Chargemaster Lite

[JackEllis]

I'm thinking about treating myself to one. I've read threads in this sub-forum back to 2017 and the reviews seem to be overwhelmingly positive (for the Lite version).

I currently load .223, .243 and .30-06 with a Uniflow, a trickler and a beam scale on single stage press. Works fine, but weighing the charges becomes a bottleneck when I'm trying to make a year's worth while snowed in. It's also tedious and tiring because the scale is at benchtop level, which means constant bending down to read the scale (I realize there are inexpensive ways to fix this problem).

I'm aware of the potential problems that fluorescent lights and vibration can cause with consistent measurements. Any other sources of errors? For those who have them, what's the typical time to throw a charge in the range of 20-25 grains of stick powder?

I'm thinking of setting the scale on either a portable workbench or a piece of packing foam so that any vibration from the press when I pull the handle isn't transmitted to the scale (can't do anything about the county plow, however).

I'm aware that there are better, more precise setups but they would be overkill at the moment and I am willing to spend that kind of money.

[baih777]

I bought one two years ago. No issues with it.
Way more consistent than the Hornady I had.
I have done at least 300 with no errors.
I load 223, 6.5Creedmoor, 308, 300 Win.

As far as how fast it is. It's faster than weighing by hand with a scale. Less tedious.

[croue]

[John Galt]

I have a chargemaster 1500. I have not found it to be sensitive to lights or vibration. Yes there are more accurate solutions now but I think you can get very good results with a chargemaster.

If you want to make some special long range loads there are some youtube videos which go over undercharging then manually trickling up to your desired weight. This gives you a little better performance. Not needed in my opinion though for hunting loads or 100 yard groups assuming you are on an accuracy node.

I can still get the most accurate charges though with beam scale. I use a cheap USB microscope and my laptop to focus in on the balance point. This gives me single digit SD. Admittedly I can't shoot well enough to take advantage of this on the 100 yard range where I normally shoot but at least I know ammo is not my limitation.

I guess my point is that a chargemaster is a great tool to accompany other tools so long as you know where to use it. Reloading is a search for the impossible, there is always something better. There comes a point where you have to say enough is enough. A chargemaster is good enough for 95% of us.

[Bastard]

I can not speak of the Chargemaster Lite specifically but I do have the original Chargemaster. If someone offered me double what I paid for it, I wouldn't take it... if they tried to take it from me I would fight them... I'm more likely to give up a press before I give up my Chargemaster, which is honestly about the best thing I can say about it.


I never did any of the mods that are out there for these and the only real tips I have are to calibrate it before every use, never turn it off and don't put Bullseye through it.

[croue]

[Bastard]

Ok - I am just about to use bullseye for the first time. Why do you say don’t put bullseye through the chargemaster?

it doesn't like it - it doesn't react well with the plastics. I don't remember which specific chemical/compound it is, but trust me or google it for yourself.

also you never want to leave Bullseye in any of your powder measures either unless you're running glass/pyrex

[Divernhunter]

I had 2 Lyman units and they died. Then got a Hornady one but too many over weights no matter how it was adjusted.
Finally got the RCBS Lite and it has been great. Should have got it to start with but tried to "save money"----Cost me a lot more than if I would have just bought it to start with.

Add drafts to the list of be careful about. A ceiling fan will give you problems as will a AC/Heater blowing air. Also temp changes(if a lot) can effect it.

No need to place it on foam. It is a good idea to place it on a different table than where your press is. The working of the press can effect it depending on the table construction.

The speed is fast enough to not be a problem.

[croue]

it doesn't like it - it doesn't react well with the plastics. I don't remember which specific chemical/compound it is, but trust me or google it for yourself.

also you never want to leave Bullseye in any of your powder measures either unless you're running glass/pyrex

[emoji1303]
Thanks you bastard! [emoji38]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Imageview]

Feels like it takes about 4-5 seconds or so. Depending on powder of course.

[Gromann]

I just ordered one a couple days ago. I had a budget of ~300 and the only options that looked great were the Lyman Gen6, RCBS Chargemaster Lite, and the Frankford unit.

The Frankford Arsenal one has a reputation of being either dead on, or creep issues so I had no interest in dealing with the hassle.

Lyman Gen 6 had complaints about build quality and there were still a fair bit of reports of inconsistent charges.

The RCBS was getting a lot of comments saying people would use it over the higher end scales. Coupled that with the fact I did not see many reports of it losing zero or failing to charge the set weight.

If it gets here before I head back to work I'll be doing a hundred M1A loads with it so I could probably follow up if you're interested.

[JackEllis]

If it gets here before I head back to work I'll be doing a hundred M1A loads with it so I could probably follow up if you're interested.

I'm probably going to pull the trigger myself in a day or two but I'd still be interested in your experience (and anyone else's).

[rg1]

Put off buying a scale dispenser for years. Got the RCBS Chargemaster Lite and and I really like it. I weigh every charge and it speeds up my pistol loading a bunch. Dispense a charge, dump it in the case. Seat a bullet then crimp in another press. The next charge is ready. I find it accurate and no problems with drifting. Negatives for me is removing remaining powder, messy and I sometimes spill a little, and the spout is close to the pan and I bump it occasionally and a few grains of powder drop onto the scale. Great tool at a decent price.

[sigstroker]

Pistol loading? If it's just normal pistol ammo and not some weird max charge .460 magnum, just get a powder measure. A couple tenths high or low don't really matter.

[JackEllis]

I've now dispensed charges with both ball (W748) and stick (IMR 4451) powders. The stick powder takes a bit longer but with ball powders, as others have said you dump the pan, set it back on the dispenser, seat your bullet and inspect the round, and your next charge is ready to go.

The Charagemaster Lite's scale seems to be more stable than the inexpensive electronic scale I bought at Cabelas and I'm less likely to throw off calibration of a beam scale by bumping it when I replace the pan. All in all I think I'm probably getting more consistent charges with less effort.

I wish I had bought one of these sooner.