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Powder Measure/Dispenser Question

hillbillyfab

hillbillyfab

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Apr 27, 2014
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Vanleer, TN
Alright I'm looking to improve my reloading process by going to a dispenser of some kind. I don't mind doing it by hand for our hunting loads. It's just that my son and I are shooting more 9mm lately, so I'd like to step things up a little bit. I've always had my eye on the Chargemaster by RCBS. Just wondering if there is another measure I should be looking at also?
 
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I don't have an auto dispenser, but know some folks who have them. I've heard only good reviews on the Chargemaster, but have heard the Hornady took a while to get calibrated. That's just from my friends that have told me about their experiences.
 
I've had a chargemaster for 20 years and it does a fine job. No complaints. I hear the chargemaster lite does well too. Since I load for competition, I load low and trickle up with a vibrating trickler that drops a single kernel. I believe I'm getting to the kernel accuracy. Use the mods you can find on YouTube to speed up the unit and the straw mod too. They help.
 
If you looking for speed and repeatability try a Redding 10x powder measure. It's designed for smaller charges like those used in handgun rounds. If you pay attention to your routine the measure will throw charges + - one tenth of a grain day in day out.
 
I've been using a Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper for the last 3 or 4 months. So far I love it. Just make sure to let it warm up 15-30 minutes and it throws very accurate charges quickly. I double check every so often on my beam scale just to be safe, but really haven't found a reason to yet. It's been a game changer for me over measuring out every load by hand.
 
Hmmm. I have a Lee Loadmaster press and it feeds 3 9's. We use CFEPistol powder, Winchester and CCI Small pistol primers, and load mostly 115 gr ARMSCOR FMJ bullets. We have a few other varieties for security.

CONS: Only one. The primer insert process is prone to failure. Primers are not forced into insert position and most frequently the press allows for an insert step that deforms the primer. IMHO the primer path is at fault and since you cannot change the path (and I have tried) the press becomes a potential primer explosion site. In order to skip the primer step you have to deprime and prime elsewhere.

PROCESS: We take turns decapping (universal die). Then SS clean (not really necessary but I like my brass to shine). Then inserting primers using an RCBS Automatic Primer tool. I have multiple primer holding rods and have developed a system for filling them. You cannot use a handheld primer tool unless you want to palm a bowling ball by September. My hands cramped so bad I could not hold a fork.

After brass is primered they are placed into the Lee feed tubes which each hold 21 pieces for a total of 84. A carbide sizer with no decap pin sizes the brass and then moves to next station. Next pull drops powder. next pull positions brass with powder for a bullet. I look then manually place the bullet. Next pull seats the bullet then moves it into a kickout station. Once you have a brass at each station, maybe 20 seconds, each pull of the handle produces a round.

I am extremely careful with the powder charge process because even a SLIGHT overcharge can do great damage to your pistol and perhaps the shooter. As I place the bullet I look into the brass to insure all is routine. When we started using the press we checked powder charge weight on my 10-10 scale every ten rounds. Then to 20. Now at 50 rounds. The process is infinitely repeatable so long as each stroke is calm and measured. No slapping banging hurry up just calm measured push down raise up look in brass place bullet push down repeat. Do NOT allow the brass feed tubes to run out.

We have loaded thousands of rounds......despite the primer troubles I consider the press to be a great asset and recommend it.
 
hillbillyfab said:
Alright I'm looking to improve my reloading process by going to a dispenser of some kind. I don't mind doing it by hand for our hunting loads. It's just that my son and I are shooting more 9mm lately, so I'd like to step things up a little bit. I've always had my eye on the Chargemaster by RCBS. Just wondering if there is another measure I should be looking at also?
Click to expand...
For all my practice rounds, I use a progressive press. I like the Lee 1000 and the Lee Breech lock presses. Affordable, accurate and dependable.
 
DaveB said:
Hmmm. I have a Lee Loadmaster press and it feeds 3 9's. We use CFEPistol powder, Winchester and CCI Small pistol primers, and load mostly 115 gr ARMSCOR FMJ bullets. We have a few other varieties for security.

CONS: Only one. The primer insert process is prone to failure. Primers are not forced into insert position and most frequently the press allows for an insert step that deforms the primer. IMHO the primer path is at fault and since you cannot change the path (and I have tried) the press becomes a potential primer explosion site. In order to skip the primer step you have to deprime and prime elsewhere.

PROCESS: We take turns decapping (universal die). Then SS clean (not really necessary but I like my brass to shine). Then inserting primers using an RCBS Automatic Primer tool. I have multiple primer holding rods and have developed a system for filling them. You cannot use a handheld primer tool unless you want to palm a bowling ball by September. My hands cramped so bad I could not hold a fork.

