DisAPPOINTED! Charge-Master hesitation.

P

Pond James Pond

New member
I recently asked about the Hornady LnL, Lyman Gen 5 and Gen 6.

A few people addressed the question but many said "Sell a kidney and buy the Chargemaster 1500!".

I had dismissed this all due to the exorbitant price of the RCBS. Until I saw the price and the discount they offered in a local shop. €415 out of the door. I converted to GBP to see how it compared to the Hornady and Lymans that I'd have to buy from the UK and it was very favourable.

Then the disappointment. It is still steep but I went this morning to buy it, but it turned out it was the older model. A bit of research says it is the "Powder Master and Pro Scale".
It's been on display for 3-4 years. That makes it a little less exceptional value.

What is the real world difference between the older and new Chargemaster 1500 models?

So, my question should I still consider it? It is £100 less than the current model from the UK, but still more than the current model of the others.

Here is the picture:
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In fact, locally I could also find the Hornady. Admittedly that could be had for €350, so about €65 less than this, older RCBS model. Is the RCBS older model still head and shoulders above the Hornady?

Bottom line is that if I have to pay the full whack price, I'm not buying a new model RCBS. Bought from the UK, that equates to about €550. Unjustifiable for me.

Should I walk away? Should I go back? Should I go Hornady, after all?
 

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Let me put it another way.

For the price of that older RCBS, I can buy a Lyman Gen 6, 500 240gr Plated bullets for the .44, and 500 FMJBT 69gr PRVI bullets for the AR.

Delivered from Germany...

That is a might tempting alternative!!
Can you still give me reasons why the RCBS should still be the choice?
 
`Never even SEEN a 1500 that looks like that... and mine's 9 years old. :eek:

Short answer: "NO"
and a brand new one shouldn't cost you more that $365 (US)
 
It's an RCBS Powder Master, I think.

Short answer: "NO"
Click to expand...

Yeah, but which was the question?! :D

and a brand new one shouldn't cost you more that $365 (US)
Click to expand...

A lot of things shouldn't cost as much as they do here, but I am sadly used to the disparity in cost and prices!!

Honestly, leaning toward the Lyman/bullet stock combo!
 
James, the price was inflated from the beginning. The Manufacturer of your scales sold the same set-up under their own brad/name for less, problem for some. Their brand of scale is gray, not green.

I have a lot of work to do, it is easer/faster to use the Pro scale when compared to beam type scale. My Pro quit, I called Pact, I have a choice, I can spend $80.00 to repair it or purchase a new one for about $150.00, That is less than it cost when new (about $240.00) because of the number of companies involved in getting it from Pact to the end user.

Your dispenser can be sent to Pact, they will speed it up.

F. Guffey
 
The combination pictured has a docking system. The dispenser dumps powder onto the scale, then the scale tells:rolleyes: the dispenser when to quit. In the small circle of reloaders etc. there are two that have two sets/combos. I can not find fault with their results, they build the rifles and load for them.

F. Guffey
 
That is an old Charge Master probably made for RCBS by PACT.
It looks just like my PACT except that it is green where my PACT brand equipment is gray.

My PACT is fine but a friend bought one that was not and he exchanged it for the current model RCBS.
 
No docking system on this one -- and it's been discontinued for years.
"Just say No"
Click to expand...

The powder dispenser pictured has two black dots on the left side, the Pro scale has a corresponding hole in the right side. To work the reloader must align the corresponding holes/black dots:),

I am surprised you are so desperate for attention, for reference purpose I am surprised you have not saved your 'old' catalogs.

Then there is google, google instructions for RCBS equipment.

Forgive, the 4 windows on the scale is a dead giveaway for a scale that is compatible with the 'COMBO'.

F. Guffey
 
I can beat the RCBS1500 throwing 95% and using a manual trickler to finish it off. I kept the scale and the third time my RCBS went down, threw it away instead of sending it to RCBS for the third time.

Biggest waste of money to ever be on my bench.:eek:
 
OK, folks.

Could we stay on track? The scale they are selling appears to be a Powder Master and Pro Scale which, I believe, communicate with one another by infrared. I do not believe it is a Chargemaster, but its predecessor.

One comparison I read was not complimentary of the older Powder Master.

My OP asked a few questions. I'd appreciate some input on those.

  1. Should I still buy it, or not?
  2. For that product, at that price, is the LnL or particularly the Gen 6 a better choice?

Please bear in mind, I am not in the States, so State-side customer support, promotions or re-branding schemes are utterly inaccessible to me.
 
This is what we are talking about. Mine's about 8 years old.
Click to expand...

Well, that is what I had initially thought they were stocking. They even called it a Charge-Master 1500 over the phone, when I called to confirm. So, needless to say I was not happy when I got there this morning to discover it was not what I'd been told... :rolleyes:
 
Guffey said:
I am surprised you are so desperate for attention...
Click to expand...
You must explain yourself on that one.
(I'm sure there's a good one)

postscript:
The ChargeMaster 1500 is a docking system -- both parts physically connect .
The PowderMaster/PowderPro are two separate systems, and do not "dock"

.
 
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OK, folks.

Could we stay on track? The scale they are selling appears to be a Powder Master and Pro Scale which, I believe, communicate with one another by infrared. I do not believe it is a Chargemaster, but its predecessor.
Click to expand...

Dock, align, park next to, port to starboard. The power supply cable to the scale limits/prohibits bumping them into each other. the powder supply on one model is 12 volt A/C.

F. Guffey
 
POND, DO NOT BUY THAT ANTIQUE! If you do, you'll have a paddy when you realize that you wasted your time and money on it.
 
Speaking of antiques, the Lee Hand Press in the back ground must be pretty old too. My first one was bougt 24 years ago and it was red, not silver / unpainted. My new one is two years old and it too is red. That cabinet looks to be populated with N.O.S. items that the shop has not been able to foist upon some one.
 
Pond

Look at the picture by Jim243.

There is something very important in that picture. And it is not the powder machine.

It is the layer of dust on it.

That alone should tell you your plan is not sound,
and buying such a gizmo is not a wise investment.

Sorry to mention that Jim. Warm water on a rag will fix that. I use air purifiers with a carbon pre-filter to combat dust.
 
The dust indicates it is not frequently used.
If it isn't frequently used,
you probably can do fine without it.
Normal volumetric powder measure and a scale to check is all you need.
 
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