Electronic powder dispenser or high end scale

[Bidwell]

Trying to decide if I should get a medium grade electronic powder dispenser or higher end scale with better than .1 grain resolution. Can't really do both. I like the idea of speeding up my process, as throwing powder is my least favorite part of reloading, and the slowest. However, I could be persuaded into a higher end scale if I would see real benefit in terms of precision on target. I just hunt to 3-400 yards so not sure if the added precision is worth it. Any suggestions on devices is also encouraged. Thanks!

 

[SloppyJ]

That's tough. I went with the powder thrower and I'm happy I did. However, I do wonder about the scale some times but I've been able to get respectable SD/ES numbers from it. I'm using a FA intellidropper. I let it warm up for 20min or so and then calibrate.

 

[HuntHarder]

More accurate than .1 isn't really going to be noticeable at those yardages. I'd speed up my process with a nicer powder throw.

 

[Bidwell]

That's tough. I went with the powder thrower and I'm happy I did. However, I do wonder about the scale some times but I've been able to get respectable SD/ES numbers from it. I'm using a FA intellidropper. I let it warm up for 20min or so and then calibrate.

That's where I'm leaning. Intellidroper looks good too. I've heard of some qa complaints but the price is tough to beat and still lots of positive comments about it.

 

[Bidwell]

More accurate than .1 isn't really going to be noticeable at those yardages. I'd speed up my process with a nicer powder throw.

Makes sense to me. I didn't think it would so thanks for confirming

 

[wind gypsy]

I bet a guy could be just as fast as a chargemaster with a good scale, powder throw, and hand trickler - but the good scale is probably going to cost more than a chargemaster on it's own last I looked.

 

[Quandary]

All depends on your goals. I use an RCBS Chargemaster Supreme for making non-precision loads. The extreme spreads are usually within +/- .15 grains. When I want to be precise I use the Chargemaster to drop .2 or so short then finish with a Creedmore TRX-925 and Dandy Trickler. The RCBS/TRX combo gives results equal to or superior to anything you can use, simply takes a bit longer. Depending on your goals either or both may serve your needs well.

 

[Bidwell]

I bet a guy could be just as fast as a chargemaster with a good scale, powder throw, and hand trickler - but the good scale is probably going to cost more than a chargemaster on it's own last I looked.

Interesting. Yeah the speed and convenience is the biggest thing for me. Just need moderate accuracy. The intellidropper is appealing since it seems like the fastest, and affordable. Just likely going to deal with some issues on occasion. I think if I can get it so I pour a load, seat the bullet while the next load is being poured, that could be really nice and speed things up quite a bit. That's probably around 30 seconds or less per pour.

 

[Robobiss]

I bet a guy could be just as fast as a chargemaster with a good scale, powder throw, and hand trickler - but the good scale is probably going to cost more than a chargemaster on it's own last I looked.

The benefit to the dispenser isn’t that it’s markedly faster at dispensing than someone that is fast doing it more manually. The benefit is that it is running when you’re doing something else.

For that reason it easily doubles or triples how fast you can load rifle rounds when weighing charges.
It dispenses a powder charge, you dump it into a piece of brass and throw the pan back on the scale, as you are seating the bullet and putting the finished round in a box, the next charge is pretty much done dispensing.

When I’m loading with a single stage and a powder dispenser, I spend 90% of my time just dumping charges and seating bullets. I can load X number of rounds way, way faster with an electronic dispenser. It’s not even close, because two things are happening at the same time.

Edit: OP my vote is for the dispenser if you couldn’t tell.

 

[wind gypsy]

Interesting. Yeah the speed and convenience is the biggest thing for me. Just need moderate accuracy. The intellidropper is appealing since it seems like the fastest, and affordable. Just likely going to deal with some issues on occasion. I think if I can get it so I pour a load, seat the bullet while the next load is being poured, that could be really nice and speed things up quite a bit. That's probably around 30 seconds or less per pour.

You and @Robobiss make a good point, doing multiple things at once would certainly help. With AutoTrickler since it’s a bit faster I prefer to throw and set bullets in every case and then burn through the seating process quick with a press that has a shell ejector.

 

[Bidwell]

The benefit to the dispenser isn’t that it’s markedly faster at dispensing than someone that is fast doing it more manually. The benefit is that it is running when you’re doing something else.

For that reason it easily doubles or triples how fast you can load rifle rounds when weighing charges.
It dispenses a powder charge, you dump it into a piece of brass and throw the pan back on the scale, as you are seating the bullet and putting the finished round in a box, the next charge is pretty much done dispensing.

When I’m loading with a single stage and a powder dispenser, I spend 90% of my time just dumping charges and seating bullets. I can load X number of rounds way, way faster with an electronic dispenser. It’s not even close, because two things are happening at the same time.

Edit: OP my vote is for the dispenser if you couldn’t tell.

That's good to hear, and exactly what I'm hoping for. Think it's a done deal. Now my only hang up is what to get.

 

[Robobiss]

That's good to hear, and exactly what I'm hoping for. Think it's a done deal. Now my only hang up is what to get.

I have an intellidropper. Despite the crappy reviews I have not had any issues with mine.

 

[Bidwell]

I have an intellidropper. Despite the crappy reviews I have not had any issues with mine.

I think the reviews seem generally positive, just a touch more qc problems than say something like a rcbs. Customer service also seems really good from what I've heard. If it does break they'll replace it. The intellidropper 2.0 is coming out in July, which is tempting, but not sure if I want to wait that long. Plus I hate buying the latest of anything with giving it a year to work out issues

 

[aachey]

A few years ago I replaced the beam scale with a charge master lite. I think any electronic dispenser is worth it, definitely speeds up the process.

 

[Luked]

Replaced my RCBS beam scale with a RCBS Chargemaster Lite.
Really like it so far and really haven't seen any major issues.
It seems to throw charges accurate from one throw to the next.
It will pitch a tenth off from time to time but not often. I just dump it back in the hopper and move on with another.
It has thrown accurate charges with all my Extruded powders as well as ball powders I use for Pistol and 300Blk