Which powder dispencer

bill k · August 16, 2008, 07:49 PM

Tired of using my RCBS scale and powder thrower. Budget, under $300.00. I only care about what I am reloading at the time, I don't care about storage of past load data. I don't mind changing out powder each time.

What i want is super accuracy.

Do I need to spend more, if i do i will.

wncchester · August 16, 2008, 07:56 PM

Do you mean a manual powder measure or a digital dispenser system?

bill k · August 16, 2008, 08:54 PM

Digital, I want to press a button and get 37.1g, if that's what the load calls for.

Loader9 · August 16, 2008, 09:47 PM

I've never seen a dependable digital dispenser. They all have issues. Might research loading by volume instead of weight. Weight will change because of temperature and humidity. Volume will change with temperature extremes but if you are loading in a controlled environment like A/C and heat, it's not a problem. I'd suggest a powder measure using a pistol cylinder and a micrometer. Write down the setting and throw the exact same volume every time. I'm using a custom RCBS unit but I understand they are making one very similar to mine. Might give it a look.

boltgun71 · August 17, 2008, 06:30 AM

Lyman 1200DPS, I love mine. Its extremely accurate and fast. I make sure to follow its warm up procedure and when I type in 66.5gr's , it dispenses exactly 66.5gr's.

amamnn · August 17, 2008, 12:29 PM

I own the PACT, have used the RCBS, and seen the Lyman work. They all work pretty much the same. The very newest version of the Lyman is alleged to be the fastest of the three. With any of them there is a learning process that some folks either do not care to do, or cannot accomplish. None of them will be 100% accurate with every powder every time.

Using my PACT, I have learned to set it for + .1 grain for certain powders and -.1 grain for others, and still others meter right on most of the time. The RCBS version I used for a while was the same. The Lyman owner I know says the same goes for his. All three are faster than a volumetric measure, balance beam and trickler setup if you must have 100% accurate drops. They do not cut grains.

If I were shopping for one today I would be looking for a sale on the Lyman.

bill k · August 17, 2008, 12:58 PM

"All three are faster than a volumetric measure, balance beam and trickler setup if you must have 100% accurate drops. They do not cut grains."

Am I expecting too much. Now I trickle every load, when my scale balances out my position looking at the scale might be different. So is my load off?

Do my loads need to be that precise I guess is my worry.

I don't shoot competitively but always try to win against friends.

I load in my office so I always have a constant temp.

DEDON45 · August 17, 2008, 01:17 PM

I think + or - a .1 of a grain is as close as anyone could need... I know when I trickle in charges for some of my rifle rounds, sure, just from the position I'm in when reading the scale, if the AC is on (the breeze can affect the scale minutely), there will be slight, slight differences in one charge compared to another. I wouldn't sweat a .1 difference.

snuffy · August 17, 2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

I've never seen a dependable digital dispenser.

Well I have. I own one. It's a combination of a RCBS powder pro digital, and a pact dispenser. Since pact made both, they work well together.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=574898

And it's under your suggested ceiling of 300$ It does NOT store the related density of different powders like the lyman and RCBS newer dispensers do. But you said that was not a problem.

Loader9 · August 18, 2008, 02:35 PM

Gee Snuffy, I guess you didn't read the reviews at the link you posted. Three of the seven reviews thought it was a piece of crap.

TimRB · August 18, 2008, 03:07 PM

"I don't shoot competitively but always try to win against friends."

Nearly all the high power shooters I know (and I know quite a few) throw their charges for 200 and 300, and only weigh their charges for 600. Some don't even do that.

Do the math and you'll probably find that an error of .1 or .2 grains just doesn't do much harm. On the other hand, if you find that your rifle (I'm assuming you're a rifle shooter) actually *is* sensitive to errors like that, then you need to work on your load some more. Google "Audette ladder method" and find many links explaining how to find a load in your rifle's sweet spot.

Tim

snuffy · August 19, 2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

. Three of the seven reviews thought it was a piece of crap.

Oh, like this moron?

Quote:

I only read the bad reviews and they pretty much sum up my experience. Some of the experiences that have not been mentioned or detailed thus far. 1) My brand new unit had to be sent back to PACT for a software update. I had to pay for shipping. 2) If I try to dispense powder before it has warmed up (about 1-2 hours) the charges will vary by up to 2 full grains. I use this reading as a "warm-up" indicator.

