Best Powder Dispenser For The Money

[snowcreekkennels]

Looking to add a new automatic powder dispenser to the reloading room. Looking for thoughts on the best one for the money.

 

[VICTORNTN]

I still throw my charges and trickle up to weight on a scale.

 

[Recon$$]

No complaints on my rcbs chargemaster. It might overthrow 3-4 charges a session but it's consistent.

 

[okie man]

My Hornady dispenser works well once you get it figured out. i still check every charge with a beam scale.

 

[Deputy819]

When I had an auto dispenser it was the Chargemaster Lite. For a 'load cell technology' scale/dispenser it was amazingly consistent. I just didn't like having to empty a hopper each time after I was finished……and I didn't dare leave powder in the hopper……..well, there was ONE time . Now I just use Lee dippers….throw the charge on the A&D FX120i and trickle up with a dandy trickler.

 

[birddog 68]

I'm with okie man and use the Hornady. I usually check the first 5 on the beam scale to verify and then one every 5 or so afterwards. I've been thinking about upgrading but not sure what it would be since mine is very consistent once warmed up.

 

[VICTORNTN]

When I was shooting Benchrest, I bought a Harrel's Precision Powder Measure. With practice it's one of, if not the most accurate powder measure on the market. I made up a chart of what powders I most often use. The Culver attachment is VERY repeatable.

I throw a charge intentionally a couple of grains light and use an electronic scale and trickler to get the weight where I want it.

But that's just me and my opinion.

 

[Petey308]

I currently run a v4 Autotrickler setup, but I would 100% say that the Intellidropper is the best bang for your buck, especially if you qualify for ExpertVoice discounts.

Here's a write-up I did some time ago comparing my two Intellidroppers to what my fx120i read on the same charges:

Hello all. I decided to do a really simple experiment today to see how these two Intellidroppers compare to an FX-120i. I wanted to satisfy my own curiosity, but figured others here might be interested as well, since many of you reload.

Here are some results I got. I used my newer Intellidropper (about 3-4 months old) to throw 88.4gr of H1000. I did 10 charges and recorded the weight it read vs the weight the FX-120i read (left of slash and right of slash in results below). I included the SD and ES of those readings, as well as what a kernel of the powder weighs.

I did the same for Varget with my other Intellidropper that's about 16 months old now. I did 26.3gr with it. I wanted to throw a larger charge and a lower charge to compare results, and with realistic charges for each powder.

Hopefully this is useful to someone. I'd say if you don't want to shell out the money for an autothrow setup, and are okay with maybe being off an average of 2-3 kernels per round on your charges, an Intellidropper is a pretty great value. Even an Autothrow setup still completes each charge typically plus or minus a kernel or two. Unlike the Intellidropper though, you know you're off a kernel or two based on the reading and you can adjust the charge if so inclined. The Intellidroppers will always round to the nearest tenth of a grain.

**1st Intellidropper Test (newer)

H1000

1- 88.4gr/88.40gr
2- 88.4gr/88.38gr -.02gr
3- 88.4gr/88.36gr -.04gr
4- 88.4gr/88.42gr +.02gr
*5- 88.4gr/88.42gr +.02gr
6- 88.4gr/88.44gr +.04gr
7- 88.4gr/88.42gr +.02gr
8- 88.4gr/88.44gr +.04gr
9- 88.4gr/88.40gr
10- 88.4gr/88.42gr +.02gr

SD- .024gr
ES- .08gr

Kernel weight .02gr

____________________________

**2nd Intellidropper Test (older)

Varget

1- 26.3gr/26.26gr -.04gr
2- 26.3gr/26.30gr
3- 26.3gr/26.32gr +.02gr
4- 26.3gr/26.32gr +.02gr
5- 26.3gr/26.26gr -.04gr
6- 26.3gr/26.30gr
7- 26.3gr/26.26gr -.04gr
8- 26.3gr/26.28gr -.02gr
9- 26.3gr/26.30gr
10- 26.3gr/26.28gr -.02gr

SD- .022gr
ES- .06gr

Kernel weight- .02gr

 

[Petey308]

You can get them for around $126 through ExpertVoice and around $180-$200 elsewhere.

 

[mtbullet1]

lyman

 

[Flintlock shooter]

Time is money. If you can afford the FX-120i with Auto-Throw that is probably your best bet. Guessing there might be used ones for sale because everybody wants the V4. Even with an older model, you will be way ahead.

 

[wolffo]

chargemaster works great
but not perfect
be careful with the side dump
and remember to close it

 

[skipglo]

Charge master link!

 

[madman]

I'm with Petey308. The intellidropper seems to work pretty well. I replaced my old PACT system with an intellidropper when it quit. The first one did some really strange things, so I called FA, and they sent a replacement. It's been working fine, and seems to throw powder pretty consistently. I've checked it against a bar scale and a couple of other digital scales I have.