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RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 4:20 pm
by amyjane
I am thinking of upgrading to a digital powder dispenser.

Would anybody have views/experience comparing the RCBS 1500 chargemaster, Lyman Gen 5 or the Lyman Gen 6?

Thanks, any help would be appreciated!

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 4:28 pm
by dromia
Target Master, balance beam scale and a cheap powder dispenser is faster, more accurate and cheaper than any of those.

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 4:31 pm
by artiglio
I've had a 1500 chargemaster for 4 years, no problems , the adaptor from ovenpaa reduces overthrows to being a rare occurrence. I also use a targetmaster and 1066 tuned scales. The latter gets used for my 1000yd comp loads, chargemaster for just about everything else, though must be said I used a set of gempro's to check loads by both methods and found both to be pretty equal.

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 4:38 pm
by phaedra1106
The Lee Perfect Powder Measure is about £24 and throws a lot better than many costing 4 or 5 times more, add a decent set of scales like an RCBS 5-0-5 and a TargetMaster and you have an extremely fast, accurate and consistent powder dispenser. The other advantages are that a. you should always have a decent set of scales anyway and b. the powder measure is perfectly usable on its own for dropping charges straight into a case and still getting very high accuracy charge weights.

I decided to "upgrade" to an electronic measure, I got a Hornady Lock and Load when I was in the US for about half the price they are here and sold my TargetMaster to Saddler, as soon as I sold it I regretted it. The Hornady is very good at it's job but not something that I would pay the UK price for. That being said I got the chance of an almost new TargetMaster at a good price and now I have one again so that shows how good they are :)

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 4:39 pm
by safetyfirst
Lyman gen 5 is ok, tends to under throw in my experience and a tap on the flow button to correct it seems to cancel the auto dispensing function. Irritating.

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 4:42 pm
by DaveT
I am very happy with the Chargemaster.

Can you even GET a Targetmaster from 1066...thought he had stopped making them for now?

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 5:51 pm
by Countryman
I've had the Chargemaster for a couple of years now. I find it excellent.

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 10:12 am
by ColinR
The Chargemaster is great and like all scales is sensitive to movement, vibration and air currents and I find any inaccuracy is a result of one or more of these factors. I really cannot fault the accuracy, consistency and efficiency, but it comes at a price. I would not be without mine and also have a separate RCBS digital scale (same as used with the Chargemaster) for weighing cases, bullets etc. You won't go wrong with a Chargemaster so long as you understand how to get the best out of it, like mounting it on a solid vibration free surface and sitting quietly and still, not cranking a press, during the last few 10ths of a grain measurement.

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 11:11 am
by amyjane
Thank you everyone, I appreciate you taking the time to advise!

Re: RCBS chargemaster 1500 vs Lyman Gen 5 vs Lyman Gen 6

Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 9:47 am
by Christel
Might be relevant, might not, just had this from a customer...not verified.
You may have heard the RCBS have just, in the last couple of weeks, announced they are dropping all their current scale range, the 502, 505, and 10/10 and introducing 2 new scales.

I have just received a sample of the M500. This is a direct replacement for the 502, a simple two poise scale but it has the beam marked on both sides so it can be used left handed.