I have started reloading more and more lately. I would like to purchase an Electronic Powder Dispenser and Scale combo. What do you guys recommend based on accuracy, price, and function? Why?
Thanks,
Thanks,
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- Thread starter Lead Heads
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rcbs has served me well. have had for about a year now. just put a piece of mcdonalds straw in the end otherwise powders like imr 4064 will overcharge. smaller grain powders are no problem. I did a lot of research before buying, and I have not tried any other brands. I found rcbs to have more higher rated reviews than any other brand at the time. search around you can usually find for 289 somewhere. If they still have the promotion you get free boolits or cash with a 300$ purchase. I chose the 500 .45cal 185gr hp by speer. that's like 100$ in free boolits.
I have my RCBS ChargeMaster for over 3 years and has served me well. I agree with the previous post. Natchez has the ChargeMaster on sale for $289 quite often. IIRC it is on sale now.
I have a Lymen gen5. I agree with the tray placement to the side, this is really nice. However, find that it's charges are off quite often. But it takes long enough to put out a charge, that I still have time to dump it on my beam scale and use a powder trickler to confirm before loading it into the shell and set my bullet. Another complaint I have, is the digital touch screen, the ENTER button covers too buttons. So if you hit ENTER between where the two buttons are located it's basically a dead spot. So I hit the right or the left side of the ENTER button. A small oversight on Lyman's side.
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+1 on the RCBS, got mine a year ago from Natchez on sale. Did the McDonalds straw thing too for Varget and it hits dead on charge 99% of the time now.
What I did and I have been pleased.
Looks like RCBS Charge Master is the winner. Thanks guys.
Get a powder drop, good beam, good scale and an Omega trickler is the awesome set up. Super accurate and fast!
Ammo Reloading | Reloading Equipment | Omega Powder Trickler | Dandy Reloading Tools
Ammo Reloading | Reloading Equipment | Omega Powder Trickler | Dandy Reloading Tools
RCBS Works great for me the last two years- it gets my vote.
Can someone post up a pic of how the straw is used? 4831SC and H1000 overcharge more times than I care for.
Can someone post up a pic of how the straw is used? 4831SC and H1000 overcharge more times than I care for.
just cut the straw about 3/8 in long with a scissors and slide in the hole, must be a mc donalds straw as the OD matches the ID on the dispenser.
I've had my RCBS CM 1500 since 11/05 and it works well. There are a few tips for improving it and even some minor quirks, but all in all, it's a nice tool to have on my reloading bench.
Chris
Chris
I've been running a Chargemaster for about 4 years now and it works great. It sped things up so much I got another and now run 2 at the same time. Both are equipped with a McDonalds straw and have been reprogrammed. I randomly check both against my beam scale and they both are always about as dead on as my beam scale will show. Results down range in the shape of very little vertical dispersion tells me that both are accurate enough for me.
I have been using a Pact combo since around 2002-2003. I couldn't tell you how many pounds through it. Extruded, ball, flake. Pistol, Rifle it has done it all
It has treated me very good, it is true to + - .1 Grain. I would say out of 100 rounds it throws over maybe 3 times.
When it dies I think I will try the RCBS as it is supposed to be faster
Had hornady and sold it, for a chargemaster 1500.
I actually ordered a PACT. Order went in and was confirmed. A week or so later, I called to find out where it was. I was told they were waiting for them to come in (and this was from PACT), and it would be 8 - 10 weeks. NOTHING said online or on order confirmation. I canceled and ordered the RCBS. Guy did not seem to be surprised I canceled.
I read too many accounts of issues with the Hornady version.
I read too many accounts of issues with the Hornady version.
mcdonalds straw tag
pact made in USA!!!!!!
I'm going to buy the RCBS combo unit this week. If my promotional calculations are correct, you are better off purchasing the unit from Cabelas for $319.99 with free shipping, use the $50 rebate (when you spend $300 or more on RCBS), for a net purchase of $269.99.
Natchez is $289.95 + shipping ($16 for me) = $305.95. I just called the RCBS rebate center and the rebate only qualifies for product only, not to include taxes and shipping. Therefore, I would only qualify for a $10 rebate thus costing me $295.95.
Looks like a Cabelas purchase yields me a free pound of Varget over the Natchez deal.
Natchez is $289.95 + shipping ($16 for me) = $305.95. I just called the RCBS rebate center and the rebate only qualifies for product only, not to include taxes and shipping. Therefore, I would only qualify for a $10 rebate thus costing me $295.95.
Looks like a Cabelas purchase yields me a free pound of Varget over the Natchez deal.
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M
milo 2.0
Guest
You could buy 3 or 4 primer pocket brushes for 10-12 bucks and get over 300.00 and save money???? Unless you despise RCBS products that much, there's always something a guy can buy.
Funny, but I called Natchez back in '05 and told them that Midway had them for $250 on sale, at the time. The guy at Natchez told me that they hated Midway and they'd beat their price no matter what.
I think I got mine for $239.99 IIRC.
You might call up Natchez and talk to them about Cabelas and your coupon and see what you see.
I ended up buying my TrimMate from them, over Midway, for that very reason.
Chris
I didn't even think to call and ask. All I kept thinking is "you're going to load up 2000 rounds of .308 next month and don't waste time". Wish Giraud had a Black Friday sale, haha.
IIRC, it was right around Christmas/Hanukkah time, like it is now. The Natchez guy stated that they had ~750 of the CM 1500s on order from RCBS and they were selling them as fast as the could unpack them.
In today's economic climate, I'd have no qualms in calling up a business and seeing if they could help me out, even playing off one company against the other.
I didn't save much on the TrimMate, but I went with Natchez based on my CM1500 experience and I'm a pretty loyal Midway customer going back to 2/1995.
Chris
I just purchased the RCBS for midsouth shooters supply for just under $300. Got it 2 weeks ago and am very happy with it. I haven't done any reprogramming yet. It is nice when you are working up different loads. I'll use it for my long range rifle exclusively. I was looking at the hornady version, but the RCBS has stellar reviews, that is why i went to that unit.
I've owned the Hornady for 3 years and like it.
I ended up going with the Charge Master. After reprograming it and using the McDonalds straw trick, it works great. I am very happy with my purchase so far. Thanks guys.
Yeah, I know....
There was someone on here who made an aluminum insert that served the same purpose. They were on Ebay also.
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