Powder Dispensers

[Nes8i7t]

Hi all

I'm looking some advice/feedback based on your own experiences with any auto powder dispenser. Measuring charges by hand, it's by far the slowest part of my reloading process at the moment and I would like to speed it up. I've been on the fence for a while with buying or maybe even building. Thanks for your time.

Andrew N

 

[the scudd]

I’ve been using a Lyman gen 6 for maybe 10 years with no problems

 

[Nes8i7t]

I’ve been using a Lyman gen 6 for maybe 10 years with no problems

That's great to know considering it's reasonably priced.

 

[Grannysmith]

Me too wouldnt be without it!

 

[jellmers]

Another for Lyman gen 6... Got mine from the US Amazon.... Even comes with a universal plug, so no need for an inverter.

 

[viking90]

I used a lyman gen 6 and I found it was way slower than my manual way. Hornady powder thrower to drop the bulk charge into the pan and then trickle up the last few kernels on the rcbs 505 beam scales. I could just about charge 2 cases that way in the time it took the lyman to drop one charge. No faffing with warm ups or worrying about random calibration errors either

 

[wytonpjs]

Wasn't impressed with the Hornady Autoloader so acquired a SH RCBS Chargemaster Lite 5 years ago - it's been bombproof. Fancied a new Frankford Arsenal one that came up on here but both attempts to use so far have overthrown repeatedly. Currently sat on the side awaiting an opportunity to do the Firmware update and have a play as the Chargemaster is so quick, easy to use and reliable.

 

[Jefe]

I have the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 - and it's good, but it does have a tendency to overthrow occasionally, so to dispense 10 charges accurately to 1/10th grain, I typically have to run 13 or 14 cycles and throw the overweight ones back in the hopper.

Apart from that, it's an excellent bit of kit although I do see an A&D scale with Autotrickler V4 in my future....but it's expensive. So there may well be a used ChargeMaster on here fairly soon....

 

[cjm1066]

RCBS Charger master very happy with it.

 

[ColinBr]

By the time you calibrate and double check charge weights I've already got 20 rounds filled manually with the RCBS 505 and trickler.

I can only see any benefits if you are sitting doing a few hundred rounds at a time.

I only reload 50 rounds at a time, so cant see where an auto dispenser will actually make any difference apart from lightening my wallet

 

[Bullet250]

Purchased a ChargeMaster Supreme and have been extremely happy with it.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I've been using a chargemaster lite for a good few years now and have absolutely no complaints. I've considered getting a newer one but I'm probably not going to gain much!

 

[Jefe]

By the time you calibrate and double check charge weights I've already got 20 rounds filled manually with the RCBS 505 and trickler.

I can only see any benefits if you are sitting doing a few hundred rounds at a time.

I only reload 50 rounds at a time, so cant see where an auto dispenser will actually make any difference apart from lightening my wallet

The main benefits would be the automation, so you can seat one bullet while the scale weighs the powder for the next one, and accuracy. The Chargemaster weighs (mostly) to 0.1gr but the manual 505 is specced to 1gr, isn't it?

 

[ColinBr]

I would very much doubt the 505 is specced to 1gr. It'll be better than an auto Despenser

The beam scale is what is used to double check a charge from an auto dispenser

 

[Jefe]

I would very much doubt the 505 is specced to 1gr. It'll be better than an auto Despenser

The beam scale is what is used to double check a charge from an auto dispenser

Apologies - my mistake. 0.1gr.

 

[fordy1967]

Had a Lyman but it didn’t like N140, kept going slow and over throwing. Went back to a thrower and the Target master trickler with 505 scales, really happy with this set up.

 

[cjm1066]

Had the scales, tricker and a powder thrower, perhaps towards the end of a long run I would have the thrower set to be 100%, but overall the electronic system saves a huge amount of time.

 

[trickie]

Purchased a ChargeMaster Supreme and have been extremely happy with it.

I’ve got one of there, it replaced my Lyman gen 6 that had started to overthrow about 12% of drops.

I like:

It doesn’t over throw the Vihtavuori powders at all……..
The app is very easy to use. If you drop one and then drop the bullet while the next measure is filling, the optional beep is great.
Emptying is a simple compared to the Lyman
The powder weighing dish has deeper sides - no more kernels jumping out - that drove me mad tbo

 

[Tralle]

Auto trickler and a fx120i is a combi that is hard to beat.

Buy a few calibration weights (don't trust the cheap ones) if you want.

You will find it drifts very very little.

I load everything from shot shells to magnum rifle rounds with it.

Price is on the steep side though. Buy once, cry once.
Must say it is one of the most treasured things on my reloading bench.

I am generally not a fan of digital scales and have been through a few beam scales.

I have a 505 and super trickler in a home made stand. But it is no where near as fast, and a bit more finicky, much cheaper option though.

Bought a new redding beam scale, stay away from them, cheaply made.

Paid a renowned guy in the us for a tuned rcbs 1010 beam scale once, newer saw it. He was old then, guess the guy is dead now.

 

[thefoxandthe.243]

I use a Lyman gen 6 and its worked ok for me, I seat a bullet while its weighing out the next charge and so on, but as it has been said above, it now and again throws slightly over when I use N140. I keep a pair of tweezers to hand to remove a kernel or two if and when required