Hornady Auto-charge, thoughts?

Boxerglocker · 08-20-2012, 15:23

I'm really loving my 69 SMK match load with Varget. However, just a PITA to trickle to get my charge right spot on....Way too slow.

Looking real hard at getting a Hornady Auto-charge. Cabelas has sales coming... I have some Cabelas buck on my account, free bullets, la di da...

I know a few of you guys said you had one. What do you guys think of it? I think it would be a worthwhile investment for me. I'm going to buy bulk 69 SMKs as well as some 75's along with 8 pounds of Varget.

Three-Five-Seven · 08-20-2012, 15:50

Recovering from overcharges obviates any time advantage that auto measures might have. If (big if) you can get an auto charger set-up and leveled so that it didn't spill over charges at the end of a trickle cycle, then there might be a time advantage.

If speed, and quantity of rounds are the issues, one would be better off going to a powder that meters well and dropping it from a conventional powder measure.

unclebob · 08-20-2012, 16:01

Take a look at the RCBS Charge Master. Natchez has them on sale for like 289.00 and if you get 300.00 in RCBS products you get 50.00 back from RCBS. Everything I have read the RCBS is better. I defiantly like mine.

Boxerglocker · 08-20-2012, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three-Five-Seven

If speed, and quantity of rounds are the issues, one would be better off going to a powder that meters well and dropping it from a conventional powder measure.

Yeah, I already have tried the better metering powders with 69 SMKs, they just do not preform as well as VARGET unfortunately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

Take a look at the RCBS Charge Master. Natchez has them on sale for like 289.00 and if you get 300.00 in RCBS products you get 50.00 back from RCBS. Everything I have read the RCBS is better. I defiantly like mine.

I'll take a look at the RCBS as well... I've read lots of reviews saying the Hornady had problems with QC a couple years ago. However it appears they have overcome those recently and a few guys really feel they are great value.

unclebob · 08-20-2012, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

I'll take a look at the RCBS as well... I've read lots of reviews saying the Hornady had problems with QC a couple years ago. However it appears they have overcome those recently and a few guys really feel they are great value.

How many times have you read on here about Hornady QC on their products?

fredj338 · 08-20-2012, 18:12

My buddy has one, uses it for Varget. He likes it, says it's accurate & fast. He's really picky, so I trust his review.

Boxerglocker · 08-20-2012, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

How many times have you read on here about Hornady QC on their products?

I know Bob, in this case though, it's pretty close. Gavin the Ultimate Reloader who is local to me gives the Hornady very favorable reviews.

I have to admit price is a major consideration right now for me, and though I was going to wait for Cabelas to have thier next holiday weekend sale in 2 weeks. Grafs is showing a total of $191 shipped for the Hornady right now. I'm really tempted to give it a whirl.

Boxerglocker · 08-20-2012, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredj338

My buddy has one, uses it for Varget. He likes it, says it's accurate & fast. He's really picky, so I trust his review.

That's it I'm ordering it!

JaPes · 08-20-2012, 18:43

I'm a newer reloader so take my opinion for what it's worth.

Last month, I received a Hornady Auto Charge as a birthday gift. So far, it's metered out accurate loads. The first few times I used it, I verified every charge it metered by weighing the charge on a separate scale.

If it meters a charge beyond the set desired charge, it will alarm three times, lock out the keypad, and it takes a deliberate held press of a specific button to release the lock out.

My Hornady Auto Charge has no issues metering out W231, Titegroup, Unique, & 2400. The only powder mine has issues with is Bullseye.

unclebob · 08-20-2012, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

I know Bob, in this case though, it's pretty close. Gavin the Ultimate Reloader who is local to me gives the Hornady very favorable reviews.

I have to admit price is a major consideration right now for me, and though I was going to wait for Cabelas to have thier next holiday weekend sale in 2 weeks. Grafs is showing a total of $191 shipped for the Hornady right now. I'm really tempted to give it a whirl.

Has Gavin ever given a bad review on anything?
6mmBR use to have a review of both machines. It might still be there but I could not find it. All the reviews I have ever seen the RCBS wins every time. But the Hornady is a little cheaper. Hope it works out for you.

Boxerglocker · 08-20-2012, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

Has Gavin ever given a bad review on anything?
6mmBR use to have a review of both machines. It might still be there but I could not find it. All the reviews I have ever seen the RCBS wins every time. But the Hornady is a little cheaper. Hope it works out for you.

The 6mmBR reviewed the RCBS, Lyman and another.... was reading it earlier today. This guy gave it very favorable marks and made a great video.

YouTube (Short URL)

The Hornady on sale at Graf's is a lot cheaper, gotta give it a try. Just read a bunch of threads on Sniperhide reloading , appears that the consensus is the Hornady works best with stick powders such as VARGET so my chances are good. We will see, should be here next week so I'll give a review once I try it out.

unclebob · 08-20-2012, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

The 6mmBR reviewed the RCBS, Lyman and another.... was reading it earlier today. This guy gave it very favorable marks and made a great video.

http://youtu.be/32cAE94ceJc

You don’t pick up calibration or check weights with your fingers. You use tweezers.

PCJim · 08-20-2012, 20:55

I picked up a RCBS Chargemaster early this year for use only for my bolt gun ammo. It is accurate to within 0.1gr as compared to my 5-0-5's readings. That said, and whether it matters or not, I wasn't satisfied with .1gr accuracy.

Now, I set the CM to dispense .3-.4gr short of my desired charge and finish the charge with the manual trickler. By the time I've finished with the charge and dumped it in a case, the next one is waiting on me.

