I still use a RCBS balance scale for my bolt guns. I picked up a small Hornady digital to check out and it’s constantly needing calibration, I don’t trust is. Are the more pricy charge masters worth the extra expense as my round count climbs. Becoming a job to reloading if I keep this up. Single stage ROCK CHUCKER is still my go to. But 200 rounds every two weeks seems to be my average. What progressives are y’all using? I had a Dillon but Hurricane Katrina( The Bitch) took her so it was not replaced. Any input is welcome.
Scales
- Thread starter CcoFirst
- Start date
I used to run two ChargeMasters to keep up with short line Service Rifle rounds and some of the Mid Range loads. It took two of them to keep the wasted time to a minimum.
When it came to Mid Range accuracy or going below the 0.1 gr resolution of the typical scales, the need to trickle and have a scale that reacts to trickling made the A&D FX120 about the only choice without getting into a lab grade scale. When the AutoTrickler and AutoThrow came out, I jumped on it.
Now there is a V3 that includes the keypad operation and ability to run Ladders and load development, it is a no brainer.
A Mettler or Sartorius lab scale with good resolution below 0.1 gr is an alternative, but not in terms of bang for the buck. A Prometheus is also an option, but I’m not seeing the value in that now that the V3 Autotrickler is out.
I have a beam balance tuned and it can closed-loop trickle charges with amazing accuracy, but that also requires more focus and fatigue that I chose to skip it. The A&D FX-120 Autotrickler set-up is my recommendation to anyone who reloads to compete simply because it is capable and fast and is the best for the money on the market at present.
When it came to Mid Range accuracy or going below the 0.1 gr resolution of the typical scales, the need to trickle and have a scale that reacts to trickling made the A&D FX120 about the only choice without getting into a lab grade scale. When the AutoTrickler and AutoThrow came out, I jumped on it.
Now there is a V3 that includes the keypad operation and ability to run Ladders and load development, it is a no brainer.
A Mettler or Sartorius lab scale with good resolution below 0.1 gr is an alternative, but not in terms of bang for the buck. A Prometheus is also an option, but I’m not seeing the value in that now that the V3 Autotrickler is out.
I have a beam balance tuned and it can closed-loop trickle charges with amazing accuracy, but that also requires more focus and fatigue that I chose to skip it. The A&D FX-120 Autotrickler set-up is my recommendation to anyone who reloads to compete simply because it is capable and fast and is the best for the money on the market at present.
It’s 900. It’s only more expensive if you add area 419 stuff to it. 419 stuff isn’t required.
My advice - buy a used Chargemaster or Chargemaster Lite. If you don’t like it for whatever reason, sell it and hope you can live with the maybe $40 you lost on it.
People will tell you it’s too slow- it’s not. It can throw a charge within its inherent margin of error fast enough to outrun me seating a bullet and putting it back in the loading block.
With some common sense set-up, warm up, you are not likely to experience drift or overthrows.
Can in throw a charge within .02 grains?
-No, not even close...
Can it produce ammo with SD’s under 7 & ES’s under 15 - Yes... your cartridge and other loading components have as much or more to do with the size of these numbers than the accuracy of your charge weight alone.
If in the end, you decide that trimming 5-7 FPS off your ES is worth $940... Get the V3...
EDIT TO ADD
Look up Precision Rifle Network’s head to head comparison on auto-throws between a Prometheus, Autotrickler, Chargemaster and Hornady, decide for yourself.
People will tell you it’s too slow- it’s not. It can throw a charge within its inherent margin of error fast enough to outrun me seating a bullet and putting it back in the loading block.
With some common sense set-up, warm up, you are not likely to experience drift or overthrows.
Can in throw a charge within .02 grains?
-No, not even close...
Can it produce ammo with SD’s under 7 & ES’s under 15 - Yes... your cartridge and other loading components have as much or more to do with the size of these numbers than the accuracy of your charge weight alone.
If in the end, you decide that trimming 5-7 FPS off your ES is worth $940... Get the V3...
EDIT TO ADD
Look up Precision Rifle Network’s head to head comparison on auto-throws between a Prometheus, Autotrickler, Chargemaster and Hornady, decide for yourself.
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