anyone using one of these? are they worth the money?

Have 1200 DPS and like it very much. It is pretty fast and accurate. A real time saver. Here are few examples of the dispensing speed:
20 gr. = 12 secs
40 gr. = 20 secs
60 gr. = 28 secs.

Accuracy is +/- 0.1 grain if you keep it in zero which is really simple. Here is how I do mine. My Lyman pan-funnel weighs 68.8 grains. When the pan (after zero) is removed from the platten, the scale reads -68.8 gr. If that number changes, replace the pan and before the next dispense press the Zero Key. Takes 1 second. For the last week the unit has held calibration (different than zero) to within 0.1 grain. In other words the 308.6 grain calibration weight still weighs 308.6 +/- 0.1 grain.

Cleaning the 1200 is more difficult than the equivalent Pact Model dispenser as you cannot turn the 1200 upside down to remove the powder. Sample way to remove the powder from the 1200 is turn around the unit so the back is at the edge of a table. Open the rear shoot and drain the powder below the auger into the powder jug. While pushing out the rest of the powder with the supplied artists brush, "dispense" the powder that is in the auger to clean it. When the powder is cleared out of the auger, press Cancel to stop. The whole cleaning takes a good minute. The Lyman book goes into a much more extensive cleaning process which can be avoided particularly with the stick powders. The only problem with the ball powders it that a few granules tend to cling inside the auger. You can remove the auger, dump out the powder and reinstall with no problem.

The biggest drawback of the unit is the long wait time to warm up. It takes 30 minutes. You can defeat this but the accuracy will be off by about 0.3 grains sometimes. However, you will see this when you take the pan off the platten as mentioned above. I leave mine powered on all the time; it is ready all the time. Does not hurt the unit.

If you want to work up a load of various powder weights, the 1200 is really great. I love it; best money spent. Punch in weight one and hit enter. The unit will beep and tell you when it is finished dispensing and tell you how many loads you have dispensed at that weight. Punch in a second powder weight and hit enter for your next weight. That is it.

For powder weights (25 grains) one can seat the bullet while the next load is dispensing with very little waiting.

Some folks do not care for the loud beep when the unit finished dispensing a load. I did not find it objectionable (I have learned to tune out things like a wife who wants to know what that beep is)

The unit was purchased at Wal-Mart for $230. The sporting good dept may not even know if they have one unless you contact the manager. Have seen it at Nachez SS for $220

I will have a Pact brand (new high speed version) next week to see if I like it better. If you want to dispense loads 60 grains and above the Pact dispenser may be better. It will throw 60 grains in 19 seconds compared to 33.5 secs for the 1200. The Pact is much easier to clean as the dispenser is not attached to the sensitive scale; you just turn the unit upside down and pour out. The Pact does require one to calibrate the unit before each specific powder is dispensed. This is simple, automatic and takes about a minute. You must also link the dispenser to the scale with about 4 key presses on the scale. The Pact will run you about $130 for the scale and $149 for the dispenser.

Will let you know about the Pact dispenser after I evaluate it if you are interested. The older Pact dispensers can be upgraded per their web site. The speed increase is about 5 times faster at higher charge weights.
Ron
Charleston, WV

I have one and like it also. One thing I've found to really speed up the emptying process is after I get as much of the powder out thru the supplied "dump gate" using the brush, I take a battery powdered "Dust Buster" type of portable vac. and it gets the few remaining granuals in short order. I also use a set of Lee Powder Dippers with this unit, and it really speeds things up. I select a dipper about 5 or 6 grains shy of the charge I want, dump it in the pan and let the machine top it off. The 30 minute warmup isn't bad if you plug it in well in advance before you need it, like an hour before your cases come out of the tumbler. Then it will be good and warm when your ready for it. It's a good piece of equipment, you'll be pleased. Bill T.