I currently run a Lyman that I've had for several years but lately its been acting a little wonky on me and giving false readings after dispensing the amount of powder I've called for. I stop and check the weight and its okay but I'm not feeling real comfortable with it.
For those who use the electronic units, which ones do you recommend?

I used a Lyman 1200 DPS3 for a long time. It worked fine, till it didn’t. I replaced it with an RCBS Chargemaster 1500. I prefer the RCBS unit. It might be just a touch slower, but it does have an auto trickler and throws the desired charge weight accurately more so than the Lyman did.

With the Lyman, I threw 0.2 low and trickled. With the RCBS I just put in the weight I want. The RCBS is also better with stick powders.

Just to say it, the newer Lyman units may be better than the RCBS, but I don’t know. I’m real happy with the RCBS.

Thanks. The 1200 is the one I use. I did the upgrade on it a few years ago and it made it faster, I think. As you said, they work well until they don't, Thanks for the input.

I have a Lyman 1200 and a while back it seemed like it had died. I unplugged it for a few minutes and it came back to life. Haven’t had any other problems with it. Have you been doing the calibration before each session?

I do. I calibrate it every time I power it up for use. Its been bullet proof but lately has been giving me odd readings after a load has been measured and dispensed. I have it unplugged now and may test it again later tonight to see if it acts up. I don't want false high readings by 2.2 grains... That could be a problem.

Static electricity can cause them to go wonky. Wipe it down with a dryer sheet and see if that helps.
I like my Chargemaster 1500; haven't used any other brand to compare it to though. The C 1500 can also be programmed to work faster.

I had a small Lyman electronic scale that kept trying to kill me. It was total junk.

Now I have the RCBS Charge master. It's a very good rig. I've had zero issue with it, and it holds zero very well.

Long time ago, a friend wanted to give me one... I didn't want to impose...

so he asked me to take it home and try it out for a week or two..and If I didn't like it, he'd take it back..

After a week I gave it back... the old 505 beam scale and the Lee Dippers were a lot easier, and never needed to be calibrated..

I'm so bourgeois.....

So easy even a caveman can do it.

My Lyman unit all of a sudden started throwing very wrong loads. It was very accurate in weighing those wrong loads, however. I have it boxed up. I hate to destroy it but don’t want to spend money to get it fixed.

As for beam versus electronic, I used an RCBS 1010 for decades. Still have it, but don’t use it anymore. When I got the Lyman, life got so much simpler and faster, and more enjoyable. Then, years later it died, just as I was finishing up a loading session. I decided to finish up with the Lyman 55 powder thrower and a PACT scale and trickler. Man, it was soooo slow to finish up the last 20 or 30. Went in the house and ordered the RCBS 1500 CM.

I won’t go back to a beam scale. No way! No how!

I'm running an Auto Trickler. It throws charges to the nearest kernel of powder in 10 or so seconds. Spendy, though.

https://www.autotrickler.com/

I'm considering the RCBS and the Hornady units.

Please don't subject yourself to the misery of the Hornady. BTDT, replaced it with the RCBS. One of the best choices I've ever made regarding my reloading setup.

thanks for that.

A good buddy gifted me a new RCBS a couple years ago and it worked fine. I calibrated it each time I used it.
It was really nice for working up a load, 5 of this, 5 of the next, 5 of the next.
Once I had a known load I was faster with a scoop and a trickler or just throwing the load if I was using a ball powder or short cut powder.

I have always calibrated mine when powering up. I'll run some more powder through it this week but test loads from time to time to check accuracy.

I avoided electronic scales for a long time. I finally researched the piss out of them and ended up with the RCBS ChargeMaster. It has been a great scale and I would replace it in a heartbeat if it died.

Same here, they drove me nuts until I got the RCBS Chargemaster Lite which has been great. I use it as a scale and for extruded powders.

I have used the RCBS charge master for years and love it with very few issues , I drool over the new match model but could never justify the price.
If mine were do die I would look at the Chargemaster lite

Thats what i always worried about. 2.2 grains is unacceptable and could create a very unsafe situation. Im also wondering how many seconds it takes to charge a rifle case the size of a 30-06. I ran an experiment the other day and it takes me 10 seconds to drop a light charge with my uni-flo and trickle the rest in. How much, if any, time are you actually saving? I know i trust my beam scale. An electronic device, not so much. I have to also add that this thread topic should probably be in the big game reloading section, as all of my varmint loads use powder that drops consistently from my powder measure. No need to use an electronic scale for any of my varmint rifles. The big game cartridges that use longer grain extruded powders are dropped light and then the rest is trickled in. Again, im wondering how many seconds it takes to fill a case (on average) when you are using your fancy electronic scale? I scratch my head and wonder if you are really using anything other than a powder measure when dropping charges for your varmint loads as well.. if you arent, maybe you need to re-think your powder choice.

If you have never used a good electronic scale for rifle ammo reloading, you’ll never understand how it’s faster.

I funnel the measured powder into a case and turn to the press to seat the bullet. As I do this, the scale throws the next load. I put the reloaded round in the MTM box, grab the next case, put powder in, seat bullet, repeat. It’s a bit like having a second person helping, doing the powder throwing and weighing.

Compare that to my use of the Lyman 55 and 1010 scale. Throw powder, put on scale, wait for it to settle, trickle, grab case, pour in powder, seat bullet. Repeat. I never thought that process was slow until I had used the electronic unit for a while and then had to go back to ‘manual’ for a bit.

It’s an extra $250 for the electronic scale. I think the expense is worth it.

I run the Autotrickler/scale combo too. Expensive-and worth it.

WOW, BSA obviously you have never used a Chargemaster. never seen one off more than .1grain.....if it is it will tell you it F'd up, all you have to do is put it back in the hopper and push the button again

I checked out the link, 490.00 for the measure and the trickler, I really thought it would be more. What are you using for a scale?

Chargemaster lite. Skip hornady. I actually like my lite better than the original chargemaster

tell me about the lite. there is less than $100 difference in price.

OSU. Main difference is the scale is not a separate unit so it is built more like the Lyman or hornady. The original has a separate scale that attaches to the dispense unit. I find my light to take up less space and less overthrows than the chargemaster OG.

Thanks.

Find a buddy that has the Lyman Gen 5 or 6 model. I think you will change your mind about electronic scales.

I've got two chargemasters sitting side by side so I can load prairie dog ammo as fast as I can seat bullets. With one I was always waiting on the dispenser, with two I can charge cases as fast as I can dump powder and the next charge is ready. I love them and would never go back to a beam scale, the thought makes me shudder!

I have an RCBS.

I needed to resolder the connections.

I only use it for batches of 20 or less.

Too slow for more than that.