Powder dumps

B

Bench 1

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I have been using the RCBS charge master and have been very pleased with it.I have never used a powder dump quite simply because I have never thought they are accurate enough and I didnt trust them. But since I started shooting benchrest I have noticed that all the top guys at the club use them. So far I have always went preloaded to the matches mainly because during the learning process at the matches its one less thing to worry about. But after several matches under my belt I have setteled down enough that I am atleast shooting at my target and not the man next to me. I want to buy a powder dump but I want to make sure I get a good one and need some suggestions on what to buy. Thanks
 
wrong...just buy a power supply for the charge master and you will be money and powder accuracy ahead.

mike in co
Bench 1 said:
I have been using the RCBS charge master and have been very pleased with it.I have never used a powder dump quite simply because I have never thought they are accurate enough and I didnt trust them. But since I started shooting benchrest I have noticed that all the top guys at the club use them. So far I have always went preloaded to the matches mainly because during the learning process at the matches its one less thing to worry about. But after several matches under my belt I have setteled down enough that I am atleast shooting at my target and not the man next to me. I want to buy a powder dump but I want to make sure I get a good one and need some suggestions on what to buy. Thanks
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Bench 1: First off, welcome to Benchrest shooting. :)

There are several measures out there that will do the job...Harrel's makes good ones. My measure is a well worn and slightly massaged ;) Redding 3BR. Last winter, I worked with an older Belding and Mull and found it to be slightly better in terms of +/- weight variances after a bit of blueprinting. I used it at a couple of matches and won a couple of yardages with it. But in the end, I went back to my trusty Redding for convienence. Neither of them are perfect when it comes to throwing the exact weight every time, but they work within a margin that's within the 'tune range' of the cartridges I compete with.

The Chargemaster system seems like a good one and several of my BR pals use and like theirs both at home and at the range. Another thing to consider is getting a supply of vials to dispense charges in at home, then just bring the vials with you to the match and dump from them into the cases.

Good shootin'. -Al
 
Bench: welcome to the world of benchrest. A part of that is learning to use what you have - which seems a silly thing to say, but...

So, consider the Harrell's measure. I bought one of the first ones. It is pretty accurate, but at the same setting, will throw slightly different charge weights depending on how full the bottle is. Yup, I thew and measured a couple bottles worth of powder to learn this.

A friend of mine bought one of the Harrell's benchrest measures a couple years ago. His throws pretty much the same charge regardless of how full the bottle is. Now the quick answer is, his is better. But it's not. They're just as good, if you learn how to use them.

Now my ChargeMastger isn't all that repeatable either. It too is a bit older. I use it for loading long-range chamberings, so that's 70 grains of a coarse powder, to +/- .1 grains. Maybe that's why. I check it's offerings with a very good scale. Maybe the newer ones work to a tighter tolerance; I'm not going to spend $300 to find out.

Oh, for the PPC, I use a Hensler, but they're not made any more. If Jerry Stiller ever makes a run, I'd recommend one. It's just for the PPC. Total adjustment range is something like between 21 to 31 grains powder.
 
I have noticed a lot of the old timers will never switch. Some though at our range have.
Even one with hall of fame point(s).
He has set up a very small battery pack from items from radio shack.
Just got in my chargemaster and will be setting it up with the battery pack soon.
 
mike in co said:
go with my first recommendation.....you will be ahead of the guys with throwers.....[emphasis added]
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Unless they shoot better than you. If it were all a matter of finding and buying just the right tool, with shooting development a matter of keeping on the search for the "best" tool -- then blindly using it -- guys like Mike would be Hall of Fame shooters.

Here's a good quote from the gunsmith forum. It happens to be about something else, but the principle's the same:

On some imports since they use some non-conventional thinking and have metric lead screws you need to figure it out yourself. That is what a machinist does, figures it out! The Industrial Revolution came about by early machinists figuring out how to make it....anything...make it. Just cut the first cut in a test piece, then back the tool off slightly and see what other places on the thread dial syncs with that cut.
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Al Nyhus has found a way to use his old, old Redding BR3. Unless you count number of posts on BR Central as significant, Al has had a lot more success than most. (Yeah, Mike, that includes you. And me.)

In general, and IIRC, the one thing that some testing discovered was that the weight of the handle on the thrower helped one throw consistent charges. Notice the "helped." Again, IIRC, it should be balanced on the other side of the drum. Very few of us (includes me) took this testing to heart enough to modify our throwers.

Pretty well known is when throwing that first charge any time you set up the measure, throw and discard back into the powder jug about 10 charges. Anytime you come back to it --like after shooting your relay -- throw and put back in the jug about 3 charges. When you throw charges, be consistent. If you move the handle forcefully, always move it forcefully. If gently, etc. If you tap twice at the top and twice at the bottom, do it always. Etc.

I'm sure there are similar issues with a ChargeMaster. For one, there is just going to be some technique involved in getting 31 grains of N-133 in a PPC case, even though that's not your immediate goal. Etc.
 
Bench 1 said:
I have been using the RCBS charge master and have been very pleased with it.I have never used a powder dump quite simply because I have never thought they are accurate enough and I didn't trust them. But since I started shooting benchrest I have noticed that all the top guys at the club use them.
Click to expand...

Don't be too quick to jump ship. You'll also find that a lot of top shooters, locally, regionally, and even nationally, are moving to the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Combo too. I know at least one, who employs two of them on his bench.
 
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abintx,
is that the correct end on the wire for the chargemaster?
Got the scale on Monday. Went to radio shack but had not taken it out of the box to find out what end it on it.
 
Vern said:
abintx, is that the correct end on the wire for the ChargeMaster?
Got the scale on Monday. Went to radio shack but had not taken it out of the box to find out what end it on it.
Click to expand...

I don't know. I took my ChargeMaster, and the 8 "D" size battery holder I obtained separately, without the wire, and a Radio Shack employee soldered two wires, with a correct socket, to the holder for me. If it isn't the correct end, it's easily replaceable.
 
Ah ok.
I can order the 8 d from radio shack as the one here only carries the 6 d size.
I wasnt sure if it was 6 or 8.
I also have a small 12 volt battery I might also use since its rechargeable at least for right now.
 
I have decided to try my charge master at our club match. The only thing that I am worried about is the temperture. So far far I have only used it in a climate controlled enviroment and I am not sure how much temperture will efect it. According to the book it should not be used in temps below freezing because it affects the load cell. Also I took converter and plugged it into my lighter plug on my truck and then pluged the charge master into it and it worked perfect. I can park close enough at the range with short drop cord it should be fine. I think this may work better for me than charging batteries and carrying them to the bench. If anyone has used the charge master in cold temps please let me know if it did ok. Thanks
 
You know I am sure glad you said that Bench. I forgot my Jeep has a 110 plug built into it. I wont need the battery pack until I go to some of the meetings outside of our club.
 
well you guys need to remember that cars are not stable platforms...they move in the wind.
now a table next to the car, down wind.....


mike in co
 
Yes Mike I agree. Thats why the measure is on the table and the chord runs to the outlet inside the jeep.
 
8 D-cells in series will give you ~ 12VDC. You can also use a 12V rechargeable (deer feeder batteries) -- nice to be able to recharge when discharged rather than "chunk". Just get a connector that fits the Chargemaster, clip the leads, attach spade lugs that fit the rechargeable, and you should be in business.

I use a small inverter off the 12V battery, but apparently that is an extra piece of gear that I really didn't/don't need.

Glen O.
 
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