Super Trickler or Auto Trickler or ...?

[Dan_69GTX]

Does anyone have experience with the Super Trickler, Auto Trickler or other precision powder dispenser?   If so, what are the pros/cons to what you have used?

Thanks!

[Wobbly]

My son owns a Gen 1 RCBS Charge Master which he loves. I have used this unit to load some 7.62x39 on his single stage Redding T7 press using IMR 3031.

• Load setup with testing took about 2 minutes. It was surprisingly easy for a regular user.

• It was fast and accurate. I wasn't 'speed loading', but by the time I could finish one round, the powder was ready for the next. This was proabably on the order of an 8-10 second interval. (This dump rate would proabably hurt loading on a progressive press, but it was great for the single stage. It could dispense as fast as I cared to load.)

• Out of the box, the Gen 1 machine had to be modified at the dispensing nozzle. Apparently this is a common fix (proabably on YouTube) and RCBS incorporated all these changes into a Gen 2 model.

[Dan_69GTX]

My son owns a Gen 1 RCBS Charge Master which he loves. ....(snip)

Thanks for that info!!

[tdogg]

I've contemplated it but I don't shoot enough precision long range to warrant the investment.  If I did anything it would be to first just purchase an A&D FX120 scale for reloading.  I currently use a Gempro 250 that has proven really accurate/reliable but it is slow.  I use a throw to get bulk powder and then trickle up to charge weight.  With the Gempro you have to lift the charge off the scale to get it to respond fast enough.  So the process goes like this, throw powder in pan, weigh, trickle some powder, lift and reweigh, potentially trickle more powder, lift and reweigh, etc...  The A&D would eliminate the need to lift and reweigh after trickling.

From what I've researched, the Hornady Charge Pro is the best bang for your buck commercial charge thrower.  It is supposedly the most repeatable and consistent but is slower.  It's also cheaper than the RCBS units.  Neither of these compare to the A&D FX120 trickler setups you inquired about from a speed and accuracy standpoint.

If you do get one, I'd like to hear your take on it and how well they work!  I imagine it is super nice to not have to fiddle with it all when loading precision!  Just push a button and voila an accurate charge is ready to load.

Cheers,
Toby

[Dan_69GTX]

I am definitely getting one! Not sure what yet. Leaning towards the super trickler, since it does not require an app on any other device. I really prefer a standalone version.

I find that the powder drops for Hornady and Dillon presses are great for pistol. Most of the way OK for bulk 223 rifle, but start to suck when you get into the larger calibers especially with stick powder. 

I was having .7 to .8 grains variation with IMR 4895. At 49.5 grains.

Totally not acceptable for what I wanna do. Looked at several YouTube videos comparing  Hornady, RCBS, Lyman, etc..  not sure if that will fit the bill for what I am after.

I’ll keep everybody posted.

[Dan_69GTX]

I bought the Super Trickler  (ST).   I decided on it based upon results of a lot of reviews and it suited more of what I'm looking for than the others.  I did NOT try anything else - as full disclosure - just reviews.

I didn't go the route of the Hornady, RCBS, Lyman route, because I wanted more accuracy than .1 grain.   I see these options being more than adequate for most folks.  Here is a good video I watched that compared several of them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qglxms6SQgM

He discloses in an article I read that he settled on the ST for himself.

The ST is easy to set up and get going - no app required - totally self contained.  Arrived quicker than expected.

This is going to make loading ladders so much quicker and easier!  It will also help in getting more consistent ammo.

I used it for IMR4895 and BL-C(2) for 30-06.  The initial learning for each powder took a few minutes for the device to acquire settings, but not bad at all.  Using a LNL progressive press, I was able to get low 10's and 6.0 SD as I closed in on the sweet spot for each load.  MUCH better than the Hornady powder measure that comes with the press!!

It required 30 min warm up for accuracy.  Easily overcome by the auto start feature where you can set a time for it to turn on.
It is sensitive to any air movement so I had to redirect my fan.
.02 grain accuracy.
I ended up putting it on a HEAVY DUTY roll cart next to my reloading bench so it wasn't affected by any vibration on the reloading bench.  Not sure this was necessary, but it is what I did.

Having it for just a bit:
-  would I buy it again - definitely!
 - do I regret buying it - not at all.

Will I use it for pistol - yes - but only load development.
Will I use it for bulk rifle - like 223 with frangible bullets - yes - but only for load development.
Will I used it for rifle that isn't shot a lot/frequently - all the time!

It also allows for a LOT of tweaking if you the type to do that, and can reset it to defaults if you really screw it up.  I have tried changing/tweaking things but haven't had to do a reset yet.  Can also back up profiles so they are not lost when upgrading the firmware - no I haven't tried that yet.

[tdogg]

Congrats!

I'm jealous!  I'm curious how long it takes to get a new powder setup and dispensing accurately fast?  Are the default settings good enough out of the box or do you have to tweak it for each powder type?

Cheers,
Toby

[Dan_69GTX]

The unit knows a lot about each powder, but if forces you to do a "calibration" for each powder.  That took me about 10 min each powder.  But it saves that info and that isn't necessary after that, so... just select your "preset" for the powder and start dropping powder after you "prime" both powder drops.  -  maybe a min to get going.

I swapped several times between powder ( because I didn't plan ahead), and it was very easy to do!

Feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

Dan

[Dan_69GTX]

FYI - I timed setting up a new powder.   From adding it to the hopper till getting good drops - was about 8 min.

Swapping powder - the most time was emptying the hopper and filling it with the new powder.  So, not much time at all.

Dan