Auto charge dispenser

[alexs2006]

So I've wanted one of these units for quite some time. After doing a lot of research I have decided I want the Hornady Auto charge pro. But for some reason I keep talking myself out of it. I usually weigh all my charges by hand so it's a bit tedious and time consuming.

Anyone have one or something similar by another brand that they absolutely love and wish they'd bought it sooner? This will be 100% for rifle loading. I usually have to load 50-100 rounds at a time for a match once I finalize my load development.

 

[BHPSteel]

I've got an RCBS Chargemaster Supreme that was on special somewhere, so I got it for about $350. In my situation, well worth it. Set up your loading sequence properly and it'll measure you your load while you're seating a round.

I did a fair amount of research myself, and there was SOMETHING that made me downvote the Hornady, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was.

I bought it early on in my reloading 'career' because (a) I'd done some reloading with a guy who has ALL the gear. Some of what he had looked like it was just a luxury, but this clearly wasn't and (b) I'm a believer in "buy once, cry once".

 

[alexs2006]

I've got an RCBS Chargemaster Supreme that was on special somewhere, so I got it for about $350. In my situation, well worth it. Set up your loading sequence properly and it'll measure you your load while you're seating a round.

I did a fair amount of research myself, and there was SOMETHING that made me downvote the Hornady, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was.

I bought it early on in my reloading 'career' because (a) I'd done some reloading with a guy who has ALL the gear. Some of what he had looked like it was just a luxury, but this clearly wasn't and (b) I'm a believer in "buy once, cry once".

I've watched all the comparison videos and everyone of them says the Hornady is the better unit. I really want one of the Fx120i auto chargers but it's hard to swallow a $1000 price tag. https://ceproducts.shop/products/au...o4JgRunU_9V3dtgL-jJzNC9ZtNJc6RB1Uy40Ena7e4pZA

I learned the old fashioned way dipping it out of a bowl with a spoon on a balance beam scale, then graduated to a digital scale with the same method. I just want something to make the process a little smoother and quicker.

I usually deprime and size my brass one day. Put it in the tumbler overnight and put it in a pan to dry the next morning (I Wash my brass in water with SS pins) then trim if needed and prime the next day and usually load my rounds on a separate afternoon. It took me about 2 hours last night to load 42 rounds. 5 of each charge weight and 2 for fouler/barrel warm up rounds before I shoot my groups to test accuracy and velocity. I feel like with an auto charger I could probably cut that time in half.

 

[BHPSteel]

Brass prep and priming aside, I can load about 3 or 4 rounds a minute using the auto charger.

In terms of processing speed, I think they're all about the same.

 

[alexs2006]

Brass prep and priming aside, I can load about 3 or 4 rounds a minute using the auto charger.

In terms of processing speed, I think they're all about the same.

Yeah, the brass prep is the slowest part other than dispensing charges. If I had to guess it takes me a 60-90 seconds per charge I weight by hand.

 

[palmettomoon]

I found the digital auto tricklers to be too finicky for my home. Too much air movement from A/C vents in the ceiling and on a crawlspace. Any vibration seemed to throw the RCBS off and I found it much faster to use a 5.0.5 magnetic balance beam scale and hand trickler to weigh out rifle charges.

If you are looking to save time and process a lot of brass and do not want "super match precision" brass, use the $350 (used price) for a Giraud Power Case Trimmer for trimming/chamfer/deburring you brass in one single motion. I can trim, chamfer and debur a 1,000 .308 cases in about an hour.

 

[BHPSteel]

Well, my brass prep is kinda therapy - which is just as well.

I use a combination of tools but it takes a while to fully condition 1000 rounds of range brass

But palmettomoon is right, unless you've got good control of the airflow in your reloading area, the scale will take a while to stabilize and deliver an accurate dose.

 

[Jackie Graham]

I have found a little bit of a time saver when loading rifle brass and using the auto dispenser. I use a cup with the powder and a lee dipper that holds less than what I want.
Put a scoop of powder in the try and let the auto dispenser finish it off.

 

[palmettomoon]

I have found a little bit of a time saver when loading rifle brass and using the auto dispenser. I use a cup with the powder and a lee dipper that holds less than what I want.
Put a scoop of powder in the try and let the auto dispenser finish it off.

I've seen setups where serious shooters will have a powder charging bank of 5-6 auto tricklers measuring/dispensing powder continuously.

Cain't hide munny.

 

[Jackie Graham]

Well don't look this direction, lol. I still have a scoop and a cup.