RCBS vs. Hornady Electronic Powder Measure

[Greywolf18]

I'm just wondering if anyone did a side by side comparison between the two. I have read plenty of articles on both, but havent' seen one with a side by side comparison. Is the RCBS version really worth the extra $100? Most of my equipment is RCBS and I love them, but at the same time why the huge price difference? Who uses these and which one do you prefer and why? Thinking of getting one to speed up my reloading from the old balance beam measuring. I haven't been reloading for long, and I have limited time so trying to make the most of the time I have. Thanks!

 

[Trickymissfit]

I'm just wondering if anyone did a side by side comparison between the two. I have read plenty of articles on both, but havent' seen one with a side by side comparison. Is the RCBS version really worth the extra $100? Most of my equipment is RCBS and I love them, but at the same time why the huge price difference? Who uses these and which one do you prefer and why? Thinking of getting one to speed up my reloading from the old balance beam measuring. I haven't been reloading for long, and I have limited time so trying to make the most of the time I have. Thanks!

I suspect that if we really knew it, they're both made by the same Chinamen! I've been looking at them over and over, and decided to go with the Pact for three reasons. (1) I already own the scale part so all I need is the dispenser. (2) I use several different kinds of powders, so clean up is important to me. The Pact cleans up easier than the others. (3) Pacts are made in the USA and carry a lifetime warranty. Oh yes! The Pact is cheaper than the RCBS
gary

 

[ZSteinle]

both work close to the same but the Horndady deff. feels a whole lot cheaper. I think the rcbs is worth the extra money.

 

[BH Hunter]

I have a Pact and sent it in for service the end of Dec so the lifetime warrenty is nice. I am also upgrading the software. It isn't the speediest service in the world, however, as I haven't gotten it back yet.

 

[Greywolf18]

What is the "pact"?

 

[BH Hunter]

It is a made in America dispenser/scale with a lifetime warranty. When I purchased mine, I believe that RCBS used it and put their name on it. At least they looked identical.

 

[Trickymissfit]

I have a Pact and sent it in for service the end of Dec so the lifetime warrenty is nice. I am also upgrading the software. It isn't the speediest service in the world, however, as I haven't gotten it back yet.

Pact did a revision about a year, and they are much faster now. But just how much speed do you really need? Your loading fifty rounds, and it takes thirty seconds to fill the pan. But on the otherhand your seating the bullet in the previous case. I see little difference in the needed speed of any of them when working off a single stage press. And when it comes to ball powders; all operate at a snails pace compaired to my Harrell
gary

 

[Trickymissfit]

What is the "pact"?

PACT is a company that specializes in electronics for the shooting industry. They sell a nice chronograph, as well as timers for hand gun shooting. They've always been one of the big players in digital powder scales, and RCBS scales were built by them till they got greedy and shipped the jobs to China. I've been using their stuff for about 15 years now without a single glitch. They are located in the Dallas TX area
gary

 

[BH Hunter]

I meant that it has been two months since sending it out for service.
As far as the speed of dropping the powder, it used to take about 90 seconds to drop 96 grains of powder and with the update it should be less than 30. It definitely took me less than 90 seconds to place my bullet.

 

[kstrick]

I have an RCBS Chargemaster.
I love it. fast and accurate.
I have a set of Lyman scale check weights. They are in increments of .1 to 10 gr. I had these weights checked on a research grade pharmaceutical scale that ran out to .0000. All of the weights were either dead on or within .002 gr of the stated weight. When I checked the weights on the Chargemaster scale it was right on the money. The difference being one stick of powder at most.
I have absolute 100% trust in the scale.
just my .0002 gr worth.
Ken

 

[nddodd]

I have an RCBS Chargemaster.
I love it. fast and accurate.
I have a set of Lyman scale check weights. They are in increments of .1 to 10 gr. I had these weights checked on a research grade pharmaceutical scale that ran out to .0000. All of the weights were either dead on or within .002 gr of the stated weight. When I checked the weights on the Chargemaster scale it was right on the money. The difference being one stick of powder at most.
I have absolute 100% trust in the scale.
just my .0002 gr worth.
Ken

+1 with what Ken just said I've got one and love it.


Nathan

 

[MSLRHunter]

I also have the RCBS and so far it has been great. I have never used the Hornady or Pact.

 

[Wildhog]

PACT Inc. - Digital Powder Dispenser



For those of you asking about the pact heres there website that more or less repeats Garys information. Im going to order me one. I was also on the fence between hornady and pact. Gary thanks for your in put[ cant beat price [$229.00]

 

[Trickymissfit]

PACT Inc. - Digital Powder Dispenser



For those of you asking about the pact heres there website that more or less repeats Garys information. Im going to order me one. I was also on the fence between hornady and pact. Gary thanks for your in put[ cant beat price [$229.00]

I doubt there's any real difference in accuracey between any of them (although there always seems to be somebody bitching about the Lyman). To me the speed is not an issue, as I'm not trying to set the all time speed record for a hundred rounds. But still I want it kinda reasonable. One thing the RCBS does do is sound off when the charge is done, and store a memory bank. I already keep a memory bank in my log book. But the issue of cleaning out all the left over powder was important to me. The PACT by far is the easiest (I will often swap powders four or five times in a loading session). I didn't realize they were $229, and thought they were about $280. That makes the PACT a no brainer in my book!
gary