3) I have to constantly re-zero the unit even after warm-up. Sometimes 10 times when loading 100 rounds. If it has drifted off zero at any time, it will throw a bad charge. 4) Don't bring your cell phone into the area, or it will cause the unit to throw bad charges. 5) The unit is also sensitive to other electronic devices like the TV on the other side of the wall!

A classic example of an analog individual trying to live in a digital world.

So lets see, you read 4 reviews from the top of the page, then skipped about 20 glowing, positive, reviews to read the bottom 3?

impactco · August 19, 2008, 12:46 AM

I absolutely love my RCBS Chargemaster 1500. Plug it into a regulated power supply and never look back. Around $300 here:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=772151

Read the reviews also.

August 16, 2008, 07:49 PM	#1
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	Which powder dispencer Tired of using my RCBS scale and powder thrower. Budget, under $300.00. I only care about what I am reloading at the time, I don't care about storage of past load data. I don't mind changing out powder each time. What i want is super accuracy. Do I need to spend more, if i do i will. __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack Last edited by bill k; August 16, 2008 at 09:06 PM.

August 16, 2008, 08:54 PM	#3
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	Digital, I want to press a button and get 37.1g, if that's what the load calls for. __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

August 17, 2008, 12:29 PM	#6
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	I own the PACT, have used the RCBS, and seen the Lyman work. They all work pretty much the same. The very newest version of the Lyman is alleged to be the fastest of the three. With any of them there is a learning process that some folks either do not care to do, or cannot accomplish. None of them will be 100% accurate with every powder every time. Using my PACT, I have learned to set it for + .1 grain for certain powders and -.1 grain for others, and still others meter right on most of the time. The RCBS version I used for a while was the same. The Lyman owner I know says the same goes for his. All three are faster than a volumetric measure, balance beam and trickler setup if you must have 100% accurate drops. They do not cut grains. If I were shopping for one today I would be looking for a sale on the Lyman. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

August 17, 2008, 12:58 PM	#7
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	"All three are faster than a volumetric measure, balance beam and trickler setup if you must have 100% accurate drops. They do not cut grains." Am I expecting too much. Now I trickle every load, when my scale balances out my position looking at the scale might be different. So is my load off? Do my loads need to be that precise I guess is my worry. I don't shoot competitively but always try to win against friends. I load in my office so I always have a constant temp. __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

August 16, 2008, 07:56 PM	#2
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	Do you mean a manual powder measure or a digital dispenser system?

August 16, 2008, 09:47 PM	#4
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	I've never seen a dependable digital dispenser. They all have issues. Might research loading by volume instead of weight. Weight will change because of temperature and humidity. Volume will change with temperature extremes but if you are loading in a controlled environment like A/C and heat, it's not a problem. I'd suggest a powder measure using a pistol cylinder and a micrometer. Write down the setting and throw the exact same volume every time. I'm using a custom RCBS unit but I understand they are making one very similar to mine. Might give it a look.

August 17, 2008, 06:30 AM	#5
boltgun71 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 547	Lyman 1200DPS, I love mine. Its extremely accurate and fast. I make sure to follow its warm up procedure and when I type in 66.5gr's , it dispenses exactly 66.5gr's.

August 17, 2008, 01:17 PM	#8
DEDON45 Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Posts: 278	I think + or - a .1 of a grain is as close as anyone could need... I know when I trickle in charges for some of my rifle rounds, sure, just from the position I'm in when reading the scale, if the AC is on (the breeze can affect the scale minutely), there will be slight, slight differences in one charge compared to another. I wouldn't sweat a .1 difference.

August 18, 2008, 02:35 PM	#10
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	Gee Snuffy, I guess you didn't read the reviews at the link you posted. Three of the seven reviews thought it was a piece of crap.

August 18, 2008, 03:07 PM	#11
TimRB Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 1,049	"I don't shoot competitively but always try to win against friends." Nearly all the high power shooters I know (and I know quite a few) throw their charges for 200 and 300, and only weigh their charges for 600. Some don't even do that. Do the math and you'll probably find that an error of .1 or .2 grains just doesn't do much harm. On the other hand, if you find that your rifle (I'm assuming you're a rifle shooter) actually is sensitive to errors like that, then you need to work on your load some more. Google "Audette ladder method" and find many links explaining how to find a load in your rifle's sweet spot. Tim

August 19, 2008, 12:46 AM	#13
impactco Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Posts: 102	I absolutely love my RCBS Chargemaster 1500. Plug it into a regulated power supply and never look back. Around $300 here: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=772151 Read the reviews also.