RCBS Chargemaster Lite First Impressions

[txguero]

Finally decided to buy a Chargemaster Lite the other day. Brownells had them on sale for $229 (although I think this is pretty much always what they are going for) and I had been wanting one anyway so I went for it.

Setup was pretty straightforward, rubbed down the inside surfaces I could reach with a dryer sheet and turned it on/warmed it up. RCBS recommends 15-20 min of warmup time which seems a little long, but I figure I will be able to use this time to set stuff up and be ready to throw charges.

After calibrating and throwing a few test charges, I decided to start actually loading. I was throwing 42.0gr RL16 and loaded 75 rounds. Initially it was pretty slow going as the trickler would slow to a halt about .7gr short and take about a minute to a minute and a half to finish out the charge. I was getting a little disappointed and already considering the "straw mod." Gave it some time and by 40-50 rounds in I do believe it sped up. Probably static working out of the components.

Overall so far it is a nice convenience feature. I don't think it's much faster than my normal method of manually throwing and trickling charges, however, I can use that time for other things like watching TV. Unfortunately my bench isn't rock solid stable so I didn't want to seat bullets while the chargemaster was actively trickling for fear of it getting thrown off. As far as the accuracy, I don't obsess over charge weight accuracy but it seemed to be in agreement with the electronic scale I have been using so far. I used to trickle to the nearest .02gr and didn't find any difference in accuracy for the type of shooting I do so as long as I'm within .1 consistently I'm happy. So far the chargemaster seems to deliver. I'll have to test a ball powder soon and see how the speed and accuracy compares to my experience so far. Overall very happy with it though.

 

[6brshooter]

I use a straw with a serrated end, makes it alot more consistent with coarse powders. If I have 25-30 to load up to top off box, I'll throw powder then seat. If I've got a bunch to load, I'll set up cm lite on a small table and seat. It makes it go quicker and I dont have to worry about vibrations from seating.

 

[502Chevelle]

Try looking on You Tube for a video on changing the slow down rate. I changed mine, so it runs a little stronger up closer to the slow down point. I hope that makes sense. I also use a straw, and that helps for sure. However, if you use a very fine ball powder like cfe223, I find it works better to run it with the straw pushed in a little so the grooves in the tube help catch and hold the powder. Otherwise that fine ball powder rolls out when you have the pan off dropping powder in your brass, and you end up with powder everywhere. MKM machining has also started making a plastic insert. Haven’t used one, but it looks promising. I also use a powder pan, I think it’s a Lyman, but could be wrong, that has the little funnel on one end. It works pretty good. I had the same problem shaking my bench while it was trickling, so now my Chargemaster sits on a small separate table right beside my bench so it isn’t influenced by my loading process. I hope this helps! If you learn tips that can help us out please share. Always looking for a better way to skin a cat.

 

[txguero]

Try looking on You Tube for a video on changing the slow down rate. I changed mine, so it runs a little stronger up closer to the slow down point. I hope that makes sense. I also use a straw, and that helps for sure. However, if you use a very fine ball powder like cfe223, I find it works better to run it with the straw pushed in a little so the grooves in the tube help catch and hold the powder. Otherwise that fine ball powder rolls out when you have the pan off dropping powder in your brass, and you end up with powder everywhere. MKM machining has also started making a plastic insert. Haven’t used one, but it looks promising. I also use a powder pan, I think it’s a Lyman, but could be wrong, that has the little funnel on one end. It works pretty good. I had the same problem shaking my bench while it was trickling, so now my Chargemaster sits on a small separate table right beside my bench so it isn’t influenced by my loading process. I hope this helps! If you learn tips that can help us out please share. Always looking for a better way to skin a cat.

Changing the slow down rate sounds like exactly what it needs. More of the middle “pre trickle” but slower pour phase. I can imagine a ball powder would make a mess as even RL16 was dropping a few kernels every now and then when I would pull the pan. I will definitely do some tinkering and see where I end up.

 

[DamagedGuds]

I use a straw with a serrated end, makes it alot more consistent with coarse powders. If I have 25-30 to load up to top off box, I'll throw powder then seat. If I've got a bunch to load, I'll set up cm lite on a small table and seat. It makes it go quicker and I dont have to worry about vibrations from seating.

I don't have a lite but I have a 1500. Straw thing doesn't seem to work for me as each time I start a load the straw comes out. It's definitely in deep enough and have tried different straws. I bought the MKM insert instead.

Sorry to detract from the topic but hopefully the OP can get info regarding the straw technique as well.

 

[6brshooter]

Did you use a McDonald's straw? Theres a good how to at 6br.com on it, serrating the end makes a huge difference. I can get 47-48 out of 50 dead on with mine. It does have an area419 platen and pan, makes it alot easier to remove pan with out disturbing tube

 

[Olen_4504]

you can't program the chargemaster lite.

go to ebay and search for RCBS Chargemaster Reducing Insert. a member on here sells them. best $17 you'll spend.

slows the throw time down some - but you'll rarely ever get an overthrow again

 

[salks]

I use the McDonalds straw in my charge master lite and it has made a huge difference in overthrows. You can even squeeze it a little making it slightly oblong helps it stay put. A friend of mine has a different brand of thrower and he bought some of the bushing inserts. He loves them he can speed his up and throw accurately. When I get it set up I seat bullets while throwing powders.

 

[MotorOilMcCall]

I have the 1500 as well. I use the MKM inserts (there are 2 of them). With the smallest orifice in for large stick powders it works great, probably a 2-3% overcharge rate. I do get the strange, 1% under throw as well (something in the programming must be slightly wonky)... it's NBD, you just hit the trickle button until it gets to the correct weight.

I started with the McDonalds straw, it definitely helped, but the big stick powders still over charged probably 7-10% of the time. Finer powders were fine.

The MKM inserts are somewhat tunable. I find the bigger the powder, the smaller the insert you want. With H4350, charging to ~42gr, I probably average 20-25 seconds per charge with the smallest insert. Not quite as fast as I can seat, but a lot faster than throwing and trickling charges, then seating... running in parallel rather than series makes the whole process more efficient.

Anyone have both the 1500 and the Lite (or the Lyman or Hornady versions)? I love my 1500, and wouldn't change it at this point, but curious if others have feedback/insight on multiple versions and which performs best.

 

[kriller134]

you can't program the chargemaster lite.

go to ebay and search for RCBS Chargemaster Reducing Insert. a member on here sells them. best $17 you'll spend.

slows the throw time down some - but you'll rarely ever get an overthrow again

This! I got one and ever since I installed it, I haven’t gotten a single overcharge. It does slow it down a bit, but worth it.

 

[Carlos Danger]

McDonalds here too.