Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: carpsniperg2 on November 14, 2010, 04:34:54 PM

Title: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 14, 2010, 04:34:54 PM: The wife is looking into getting me one for xmas. I have only been around the rcbs a little tiny bit. these are the 3 that i am looking at. all would be 110 volt. if you have one or use one. i would love to hear what you guys think. i think one of these setups could save me several ;) hours a year. thanks carpsniperg2^matt

LYMAN DIGITAL POWDER 110v SYSTEM.

HRN LOCK-N-LOAD AUTO CHG SCALE & POWDER DISPENSER "new"

RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo

O and i am a little biest towards the green one ;) thanks for the help guys
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 16, 2010, 03:55:24 AM: no one has any :twocents: :dunno:
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: demontang on November 16, 2010, 08:07:57 AM: Ive been around the rcbs and it seems pretty good it was pretty close to the same load every time. My dad has a dillion with a powder charger on it that works good for plinking I still like to wiegh out my good hands loads on a scale.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: rbros on November 16, 2010, 08:18:35 AM: Get the RCBS Chargemaster. I load just over 10,000 rounds a year on my 2 and they work flawlessly. I tried the new Hornady and it had problems with overcharging about a month after I got it. Sent it back and bought the 2nd RCBS unit.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: whacker1 on November 16, 2010, 02:36:17 PM: I have the lyman and love it. I don't load a ton. Maybe run 500-1000 rounds in 3 years.

Need to load another 100-200 rounds this winter.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: Big10gauge on November 16, 2010, 02:48:03 PM: I have the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo, it works fine. you may have to change your way that you reload as that once it measures the load you dump it in the case and get the pan back on the scale asap. You then have time to put the case in your press and seat the bullet and put in in your container before the next one weighs out. If your loading above 60 grs or so there will be a some wait time. With 25.3 grains I am waiting approx 10 to 15 sec
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: whacker1 on November 16, 2010, 02:49:32 PM: Quote from: Big10gauge on November 16, 2010, 02:48:03 PM
I have the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo, it works fine. you may have to change your way that you reload as that once it measures the load you dump it in the case and get the pan back on the scale asap. You then have time to put the case in your press and seat the bullet and put in in your container before the next one weighs out. If your loading above 60 grs or so there will be a some wait time. With 25.3 grains I am waiting approx 10 to 15 sec

The lyman is faster. My father-in-law has the RCBS. Both are good, neither has had problems for us.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: jmkuhlman on November 16, 2010, 09:19:20 PM: I use a Lyman 1200 DPS II with the upgrade kit and have not had any issues. I reload a few hundred rounds a week with the set-up.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: wsmnut on November 17, 2010, 09:19:21 AM: I have the RCBS combo machine and love it. I only do rifle reloading presently, but the pace is just fine. Good accuracy as far as what it does, too.

wsmnut
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 17, 2010, 07:28:45 PM: thanks guys for the info! looks like i will scrath off the hornady. sounds like both are good. still intrested in hearing if anyone else has any more info. i load around 3-4k a year, and i look forward to seeing santa bring me one ;)
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 21, 2010, 12:14:40 PM: thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it all.
Happy Holidays

carp's wife :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on November 22, 2010, 09:20:15 PM: I've got the Lyman, without the upgrade kit, and its still sufficiently fast for throwing my 78gr charges for my 7stw. I should buy the upgrade though! Only problem I have with it, it develops static if plugged in for awhile, to remove it, just unplug for a couple minutes, then its fixed!

Still though, best reloading tool to get, makes it actually fun to go and reload. I reloaded for 20 yrs without one.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: Wenatcheejay on November 23, 2010, 07:58:11 AM: RCBS Combo.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: Blacklab on November 23, 2010, 08:06:01 AM: I got the 1500 almost 2 yrs ago and smile every time I turn it on. Very user friendly and consitantly accurate. As for what Big 10 said about loading large calipers that's it down fall. A little slow but a great peice of equipment ;)
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: shortnround on November 23, 2010, 08:17:06 AM: I received my RCBS a couple of years back as a Birthday present. Easy to use and reliable! Speed is acceptable.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 24, 2010, 06:28:22 PM: dang wife keeps using my account to check up on this :chuckle: thanks guys! i think i know what i am getting for xmas :chuckle:
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: drysideshooter on November 25, 2010, 10:54:19 AM: I've had the RCBS combo for about a year.

I have been very happy with it. It can seem a little slow at time with larger charges, as has been mentioned. What I typically do is charge several cases and then start seating bullets while the unit is throwing a charge. That keeps things from coming to a temporary halt if the unit throws an over-charge or something. I just dump the powder back into the unit and seat another bullet while it throws it. Some powders it will go hundreds with never throwing an over-charge, other powders it happens more frequently.

The one thing I wish they would add is a light that would go on when it's over charged. Watching the display to make sure it shows "stable" and the right charge takes a little extra time, the little ticks on the display that show over or under are pretty small. A light would be nice. I also wish that there was a way to dial back the counter when there is an over-charge and you dump the powder. It would help keep track to make sure you haven't double charged or missed a case. As it is, it just counts the total number of charges thrown, not necessarily the ones you've actually used/charged.

My son and I shoot competitively and I load a few thousand rounds per month. For the really high volume stuff I use a progressive press and just use the scale of the RCBS combo for randomly checking charges from the powder measure. It works great as a scale too. For my hunting rounds in several calibers I prefer to use the RCBS Chargemaster for extremely consistent charges.

I honestly can't imagine being without one now. Compared to a beam or electronic scale and a manual powder trickler it's much more convenient. I haven't tried the Lyman, but based on my experience I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend the green one, or to buy another for myself.
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 25, 2010, 11:00:57 AM: thanks drysideshooter! the green one is on its way 8) i still use measuring spoons to weigh my charges. this should be pretty slick :drool: i might still do a few loads for the big guns, by hand. it might take a little bit to throw 220-240grains :chuckle:
Title: Re: What Powder Dispenser/Scale Combo
Post by: drysideshooter on November 26, 2010, 08:00:33 AM: I have no doubt that you will be extremely happy with the green machine!

I have also used powder dippers in the past and always bought into Richard Lee's thinking that volume is an accurace way to measure powder. When you get the new unit, scoop and weigh a couple charges of powder. I was really surprised at how much variance there was in weight, even with very carefuly dipped charges.

Happy reloading!