RCBS Chargemaster Vs Other Forms of Powder Measuring.

[AJ]

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?

 

[rockquarry]

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.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

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

 

[rwsmith]

I keep my digital scale handy...

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.

 

[AJ]

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

 

[One Holer]

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.

 

[TheTinMan]

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/

 

[mtgianni]

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.

 

[rockquarry]

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.

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.

 

[rwsmith]

The four pounds of Bullseye....

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

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

 

[AlHunt]

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.

 

[AJ]

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.

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.

 

[scooter123]

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.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

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.

 

[Forrest r]

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.

 

[dnater]

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.

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

 

[WR Moore]

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.

 

[mtgianni]

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.

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

 

[Yendor357]

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

 

[AJ]

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.

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