setting up an RCBS ChargeMaster

[tddeangelo]

I got one recently, and I want to start using it.

In the booklet with the unit, it says it must be on a level surface. For those who have this device, how level are we talking? I have a shelf at eye level for my balance scale that is pretty good for level, but may be a shade off perfect. Do I need "perfection" for level?

Same instruction booklet says not to smoke while reloading, too. :shock:

 

[DrMike]

Level as you can make it; this is true for all electronic scales.

 

[tddeangelo]

Ok. I think my shelf will work, then. I'll check it with a bubble level first.

 

[DrMike]

Use the adjustable feet to level as a final step, Tom. Since you tare/calibrate the scale before each use, and occasionally as it is used, there is compensation for minor deviation from perfection.

 

[AzDak42]

I just eyeball it and use the adjustable feet to level it and have had great results.

But if you're new to the CM and using anything but ball powders, go google up the 'straw trick'. It's a godsend with Varget and other extruded powders.

 

[tddeangelo]

Got it set up. Works great! I need to orient it on my bench a little differently for work flow purposes, but it's a super addition to my reloading gear.

I spot-checked a few charges with my Lyman beam scale. The graduated marks on the beam scale read in 0.1gr increments. I spot checked one in each of 5 batches of 4. Only one charge wasn't spot on, and that one was about "half a line" (0.05gr) off according to the beam scale. Pretty good, I'd say.

Generally, if I poured the charge in a case, replaced the pan and let it start dispensing, by the time I seated the bullet and was removing the cartridge from the press, the ChargeMaster was trickling. Probably would have about a 10 second wait from pulling finished round from the press and having the charge ready to dump again.

My impression after loading 20 rounds: "Where has this peace of gear been all my life?"

 

[Dr. Vette]

I just eyeball it and use the adjustable feet to level it and have had great results.

But if you're new to the CM and using anything but ball powders, go google up the 'straw trick'. It's a godsend with Varget and other extruded powders.

Here it is:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... ied-straw/

 

[jimbires]

here is another one Tom .



http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-rev ... rgemaster/

 

[SJB358]

Got it set up. Works great! I need to orient it on my bench a little differently for work flow purposes, but it's a super addition to my reloading gear.

I spot-checked a few charges with my Lyman beam scale. The graduated marks on the beam scale read in 0.1gr increments. I spot checked one in each of 5 batches of 4. Only one charge wasn't spot on, and that one was about "half a line" (0.05gr) off according to the beam scale. Pretty good, I'd say.

Generally, if I poured the charge in a case, replaced the pan and let it start dispensing, by the time I seated the bullet and was removing the cartridge from the press, the ChargeMaster was trickling. Probably would have about a 10 second wait from pulling finished round from the press and having the charge ready to dump again.

My impression after loading 20 rounds: "Where has this peace of gear been all my life?"

Yeah, it has been a super piece of kit added to my bench as well. Once you adjust your workflow, it is really nice for doing load work. I am not sure I could go back to the old way of doing business, after being spoiled by the ISD. I am sure the Chargemaster is an even better unit.

 

[tddeangelo]

Guys,

I decided to try it without the straw trick (I did google it, and it seems easy enough to implement) and RL25. It did really well. I think I got only two or three over charges, and I hesitate to call them "over charges" because I saw what happened.....the powder in discharge shoot managed to drop a second or two after the scale stopped, so the scale read correctly, the unit stopped, all was well, and some powder was just close enough to drop after a second or two after motion stopped.

I just dumped the charge, re-ran it, and it was fine.

But I appreciate the tip, and will use it if I have problems with other powders. Probably putting the straw in the discharge would have stopped those 2 or 3 I had last night, but it wasn't enough to get me concerned.

I'll see how it goes, and if needed, I'll just have to hit a Mickey D's or Taco Bell (the one I found on YouTube had a kid talking about why Taco Bell straws are better than Mickey D's straws for this purpose, lol).

 

[DrMike]

I've used the ChargeMaster for several years w/o being overly concerned about overcharging a cartridge. The difference in charge weights is insignificant (negligible velocity differentials) in most .308 or higher capacity cases.

 

[Dr. Vette]

The straw trick - even without putting the "feather" on the edge - really cuts down on those few extra crumbs that fall off. I originally did not use it either, but now would not go without it. And, I only use stick powders.

 

[AzDak42]

Guys,

I decided to try it without the straw trick (I did google it, and it seems easy enough to implement) and RL25. It did really well. I think I got only two or three over charges, and I hesitate to call them "over charges" because I saw what happened.....the powder in discharge shoot managed to drop a second or two after the scale stopped, so the scale read correctly, the unit stopped, all was well, and some powder was just close enough to drop after a second or two after motion stopped.

I just dumped the charge, re-ran it, and it was fine.

But I appreciate the tip, and will use it if I have problems with other powders. Probably putting the straw in the discharge would have stopped those 2 or 3 I had last night, but it wasn't enough to get me concerned.

I'll see how it goes, and if needed, I'll just have to hit a Mickey D's or Taco Bell (the one I found on YouTube had a kid talking about why Taco Bell straws are better than Mickey D's straws for this purpose, lol).

It's highly powder dependent. Varget runs much better with the straw. R19 didn't need any help as I seldom get overcharges. It's just handy to have in your bag of tricks if you do find one that just doesn't want to flow well on a given day. (And given the relatively small sample sizes of some batches, it's just hard to say.)

There are also some firmware settings you can tweak, to speed up/slow down how it transitions it's throw speeds. It comes setup for a conservative, work with any charge setup, but if you're only doing bigger rifle charges, the tweaks should help. Going from .204 to 7 STW, I haven't seen a need to tweak them though.. Works well enough at both ends of the range.

As a side note, it also seems to perform better if it's sat on for awhile. I tend to go fire it up and let it sit running for an hour before I start to throw charges. (I calibrate and zero it after the warm up.)