Canadian Gunz

Are you really getting enough extra performance to justify spending the extra money?

That question came up recently when I purchased the Area 419 Master Funnel Kit.

And just to be completely clear right from the beginning: I bought this kit myself with my own money. It wasn’t sent to me for review, and Area 419 has absolutely no influence over what I say about it.

That means this comparison is going to be based on my own experience using the equipment and, as always, looking at things from a bang-for-your-buck perspective.

Because let’s face it—not everyone has an unlimited reloading budget.

What You Get With the Area 419 Master Funnel Kit

The Area 419 Master Funnel Kit is unquestionably a premium-looking piece of equipment.

The funnel itself is a substantial billet aluminum design with excellent machining. It has Area 419 branding, fluting on the inside and outside, and a threaded bottom that accepts interchangeable caliber-specific adapters.

The kit includes adapters for:

.22 caliber

6mm

6.5mm

7mm

.30 caliber

.338 Lapua

Additional adapters can be purchased separately for other cartridge sizes.

The original review also discussed optional extensions. Whether you need those depends on your own equipment and intended use.

For my own purposes, however, the included kit covered the calibers I was interested in.

The big question was whether the premium construction and higher price would actually make a meaningful difference at the loading bench.

Testing the Area 419 With 7 PRC

I tested the Area 419 funnel using 7 PRC brass.

The appropriate adapter threaded onto the funnel securely and sat well on top of the cartridge case. The funnel itself is fairly heavy and has a broad base, giving it a substantial and premium feel.

In terms of fit and finish, there is absolutely no question that the Area 419 is a high-quality product.

But during use, I noticed something interesting.

When removing the funnel from the case, it sometimes had enough grip that it would slightly lift the case upward—even when the case was secured in my loading setup.

If the case wasn’t secured in a loading block, I could see the possibility of accidentally lifting the case and potentially spilling powder.

Now, is this a major problem?

No.

I hadn’t established why the new funnel gripped that way. What I could say was that the Frankford was easier to place on and remove from the case in my test.

That was something worth noting.

Powder Flow Testing

The most important part of the comparison was simple:

How well do they actually pour powder?

I tested both funnels using H1000 powder and compared how they handled powder going into a cartridge case.

The important takeaway was that both funnels performed very similarly in practical use.

Neither system gave me problems with powder hanging up, and I didn’t experience any noticeable static issues during my testing.

Both did the job they were designed to do.

And that’s where things become interesting.

The Area 419 is beautifully machined, heavy-duty, and clearly designed as a premium product.

But when it comes to simply transferring powder into a cartridge case, the much less expensive Frankford Arsenal performed extremely well.

Six Caliber Adapters vs. Eight

Another area where the two kits differ is versatility.

The Area 419 kit includes six caliber-specific adapters.

The Frankford Arsenal kit includes eight different adapters.

That means the Frankford kit covers more cartridge sizes right out of the box.

With the Area 419 system, if you need additional adapters beyond what comes with the kit, you’ll need to purchase them separately.

Again, that’s not necessarily a problem if you’re heavily invested in the Area 419 ecosystem or only load a few specific calibers.

But from a value perspective, it is something to consider.

For the average reloader who loads several different calibers, getting more adapters included in a kit that costs significantly less is hard to ignore.

Storage and Organization

This may seem like a small point, but organization matters at the loading bench.

The Area 419 components are high quality and heavy, but I would have liked to see a dedicated location for storing the funnel itself.

Instead, one of the adapter positions effectively has to be used to hold the funnel.

For someone like me who occasionally misplaces things—and I’m sure I’m not alone there—a dedicated storage location would have been appreciated.

The Frankford Arsenal kit, on the other hand, comes with a complete storage case.

Everything has its place.

The funnel and adapters stay together, and it’s easy to keep the entire kit organized.

That may not matter to everyone, but for me, it’s a genuine advantage.

The O-Ring Question

The Frankford Arsenal adapters use an O-ring connection at the funnel. The Area 419 adapters thread into the funnel. In my test, the Frankford was smoother to place on and remove from the cartridge case.

It works extremely well and makes placing and removing the funnel smooth and easy.

My only long-term question would be durability.

How long will the O-ring last compared with the threaded Area 419 system?

That’s something that can only really be answered after long-term use.

An O-ring is a wear item and may eventually need replacement.

The two adapter connections are different designs. My test did not establish a long-term durability winner.

If premium machining and the threaded adapter system matter to you, the Area 419 has an appeal of its own.

So, Which One Would I Choose?

This is where I’m probably going to get some disagreement.

And that’s perfectly fine.

The Area 419 Master Funnel Kit is absolutely a premium product.

The machining is excellent.

The construction is excellent.

It feels substantial.

It looks great.

And for serious precision reloaders who want a premium system, additional caliber options, and the ability to use extensions for compressed loads, it may be exactly what they’re looking for.

But here’s my perspective.

I’m always looking for bang for the buck.

I’m not running a massive commercial loading operation.

I’m not trying to spend money simply because something is marketed as the best.

I want equipment that works reliably and gives me good value.

And that’s where the Frankford Arsenal kit impressed me.

With the Frankford Arsenal kit, I liked:

A complete storage case

Eight caliber adapters

Smooth placement and removal from the case

Good powder flow

No noticeable static issues during my testing

Reliable performance for everyday reloading

Does the Area 419 look and feel more premium?

Absolutely.

Is the machining better?

Yes.

Does it offer additional options for reloaders who need extensions and other accessories?

Yes.

For my own use, I wasn’t convinced that the premium construction translated into a comparable improvement in the basic job both funnels were doing.

My Final Thoughts

This comparison really comes down to what kind of reloader you are.

Choose the Area 419 Master Funnel Kit if:

You appreciate premium machining and construction.

You want a more robust threaded system.

You use or plan to use powder compression extensions.

You’re invested in the Area 419 ecosystem.

Price is less important than having premium equipment.

Choose the Frankford Arsenal Funnel Kit if:

You want maximum value for your money.

You load multiple calibers.

You want more adapters included in the kit.

You appreciate having a dedicated storage case.

You want a funnel that does its job without paying for premium construction.

For me personally?

It’s a bit of a toss-up—but when I look strictly at value, the Frankford Arsenal is very difficult to beat.

The Area 419 is undoubtedly the more premium product.

But the Frankford Arsenal gives the average reloader a tremendous amount of functionality for a fraction of the price.

And that’s something I think is worth remembering.

Sometimes the most expensive product isn’t necessarily the best product for you.

What Do You Think?

Have you used either the Area 419 Master Funnel Kit or the Frankford Arsenal funnel kit?

Do you think premium reloading equipment is worth paying extra for, or do you prefer finding the best performance for the lowest reasonable price?

I’d love to hear your experiences and opinions in the comments.

And if you enjoy honest, independent reviews focused on real-world performance and value, make sure to follow Canadian Gunz for more reviews and comparisons coming soon.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next time.

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