Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 1500's

[michael_aos]

My ex-wife always said in her dream home she'd have 1 washing-machine and 2 dryers. I thought that was a great idea.

Someone recently commented that 2x RCBS Chargemaster's works very well on a progressive reloading machine.

I've got a Dillon RL550B with the Whidden Gunworks billet toolhead and "floating" dies.

It drives me nuts standing there waiting what feels like 20-30 seconds between pours. Especially when it comes out over / under and I have to dump it and start over.

I just ordered a 2nd Chargemaster 1500. Planning to run the two in parallel.

Any issues I should be aware of?

 

[michael_aos]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

Bought the first one from Sinclair back in July. I've been pretty happy with it.

Bought the second one from Natchez in late January. Finally got around to setting it up. It's not working so well. Turns out they have a 15-day return-policy.

If I leave the little "door" attached, the scale jumps .4 - .5 grains when I open the door. The value goes up / down the same amount as I open / close the "door". WTF? (no, nothing is touching)

Also as I get NEAR the scale (to place the pan on the it, or put my finger next to it) the value starts climbing up to about 2.0gr. I'm not even touching it!

I've calibrated it about 50 times. I've turned off all the florescent lights. Re-routed power cords. Plugged it into an APC surge-suppressor.

It's also not pouring the "correct" amount. I type in 42.5, it THINKS it dispenses 42.5gr, but when I double-check it on my Redding balance-beam scale AND the first RCBS Chargmaster 1500 it only weighs 42.2gr.

 

[JALVI]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

I'm gonna start runnin two here real soon.

Givin your CM a "tuneup" REALLY helps. Check this thread:http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=138576&Number=1586536#Post1586536

As for the "door" that Michael Aos ^^^ mentioned I take it off when I'm charging, and wipe the whole machine down with a used dryer sheet to cut the static.

I always turn mine on the night before charging, and I keep it on the most level spot on my bench. Seems to like that...

IMO its gonna be hard to beat two tuned up CM's when loading in big lots.

 

[jasonk]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

Also, do you have a cell phone in your pocket or nearby? Plasma TV in the same room or next wall over, maybe on the same circuit?

I'm not even sure where the "doors" are for mine, stuck in a drawer somewhere. I store my CMs with a dryer sheet in the powder hopper tube and then put the powder pan on top of that.

Are you sure your calibration weights weigh the same? Always calibrate both scales with the same two weights. Weigh all 4 with your beam scale and make sure you don't have one that's off.

 

[michael_aos]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are you sure your calibration weights weigh the same? Always calibrate both scales with the same two weights.</div></div>

I left the 2nd (the new ones) set of weights in the box. So no danger of using anything but the 2 weights that came with the original Chargemaster.

 

[myerfire]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

When the Chargmaster dispenses and stops, it shows the weight, then the round count and then the final weight. I used to take the pan off when it showed the round count, but found that sometimes the final weight will be different, so now I always wait for the final weight before removing the pan.
myerfire

 

[JALVI]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: myerfire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When the Chargmaster dispenses and stops, it shows the weight, then the round count and then the final weight. I used to take the pan off when it showed the round count, but found that sometimes the final weight will be different, so now I always wait for the final weight before removing the pan.
myerfire </div></div>

Yup...

 

[michael_aos]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

I loaded up 100rds of 260 Remington. ~42.5gr of RL17.

Once I felt comfortable both scales were actually dispensing around 42.5gr of RL17 when they indicated 42.5gr, things went really well. It's a whole different experience with two of them running side by side. So much more pleasant.

I spent so much time screwing around with the two units that I'm not sure I really SAVED any time overall -vs- just 1 unit.

Unit #1 seems to do a little better job staying closer to 42.5gr. Unit #2 will display 42.5gr. When I pour this powder into pan of unit #1, it will also display 42.5gr.

But when I pour the powder from unit #2 into my Redding beam-scale, it tends to always be a little under 42.5gr. Like 42.45gr.

I'm using Winchester brass and typically shoot "small" targets out to ~430yds and "large" targets out to 875yds.

I don't think .05gr is going to make much difference at all.

 

[michael_aos]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Heavy Haulin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">wipe the whole machine down with a used dryer sheet to cut the static. </div></div>

Thanks for the tip. This SEEMED to help make Unit #2 more consistent.

 

[eleaf]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Michael Aos</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bought the first one from Sinclair back in July. I've been pretty happy with it.

Bought the second one from Natchez in late January. Finally got around to setting it up. It's not working so well. Turns out they have a 15-day return-policy.

If I leave the little "door" attached, the scale jumps .4 - .5 grains when I open the door. The value goes up / down the same amount as I open / close the "door". WTF? (no, nothing is touching)

Also as I get NEAR the scale (to place the pan on the it, or put my finger next to it) the value starts climbing up to about 2.0gr. I'm not even touching it!

I've calibrated it about 50 times. I've turned off all the florescent lights. Re-routed power cords. Plugged it into an APC surge-suppressor.

It's also not pouring the "correct" amount. I type in 42.5, it THINKS it dispenses 42.5gr, but when I double-check it on my Redding balance-beam scale AND the first RCBS Chargmaster 1500 it only weighs 42.2gr.
</div></div>

It could be 2 things:

1) Pressure differences creating "wind" from one space to another
2) Drafting from your AC

Any half decent powder scale will change, sometimes pretty drastically, when there is any air current around it. That is why they have the door there, to keep the air currents from molesting these very sensitive scale. Go with the reading when the door is closed, or mostly closed (I.e., closed enough so that no air passes over the tray).

 

[michael_aos]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any half decent powder scale will change, sometimes pretty drastically, when there is any air current around it. That is why they have the door there, to keep the air currents from molesting these very sensitive scale.</div></div>

I've seen that before. It's Winter in Colorado, so no AC. I did close the forced-air vent in the room, and turned-off the ceiling-fan, and verified the furnace wasn't running when I was messing with the scale.

I don't think it's air-current. I'm thinking it is / was static electricity.

 

[RTH1800]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

Sir,
I have been using two of them for about 1.5 years. I encounter none of the problems that everyone else has. Just lucky, I guess. All weights are and zeros are checked and they just work perfectly. Leval bench, no cell phones etc. I did wipe them down with bounce cloths. I was thinking of running a third, but not sure I need that big of a show.
RTH

 

[michael_aos]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rth1800</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I encounter none of the problems that everyone else has. </div></div>

The two are sitting pretty much side-by-side.

Unit #1 is rock-steady. Unit #2 is the one giving me issues. Wiping it down with a Bounce dryer sheet did seem to help.

 

[eleaf]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Michael Aos</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any half decent powder scale will change, sometimes pretty drastically, when there is any air current around it. That is why they have the door there, to keep the air currents from molesting these very sensitive scale.</div></div>

I've seen that before. It's Winter in Colorado, so no AC. I did close the forced-air vent in the room, and turned-off the ceiling-fan, and verified the furnace wasn't running when I was messing with the scale.

I don't think it's air-current. I'm thinking it is / was static electricity. </div></div>

Perhaps. I have, however, seen a man's breath change the reading on powder scales too.

 

[Mudcat-NC]

Re: Dual (or perhaps dueling) RCBS Chargemaster 15

I use two Lyman DPS Is and to avoid the issue of worrying if they are reading the same, I just use one to dump charges in one set of brass sitting in a rack and then use the second to dump charges sitting in another rack. I can pretty much just keep up with them and that way, I dont have to worry about one being a bit different than the other as I never mix the charges. Works great for me as I can use one machine to load my 200 yard ammo and another to load 300 yard ammo. So they never get mixed anyhow.

John