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.
RCBS Chargemaster Vs Other Forms of Powder Measuring.
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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
Have to add. I have 2 Harrell powder measures and ball powders seem to workok in them
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mckenney99
Member
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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cmj8591
Member
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.
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Yendor357
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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.
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I haven't seen a new Redding measure in a long time; makes my old ones look quite ragged!
Yendor357
Member
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!
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!