After brass is primered they are placed into the Lee feed tubes which each hold 21 pieces for a total of 84. A carbide sizer with no decap pin sizes the brass and then moves to next station. Next pull drops powder. next pull positions brass with powder for a bullet. I look then manually place the bullet. Next pull seats the bullet then moves it into a kickout station. Once you have a brass at each station, maybe 20 seconds, each pull of the handle produces a round.

I am extremely careful with the powder charge process because even a SLIGHT overcharge can do great damage to your pistol and perhaps the shooter. As I place the bullet I look into the brass to insure all is routine. When we started using the press we checked powder charge weight on my 10-10 scale every ten rounds. Then to 20. Now at 50 rounds. The process is infinitely repeatable so long as each stroke is calm and measured. No slapping banging hurry up just calm measured push down raise up look in brass place bullet push down repeat. Do NOT allow the brass feed tubes to run out.

We have loaded thousands of rounds......despite the primer troubles I consider the press to be a great asset and recommend it.
Click to expand...
Your the first person I've heard that had problems with primers on that press, I'd check further into "why" it's happening. Somethings wrong there.... Ask these guys..... https://fsreloading.com/manufacturer/lee-precision/?gclid=COLX2K3KqLsCFUgS7AodUTQAIg
 
I have my charge master set up so that throws as soon as I return the pan to the scale. I use a Lee progressive so that I can a charge a case as soon as I have the case ready. I have thought about replacing it for the smaller RCBS auto dispenser to save room on my bench but the old one works so well I am having load the powder into the press. I have even used it to load shot shells rather than tinker with the shot shell press powder dispensor.
 
RodneyO said:
Your the first person I've heard that had problems with primers on that press, I'd check further into "why" it's happening. Somethings wrong there.... Ask these guys..... https://fsreloading.com/manufacturer/lee-precision/?gclid=COLX2K3KqLsCFUgS7AodUTQAIg
Click to expand...
Been in contact with the Lee support...got the latest primer feed assembly. Installed it, same problem only less so. Primers drop from plastic container that is jiggled every stroke of the press to initiate/maintain/feed. Problem as I see it is the feed and assembly are all the same size and SPP or LRP are not. The primers can lock up with too much weight on them for gravity to overcome.

Additionally, the mechanism to move the primer from the feed location simply is not reliable. The primer can be scooted forward a little or a lot. If you do a stroke that for whatever reason is not a full stroke the primer will be half or part way to dead center of the brass. When you complete the stroke the not-positioned correctly primer jams if you are lucky or is squished half in and half out of the brass, jamming as it tries to load at the next station. In the meantime the next primer in line is not positioned properly either.

I got tired of being unable to complete 50 rounds without a primer jam no matter how exact I was with the push pull stroke on the press. If there is a new assembly, say since June 2019, I would look into it and see if I could get it to work. Decap and priming external to the press is to me a huge negative.
 
Deerhunter said:
I've been using a Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper for the last 3 or 4 months. So far I love it. Just make sure to let it warm up 15-30 minutes and it throws very accurate charges quickly. I double check every so often on my beam scale just to be safe, but really haven't found a reason to yet. It's been a game changer for me over measuring out every load by hand.
Click to expand...
About to burn some Cabela's points on one of these myself.
 
DaveB said:
Been in contact with the Lee support...got the latest primer feed assembly. Installed it, same problem only less so. Primers drop from plastic container that is jiggled every stroke of the press to initiate/maintain/feed. Problem as I see it is the feed and assembly are all the same size and SPP or LRP are not. The primers can lock up with too much weight on them for gravity to overcome.

Additionally, the mechanism to move the primer from the feed location simply is not reliable. The primer can be scooted forward a little or a lot. If you do a stroke that for whatever reason is not a full stroke the primer will be half or part way to dead center of the brass. When you complete the stroke the not-positioned correctly primer jams if you are lucky or is squished half in and half out of the brass, jamming as it tries to load at the next station. In the meantime the next primer in line is not positioned properly either.

I got tired of being unable to complete 50 rounds without a primer jam no matter how exact I was with the push pull stroke on the press. If there is a new assembly, say since June 2019, I would look into it and see if I could get it to work. Decap and priming external to the press is to me a huge negative.
Click to expand...
The 1000 has the exact same feed system as yours. I had problems at first, but once I got it tuned, it has been acting perfectly unless I let the amount of primers get to low in the feed system, then it will act up. I rely on feel more than sight to know if everything is going right. You can tell if a primer doesn't want to go in...but I watch every stroke and primer movement, powder drop, everything... afterall I don't want any grenades' going off in my guns! Stupid question, (I don't want to insult you) but do you use the correct large primer / small primer feed ramps?
 
backyardtndeer said:
About to burn some Cabela's points on one of these myself.
Click to expand...
You will enjoy it. Using mine right now to crank out some 9mm XTP's
20210531_165049.jpg
 
I have a chargemaster and like it, but when I do pistol rounds I just use a thrower and check every fifth round or so. When I load pistol it's for plinking and my rifle loads I want to be really accurate.
 

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