feature. There is no charge counter function. Maximum scale capacity is 1,500 grains and the powder pan is easily acces- sible to either hand. When entering data I found the keys to be “mushy,” having no positive click or other indicator upon activation. This I found to be annoying as I had to re-enter data several times for some charge weights. The powder reservoir is emptied through a capped drain tube on the right side like the Hornady and RCBS dispensers, and a long-handled brush is included to aid this process. The RCBS ChargeMaster Dispenser and Scale can be
purchased separately or in combination. The latter is what I acquired for this evaluation. The ChargeMaster Combo, which weighs and dispenses powder charges in grains or grams, was fast and effi cient right out of the box. With a 30-charge memory, charge counter, and auto repeat feature, this unit from RCBS seldom went over the targeted charge weight and more often than not stopped dispensing powder dead on the money. Time to dispense a given charge, regardless of powder type, was between 10 and 20 seconds – essentially about the time it took me to seat a bullet. With the auto repeat feature the next charge was ready by the time I had returned a completely loaded cartridge to the loading block. The backlit display is easy to read and the keys are embossed with nice big letters which are easily decipherable as to function. The powder reservoir holds more than a pound of powder and is drained through a spout on the right side of the dispenser body. A long brush is included to help in emptying the powder reservoir. Retail on the ChargeMaster Combo is $329.99. The Lyman 1200 DPS 3 is the third, and most refi ned,
iteration of this company’s unit and is more than twice as fast as the fi rst generation DPS. This unit will throw a 60-grain charge in 15 to 20 seconds, has a 1,200-grain scale capacity (it also weighs in grams), and will store 100 different loads in memory. The auto repeat setting enables the unit to automati- cally re-zero and throw the next charge as soon as the pan is replaced on the scale. For the charges I was dealing with, in the 26- to 33-grain range, this gave me just enough time to seat a bullet without having to wait for the next charge to be dispensed. Like the RCBS unit, the DPS 3 also has the handy charge counter feature. When I read the directions for empty- ing the DPS 3’s powder reservoir it seemed like an awfully complicated procedure compared to the other dispensers with their simple side drains. In actuality, getting the powder out of the DPS 3 was only a bit more trouble than with the other units, and after dealing with it a couple of times it truly was a non-issue. The DPS 3 retails for $299.95. Some operating and safety tips are in order that apply to
all of the above units. First off, these units are not intended for use with black powder. Second, allow the dispenser to warm up according to the manufacturer’s directions before using it. Each of the tested powder dispensers had its own calibration procedure and they should be calibrated according to their individual directions every time they are fi red up. The scale also can be easily checked by placing a bullet on the scale with the pan in place. Also worth repeating is Close The Powder Drain Spout! Another serious thing I noticed about all the above dispensers is that it is somewhat diffi cult to ensure that the powder feed tube has been completely cleared of powder when emptying the dispenser’s powder reservoirs. When I changed powders from Winchester 748 to IMR 3031 in the
The author's spare turrets resting on their spray paint cap stands.
RCBS Auto Charge, the fi rst charge of 3031 dispensed had a small amount of the obviously different 748 precede it into the pan. It’s probably good that I was paying attention. My sug- gestion to all users of any of these units is this: After you are sure the unit has been emptied of powder (and before refi lling) punch in a random charge weight and hit the dispense key a few times to make sure the powder tube is completely clear of the previously used type of powder. For those wanting an electronic/digital scale, these dispensers are a way to kill two
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