Let us know how it works out for you. I don't recall OTTOMH anyone reviewing the Frankford version on the forum yet.
Of course I couldn’t wait to get started with this new tool. Naturally, my first effort was Universal...my bane!
I followed set up and calibration per the manual, including Powder Cal, which runs an algorithm to determine the best trickle speed to accurately dispense powder. This is a process that must be done at every change in powder as well as every new loading session, as the Powder Cal value isn’t saved. I was most keen to see how Universal fared in this test. It ran through slow, fast, medium, medium slow, and so on, until it was satisfied that it could accurately trickle this powder. Since my Hornady Powder Dropper can’t produce even two consecutive drops of Universal at the same I was surprised at how fast this process completed.
Next, I selected a favorite load for 40 S&W, 5.7gr, and entered that as the target and proceeded to manually dispense, accomplished by hitting the “play” button. It started with a medium speed trickle, stopped and waited for the scale to stabilize, then a momentary bump of the dispense tube, wait, and the scale settled at 5.7gr with a comforting beep-beep. I dumped the tray and hit play [poetry) and the process repeated, with the same satisfying beep-beep.
I did a couple more with the same result, then moved to Auto mode. The Mode button toggles between Manual and Auto. It took a second or two, then the unit went into action. Spin spin, pause, quick bump, Stabilize...beep-beep. Dump the pan, put the empty back on the platen, and the process repeated.
I did this until I was giddy with delight. Sadly, I just did up all of my Universal loads, so I emptied the powder and repeated the previous steps using CFE-Pistol. I’m confident that most people will agree that there are no similarities between these powders. Thus, my first actual loads with this device were 7.4gr CFE-Pistol for 155gr Berry’s CPFP. It was incredible. I’m on a Hornady LNL Classic single stage, so making up rounds is one by one. In auto mode this device is a champ. I didn’t time myself, but I could just keep with the machine.
Starting with the first pour, grab a case, afix the powder funnel, dump the powder, put the tray on the scale, grab a bullet, seat it using the Hornady Taper Crimp Seating Die, put the loaded round in the bullet box....beep...the powder’s ready. There were maybe two times that I waited half a second for the Intellidropper to complete. Aside from that I had 2 over drops in the first 50 rounds, where the scale settled at 7.5gr and erred out, though a second later the scale settled at 7.4gr. During the 2nd 50 the unit hit 7.5gr and settled there multiple times, unfortunately I was getting warmer and turned the fan on. This was a mistake and after turning it back off I had more overcharges.
While I am overjoyed with the performance of the unit, emptying the hopper is a challenge. It may get easier once all of the internals are coated with graphite, for now it’s painful. You have to maneuver the unit to the side of the bench, or perhaps pick it up. Where I very rarely spill powder emptying my Hornady dropper, I spilled a bit of Universal and a bit less of CFE-Pistol. Maybe the 3rd time will be the charm.
My next test will be Vihtavuori N320. It’s a stick, as you know, so there’s some cutting and crunching involved. Since this is an auto trickler I’d expect a smooth process with N320. With Universal being my only frustrating powder, and it passing my tests with flying colors, I couldn’t be happier...in spite of the emptying challenges.
