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Jay
Posts: 4,629 Senior Member
RCBS Chargemaster Lite
Jay
Posts: 4,629 Senior Member
Spotted this while ordering some bullets yesterday. Had it in the cart and would have put it on the credit card right then, but it's out of stock. For the price, seems like a decent deal to me. What do y'all think? I'm thinking about picking one up when they come back in stock.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/642266/rcbs-chargemaster-lite-powder-scale-and-dispenser-110-volt
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/642266/rcbs-chargemaster-lite-powder-scale-and-dispenser-110-volt
Replies
Enjoy :up:
No real reason. Paid for the bullets with my debit card. This one would have needed the credit card to come out right now. So it was that, or order the bullets now and wait on the Chargemaster till payday. So that's what I went with.
Buy it.
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
After a couple of years of this drill, I find that the CM will throw accurately about 10-15% of the time, under by a tenth or so 65-70%, 10% under by more than a tenth of a grain and the remainder will be slightly over. That explained these errant low shots that would pop out at times.
What was bad was the fact the weights that were very low would not show as low on the display; the ones that were over did show.
The new Lee Drum powder dispenser mechanical (actuated by powder through die on a press) was just as accurate as a Hornady Lite electronic scale he put it up against, both .10 grain above/below or dead on for charges.
I use a Redding balanced beam scale to verify my charges. Have an older Lyman 1200DPS I haven't used much, but will again one of these days.
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
Way to take one for the team!!
Ordered. Definitely will range report when it gets in. Says expected in stock 3/13. Hopefully have it in a couple weeks.
I think you will really like the Chargemaster lite. I look forward to the review.
Thanks. I believe I will as well. I have a Redding Match Grade 3BR that works great. But like most other measures, it's tough with the longer extruded powders. Looking forward to working with this thing when it gets in.
I think you will find that it does extremely well with extruded or stick powder. It will be an eye opener for you and you will think either "where has this been all my life?" or "why did I wait so long to get this thing?"
Either way, it will be fun. Just be careful of the idiosyncrasies associated with such a device. It will throw short more often than you think and it might be a good idea after it ends its cycle to lift the pan and redeposit it on the scale to check the weight again before dumping the powder in the case. It's a good idea to plug it in and power it up for a half hour or more before starting your loading session.
Thanks. I've wanted a Chargemaster for a long while. The price is what kept me from getting one. That's why I jumped on the Chargemaster Lite.
I have a buddy who has the Lyman version and I've watched him work with it some. I did not order one of those at the lower cost after watching his. More often that not, it would throw overcharges. It has an alarm on it that sounds when the target charge is exceeded, and it was alarming on almost every charge. Problem was, it would start off fast, then slow down as it got closer to the desired charge weight. But, it was slowing down too late and overshooting the charge. He corrected the problem by modifying a spent shell case and put it over the power dispensing tube to slow the trickle of powder down a little. It's working good for him now. But I didn't want to deal with all the fuss that he went through with his. I have no experience with the Hornady version. I just know a lot of yall have talked highly of the Chargemaster, so I'm hoping this one will perform as well.
I will take your advice on double checking the powder charges. I have a RCBS Rangemaster digital scale I can use to compare the two as well. I can at least compare what the two scales say on a given charge weight.
My Rangemaster also requires that it be started and warmed up a bit before using it. It fluctuates pretty wildly until it warms up. I was fairly sure they same would be true on the Chargemaster. Thanks for pointing that out.
Anyway after a 30 minute warm up and reading the instructions, I threw a few charges of 25.0 grains of BLC-2 to see and it was right on or .10 over. I remember I spilled powder when I first used it because I left the dump chute open on the back.
It has a speed-up kit with it too. Problem is I dunno if it is installed or not. in a box and I'm still looking for the instructions. Says DPS 1200 Speed Upgrade Kit and made by Lyman. I see they have newer models that are supposed to have better features. I think you can store 30 charge weights on this on and recall them. Has a trickle feature too.
It is BIG.
Not sure how much I'd gain from not using my RCBS Uniflow I usually use for rifle charges. If it is worth the trouble. My shootin is always 100 yards or less. I can go to 200 at the range I use.
Let us know how that Lite works for you.
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
I've already got mine on back order. Just waiting for it to come back in stock. :up:
$259 And it's in stock, with a $10 rebate offer....
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/772151/rcbs-chargemaster-1500-powder-scale-and-dispenser-combo-110-volt
My full form Chargemaster cost me about $320-$330 if I recall and that was about 7 years back l believe. For what I do with it the Lite model would serve me just fine. That's a deal, enjoy it.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Of course! What you expect, your cake and eat it too? They always do that to keep us from becoming Cocky, LOL!!!
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
You can cancel your Lite order.
Also added one of these
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/755866/rcbs-electronic-scale-powder-funnel-pan
Sorry I won't be the guinea pig for the Chargemaster Lite....
OOPS! Now you went and did it! And a Tee Shirt to boot? I do hate you now!!!
:rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao:
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.