RCBS Chargemaster Combo

WileyWapiti · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

Well, the wife went and done it, bless her heart, she bought me a Chargemaster for Christmas. Not sure if it was the catalog pages I would copy and leave on her pillow with it circled every morning since Halloween or where she got the idea. Bottom line is I got one. I have seen quite a few of your pictures showing your loading benches and the chargemaster was in quite a few. Does anybody have any do's and don'ts that they would care to share. Any good or bad reviews on the product. I am waiting for some new powder to come in so I can get started (I allowed myself to run out without having a recovery plan). Please advise and thank you in advance for any feedback you provide.

PS - Bushy - So far as advice, I already know not to take wooden nickels (unless they are misprinted or prior to 1942, then they are worth more).

Thanks

WW

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

It's the lousiest powder scale you can buy...Send it to me and I'll dispose of it for free...I'm jealous...Say...Can we trade wives for a few weeks? My birthday is..........

WileyWapiti · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

If your wife stacks firewood, I think we could work something out, my wife's stacking arms gave out.

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

Not only won't she stack firewood...She won't even chop it...Kinda one way about it...Somethin' about it being 20* and less outside...And she's frightened by that double bit I use... Very Happy

Guess I'm out of luck, huh...

WileyWapiti · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

Yeah, sorry, but the firewood stackin' is a deal killer.

woods · Member Joined: Oct 15, 2005 Posts: 89

Congrats W W

I have had one for a year now and love it. There are some tricks to learn.

I leave mine plugged in on the bench but off. When I pull it out and turn it on (always check the drain plug, like a boat Very Happy

)I always calibrate it according to the instructions

Then rezero with the pan

A concept that I have come to accept is that the 1500 is a highly accurate powder thrower. In this example I want to load 60 grains of RL22 so I set the dispense to 59.7 grains.

With RL22 which is a relatively short grain you could set it at 59.8 grains. Sometimes it will throw right on what you set and sometimes .1, .2 or .3 grains higher. With ball powders you can set it only .1 lower, with long cuts like IMR4350 you need to set it .4 grains lower than your desired weight.

After the machine beeps, wait 5 seconds while it displays the number of loads dispensed at that setting, and then it will display the exact weight of the powder thrown. In this case it dispensed 59.9 grains

Now it is a relatively simple matter to take a small sharp instrument and nudge a few grains off the end of the spindle until you have exactly the charge weight you want

Emptying the 1500 is a snap also and I seldom lose a grain of powder. Set the 1500 to the edge of the bench and drain the powder reservoir directly into the bottle

While still holding the bottle under the drain hit the dispense button and it will start dispensing according to the last setting. That will empty the reservoir of the last few grains and send the rest that is in the tube into the pan, use the brush to dislodge stray grains in the reservoir

Sometimes at the lower powder settings the tube will slow down. Hit the cancel button, dump the powder into the bottle, set the empty pan back on the scale and hit the dispense button again and it will dispense at high speed again. Piece of cake!

Remember to give the machine a few seconds to hit zero after each operation. Don't get in a hurry.

Now turn it off, close the drain plug, smile with pride and go kiss your wife.

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

Good stuff woods, you may have singlehandedly revived my interest in RCBS electronics.

WileyWapiti · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:29 am Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

Woods - you da man! Thank you, that is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks.

WW

PaulS · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:13 am Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

Woods,
Why does that powder dispenser have a phone dialer built in to it?

English Mike · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:47 am Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

I just ordered the Chargemaster Combo from Natchez - on offer for $254.99

Time to buy another 240>110V converter I guess.

Of course this purchase has nothing to do with need but want is a good enough excuse IMO Very Happy

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: Re: RCBS Chargemaster Combo

I would think that most of our purchases are out of "want" rather then "need"...I know it is for me...