of use. While I do like higher end digital scales, I've been nonplussed with digital "dispensers." The Redding you bought will serve you well.

I haven't seen a new Redding measure in a long time; makes my old ones look quite ragged!

I’ve never had an electronic powder thrower, so what do I know; But I don’t see how anything can be faster or more consistent than this thing.

I’ve been accumulating ball powder for years now because my Lyman 55 just didn’t like ball powder. Man, I’ve flipped that script!