RCBS Chargemaster opinions?

[cash_tx]

Does anyone have experience with the RCBS Chargemaster automatic powder dispenser and scale; and if so, what is your opinion of them? I'm particularly interested in how it feeds a powder like IMR 4350 that doesn't always measure easily.

RCBS Chargemaster Link Electronic Powder Dispenser

SCHEELS.com

www.scheels.com

 

[Bert01]

I’ve had one for years, and it works well. There are several tips and tricks you can use to improve the performance if you do a little searching on google. Adding a large drinking straw to the dispenser tube fixed all of my problems with extruded powders. I load all of my rifle calibers with a single stage press and the chargemaster. Mostly using moderate charges of Varget, RL-15, H4350, and IMR4350.

 

[Nkawu]

I’ve got one used and it has has made my reloading much more streamlined. I mostly use Vhitavouri powders. I occasionally get it throwing in slightly more than I set, but it tells you so you can toss the powder back in the top and it will do a new one. Really easy to use too.

 

[JimP]

I've had mine for a number of years and have found that you need to play around with it to learn how it works.

I wouldn't be without it after the learning curve with it, but the one thing about it that I hate is how you need to dump the unused powder back into the can.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Can recommend them for sure.

 

[mdwest]

I dont have the RCBS.. but I do have the Hornady Lock-n-Load auto charger..

I researched several options before I bought the Hornady.. I found that pretty much all of them have the same quirks and issues related to performance and the recommendations for fixing those quirks (like the drinking straw trick @Bert01 mentions above) were pretty much the same as well...

auto chargers arent perfect.. until you step into the pro grade gear most of them are notorious for throwing over charges by a few .01's of a gn every few throws.. but this is pretty easy to overcome just by setting the thing up to run a little slower (which is still WAY faster than hand measuring and weighing each charge).. and most are only reasonably accurate when it comes to weighing the charge (if you take the load off the scale and put it on a more precise scale you might find that your 46gn charge is actually 45.9 or 46.1, etc).. but.. for loading hunting grade or "range" ammo.. I find that mine works wonderfully..

If I were loading for a .25 MOA rifle.. or trying to compete in PRS, etc.. the chargemaster or the lock-n-load wouldnt be my first choice.. but.. for loading 375 H&H thats going to be shot inside 300 yards at game animals.. or 308 at 300 yards, etc.. etc.. Its been a great investment for me..

Using a single stage press for everything and the auto charger.. I can easily load 50 rounds of any rifle caliber cartridge in less than 45 minutes.. and thats taking my time, taking it easy, etc..

That never was a possibility for me when I was hand dispensing and weighing each charge on a little separate digital scale, then using a trickle charger to finish off the load, etc..

The only reason I went with the Hornady over the RCBS was.. at the time I was purchasing, I found the Hornady option on sale for about $125 less than the RCBS option.. From all of the reviews I watched, etc.. I dont think quality or performance is really very different between the two.. whichever one I found cheaper was the one I was going to buy.. so it ended up being the hornaday..

 

[cash_tx]

Thank you all for your feedback and insights. Sounds like getting one would be a big improvement over my current process using an old powder dispenser and a manual scale. I predominantly load for hunting rifles in calibers ranging from 223 Remington up to 375 H&H, so i think a little variance in the charge will be fine.

It would appear that Hornady does not make the Lock N Load anymore, plus RCBS has a $40 rebate on the Chargemaster right now, so I'll probably go pick one up at Scheel's for about $250.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I have one and use it but double check on a better scale. It can be off plus or minus a couple tenths of a grain. Ok for minute of oryx at 100 yards but no bueno for groundhog head shots at 500. It'll dispense all powders

 

[cash_tx]

Whelp, just picked one up and we'll see how it goes. @mdwest just wanted me to spend some money, as payback for the Field and Stream store closeout sale. ;-)

 

[1peggy]

I’ve had one for years, and it works well. There are several tips and tricks you can use to improve the performance if you do a little searching on google. Adding a large drinking straw to the dispenser tube fixed all of my problems with extruded powders. I load all of my rifle calibers with a single stage press and the chargemaster. Mostly using moderate charges of Varget, RL-15, H4350, and IMR4350.

+ 1 on the drinking straw. Got mine from Wendy's.

 

[cash_tx]

+ 1 on the drinking straw. Got mine from Wendy's.

Can you tell me about how long of a length of straw you attached to the dispensing tube? I'm assuming it wasn't the full straw.

 

[Bert01]

Can you tell me about how long of a length of straw you attached to the dispensing tube? I'm assuming it wasn't the full straw.

Just cut about 2” worth and stick up into the tube

 

[shootist~]

Can you tell me about how long of a length of straw you attached to the dispensing tube? I'm assuming it wasn't the full straw.

Short piece. What you are doing is reducing the inside diameter of the Chargemaster tube to slow the powder outflow. Someone on Ebay sells a nifty brass tube insert that works better, IMO. ( Or did several years ago when I bought mine.)

For heavy charges it will slow you down too much, IMO.

Love my Chargemaster, btw.

 

[Andrew Short]

Have the RCBS charge master. Highly recommend!

 

[RLL]

Good on ya for picking one up. Love mine. You will be a happier and more efficient reloader.

 

[mdwest]

Whelp, just picked one up and we'll see how it goes. @mdwest just wanted me to spend some money, as payback for the Field and Stream store closeout sale. ;-)

View attachment 552433

We aren’t remotely close to even yet…

 

[cash_tx]

We aren’t remotely close to even yet…

LOL, I suppose that's true!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have a now discontinued Lyman DPS 3 that I bought used a couple years ago. Works great. I think the trickle speed is adjustable but I've never needed to change it. Sure makes loading a lot easier. Also, I can clean it without tipping it upside down.

 

[BenKK]

I’ve been using the RCBS Chargemaster for close to fifteen years, it’s excellent.

 

[Hififile324]

Another vote for the RCBS chargemaster. I've had mine since 2015 and it has always worked well. I have loaded many thousands of rounds with it. I checked it's weighing accuracy against a calibrated Pharmacy Lab scale and it is spot on. I use a McDonalds drink straw cut to 2 inches to assist with metering and even pan filling. Highly recommended!