digital powder measures

[Porc1148]

Does anyone have any experience with the lyman gen6 digital powder measure? I have been reloading 9mm and 38 spl for several years, and was thinking of getting a digital scale to expedite my reloading. Is this type of scale good\accurate for loading pistol ammo? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[DWalt]

I am not sure what the Gen 6 Lyman is, but I have a Lyman 1200 DPSII which throws set powder charges automatically into a pan on a digital scale. Works fine for reloading rifle cases, but is too slow for me to use in high-volume handgun cartridge reloading.

 

[Magload]

I only use my RCBS ChargeMaster 1200 for benchrest rifle and testing handgun reloads.

 

[MWC2068]

I am not sure what the Gen 6 Lyman is, but I have a Lyman 1200 DPSII which throws set powder charges automatically into a pan on a digital scale. Works fine for reloading rifle cases, but is too slow for me to use in high-volume handgun cartridge reloading.

What DWALT said to slow for pistol.

 

[AveragEd]

I also use an RCBS ChargeMaster for rifle loads. For handgun, my Dillon 650's powder measures are almost always spot-on.

Before buying the ChargeMaster, I tried a Lyman DPS. It required a 30-minute warm-up period and in spite of Lyman updating it to a generation 2, it would take fits of inaccuracy now and then. The RCBS is ready as soon as it runs its brief boot-up test and has never wavered in its drops.

Ed

 

[BB57]

I used an RCBS Rangemaster 750 for about 15 years. Eventually it started requiring a warm up period to avoid drifting and eventually started having calibration issues so I retired it, but by then it owed me absolutely nothing.

I replaced it with an RCBS Rangemaster 2000 about a year ago and it's worked very well, with no warm up time needed, excellent consistency and a fast enough response time to allow trickling the charge weight up to the precise weight.

----

I'll use a scale to weigh each charge for precision rifle rounds.

On other rifle rounds and on pistol rounds, I only use the scale to make the initial adjustment of the powder measure, and then every 50-100 rounds or so to check that the measure is maintaining the charge weight.

If you're using a decent powder measure with a small rotor or small charge bar that is properly matched to the powder charge being used, a good measure will through charges with less than .1 gr variation anyway and you gain nothing by weighing charges.

 

[daboone]

I've had the Gen 6 for 1.5 years. When loading 30/06 brass prepped and primed ready for bullet seating the Gen 6 keeps pace with that process without any delay. It also is very consistent and accurate when measures are weighted/checked on my 5-0-5. It does require a 3 minute warm up upon turning it on.

 

[DWalt]

"I tried a Lyman DPS. It required a 30-minute warm-up period and in spite of Lyman updating it to a generation 2, it would take fits of inaccuracy now and then."

Mine has a 15-minute warmup. That doesn't really bother me. I re-zero frequently, maybe every five charges, to guard against drift. That doesn't take any time to do, just punch a button with an empty pan on the scale. When I load rifle cartridges, I seldom do more than 50 at a time. I tend to get bored by doing more. The Lyman is very precise, as I have checked it against my Redding scale with several different powders.

 

[Road_Clam]

I have the RCBS Chargemaster 1500 combo, very consistiant. It works excellent for throwing 20+ grains of powder but I doubt it would work for your typical <10 gr. handgun. I use the LEE pro auto disc system for throwing pistol charges.

 

[Magload]

I have the RCBS Chargemaster 1500 combo, very consistiant. It works excellent for throwing 20+ grains of powder but I doubt it would work for your typical <10 gr. handgun. I use the LEE pro auto disc system for throwing pistol charges.

My 1500 will drop 2.9grs of Unique right on the money.

 

[fyimo]

I use my digital scale when loading rifle rounds but for pistol my Powder measure is accurate and I check the charges every 50 or so rounds to make sure it's still right on.

 

[M1A]

I know how it is to want a new reloading gadget. Get a digital if you want, but for your needs, it's a waste of money. A beam scale is all that's needed for a measure and then dump away.
If you go for it, I too recommend the RCBS. Later you can add the dispenser. I use my combo for rifle.

 

[Twoboxer]

I have no experience with the Lyman offerings, but a fair amount of experience with the RCBS Chargemaster. When I became concerned about its precision, I bought a "lab grade" scale at around twice the price.

The Chargemaster would throw the charge and I would correct it as/if necessary on the FX120i. As a result I had re-weighed a couple of thousand Chargemaster throws so I had a clear idea just how imprecise it was. So then I ran some specific tests which were detailed in the thread RCBS Chargemaster vs FX120i.

I want to emphasize this is MY Chargemaster in MY house. (OTOH, the price point of these devices requires the use of a strain gauge scale which is where the majority of the issues come from.)

In any case, it did not perform well enough for precision rifle reloading. And it is clearly far too slow for handgun reloading and no more precise than a good PM especially when the powder is a "good metering" ball or flake powder.

Where it shines is allowing quick changes of the target weight which is very useful during load development . . . if you can live with its variability.

 

[Tom S.]

I have no experience with the Lyman offerings, but a fair amount of experience with the RCBS Chargemaster. When I became concerned about its precision, I bought a "lab grade" scale at around twice the price.

The Chargemaster would throw the charge and I would correct it as/if necessary on the FX120i. As a result I had re-weighed a couple of thousand Chargemaster throws so I had a clear idea just how imprecise it was. So then I ran some specific tests which were detailed in the thread RCBS Chargemaster vs FX120i.

I want to emphasize this is MY Chargemaster in MY house. (OTOH, the price point of these devices requires the use of a strain gauge scale which is where the majority of the issues come from.)

In any case, it did not perform well enough for precision rifle reloading. And it is clearly far too slow for handgun reloading and no more precise than a good PM especially when the powder is a "good metering" ball or flake powder.

Where it shines is allowing quick changes of the target weight which is very useful during load development . . . if you can live with its variability.

Rather than derail this thread, I've made a post in the thread you mentioned.

 

[Magload]

Rather than derail this thread, I've made a post in the thread you mentioned.

FX120i That is a nice scale. Big price but then it can read piece of Varget. if I had some where I could shoot farther then 200yds I think I would have one.

 

[Jdavis]

I have been using a Lyman Gen 6 for over a year. I load both pistol and rifle ammunition using it. Loading handgun ammo is quick and easy with the G6. After a three minute warm up, I select the desired load and key in the weight and press the repeat key. In a few seconds the load is measured and in the tray. When the tray is replaced another load will automatically be dispensed. The screen displays the weight and a count of the number of loads measured. Loads are generally within plus or minus a tenth of a grain. This machine appears to be much faster than the ones described above. I am pleased with the speed and accuracy of the Lyman Gen 6 and recommend it highly.

 

[mtgianni]

I am not sure what the Gen 6 Lyman is, but I have a Lyman 1200 DPSII which throws set powder charges automatically into a pan on a digital scale. Works fine for reloading rifle cases, but is too slow for me to use in high-volume handgun cartridge reloading.

I love mine for rifle. I switched to loading them on a Lee turret. I seat a primer, turn by hand, dump the powder charge, put the pan back and hit the button to throw powder, tap the die, turn by hand and seat the bullet. By the time I am ready for powder for the next cartridge the pan has settled and is ready whether the charge is 25 gr or 65 gr.