I personally don't think any electronic scale can deliver the weight accuracy that one can obtain visually on a beam scale. There has to be a built in tolerance. Except for the Prometheus scale, which I for one cannot afford.

Taterhead · 08-20-2012, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

You don’t pick up calibration or check weights with your fingers. You use tweezers.

Bob, I did not know this. Can you explain a bit more about why?

unclebob · 08-21-2012, 06:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taterhead

Bob, I did not know this. Can you explain a bit more about why?

I don’t remember all of the reasons why. But for one the natural oils in your skin if you pick them up with your hands will transfer to the weights. Or if you have something on your fingers it could transfer to the weights. I believe now that the RCBS check weights come with a tweezers. How I knew this 40+ years ago? When I first got my check weights. I don’t know. But a friend of mine that use to work in a calibration lab has told me numerous times to use tweezers when picking them up.

Boxerglocker · 08-21-2012, 07:22

Double tap...

Boxerglocker · 08-21-2012, 07:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

I don’t remember all of the reasons why. But for one the natural oils in your skin if you pick them up with your hands will transfer to the weights. Or if you have something on your fingers it could transfer to the weights. I believe now that the RCBS check weights come with a tweezers. How I knew this 40+ years ago? When I first got my check weights. I don’t know. But a friend of mine that use to work in a calibration lab has told me numerous times to use tweezers when picking them up.

That only applies to non-chrome plated mild steel check weights. Oil from your fingers left on steel causes corrosion, much like some dies will in left unmaintained for long periods. The difference is with check weight you just can't spray a little WD40 on them and wipe off the rust with steel wool. You end up taking material off and ruin the ground in calibration weight.

unclebob · 08-21-2012, 07:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

That only applies to non-chrome plated mild steel check weights. Oil from your fingers proigates

Maybe so. But I will still use the tweezers. Maybe someone that works in a calibration lab can explain why better than I can. I just know what my friend said that worked in a calibration lab.

Boxerglocker · 08-21-2012, 07:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

Maybe so. But I will still use the tweezers. Maybe someone that works in a calibration lab can explain why better than I can. I just know what my friend said that worked in a calibration lab.

I got this from our calibration lab technicians web page.
"When handling your sample, never use your hands to place tare weights or samples in the weigh chamber. The heat from your hand can cause weighing errors in the fourth and fifth decimal places of a gram. Use appropriately sized and shaped tweezers or tongs to handle your weighing vessels".
The reason given above is also stated.

Boxerglocker · 08-27-2012, 18:42

Well my Hornady LNL Auto Charge arrived today.

I opened it up, calibrated it with the accompanying weights, did some checks with my Lyman check weight set (Yes Bob, used tweezers) and found everything good to go. I did a few dozen test charges at various weights with Varget and compared them to my Dillon E-Terminator scale and they all matched. To account for any possible variances I used the supplied 50 gram checked weight to calibrate the Dillon as well. Then I zeroed both scales with the Hornady powder pan.
I'm not gonna do any extensive testing with other powders right now. Varget was my main concern and so far the Auto Charge works perfectly. We will see how the it does in the long run but I'm totally happy with the way it runs. Total price delivered was $191 from Grafs.
I'll get back in a week or so after I get a little more time on it. I'm off to load some Berger 75g VLDs with Varget to test out tomorrow.

PCJim · 08-27-2012, 21:47

Boxer, I'm curious as to how much variance the thrown charges may have. If you have a beam scale, could you report back on just how accurate the charges actually are? My Chargemaster was as stated, +/- .1gr as weighed on the 5-0-5, which didn't make me feel cozy comfy for what I am trying to extract from the SPS.

Boxerglocker · 08-27-2012, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCJim

Boxer, I'm curious as to how much variance the thrown charges may have. If you have a beam scale, could you report back on just how accurate the charges actually are? My Chargemaster was as stated, +/- .1gr as weighed on the 5-0-5, which didn't make me feel cozy comfy for what I am trying to extract from the SPS.

It's rated at +/- 0.1 as is the Dillon. I threw at least 30 charges and crossed checked against the Dillon and they were all spot on.
I have a beam scale back-up in the rafters boxed up. I'll pull it down later this week and take some numbers.
As you know most loading data in manuals is pretty conservative, to be honest I'm not overly concerned as long as it's consistent in throw against my check weights. I stay pretty much below max charges and watch very carefully for pressure signs, so even if it were to throw 0.1 over it mostly would not make much difference that I would notice.

Colorado4Wheel · 08-27-2012, 22:53

If it's accurate and repeatable to .1gr then its pretty much as good as it will ever need to be.

Boxerglocker · 08-28-2012, 07:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

If it's accurate and repeatable to .1gr then its pretty much as good as it will ever need to be.

That's exactly what my thoughts were when deliberating the purchase. I specifically wanted it for rod "Varget" style powders. All reviews I read pointed it out to be more reliable for those types. I don't see myself using it for anything other as the 650 powder drop is consistent enough to through H335, BLC2 and TAC loads that will do 1/2 MOA or better with my chosen bullets up to 60g.

F106 Fan · 08-28-2012, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCJim

Now, I set the CM to dispense .3-.4gr short of my desired charge and finish the charge with the manual trickler. By the time I've finished with the charge and dumped it in a case, the next one is waiting on me.

I was trickling a bunch of IMR 4064 (stick powder) charges yesterday and I noticed that my RCBS Uniflow powder measure was tossing within 0.2 gr time after time. I wanted 42.2 gr and it would throw 41.7 - 41.9 and all I had to do was top it off.

I was thinking about getting something like a ChargeMaster but if it won't hit the charge every time, why bother? I see no reason to have the CM throw light and then have to top it off. I can do that with the Uniflow and save the money.

Richard