Electronic powder measures

[ChrisF]

Currently I reload all my black powder cartridges with a beam scale I am thinking about purchasing an electronica scale however there are so many of them out there wanting to know what people would recommend my buddy just bought a Frankford Arsenal has anybody tried that if so give me reviews on whatever you use thank you

[bpcr shooter]

I have the intelladropper from FA.

Pro's
Its fast as you want it to be!!
its pretty accurate.
easy to clean up

con's
Its REALLY sensitive to not being level.
the powder pan kinda sucks (I used my old one from a RCBS scale)
not a huge fan of the touch screen, but if you have a smart phone you can link it to that and store loads and other info as well

All in all though ive loaded about 5k rounds on it this yr so far and im happy with it.

I also have a RCBS chargemaster

pro's
Its pretty quick once you re-program it.
it accurate
easy to clean up

con's
after 2yrs...…...its dead
RCBS said they no longer support that model as internal parts have changed
no level to make sure its staying.

it was a good buy and was really happy with it, if RCBS would have fixed it I would still be using it.
hope this helps

[ChrisF]

There is a man and Alabama who repairs RCBS Potter measures I will try to get the address and forward it

[Kurt]

Chief,

I use a Frankfort Arsenal intellidropper I like it. I only have one issue and that is the powder switch. after a years plus use it got to be intermittent turning off so I just unplug it when I'm done. It's as fast as the two RCBS I had that died inside two years each and they will not stand behind it like the early once. I went through three RCBS drops and none lasted two years.
The Arsenal very seldom drops a over or under load with black. I seldom see 1/10 over and hardly ever under.
It needs time to warm up to stabilize and it must be level and calibrate the weight and it has a calibration for the type of powder you're using. So if you change between 1F to 2F just push the powder calibration and it will go through it and stable comes up it's ready to use.
If it ever breaks down I will replace it if it cant be repaired.
I also went through the Lyman and the Scheels and I still have one in the box. Their warranty is next to none. If it breaks they will give you a new off the shelf with no questions asked. I had two die and they replaced them and I still have one unopened I keep for back up if the Arsenal quits.
But the Arsenal has outlasted all the others.
By the way, I don't think Scheels stockes their charge masters anymore.

[ChrisF]

Scheels no longer does

[rdnck]

Chris, you are a lot better off staying with a beam scale and a volumetric powder measure such as a Lyman 55. Seriously. Shoot straight, rdnck.

[ChrisF]

Thanks seems that the electronic ones don’t last

[Don McDowell]

RCBS Chargemaster

[ChrisF]

How about you Don How has yours been holding up

[bruce m]

what rdnck says.
the thrower is fast, and with practice accurate enough for silhouette distances.
what actually takes the time is droptubing, and nothing can speed this up.
it is beneficial to compress for a time, and the compressed charge can sit in the press while charging the next case.
if your balance beam scale is less than accurate, sharpening the pivot knives will get it to read 1 granule of powder repeatedly.
the only electronic scales worth using will cost you $1000.00 plus, and will be magnetic resonance rather than the older system which wanders and is generally a pain in the azz.
bruce.

[ChrisF]

My RCBS 10 10 will suffice

[Kurt]

But it's nice when the drop is filling the pan I put the wads in the case compress and the pan is full waiting to be emptied down the drop tube and it all starts over again. With the big 100 gr plus loads I could even seat a bullet if I wanted.

[ChrisF]

So Kurt what would you recommend

[VectorMan]

I use what Kurt uses and load the same way. It’s a nice measure.

[Kurt]

Chief

The choice is yours.
So far this unit has lasted the longest and I usually go through close to 100 lbs powder a year + - except this year and it's more consistent with the drop. I seldom see more than 1/10 over but it needs a warm up to stabilize.
But mine has one issue and that the powder switch intermittency. But this is minor.
If this ever goes under I would get one again. I don't know about how they support their warranty, never had a break down with their equipment.

I might add, I watch the weight of the empty pan. if it gets heavier I re calibrate the weight or just push zero.