Harrell's powder measure vs. Rsbc Chargemaster 1500?

Atanasius

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 17, 2011
308
75
55
Wisconsin
I have a RCBS Chargemaster , but I see many high level shooters use Harrell's powder measures. Anyone who use both and can comment on Harrell's. I'd like being independent of power supply. Is really Harrell's accurate to .1 grain?
 
Have and used both, and it's not a fair comparison. One's a measure, the other is a scale based system. No, the Harrell's will not throw within .1. Not all the time with all powders, anyway. With many it will, but ultimately it's accuracy is based on you, the operator. A good tool poorly used will give poor results, simple as that. Using long, extruded tubular powders, it's not going to throw as consistently as it will with short cut kernals or ball powders. Again, just the nature of the beast. Both are good, and both have their places.
 
I have and love my Harrell's. With ball powder and consistency of operation, I've found it will easily keep within one-tenth grain. With H4831, you'll have a three-tenths variation. With IMR4895 and H4895, the variation is down to less than two-tenths grain.

The question then becomes: Does that variation make a difference in the real world? I ask that because on at least two occasions I have run tests using thrown charges versus individually-weighed charges. In both tests, the thrown charges produced a slightly smaller Extreme Spread over an Oehler 30P chronograph than the weighed charges.

To be conclusive, of course, you would have to run the test many more times with different powders, etc. None-the-less, I no longer worry about small deviations. I will, of course, re-run the test when my new long-range rifle is finished.

Cheers,
Richard
 
I have and love my Harrell's. With ball powder and consistency of operation, I've found it will easily keep within one-tenth grain. With H4831, you'll have a three-tenths variation. With IMR4895 and H4895, the variation is down to less than two-tenths grain.

The question then becomes: Does that variation make a difference in the real world? I ask that because on at least two occasions I have run tests using thrown charges versus individually-weighed charges. In both tests, the thrown charges produced a slightly smaller Extreme Spread over an Oehler 30P chronograph than the weighed charges.

To be conclusive, of course, you would have to run the test many more times with different powders, etc. None-the-less, I no longer worry about small deviations. I will, of course, re-run the test when my new long-range rifle is finished.

Cheers,
Richard

Excellent analysis. To piggy back on it, the variations in weighed vs thrown is very much case/charge dependent. In other words 0.3 grains means little ultimately when stuffing a 7mmm mag or 300 win mag. with H-1000 or RL-25. Change the case to a .223 Rem with RL-15 or Varget and 0.3 grains can be a big deal in pressure and accuracy downrange wise.

So when loading a 300 win mag with my 25 year old RCBS Uniflow, I will weigh only every 5th charge, when loading for my .223 with stick powder, I weigh each and every throw.
 
Last edited:
"The question then becomes: Does that variation make a difference in the real world?"
Richard

Exactly. You guys just confirmed all my thoughts. It is simply physics, but I wanted to hear real reloading bench experience(laboratory experiments and conclusions). Thanks to all of you. Anybody have one(Harrell's Premium) for sale?????