Digital powder dispensers

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jski

jski

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Simple question: Which is better, the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite or the Lyman Gen6 ?
 
The electronic device that is most accurate, never breaks and lasts for over 10 years, I guess Dillon needs to make one
 
I don’t have either of those but I do have a couple 1500’s and a number of other digital scales.

The 1500’s have an auto zero “feature” I don’t really like and like most inexpensive digital scales don’t have a very high resolution. If your not looking for a very high level of repeatability, they work fine and are pretty easy to use.



I have cheap setups using old beam scales that will throw charges much closer to one another though.

 
I have the RCBS Lite and it works well for me. I get the occasional under charge but in two years no over charges. I chose it over the Gen 6 for two reasons. First the rifling in the trickle barrel is a new design and works better with extruded powders. No need to put a straw or an adapter in there. Second, it is easier to clean out after use. YMMV
 
I hope someone will come along who has used both and help you, OP. I've been happy with my Chargemaster Lite. Had/have a Lyman "manual" digital scale as a backup that I used before. It was fine, but the auto scales are much faster.
 
Lee Q. Loader said:
The RCBS Lite is on sale on the Cabela's website for $217.49. Maybe that will help you decide?
I haven't looked a lot...but that is the cheapest I've seen it.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/hom.../rcbs-charge-master-lite/2493698.uts?slotId=3
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Thanks for the heads up! My Lyman Gen 1 went off the rails about a month ago and I decided to replace it with the RCBS and was waiting for such a sale before I pulled the trigger. Many good reviews for the RCBS, more than the Lyman. Besides, I never really liked the original Lyman and the reviews that I read sounded like they didn't improve it much in the subsequent 5 Gens.

At that price, I'd get the RCBS. Well actually, I did!
 
Don't have a ChargeMaster Lite, but do have a regular ChargeMaster and it has been great for several years. I bought a set of scale weights to check it's accuracy. After checking after every 10 rounds for awhile I quit because it was never off....never.
 
I've had the RCBS Chargemaster 1500 for coming up on 4 yrs now. I have 2 neighbors who bought the Hornady one and both had to send it back for warranty work within in a few months. But your not asking about those units. Just pointing out that most defective/bad electronic stuff will show it early on in most cases. But not always. I hardly ever turn mine off, since I'm normally out there doing stuff daily. Most all of these require a warmup period of 10-15 min before they become stable. If your reloading area is not climate control you will run into problems. I've had not read anything about the Lyman scale on longevity. The reviews I have read have been mixed.
 
I was not happy with either and went back to a beam scale and powder drop. It takes about the same total time to finish a case. The Gen 6 is a PITA to clean after use.
 
I too have the Chargemaster 1500 and have been extremely happy with it. There are some cheat codes that you can get off Youtube that speeds the dispenser up. Works great. pretty accurate with in +/- .1 grain. Use it primarily for rifle rounds and extruded powder. Also the straw trick really helps in the dispensing tube. “Keeps those dangerous straws off the streets!”
 
I too have the Chargemaster 1500 and have been extremely happy with it. There are some cheat codes that you can get off Youtube that speeds the dispenser up.
Click to expand...

Just as FYI but RCBS does not mention the parameters in the manual and there is not a “reset” if you don’t like how it operates after inputting a “cheat”. Take the time to write down all of the original parameters (almost 30 of them), I put them on the back of the manual, before you start changing things. This way if it starts over shooting and such you can at least get back to where you started.

I tried many and both of mine are now back set how they originally came. I do add a different orifice tip for some powders though.
 
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The biggest improvement is reducing the orifice tip for eliminating over shoots. Their was someone on ebay selling these reduces, I've made my own. I've also tweaked the parameters in mine to speed things up. But these parameters may have changed over the years as new firmware was probably used on newer models. So by all means record the factory settings like JMORRIS suggested.
 
^ that’s the direction I was going as I like to tinker but once I checked my beam scale setup with the A&D FX102i I kind of lost interest.

I can make someone a deal on the A&D though, if they are interested. Like new, never even had the protective cover off.
 
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fotheringill said:
I was not happy with either and went back to a beam scale and powder drop. It takes about the same total time to finish a case. The Gen 6 is a PITA to clean after use.
Click to expand...

I have considered an electronic powder measure but the cost stopped me. Plus I just don't load enough rifle rounds to justify the cost. I have a set of Lee dippers and using the scale they provide I can use a dipper and get really close to the powder weight I want and then a few turns on the powder trickler and I am done. Its fairly fast once you get used to it.
 
jmorris said:
^ that’s the direction I was going as I like to tinker but once I checked my beam scale setup with the A&D FX102i I kind of lost interest.

I can make someone a deal on the A&D though, if they are interested. Like new, never even had the protective cover off.
Click to expand...

Paging Mr. @Walkalong , pick up the white courtesy phone
 
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