The Hornady Auto Charge® Pro is a sophisticated and precise powder dispensing unit designed for reloading enthusiasts, offering accuracy, customization, and ease of use in a compact design. This device streamlines the process of measuring gunpowder charges, ensuring consistency and safety in ammunition reloading.
Function Description
The primary function of the Auto Charge® Pro is to accurately dispense smokeless gunpowder for reloading. It is capable of measuring charges to within 0.1 grain, which is critical for consistent ballistic performance and safety. The unit features a digital scale and an automated dispensing mechanism that trickles powder until the target weight is reached. It supports various powder types and allows for customizable trickle speeds and time settings to optimize performance for different powders and charge weights. The device is designed to be user-friendly, with a backlit touch screen for easy operation and a large knob for convenient powder emptying.
Usage Features
The Auto Charge® Pro offers a range of features that enhance its usability and precision:
- Precise Dispensing: Measures powder charges with an accuracy of 0.1 grain, essential for high-quality reloading.
- Customizable Trickle Speeds: Users can adjust trickle speeds to suit different powder types, ensuring optimal flow and accuracy. A larger speed number results in faster trickling but lower accuracy, while a smaller number provides slower trickling and higher accuracy.
- Customizable Time Settings: The "Time" setting allows users to define how many grains away from the target weight the unit will begin to trickle. A larger number here means a longer trickle time and higher accuracy, while a smaller number results in a shorter trickle time and lower accuracy.
- Memory Slots for Custom Loads: The unit can store up to four custom load settings (1, 2, 3, 4), allowing users to quickly recall their preferred target weight, speed, and time settings for frequently used loads. When settings are modified in one of these slots, they are automatically saved. The "Normal" mode does not save custom settings.
- Backlit Touch Screen: The intuitive touch screen display is easy to read and navigate, providing clear feedback on target weight, current speed, and time settings.
- Numerical Keypad: An integrated keypad allows for easy entry of target weights and other numerical settings.
- Auto/Manual Mode: The device offers both Auto and Manual dispensing modes. In Auto mode, the dispensing cycle begins automatically once an empty pan is placed back on the scale plate and the scale re-zeros. In Manual mode, the DISPENSE button must be pressed to initiate each dispensing cycle after the pan is placed on the scale. This allows for partial charges to be placed on the scale, with the Auto Charge® Pro finishing the trickling to the target weight.
- Zero/Calibrate Function: A dedicated button allows users to zero the scale or initiate a calibration process. Calibration is recommended before each use to ensure accuracy. The calibration process involves placing specific 10g and 50g weights on the scale at prompted times.
- Units Selection: Users can switch between measuring in grains (gn) or grams (g) using the "Units" button.
- Program Settings (ENTER + 8): By holding "ENTER" and "8" simultaneously, users can adjust the overall program setting to "Low," "Medium," or "High," which affects the unit's speed and accuracy. "Low" offers the lowest speed and highest accuracy, "Medium" provides average speed and accuracy, and "High" offers the highest speed but lowest accuracy. High speed is not recommended for low charge weights with long stick powders. The currently used program setting (L, M, H) can be viewed by holding the "8" button.
- Powder Hopper: Features a clear powder hopper with ample capacity, allowing users to monitor powder levels easily.
- Built-in Bubble Level: Helps ensure the unit is placed on a perfectly level surface, which is crucial for accurate scale readings.
- Compact Footprint: Designed to take up less space on a reloading bench compared to competing brands.
- Power Button: A mechanical button on the front turns the unit on with a tap and off by holding for three seconds.
- Dispense Button: Initiates or pauses the dispensing of the target amount. Holding this button allows for trickling to a desired weight, especially useful if an "OVER" charge occurs.
- "OVER" Warning: If a dispensed charge exceeds the target amount by more than 0.1 grain, an "OVER" warning is displayed. Users can then remove the warning, dump the charge, or remove a small amount of powder and trickle to the desired weight. It is advised not to use "OVER" charges.
- Warm-up Period: For optimal performance, it is recommended to allow the unit to warm up for 5-15 minutes after turning it on.
- Stable Surface: Always place the scale on a flat, level, and stable surface to prevent variations in readings.
- Environmental Considerations: To maintain accuracy, avoid placing the scale near electrical interference (power strips, fluorescent lights, motors, radios, phones, etc.) and protect it from drafts caused by fans, air conditioners, heaters, or open windows.
- Draft Cover: Using the clear draft cover over the powder pan can improve accuracy by minimizing the effects of outside variables.
Maintenance Features
Proper maintenance is essential for the longevity and accuracy of the Auto Charge® Pro:
- Regular Cleaning: It is critical to clean out all powder from the unit after each use. The Auto Charge® Pro should not be used as a powder storage device.
- Powder Empty Spout: The unit includes a powder empty spout that allows for easy removal of powder from the hopper. By rotating the spout, powder can be dumped into a container.
- Trickle Tube Emptying: After emptying the hopper, the "DISPENSE" button can be touched on the screen to empty the trickle tube. This process may need to be repeated if the charge weight is smaller than the amount of powder left in the tube.
- Included Brush: A brush is provided to clean out any remaining powder from the hopper and other internal components.
- Powder Storage: Do not store powder in the clear powder hopper for extended periods, as powder can absorb moisture or potentially damage the plastic. Always remove powder after every loading session.
- Careful Handling: The internal components are very sensitive. The unit should be handled with care, avoiding shaking, dropping, or overloading.
- Spilled Powder Protocol: If powder spills inside the unit, it should not be operated. Contact Hornady Customer Service for assistance.
- Warranty: The Hornady Auto Charge® Pro comes with a one-year warranty covering defects in material and workmanship. The warranty is void if the seal on the bottom of the unit has been tampered with. Service and repairs must be performed by a factory-qualified technician to maintain the warranty.
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