I've always thought this one made the best sense..maybe I'm just stuck in the analog age...
Powder dispenser
- Thread starter vonn
- Start date
DWalt
Member
I use my Redding beam scale to occasionally and randomly check charge weights thrown by both my Lyman 55 powder measure and my Lyman 1200 electronic during case charging, and always have. But I don't have any doubts that both are accurate and repeatable. It takes very little time to do, so as an additional safeguard, why not?
Agreed.
I call it my sanity check to make sure I don't do something unforeseen as much as an accuracy check, especially when I'm doing work-up loads.
Doesn't take much to check every 5th or 10th round this way. I've got the time.
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My brother and father-in-law both own and use a Chargemaster to reload. Their only suggestion is to isolate the Chargemaster on a separate bench. This prevents the vibrations from your press strokes causing the Chargemaster hiccups.
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DWalt
Member
Stability is something you want with an electronic scale. When I use my Lyman 1200, it's not on my reloading bench but on the kitchen countertop (granite). The light is also better in the kitchen. My wife doesn't like it, but she tolerates it as long as I put everything away and I clean up all the spilled powder when I am done.
i use an rcbs rangemaster 2000
As a highpower service rifle shooter, I needed an accurate scale for my loads. I used an RCBS/pact electronic scale for 20 years then I took advantage of an RCBS $50 rebate last year and replaced it with an rcbs rangemaster 2000 for $100 net cost. As long as I use check weights to verify my settings as I did with my mechanical rcbs scale, I can rapidly and accurately measure out my loads. The RCBS matchmasters seem too slow and expensive for me. The mechanical scales are just way too SLOW.
As a highpower service rifle shooter, I needed an accurate scale for my loads. I used an RCBS/pact electronic scale for 20 years then I took advantage of an RCBS $50 rebate last year and replaced it with an rcbs rangemaster 2000 for $100 net cost. As long as I use check weights to verify my settings as I did with my mechanical rcbs scale, I can rapidly and accurately measure out my loads. The RCBS matchmasters seem too slow and expensive for me. The mechanical scales are just way too SLOW.
DWalt
Member
I imagine that most probably do this. The way I use my Lyman 1200 is to use a powder dipper that holds a little less than the desired charge weight, and put a scoop full of powder into the powder cup first. Then let the dispenser mechanism bring the charge up to the exact desired weight and stop. Much faster than letting the Lyman do all the work, and less wear and tear on the feeding mechanism. Having a set of Lee plastic powder dippers of various volumes is the way to go. That takes maybe 15-20 seconds per charge if you get the proper rhythm going. I can usually charge at least 10 or so cases during each TV commercial.
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I used a Lyman powder measure and a Ohaus 10-10 scale for over 40 years. I bought a RCBS chargemaster 5 years ago. I load rifle ammo every week, the chargemaster for me, was a good investment. It is a time saver for me on the bench, and it is accurate. When I first got it, I would spot check powder charges Periodically on my beam scale, haven't done that for several years now, as it was a waste of time.
I shoot long distance every week with various calibers and the chargemaster helps me build good, accurate ammo to send downrange.
I shoot long distance every week with various calibers and the chargemaster helps me build good, accurate ammo to send downrange.
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Off topic but relevant. If your balance beam scale ever goes "nuts". Remove the silver base pan that snaps in the hoop.(the one your powder pan sits on). Remove the screw in the bottom and add or subtract shot( I use bird shot) to make it balance perfectly again. I had to do this on my old RCBS 10-10 scale. Works perfectly again.
DWalt
Member
One time back when I had access to a very precise lab balance, I made up a series of check weights in 10, 25, 50, and 100 grains (two of each weight) by cutting and filing nails to length. I still occasionally use them over 50 years later. At the time I was weighing powder using an antique two-pan apothecary scale which had a slider graduated in grains (actually 0 to 15 grains in tenths), so I needed to use those weights for anything weighing over 15 grains. It had a little screw and nut device for zeroing the scale. I still have that scale but don't use it.
